E is for Evil (What is It?)

Today's letter actually comes at a convenient time. I was watching a couple of "Doctor Who" episodes last night that dealt with the Devil and evil. And it got me thinking about evil and what it is.

First off, to avoid any confusion, I don't believe the Devil exists. The Devil is a convenient idea for some that lets them place the results of their actions somewhere else.

I don't believe that there are any beings out there that are purely bad. I also don't believe there are any beings out there that are purely good. I think that all things have the capacity for good or bad.

I think that the evil in the world comes from people's choices. You are not born good or bad, it is up to you what kind of life you lead. Even deciding what is good or evil is up to the individual person. There are choices that most people would label as evil, such as murder. But other things are labeled evil depending on a person's culture or religion.

Perhaps the word evil isn't really useful in my worldview. I believe things are divided into good/beneficial choices and bad/poor choices. Your choices are your own. You can listen to the ideas of another person. But ultimately they can't make you do anything.

I guess good and evil are in the eye the beholder.

How do you view good and evil? I love to read your opinions!

D is for Druidism

When I first started looking into paganism the first thing I started looking into was Wicca. I had a friend in high school that lent me one of her "Wicca 101" books. And for the first time, I found a religious system that seemed to fit how I viewed the world.

So I started thinking of myself as Wiccan. I read (mostly on the internet) on ritual tools, altars, and holidays. I tried casting circles. I tried dedicating myself to the God and the Goddess.

But it didn't quite fit. I couldn't wrap my head around the need to create a barrier when I was doing a ritual. In my mind I there wasn't just one God and one Goddess (or Lord and Lady).  I wasn't much in to spells and magic (though there is a lot more to Wicca than that). But I kept reading and trying to make it work.

But even with all my research and reading and thinking and trying, Wicca just didn't work. And I was stuck.

Then one day, I discovered Druidism. For all my research I hadn't really realized that there were other traditions that fall under the "Pagan Umbrella". (To this day I am still stumbling on traditions I didn't know existed.) And I as I read about this modern day Druidism things began to click.

There were people out there that still believed in polytheism and viewed each god as an individual. There seemed to be less emphasis about spells and magic, and more about connecting to and honoring the gods. I was and still am particularly attracted to the ADF style of druidry: honoring the Three Kindreds (god/goddess, ancestors, and nature spirits), the three realms, and the emphasis knowing about the ancient druids without trying to reconstruct their religion.

Druidism fits me. I am still learning and trying and thinking about my path. And I am excited for the journey.

C is for Community

Here is my chance to talk about the issues that have been floating around the pagan blogs this past month. A little late, but I thought I would take sometime to reflect on what I really wanted to say about the whole thing.

I was surprised with the reactions people had to Star's original post. I was surprised, I had been reading her blog for awhile and was sad when she suddenly disappeared. But honestly it is her choice on what she wants to call herself and where she finds happiness is where she belongs.

But the really shocking thing was how this one post touch of the debate on if we still need a pagan community and who belongs in that community. There are a couple things that I took away from those first couple of days of postings.

1) Some where along the line some one decided the Wicca=Pagan. Never thought that before.
2) Apparently it is alright for me to make belittle your path and cast you out of the Pagan "umbrella". And it is alright if I label you. But the moment someone does the same to me, I can get angry about it.

After those first few days, and people cooled of a little, some really meaningful discussion occurred. People started using more rational reasoning. They started explaining themselves instead of attacking others. And it is apparent that things are going to start changing.

It may have reached a point where people stop just describing themselves as Pagan. It maybe time for individual traditions to start standing on their own.

But I don't think that it is time for us to abandon the idea of a Pagan community all together. I get most of my pagan community through the internet. Though it is not the ideal way to see things, I can still get an idea of what is going on. And I think that at this point there is still more that connects us than divides us. We all have different views of divine and different ways of showing our respect. And we can still discuss our ways and find things in common. We might also find new ways to enhance our own practice. 

To keep the community together, we just need to remember to respect each other. In the end we are human. We are all just trying to find our way.
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Thoughts? Is community something that is important to you? Any tips for newbies looking for community?

