Non-Tradition Pagan Beliefs

[Morning Star]

I'm interested in hearing the ideas and faiths of those individuals who do not belong to any one tradition.

1. How do you view Diety?

2. What are the main aspects of your spiritual life?

3. Are you still open to joining a tradition if the right one comes around?

4. Have you drawn your ideas from other traditions? Which ones?

[Toby Stimpson]

Right now my spiritual beliefs center around metaphor and intrigue. Scholastic ideas of the universe at large. I'm making a great effort to understand, or atleast study the Gods beneath the Gods. That is the archetypes, and how those archetypes fit into the mythologies of the regions they ruled over. *It is my thought that there are a finite number of deities, all manifesting in infinite forms. If we, as Humans, learn to identify these abstract archetypes...we will begin to have more compassionate outlook on the world becasue we'll no longer see another man's God as being different than yours. This is a Hindu way of thinking, which is really no surprise...Hinduism and eastern philosophies have taken center stage in my studies this year...along with mythological creatures. I soon want to grow outword into energy usage like Reiki healing, or crytal work. I believe in the Divine, and have adopted (or I was adopted) Kali and Morgan Le Fey as my chief Goddesses in my Pantheon. I guess basicly, my spirituality is not defined to one religion...I merge several philosophies and try as best I can to learn about other's ways. Good topic Morning star! :) Namaste

Tobias

[Gede]

MM~
1. How do you view Diety?

I am a self-confessed pantheist, animist, duotheist and polytheist and each one of those views intertwines to create my own very personal view of Deity. I believe that there is one unity, one force, divergent only in conception and in material distinction, when in truth energy is the essence between and within all things and that is Deity, nameless, sexless, without morals, IS. It manifests in its creation, in the material expression of divine process and I am therefore a pantheist. I am an animist as I feel each thing within the natural world, animate or not, is composed of a sentient personalised soul or essence. I am a duotheist because I recognise the feminine and masculine polarity in Nature and the archetypal resonanace they personify both through the mind's inheritance and cultural mythology. I am a polytheist because I relate to each deity as an individual existing in their own right, as each of us exists independently, at least at a level that lends us our unique traits and personality, and it is the same with the Gods. We all however relate back to Deity, the unity underlying all things.

2. What are the main aspects of your spiritual life?

Devotion, wisdom, compassion, tolerance, respect, honour, my writing and my relationship with the Gods and with Magick.

3. Are you still open to joining a tradition if the right one comes around?

Whatever happens...it's all part of the learning experience!

4. Have you drawn your ideas from other traditions? Which ones?

Most of my inspiration comes from Wicca, but I've also picked up a few things from the Kabbalah and Hellenistic religion.

Namaste, Gede...

[DamienDeville]

I'm interested in hearing the ideas and faiths of those individuals who do not belong to any one tradition.

1. How do you view Diety?

2. What are the main aspects of your spiritual life?

3. Are you still open to joining a tradition if the right one comes around?

4. Have you drawn your ideas from other traditions? Which ones?

1)To me deity is both masculine and femine(2 beings that are seperate but equal)but other deities exist also.
2)Accepting that humans were made this way and that the deities dont punish us for being this way and they dont ask us or try to force us to change.They made us free moral agents.
3) yes maybe.
4)Satanism(Not the actual worship of the Abrahamic view of a devil),European Paganism and Witchcraft.

[SacredWithin]

I'm interested in hearing the ideas and faiths of those individuals who do not belong to any one tradition.

Okay, in case you're wonderig, you are currently hearing from a Spiritualist. :) You cannot really put a finger on our beliefs as each of us sees things differently. We do not consider ourselves apart of any sort of religious organization.


1. How do you view Diety?

Diety is within everything. We and everything else is a manifestation of Deity or simply "intelligent energy".


2. What are the main aspects of your spiritual life?

Being sure to acknowledge Divinity in my life one way or another. My definition of worship is to simply enjoy life and to help others through kind deeds, education and understanding and simply being mindful of one another.


