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Post by thylasos on Jan 15, 2006 20:55:15 GMT 1
Generally I'm just learning; raised Catholic, though I was agnostic at best from the earliest days I thought of such things.
When I was about 14 I began to get into Buddhism; Tibetan at first, then learning more about different paths and becoming extremely interested in the Japanese Zen schools.
After hearing them mentioned a lot on the internet, I decided when I was 15 to find out at last who these "wiccans" were; I had a friend who was a fellow-traveller on this path of discovery, though he had got farther than me, and I asked him if he had any books about it. He lent me Starhawk's "The Spiral Dance", the voice of 1970s ecofeminist wicca, which I still hold very dear as a wonderful book and a wonderful basis for spirituality today, but I moved back to buddhism for a while, and eventually my religious world went dead.
I fell into the easy modern trap of not even trying to find out what I believed and settling into agnosticism, not seeking truth and not being bothered.
Recently, my passion for paganism has sparked again, and I'm currently researching ritual magic, hermeticism, and Crowley's work in particular, but I still hold the basic beliefs I had before, I think. I feel very strongly connected to nature and the countryside, and I believe in the Earth, and the Universe, as Deity, be it bipolar or not.
So as I say, I don't really practise, as I haven't much opportunity in my house. My mother has asked me to "stop buying these books about paganism", so I don't practise, so as not to antagonise her further. The only thing I really do is learn and meditate, trying to figure out what I want to practise, when I get the chance.
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Post by angelis on Jan 24, 2006 17:05:02 GMT 1
Hey well I know what you are going through there. My mother as well does not want me practicing in her house but lets me keep all my books and all my info and suppiles in my trunk. She does not have a problem with me at all being wiccan in any way. But I just keep to myself and practice still just not around everyone. So best thing man just keep to your faith that you feel you are drawn to and just wait till you are out of your house and on your own. That is what I am waiting for but my mother can't take the wiccan out of me.
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Post by thylasos on Jan 30, 2006 18:34:20 GMT 1
Quite so. Thanks. ;D
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Post by kallima on Feb 6, 2006 21:57:02 GMT 1
christian, but not the traidtional way. I view the lord as male and female. i view each deity as an aspect of one who deity which is broken at first in the god and the goddess. I don't feel so much the existence in sin and jesus coming to save peopel from that. I odn't know what he saved people from, but unfortunately thereare still wars and rapes (though i do feel rapes and abuse are more spiritual than just psychological) so sadly we haven't learned from him.
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Post by lunarose on Feb 9, 2006 23:07:25 GMT 1
Well lets see. It's not often that I describe my path, but here goes. I am an eclectic witch. I honor both the Goddess and the God, however for right now, my focus is on the Goddess. I incorporate many Celtic and Faerie practices, but I still make them my own. I work with crystals, tarot cards (which started my whole exploration of Paganism in the first place) and I hope to be successful with channeling and scrying. One day I will have a green thumb and grow my own herbs. (my thumb's black.) I love metaphysics and I read just about everything. Quantum Physics is my other love. My goal is to become a healer and a teacher one day. I want to teach about the Goddess and teach people how to heal themselves. I guess that sums me up.
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Aurora
Super Member
~*The princess formally known as 'Crystal'*~
Posts: 81
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Post by Aurora on Feb 10, 2006 18:41:11 GMT 1
Poor old Horned God, always second place to the Goddess.
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Post by lunarose on Feb 10, 2006 21:37:57 GMT 1
I guess it does seem that way, but the God isn't second place to me. It's just that at this point in my life, I feel a little closer to the Goddess. It's kinda funny, because for a number of years, I felt like I was straining to know the Goddess, and now She is my focus. I used to understand the God more... probably because I came from a religion that only acknowledged a God in the first place. When I heard about the Goddess I was like "What?!? Goddess?!? Is She real?" Eventually it'll all come together, but since I'm still gathering knowledge, I'm trying to take it slowly and take things one step at a time. ( I just bit my tongue, cuz I'm reading like 50 books ;D)
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Aurora
Super Member
~*The princess formally known as 'Crystal'*~
Posts: 81
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Post by Aurora on Feb 10, 2006 23:03:53 GMT 1
I can understand that. When I first came into Wicca I was all into the Goddess and almost hated (yes, i did say hate) the God because of the view I'd gotten of Him from Christianity. Then I came into Gnosticism and I was all into the God and almost resented the Goddess because I felt she was taking all the glory in Wicca and the God was invisible. I suppose that was teenage hormones mixed with struggling to find the right path. I guess I couldn't realise that it weren't the God or Goddess' fault of how they were portrayed, it was the people who wrote the books and made the websites.
