Praising Mother Earth?

[fallingislikethis]

I am not religious, but I am extremely intrigued with many Wiccan beliefs, mostly because I believed in them before finding anything out about Wicca. But I feel like I'm missingsomething in my life, and I've got quite a story to explain my feelings of loneliness, if any of yall would like to hear...I was suggested by a firend to get in touch with my spiritual something or other, and I think this would be really good for me...but I will not believe in any gods or goddesses, mainly because I think they are a load of crap. The only thing I would ever pray to is our Planet and the other Celestial Bodies, for they are the main reason we are alive. Is there any form of Paganism that praises just to Earth? Or nothing at all except...non gods or goddesses?

If my post is confusing, its because its 2:38 am and Im not feeling very good so Im not looking at the monitor while I tpye or really thinking this over for that matter...but all help is greatly appreciated...I really need something, and I think getting in touch with myself spiritually is what it is so.....I think I just asked2 or 3 conflicting questions..... whatever. thanks :)

[SilentDreams]

Well I've heard some very generic descriptions of pagans. One of the most basic being this "anyone who isn't islamic, christian, or jewish" I don't know how accurate that is but by that description you my friend are a pagan LOL!

But seriously...

I'm not sure. I think you're a pagan. I mean I know some who call themselves pagans, who don't exactly believe in gods and goddesses. You say you would pray to only the earth and/or the other celestial bodies. Well I know that some people feel that the god and goddess aren't really seperate beings, acctually that they come from the same single entity and that entity comes from the base of all existance, energy. And if I'm not mistaken the earth and other celestial bodies have a basis in energy. So if looked in that "light" you are a pagan.

Sorry my help isn't too great. Its 2 am for me right now lol. Also you're the first person I know(not that you're the only one, you're just the only one who i know of)of that doesn't believe in dieties, instead just believes in whorshiping(sp?) the earth and other celestial bodies. But I hope that I was able to help you some.

[goDez]

When i got into Wicca, I did not really feel anything different from you. Gods, lol? I mean, what's that..

Actually, this is also because of the mainly christianistic view many people have of a God.

Mother Earth can just as well be your divine! It's easy.. I did exactly the same thing. I think the "nature/higher self/the thing we dont know about but is definately there/unexplainable" have certain descriptive meanings that everyone can represent for themselves in a way of worship. If you see the earth as worth worshiping, you should see that as your God/Godesses. Start reading out on different opinions as how Wiccans view deity. If you'd ask 10 pagans who there God/Goddess is, you'd get few the same descriptions. Yours actually fits right in :) For me, personally, the God/Goddess are symbolic entitys that personify the different aspects of nature. These aspects are not to be misplaced with eachother, but there's also a form of balance.. Every aspect wishes to be with it's counterpart, it's longing for the other. The world could not be whole without both of these aspects. Therefore, nature resides in good as well as evil. Nothing is specifically good or evil, we can just describe where on the schale a specific action is, according to willpower. Willpower is the only thing that can be called good or bad.. But it cannot be one of the two extremes, since there's good in every bad and bad in every good action. I found this balancing way of looking at life very interesting and as I'm researching into different views people have, I care to pick up the ones I like. Paganism is so diverse...

Sorry if my post went on longer then I intentionally meant :).. I just hope you can get *something* useful for your path out of it. Follow your heart, and you will be alright, I'm sure. Good luck!

[goDez]

Oh and please, ask as many questions as you'd like.. This forum is there to help and discuss whatever subject may be found interesting. Since it was your first post as well, I hereby present you with my warm welcome :)

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific question, or post here, I'll try and respond to my best ability.

[Tsuchimaru]

I worship nature....that's my god/goddess. :)

[Pandoras]

I will not believe in any gods or goddesses, mainly because I think they are a load of crap. The only thing I would ever pray to is our Planet and the other Celestial Bodies, for they are the main reason we are alive. Is there any form of Paganism that praises just to Earth?

Would you elaborate?

