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Block UserI AM human….damnit!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 05:54 AM PST [Rant]
There seems to be a trend among pagans, or at least some of them. And that trend focuses on denying their own human nature. I’m sure everyone has heard the “we must be accepting and never judge others” rhetoric. It sounds great, in theory; surely if we could have such an attitude, we’d be enlightened ascended masters….or some other gipe. Hell, maybe we would be. BUT! If we managed that, what we wouldn’t be is human. Humanity judges. So do other animals for that matter. It’s how we identify those people and situations which are harmful to us, and those which will allow us to grow and become better people.
I know, I’ve ranted about the whole “judging” issue before. So I won’t go further into the necessity of it. Instead I want to look at how this denial of self can be harmful.
News flash! We ARE human. And humans are flawed. What seems to elude most people is that flaws are GOOD. Now, stay with me here. I know, I know, flaws are bad, because they often lead to regrettable choices and decisions. Such is indeed true. Yet when there are flaws, there is also the potential for growth. If we were perfect, then no more growth could occur.
As a line from one of my favourite Leonard Coen song goes: “There is a crack in everything. That is how the light gets in.”
So yes kiddies I AM human. I DO judge. I will NOT accept people just because someone says I should. And I refuse to let my brains slosh out.
Does this endanger the chances of my “enlightenment?” I really don’t care to tell you the truth. All that I care about is I’ve seen the harm that wholesale acceptance and a lack of judgement can wreak on an individual and a group. So I’m in no hurry to give up what are indeed very valuable tools.
Personally, I like being human, warts and all. I’m not perfect, and that’s okay.
Religious Jewlery
Sunday, August 19, 2007, 06:52 AM PST [General]
You know, for all that I like my sparklies, I'm not a big fan of religious jewelry. Or should I say religious symbols worn AS jewelry.
Nothing against those that do. It's just not my thing.
But that said, I DO have religious jewelry that I wear. However very few people realize what it is. You see my favourite pendent is a BIG assed hunk of amber, which is a stone associated with my goddess (Freyja). *I* know and understand the connection, but most don't, even among pagans. They just rightly assume that I have a thing for amber :)
So this got me thinking. What other gods and goddesses are associated with what stones/crystals/gems? And do people use those stones/crystals/gems either for religious jewelry or in religious practise in general.
Anyone?
It's Not About Mystical Secrets
Thursday, July 26, 2007, 10:54 AM PST [Musings]
When people start looking into paganism and it’s various paths, they seem to think that they will be discovering some grand, mystical secret to the universe. In my experience there are no such things, just information and understanding we didn’t have for ourselves. Mysteries are such only because they can’t be explained using human language, but must be experienced; there is nothing special about them, any can access them.
So if there is a mystical secret to be had it’s this: it’s not about powers or gods, it’s about perspective.
Am I different form the me that was an atheist? Absolutely! There is no doubt in my mind about that one. But why am I different? Sure I have all kinds of beliefs and experiences that are different, but that’s not what caused it. Rather these are the by products of my change in perspective. It is that change in perspective tat allowed me to learn the craft of the witch, to hear the gods and spirits, to see beyond the world of our physical, every day life.
And there is NOTHING special about my being able to do so. Those that get inflated egos because they can see auras or astral project, or whatever are seriously deluding themselves. This is nothing special about spiritual path. What is special is how YOU incorporate and live it as part of your daily life. Do that, and you’ll understand all those “secrets” that the sages have alluded to through out the ages.
So if there is a mystical secret to be had it’s this: it’s not about powers or gods, it’s about perspective.
Am I different form the me that was an atheist? Absolutely! There is no doubt in my mind about that one. But why am I different? Sure I have all kinds of beliefs and experiences that are different, but that’s not what caused it. Rather these are the by products of my change in perspective. It is that change in perspective tat allowed me to learn the craft of the witch, to hear the gods and spirits, to see beyond the world of our physical, every day life.
And there is NOTHING special about my being able to do so. Those that get inflated egos because they can see auras or astral project, or whatever are seriously deluding themselves. This is nothing special about spiritual path. What is special is how YOU incorporate and live it as part of your daily life. Do that, and you’ll understand all those “secrets” that the sages have alluded to through out the ages.
The “law” of returns
Wednesday, July 25, 2007, 11:22 PM PST [Musings]
This one comes up so often that I just had to blog on it J
Pick up pretty much any “magic” book and you’ll run into the idea or the Law of Returns, the Three Fold Law, etc. The idea is that what you put out comes back to you, which is straightforward enough, but then people insist on making it something complicated and mystical.
The idea that there is some power or other that is keeping a tally sheet strikes me as petty and absurd since divine energies (however you view them) should be above such human failings themselves. Does this mean there is no law of returns? Hell no!
It is indeed a law and it does exist, but it’s not enforced by any spiritual watch dog. It is instead enforced by the world around us, and some times that enforcement takes it’s time in coming or seems unfair. Let me make clear that that Law of Returns, as I know it to be, has NOTHING to do with being “fair.” The sooner people get over that notion the sooner they can get on with their lives.