B is for Body

We all know that we only have one body.

And I'm working on taking care of mine better. It's not a New Year's resolution, it is something that I have been working on for awhile. I exercise regularly and have been working to clean up my diet. It is going to take some time, and breaking bad habits isn't easy.

I think that taking care of my body is part of taking care of my spirit.

Several months ago there was a big to do about weight and the Pagan community. Many people seemed upset that some people wanted to tell them it wasn't alright for them to live the way they wanted. I even wrote response posts (here and here). I don't want to get into that argument again.

I am just wondering if there will be a time to discuss healthy living without people getting offended?

I feel that what we are doing to are bodies as a society is a problem. I wish more people would take the time to look at what they are eating and how it is effecting them.  And, because I happened to watch "Vegucated" last night on Netflix, how their food is made and how it is treated before it gets to them.

But at the same time I completely understand that people don't want healthy living shoved down their throat. I understand they don't want to be criticized for how they live their lives.

So here is what I'd like to know...
Do you think that taking care of your body is part of taking care of your spirit?
How do you feel about discussing healthy living?

A healthy body is the guest-chamber of the soul; a sick, its prison.  

~Francis Bacon

A is for Afterlife

This one is a little tough. I don't think very many people want to think about death and what happen after that. But it is something we all have to face eventually.

I believe that all people go to an afterlife. The spirit just doesn't disappear into nothingness. I have always thought that where you depends on what you believe. If you believe that you are going to the Summerlands or Heaven or somewhere else,  that is were you are going to end up.

But that does bring up a couple of issues.

If you believe one in one afterlife, and your family believes in another then you won't end up together.

What happens to those who commit, for lack of a better word "sins", or great acts of evil? Surely they can't end up in their religions paradise.

Do we stay in afterlife forever, or are we reborn into this, or even other, worlds?

I don't know.

Perhaps all afterlives exist together on one plane, and you see what you want to. Maybe those who commit evil acts are judged by their particular deity and sentence to another part of that plane. Maybe you get to choose to be reborn to learn more life lessons.

I'm sure that as I grow my ideas of the afterlife will change. But nobody truly knows until that day comes.

Any thoughts?

http://www.paganblogproject.com

A is for Ancestors

One of the beautiful things about paganism is its respect for the ancestors.

I believe that it is important for us to remember those who have passed on. I like the idea that your ancestors do not have to be people that you are related to by blood. It can be friends, past members of your tradition, or people that have made a difference in your life.

I like to think that no matter what religion a person was, wherever they are now they know they are being remembered. They know that the people that they have left behind love and remember them.

Thinking about the ancestors also gives hope to those here on Earth. By remembering them, we acknowledge the existence of a place beyond ours. We have the belief that we have a place to go when we pass on. We have comfort in the idea that we will not be alone in the afterlife, there is someone waiting for us.

Remembering where you come from is essential. It is nice to know that there were people that came before you. We remember those people's actions and words. But it is important that we all are also going to be an ancestors one day. We should always strive to leave a positive an lasting legacy for our descendants.

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”            - Thich Nhat Hanh 

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Q is for Quiet Moments

Quiet is wonderful. I like when it is quiet because I find it easier to think. I think that sometimes we get to caught up in the day to day. We don't always find a time (or a place) where we can go just to be quiet and think. I find the quiet, calm moment to be important.

In that moment we have time to reflected on the things that are going on in our lives. We have time to deal with problems without the interference of others. We can listen to our own thoughts without them being drown out.  We can decide if we are happy with the way things are going. During the quiet moment, we get to find ourselves again.

I think that everyone, everyday should take some time out and have a quiet moment. Maybe people would be less stressed. Maybe people will take time to think.

P is for Paths

I think that one of the wonderful things about paganism is how everyone comes to it in a different way. Some come from a difficult situation in another religion. Some come out of a search for a world view that fits with their own. Some now are being born and raised in a pagan household.

All of our experiences are a little bit different. We all believe slightly different things. We are all in different places in our practices. It is wonderful that paganism allows us to walk these different "paths".