3. Are you still open to joining a tradition if the right one comes around?

Yes, but everytime I wish to make that decision, I find that I'd rather follow my own path. In this way, no one is in control of my path. In essence, many religions teach this, but it is abused by religious leaders and at times followers (but I think the leaders start the trouble most often).


4. Have you drawn your ideas from other traditions? Which ones?

Of course. The things I've answered in question two. Being what is sometimes refered to as "The good Samaritan". However, it isn't always easy. I try to see things in a positive light and not have the hopeless (and seemingly useless) notion of "all are lost". I try to avoid that because I feel anyone can be helped but I may not always have the knowledge to do so. I try to pick up the good things out of various faiths and ideas. I mainly look for te following: Mysticism, Gnosticism and Naturalism

[Felidae]

1. How do you view Diety?

I believe that there is an ultimate force which animates all else, gods, humans, animals, plants, etc. Yet, I also believe that each God and Goddess are (or have become, over time) distinct individuals.

So if I had to catogorize myself, I would say I was a Polytheist with some ideas based on the Kabbalah.

2. What are the main aspects of your spiritual life?

To become the best "Me" I can be, and not allow myself to become lazy or complacent and waste my gifts. To devote more time to honor of the God and Goddess.

3. Are you still open to joining a tradition if the right one comes around?

Nooo... I don't think that would work out. I'm pretty shy and still a little iconoclastic.

4. Have you drawn your ideas from other traditions? Which ones?

Yes, the aformentioned Kabbalah, though I'm only roughly familiar with it and can't claim I fully understand it at all... Upon reflection the idea of self perfection does strike me as slightly LeVeyan, but that's probably more coincidence than intent... I also draw a great deal from Hoodoo and Voodoo practices, but not in my spiritual practice, per se. I borrow from these systems more in general workings.

[Morning Star]

First, I just wanted to thank everyone for answering so completely. I appreciate it.

1. How do you view Diety?

For me, the Divine is Life, the Universe and everything it. It is the Tao, which cannot be named or understood. However, I believe that in certain manifestations it can be understood and I believe these manifestations can be understood through Jung's paradigm of archetypes. These archetypes are real drives, instincts, inutions that come from somewhere in the subconscious or from life itself...from the gods. For me, I worship divinity with laughter and adoration. I rarely use gods or goddesses for comfort, but I'm sure I could if I needed to. The Divine is neither good nor evil - it merely is. It is everything.

2. What are the main aspects of your spiritual life?

I struggle with spirituality, because I have a very logical mind and it is difficult for me to allow myself to visualize, meditate or use my imagination. At this point, I spend most of my energy on trying to heighten my awareness of the gods and goddesses in my life, of the will to thrive, the desire to celebrate life and love and happiness. I try to become aware of everything around me, the reasons why things happen, to pay attention to what is happening and to learn from nature. I also try to learn to go with the flow - to allow the Universe to direct me. I usually judge this by following the instincts and intuitions I have.

3. Are you still open to joining a tradition if the right one comes around?

Yes. If one comes around that looks at Divinity the way I do.

4. Have you drawn your ideas from other traditions? Which ones?

Taoism, Satanism, Classical Paganism and nature worship, Discordianism, the philosophies of Nietzsche, Hume, Aristole & Rand and finally, Wicca to a lesser extent.

I'd really like to talk more about many of the points made by everyone (they were all very interesting), but I want to give others an opportunity to answer first.

[halfwaynowhere]

i believe what i believe. i can't really put it into words right now. I am still exploring different paths. my practices vary, as do which gods/goddesses i worship. it all depends on what seems right to me at the time.

[cheddarsox]

I'm interested in hearing the ideas and faiths of those individuals who do not belong to any one tradition.

1. How do you view Diety?

2. What are the main aspects of your spiritual life?

3. Are you still open to joining a tradition if the right one comes around?

4. Have you drawn your ideas from other traditions? Which ones?


Interesting thread, I am really enjoying the thoughtful responses. thank you!