The Law of Return is a very predictable product of living within a society. And no, it’s not found only in human civilisations. Go study wolf packs, whale pods or ant colonies to see what I mean. You see, when you live in a society, everything you do has the potential of impacting on others. Some times this is intentional and other times it’s unintentional. Regardless the result is the same. So if your impact is beneficial (you host a kick-ass public ritual followed by a potluck meal) people will think well of you and you will probably find that you are invited into the lives of others, strengthening your own little community. If, however, people have reason to distrust or even fear you (you’re know to start witch wars and throw around curses) then people are going to avoid you (if you’re lucky) or even take steps to make sure that you can’t hurt them or others.
I would like to share a story about the Law of Returns in action. I was driving into the city one day and this little red sports car came zooming up, driving like a dink and generally being both unpleasant and dangerous. I made sure to stay out of it’s way and watched it go past. A few blocks latter I rounded a corner and who should be pulled over with a police car behind him? That same little red sports car.
Getting pulled up and ticketed wasn’t my doing, it had nothing to do with any divine entity. It was very simple cause and effect. He broke the law, and he got caught. Not everyone does, but getting caught isn’t the point.
But what about those people that shitty things happen to? Lets use the example of a guy whose house burns down. It would indeed be the Law of Returns IF he’d done something like….fallen asleep with a lit cigarette in his fingers for example. It would NOT be an example of Laws of return if the house was struck by lightning and caught fire. But a related example of the law of returns would be if he was nice guy that was involved in the local community, so that same community railed to get denotations and raise money to help him get back on his feet. Or if he was a mean spirited prick, then the community would just go “tut tut” and ignore his predicament, leaving to the insurance agencies and others.
What we put out accumulates and effects how others (and our surroundings) react to us. And THAT is the Law of Returns.
Pick up pretty much any “magic” book and you’ll run into the idea or the Law of Returns, the Three Fold Law, etc. The idea is that what you put out comes back to you, which is straightforward enough, but then people insist on making it something complicated and mystical.
The idea that there is some power or other that is keeping a tally sheet strikes me as petty and absurd since divine energies (however you view them) should be above such human failings themselves. Does this mean there is no law of returns? Hell no!
It is indeed a law and it does exist, but it’s not enforced by any spiritual watch dog. It is instead enforced by the world around us, and some times that enforcement takes it’s time in coming or seems unfair. Let me make clear that that Law of Returns, as I know it to be, has NOTHING to do with being “fair.” The sooner people get over that notion the sooner they can get on with their lives.
The Law of Return is a very predictable product of living within a society. And no, it’s not found only in human civilisations. Go study wolf packs, whale pods or ant colonies to see what I mean. You see, when you live in a society, everything you do has the potential of impacting on others. Some times this is intentional and other times it’s unintentional. Regardless the result is the same. So if your impact is beneficial (you host a kick-ass public ritual followed by a potluck meal) people will think well of you and you will probably find that you are invited into the lives of others, strengthening your own little community. If, however, people have reason to distrust or even fear you (you’re know to start witch wars and throw around curses) then people are going to avoid you (if you’re lucky) or even take steps to make sure that you can’t hurt them or others.
I would like to share a story about the Law of Returns in action. I was driving into the city one day and this little red sports car came zooming up, driving like a dink and generally being both unpleasant and dangerous. I made sure to stay out of it’s way and watched it go past. A few blocks latter I rounded a corner and who should be pulled over with a police car behind him? That same little red sports car.
Getting pulled up and ticketed wasn’t my doing, it had nothing to do with any divine entity. It was very simple cause and effect. He broke the law, and he got caught. Not everyone does, but getting caught isn’t the point.
But what about those people that shitty things happen to? Lets use the example of a guy whose house burns down. It would indeed be the Law of Returns IF he’d done something like….fallen asleep with a lit cigarette in his fingers for example. It would NOT be an example of Laws of return if the house was struck by lightning and caught fire. But a related example of the law of returns would be if he was nice guy that was involved in the local community, so that same community railed to get denotations and raise money to help him get back on his feet. Or if he was a mean spirited prick, then the community would just go “tut tut” and ignore his predicament, leaving to the insurance agencies and others.
What we put out accumulates and effects how others (and our surroundings) react to us. And THAT is the Law of Returns.
Picking Up the Slack
Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 08:51 AM PST [Musings]
Something I’ve come across and even joked with myself is the idea that we humans do our damnedest and then the rest is up to the gods, as though the gods will pick up the slack for us. However the other night I realized that the idea is in fact backwards.
You see, we START with what the gods give us, whatever that be, and then it’s up to US to pick up the remaining slack. And some times it SUCKS. But it’s YOUR life. No one has a responsibility to make it work except you.
So start with the gods and end with your own effort. It’s worth it.
You see, we START with what the gods give us, whatever that be, and then it’s up to US to pick up the remaining slack. And some times it SUCKS. But it’s YOUR life. No one has a responsibility to make it work except you.
So start with the gods and end with your own effort. It’s worth it.
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 [ducks and runs] LMAO! It's been awhile and thought you could use a laugh. Hopefully I'll catch you online sometime next week. Miss you. Many Blessings, Aylwyn |
Just dropping by to say hi. Hope all is well. :)
Many Blessings, Aylwyn
08:54 PM PST