Now I honour one God who is male and female but in a Godhead of Father/God, Holy Spirit/Goddess (the Son is a neutral, metaphorical term). I try and honour both aspects equally. Some days I feel closer to the the Father, other days I feel closer to the Holy Spirit but I never do it with intention to just focus on one and not let the other feel left out.
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Post by pixiedust on Feb 12, 2006 3:02:32 GMT 1
I incorporate many Celtic and Faerie practices, but I still make them my own. YEY!  |
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Post by lunarose on Feb 13, 2006 5:01:23 GMT 1
Well, I guess, as with most things, it really depends on the person. Some people feel closer to the God, some people feel closer to the Goddess, some people can focus on both of them equally, some just feel the presence of Spirit, and for others, it depends on what energy they need. Sometimes it depends on the stage of life we are living at the moment. I expect that near the end of my life, I will be focusing on the Dark Goddess and God as I prepare to return to Them.
People feel differently about the Gods, however it is up to us to form our own, personal, interpretation of and relationship with Them. Our personal viewpoint is the most important for us, because more often than not, it ties in to what we need in our lives or what we are striving to achieve for ourselves.
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Aurora
Super Member
~*The princess formally known as 'Crystal'*~
Posts: 81
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Post by Aurora on Feb 13, 2006 17:07:32 GMT 1
Very true LunaRose. I'm only almost 16 so at the moment I'm focusing on the Maiden Goddess (who for me is Mary Magdalane) as I identify mostly with Her. I don't focus on the Son God (the equivilant of the Maiden) so much and mainly focus on the Father God. As I'm stil a kid I guess I look for that inspiration and understanding image of the Maiden but also feel the natural childs instinct need for the older, comforting, protective and safe image of the Father. Perhaps when I am older and have kids my focus will be on the Mother Goddess (who for me is the 'Virgin' Mary) and I'll have to see about the God aspect. Perhaps I'll see Him in my future partner if I'm lucky.....very lucky.
Luv and Light
x x
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Post by lunarose on Feb 16, 2006 2:07:06 GMT 1
Perhaps this will be so for you. Only time can tell. All I know for sure myself is that we are usually drawn to what we need the most at that time. Like I said, I expect that hen I'm older that I will be focusing on the Dark Goddess and God, however, I may totally flip this view and focus on the Maiden. We never really know, but I like the unexpected.
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Post by createholly on Feb 28, 2006 5:16:47 GMT 1
Lookout! Well lets see Celtic magicks have always caught my eyes. It maybe the romanticized way I've always seen it but I don't think so. Everything about the asured way things were done. I wish I was that sort of strong person. That type of magick represents the pillar in my life on my search to spritual okayness. I also follow the path of the Green witch, and Buddhism. These I take because I want to be peaceful and be sort of directed. Buddhism helps me a lot becuase I am not a good meditator. The quiet and peace it brings is a big helper. and Green Witchery because It's as close as I can be to Druidry here in Va. I love plant's, and knowing what they do, and I have a sense for powereful magick. I sometimes wonder If the nemetons still exists, and how can I get there!? I don't know how to really explain my path. I did struggle a whole bunch with the christian part of my growing-up. I think I've got it own now, but I still wonder if I'm going to hell. and It hurts. Any suggestions? *laughs. My biggest pantheon is Egyptian. Woot. They seem just a bit more powerful to me than the others. I'm just a big bag of receeses pieces, I guess.
Heehee. So that's it untill I remeber something else. This was cool.
Lurvs
CreateHolly
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Post by ravenmaher on Feb 28, 2006 5:24:13 GMT 1
Some people feel closer to the God, some people feel closer to the Goddess, some people can focus on both of them equally, |
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Post by pixiedust on Mar 1, 2006 15:45:57 GMT 1
my search to spritual okayness. I love that phrase!!!!!  it just works! Wish you luck with it holly |
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it just works!