Why do you think that gods and goddesses are "a load of crap?" What do you think gods and goddesses are? What you mean when you say you would pray to our Planet and other Celestial Bodies? How do you see these celestial bodies? Do you see them as alive? If so, do you see them as conscious - aware, capable of thought, able to make decisions, and interact with humans, animals, plants, etc.? Do you see it in terms of pure evolution and science or is there something spiritual there as well?

In any case, you might want to look into something called Gaia Theory; it's a belief that the earth is a living entity who adapts the environment to promote life.

In my opinion, Paganism is a religion, not just a set of philosophical beliefs. Could someone be a Christian without believing in Jesus Christ? I'm sure someone is going to say yes, but I don't think so.

[goDez]

I worship nature....that's my god/goddess. :)

See, it happens.. :)

[Earthy]

I worship nature....that's my god/goddess. :)

Just how i feel too :)

[Lost_Sole]

I worship nature....that's my god/goddess. :)

Well I belive in nature for a long time. I have felt that she has always been there but, now i am trying to see how i can belive in her. How i can see the pagen can help me to worship her more then just believing in her.

[fallingislikethis]

Would you elaborate?
Of course.

Why do you think that gods and goddesses are "a load of crap?" What do you think gods and goddesses are?
Well so far all I see as gods is the Jewish/Islamic/Christian which preaches hate and the murder of non-believers...gods which were htought up by people and written into books and people believed those books....I'm also very into psychology, and I can't believe in something if it cant be proven, and those gods cant proven.

What you mean when you say you would pray to our Planet and other Celestial Bodies?
I'm really not sure...but I feel that I should honor the Planet more, for she is the reason that I and all of us are alive...or something like that.

How do you see these celestial bodies? Do you see them as alive? If so, do you see them as conscious - aware, capable of thought, able to make decisions, and interact with humans, animals, plants, etc.?
I don't actually know about the rest, but yes, I see the Earth as living, but enslaved by humans.

Do you see it in terms of pure evolution and science or is there something spiritual there as well?
I'm not sure I get what youre saying....


In any case, you might want to look into something called Gaia Theory; it's a belief that the earth is a living entity who adapts the environment to promote life.
This is what I believe in...does it have anything to do with any religion?



Thanks everybody else....but Im still pretty lost.

[Pandoras]

Well so far all I see as gods is the Jewish/Islamic/Christian which preaches hate and the murder of non-believers...gods which were htought up by people and written into books and people believed those books.I can understand your frustration, but keep in mind that sacred books were still written by people and we are limited and flawed. Also, oftentimes, what people say is in a book and what is actually there can be very different.
I'm also very into psychology, and I can't believe in something if it cant be proven, and those gods cant proven.This is perfectly legitimate. There are many people who need proof to believe in a god of some kind. Let me ask you, do you think about those meaning-of-life type of questions? Where do we come from? Why are we here? What happens after death? Is there a soul? What is it? What are the origins of the universe, of the planet? What is the purpose of it all? And so on. What kind of answers do you come up with? (You don't have to answer here; they're just rhetorical questions.)
I'm really not sure...but I feel that I should honor the Planet more, for she is the reason that I and all of us are alive...or something like that...I don't actually know about the rest, but yes, I see the Earth as living, but enslaved by humans.The Gaia Theory is more of a philosophical belief than a religion, although it may certainly play a role in religion. In fact, I think it plays an important one in the Pagan religion.
Thanks everybody else....but Im still pretty lost.Don't feel bad or discouraged. It's perfectly normal to go through a period of doubt and exploration. My advice is that you continue to explore these questions. You could also read more about various religions (and not just the books in the New Age section, but history, philosophy, science, etc.) You may never find a religion. Some people don't. But that doesn't mean they're less spiritual or less enlightened.

[WynterSpirit]

the worship/praise of nature is what the Native Americans have always done and I have always followed. There is also a name for one who practices this type of worship, it's called Pantheism.

[Pandoras]

the worship/praise of nature is what the Native Americans have always done and I have always followed. There is also a name for one who practices this type of worship, it's called Pantheism.I respectfully disagree. Native Americans believe in spirits and other figures that are akin to gods and goddesses (like White Buffalo Calf Woman). Pantheism is the belief that every existing entity (humans, animals, etc.) together, is a part of God. fallingislikethis doubts the existence of God altogether.