1) I don't use the term deity because to me that denotes a discreet entity, I do use the word divine, so I'll explain my idea behind that. I believe that "the divine" is that which causes all to work together, for example the forces that cause atoms and molecules to stick together, and form materials etc. The natural laws, I guess you could call it. All together that to me is "the divine" because that is what everything is subject to, controlled by etc. That is the cause of it all.

2)The main aspects of my spritual life are responding authentically to my inner callings. So I make sure I make time and opportunities to be present in the universe, and not just trapped in my own thoughts and head. I spend time interacting with stuff, people, plants, animals etc so that I have an opportunity to respond.

I also feel that the physical universe is not seperate from the spiritual, but they are fully present and melded with one another, so I make an effort to combine the sensual and spiritual whenever possible in worship, meditation, praise etc. One of my missions is to help people fully experience life in both their body and mind.

I try to stay as aware as I can that I am fully part of the universe, and that everything is interacting in all the amazing ways it can. I recognize that boudaries are things humans draw for convenience and that ultimately they are not important. For instance, my domestic livestock is fed by the same earth,sun interaction as the wild birds, The only difference is that I put a fence around what is "mine", but really, none of it is mine. So each day when I feed my livestock I toss some of "my" grain on the ground for the wild critters as well, to recall to myself, that it is all the same.

3) I am connected to some spiritual groups, but honestly I know I will never abandon the callings of my own spirit to follow a tradition of someone elses creation. I like to make things up fresh myself. I am one of those people who never follows a recipe, makes their own cookie cutters, and draws their own patterns when building a dog house etc. I just can't stand to do anything someone elses way.

4)My ideas come from everything I have ever encountered and experienced. I am a product of my culture, former religions, friends, education etc. I am a scientist, so lots of my ideas are influenced by my studies and observations. Some come from what feels like inspiration, which is most likely me just finding a way to fit together ideas which appeal to me. I do not believe that there are some hidden truths out there only available to the few or to the initiates, that is counter to my understanding of the universe. So I do not believe in secret revealed knowledge. I think any truth that is out there is available to anyone who seeks it. The most important test I use for the usefulness of any spiritual belief, practice or idea is Does it allow me to function more fully and participate more completely in life. If it does it is a keeper, if not, out it goes. The only purpose I see for spiritual practice is to equip me to deal with life. Because of this, I refer to myself as a "practical" pantheist.

cheddar

[OMmomma]

1. How do you view Diety?

All in One, One in All. Although, Certain causal energies(Divine forms), that correspond to human egoic intelligence, can be related to by name, feminine or masculine.

2. What are the main aspects of your spiritual life?

My spiritual practice is manifested in two ways. First, direct experience of the divine in meditation and prayer. Second, living my truth in every moment of my life.

3. Are you still open to joining a tradition if the right one comes around?

I don't see this happening, but I always await being proved wrong. I consider myself mystic, by that I mean, I relate to the essential truths found at the core of religions and paths of wisdom. This can make me feel as though I can be a part of almost any faith, just not the religions.

4. Have you drawn your ideas from other traditions? Which ones?

Certainly! Sanatana Dharma, Mahayana Buddhism, Yoga,Theosophy, Metaphysics, Qaballah, Wicca, Shamanism, Thelema.

[AugustFirst]

I'm interested in hearing the ideas and faiths of those individuals who do not belong to any one tradition.

1. How do you view Diety?

2. What are the main aspects of your spiritual life?

3. Are you still open to joining a tradition if the right one comes around?

4. Have you drawn your ideas from other traditions? Which ones?

1. Hmmm, I guess I view Deity (as I said in another post) as Light and Space and Goodness, and there is God in everything.

2. The main aspects are respecting and caring for animals and nature, helping those in need. Sometimes I pray, but it is always for protection and help for me and others. I don't ask for anything else.

3. I would probably never join a tradition. I am private person, whose beliefs are changing all the time.

4. Yes, Christianity, Buddhism, and Pagan. IMO, I believe most paths lead to the same place if one is kind, helpful and essentially a good person. (to the best of one's ability.)