But now the question becomes, "Where are these paths leading us."

I am not referring to what happens when we die. That is part of the believing different things.

I wonder if we can ever pull our paths together to create a community. That appears to be a hot button issue right now across the pagan blogs and websites. And it is something that I think about. I have to admit I don't have a lot of real world experience in this area. Right now I am looking at the pagan community through the computer screen. And some of what I read about makes me nervous. I know with all groups there will be bickering. I know that not everyone will agree with everything. And I know that what I see through the internet is just a small part of what is going on.

What I hope is that people are going to be willing to work together.
I hope that we are going to be working toward a future where people are not afraid to "come out of the broom closet".
I hope we are headed toward a place where bickering is put aside to work toward a common goal.
I hope we have a group or groups of people that are willing to stand up and take charge when needed.
I hope we don't only focus on the spiritual side of things. We should do things here in the physical world. Build things (centers, business, etc.) and show positive character to world around us.

It is going to take time. It is going to take commitment. It is going to take money. It is going to take some people learning a new set of skills. It is going to take people (including myself) coming out from behind computer screens and their own personal bubbles. It is going to take those people saying "I am pagan (or what ever your 'path' is). I am here. I am ready to put the little things that separate us aside. I am ready to create a community and a future for us."

I hope our paths eventually converge. And when the do, I hope they have lead us to a place where we are all still individual, but united toward creating a wonderful future.

P is for Polytheism

When I first started exploring paganism, I started of with a picture in my head of a male god and a female goddess. That's what I had been reading about and thought that was it.

But that just didn't fit. I just could fit my mind around the all gods are the Lord and all goddess are the Lady.

I truly believe that all gods and goddess exist. They are each individual. They have their own personalities and stories and domains. You have to work on forming relationships with them. Those relationships are special and should not be taken lightly. I believe that they can be offended and get angry. But I also believe that if you show them respect and love, they can guide and help you.

I am still working on forming these relationships. It is going to time. But I look forward to getting to know the gods and goddess better.

http://paganblogproject.com/

N is for Losing Negativity

Unfortunately for me, as much as I would like to look on the bright side of everything, I am truly a pessimist. When ever a situation arises my mind tends to go to the worse possible outcome. I have even caught myself imagining situations and found myself worrying about the worse thing that could happen, no matter how unlikely it may be.

And that's a problem.

If you think negative thoughts that is what is going to come to you. And I would really like some positive things to happen in my life.

So I think that in the morning, I will think about all the good things that could happen to me that day. And at night, instead of focusing on what didn't happen or what went wrong, I will think about the positive things that happened.

That will probably take some getting use to. But I hope that over time, the good will outweigh the bad. Maybe I will become an optimist.

"What we focus on, we empower and enlarge. Good multiplies when focused upon. Negativity multiplies when focused upon. The choice is ours: Which do we want more of?"
-Julia Cameron

M is for Meaning

M is for mother nature: plants, animals, and earth.


M is for when you found your self- worth.


M is for meeting new friends and holding onto the old.


M is for the times you didn't do as you were told.


M is for the memories you and your family share.


M is for the moment you discovered life isn't fair.


M is for finding it is alright to cry.

M is for realizing you are mortal and time is passing you by.



M is for all the things that give life meaning....


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I wrote the poem above... my first attempt at poetry since I was forced to write it in school. Sorry if it isn't that great... it was one of those things that just came to me as I was thinking about what to write this week.

It seems that too often we are bogged down by everyday things. Get up, go to work, come home, and go to sleep. Repeat for days on end. But honestly, is that what makes life worth living? I don't think that is what you are going to remember years from now.

You are going to remember the time you spent with your family, good or bad. The time you met your best friend. Times when you tested you boundaries and how far you could push yourself.

Maybe the meaning of life is to find meaning in life.

Just a thought.

What gives you life meaning? Think about it...

M is for Meditation

Meditation is something I have been interested in long time, even before I even knew anything about paganism or spirituality. I remember I checked out a book out from the library about meditation when I was in 8th grade. I have read numerous articles online on the subject. I understand that there are many health benefits that come with adding meditation to a daily routine. I feel meditation or some sort of mental discipline is something important to have in my spiritual path.