[WynterSpirit]

I understand their differences from one another, native american spirituality and pantheism, but they are also very closely related intertwined in my life. :)

[fallingislikethis]

This is perfectly legitimate. There are many people who need proof to believe in a god of some kind. Let me ask you, do you think about those meaning-of-life type of questions? Where do we come from? Why are we here? What happens after death? Is there a soul? What is it? What are the origins of the universe, of the planet? What is the purpose of it all?
No, not really....I'm just going through a rough time right now, and I think getting in touch with my spirituality would help me from having some kind of psychological breakdown, and when I think of my spirit and soul, I see it as deeply intertwined with the Earth. I really don't wonder about any of those things, I'm not really interested in finding out the answer to most of those questions, I'm more into existing than finding out why we exist.


I checked out Pnatheism, and it looks really interesting, I plan to read into it more. Thanks :)

[Shanti]

Buddhism doesnt believe in any Gods and has a reverance for all of nature.

[equinox2]

fallingislikethis wrote:

and I can't believe in something if it cant be proven, and those gods cant proven.

You sound like you might be a Naturalistic Pagan like me. My view of the world is completely naturalistic (like an agnostic). Check out my links below, especially www.naturalpagan.org.

May the earth's gravity hold you close-

[Wiccamagikal]

MM,
I have been confussed for a while now about who/what I want to "pray to" and call my God. I am a very hands on person, I have to literally have to hear/smell/touch something to know that it is really there. Unfortunatly, I just can not see all of these Wiccan gods and goddesses...Now I know that they probably do exist, in a plane that we are not in..but can contact with...But my problem is I need something..Concrete to worship. Earth is the only thing I can see close to being a god or goddess. I mean, it constantly adapts...it helps us..gives us life. It gives everything life...that is worthy of praise to me. So should I just worship Earth or Gaia as I think I have heard it said before? I think so... I have always had some connection with nature, and earth. I think that we were put here to take care of earth, not destroy it. OK...I think Im done. :bangyourh LOL Sorry for my ramblings, but sometimes it just helps.

Blessed Be,
SilverWolf

:tub: :clapping:

[Ben Gruagach]

There is a really interesting quiz at http://www.selectsmart.com/RELIGION/ which asks a bunch of relevant questions, and then gives you a list with rankings to indicate which religious paths are likely closest to your ideas based on your responses to the questions.

The quiz is just a quiz though and isn't perfect. It does present some interesting options that might be worth investigating or working into your own path.

That's one of the big things I like about Paganism -- it's not just a single religion or philosophy, and in its huge amount of diversity there is room for all sorts of ideas and ways of practicing. And there are many Pagans who end up making up their own eclectic path and follow that quite happily.

It's all about discovering what allows you to be most true to yourself and brings you into contact with whatever you perceive to be the Divine (whether it's the Earth, a god or goddess, or a multitude of entities... or nothing!)

[Lady Avalon]

My Medician Woman, Charlie Moondance, taught me this:

"As long as you walk to Earth, you cannot say you have no Mother. The Earth is your Mother. She will feed you, clothe you and house you. All you need to do is ask.

"As long as you walk under the sky, you cannot say you have no Father, for the Sky is your Father. And, as long as you live, you cannot say that you have no brothers or sisters for all mankind is your siblings."

You could use a Native American Shaman. They know of the Great Spirit. He has many names, but there is only one. They can teach you how to benefit from the Council of the Six Grandfathers, to commune with Earth Mother, Sky Father, Grandmother Moon and Grandfather Sun.

The Medicine People can teach you about the four-leggeds. Help you find your animal Totems. Teach you to know what Brother Wind is trying to tell you.

There are many different kinds of paganism. Seek out the Medicine People. Take with you an offering of American Spirit tobacco and a pouch of white cornmeal. Ask one of them to teach you the old ways. The Medicine person will think about your request for three days. At the end of that time, he or she will say yes or no.

The Shaman will test you. And, test you hard and long. But, if you perservere, you will be allowed to go into the Inippi and then on your Vision Quest.

Think about this long and hard.