The only problem is that meditation is something that I have a really hard time with.

I start trying to get into a routine. I have no problem sitting still. The problem comes with getting my mind to quiet down. It is always thinking, wondering if I am doing this right. I guess like many people I am looking for instant results. And up until this point, every time I have given up when I have gotten too discouraged. And then eventually I will try again. 

But this time I would really like to stick with it and have it become a permanent part of my life. I guess that is part of have mental discipline. Not giving up when things don't go they way I think they should. And I shouldn't expect it to be easy or prefect the first time or even the twentieth time. The most important thing is to keep trying.

Do you practice a form of meditation? Have any tips for somebody who is struggling?

http://paganblogproject.com/

L is for Lessons

One of the most important thing that I have tried to do in my path is to see events in life as a series of lessons. As I said in a previous post about Karma, I do believe that if you do something bad or good, something bad or good will happen to you.

But I also believe that things happen in life that are unrelated to Karma. My view is that we are put in this life to learn lessons.  When we pass on, we go to a place where the soul/spirit can reflect on those lessons. Eventually we return to learn more. We keep going through different lives until we learn all the lessons we need.

The lessons we learn are not always easy. Sometimes it involves losing something or someone important to you. Sometimes it is hard to see what we are suppose to be learning.

But there are also happy lessons to be learned. Lessons that show us how great we can be. Lessons that teach how great other people can be.

If you look hard, life's lessons are everywhere. If you reflect on those lessons your life will be richer and you will be a little bit wiser.

http://paganblogproject.com/

K is for Karma

So, even though it is a little (alright, a lot) late, I thought that I would join in the Pagan Blog Project (http://paganblogproject.com/). Different people are reflecting on a different letter every two weeks about their spiritual and magical paths. This week is the letter K. And since I am still new to all this pagan stuff, I picked a familiar idea ...Karma.

I think that Karma is an idea that most people have heard of before. It is the idea that everything has a cause and effect. It originates from Eastern religions.  There is much more to it then what I am going to talk about, but I am going to stick to what I believe.

Do I believe in Karma? Defiantly. But probably not in the traditional way that those of the eastern religions might view it. To me it boils down to every action has a reaction. I think that if you do something bad or with ill intentions it is going to come back around. Really, I don't understand how a person can think they can do something bad and there is not going to be a consequence. I also think that if you do something very bad, what is going to come back to you will be just as bad as the original deed. Is it going to happen right away? Maybe not. But eventually whatever you have done is going to come back to bite you.

But on the opposite end, if you do something good then something good will happen to you. I don't think that you have to do something huge to get some good karma. Just helping somebody or saying something nice to a person that is having a hard day is enough. Should you do good things just to have something good will happen? No, you should do good things because that is what you truly believe is right. I just wish that everyone would.

I don't think that Karma builds up. I think one action gets one reaction. It might seem like it builds up, especially if you do a lot of good or bad deeds at one time.

Now, with all that being said, here comes the big question... is everything that happens to you a result of Karma? I have thought of it quite a bit recently. I do believe that everything that you do is going to have a reaction. But I don't think that everything that happens to you is because of something you do. In life stuff happens. I think life is all about learning lessons and the things that happen in your life are meant to teach.

Here is an example...

Today I left for work at the same time I always do. However, I ended up arriving 15 minutes late. There was an accident blocking my normal route and so I had to find another way to get there. Unfortunately, I wasn't sure how to do that and I realized I didn't have the right number to call to tell them I was going to be late. In the end I made and didn't get in trouble because they knew what was going on.

Did I do anything to cause this to happen to me? No. Did I learn a lesson? Yes. I learned that I need to have all the right phone numbers with me and to know an alternate route to get where I am going. Essentially to be better prepared.

So the whole point of this...
1) Karma does exist.
2) Every action has a reaction.
3) Not everything happens because of Karma, often it happens in order for you to learn a lesson.

http://paganblogproject.com