Read Online Spirited by Gede Parma - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gede Parma
Tags: Contemporary, Tradition, Spirituality, Solitary, pagan, guide, spring0410, Path, spellcraft, divinity
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to back down from religious wars with others and to acknowledge their feelings and background. Many people who preach their word as the absolute truth are brought up in fundamentalist families and are inundated by these ideas from an early age. Opportunities to reassess oneâs belief system are often futile in relation to these individuals, and hope should not be spent on their willingness to change but on the effect these views will have on you.
Every day in our lives, we are surrounded by people whose personal convictions are so varied that we often lose ourselves in the ocean of opinion. It is wise to always question your decision to open up to others on the subject of your spiritual path. If you do feel like opening up to a friend at school, then you will need to ask yourself a few questions regarding their attitudes towards issues not just of a spiritual or religious nature, such as homosexuality and abortion. Generally, if you have known them to react to the above issues negatively, chances are they will not take to the idea of you following an alternative spirituality. Even so, we cannot always be so readily strategic with our dealings with others, and often the truth finds ways to out itself. In cases such as these, it is best to simply take a straightforward approach and hope that the person in question will accept you. Many Pagans find that they have incorrectly assumed how others will react and rejoice inwardly when friends and peers simply smile and nod.
As Paganism is essentially a decentralised, autonomous, and sometimes anarchistic group of spiritualities, there are no universal organisations or networks that apply to all Pagans. Therefore, it is important to note that everything we say about our spirituality will affect the way outsiders view Paganism. When discussing your spirituality with peers and attempting to reconstruct their misconceptions, it is preferable to start small and use solid examples. For instance, start with the pentagram; bring the personâs attention to the construct and design of the symbol. Indicate the five points and how each individual arm interlocks and passes onto the next. Also mention the circle that encompasses the five points, and explain what the symbol means, highlighting common misconceptions and deconstructing them, replacing them with truths.
After you have introduced your peers to something apparent and visible, the next step is to attempt to give words to your thoughts and to allow yourself to make sense. Explain the basic beliefs of Paganism, remembering to use examples wherever possible and to attempt to answer all of their questions kindly and not in contempt.
The following is a list of key points you might like to include in your spiel about Paganism:
⢠Paganism is a Nature-based set of spiritualities that has its roots in the pre-Abrahamic (or pre-Christian) ancient civilisations of the world.
⢠The word Pagan derives from the Latin word âpaganus,â which literally means ârusticâ or âcountry-dwellerâ and was applied to people who retained their native and cultural practices and customs, e.g., agricultural and pastoral communities who continued to worship Nature deities and local spirits. Later on, the word evolved into an insult implying a savage, unintelligent, backward, and hedonistic person.
⢠Pagans do not worship Satan or demons, as these entities stem from Judeo-Christian and earlier Zoroastrian concepts that developed into complex schools of thought. Nor do Pagans see opposing forces as inherently good or evil, as we have no absolute power recognising either.
⢠NeoPaganism, a term referring to the current Pagan traditions, abides by the general law of âDo unto others as you would have them do unto youâ in its varying forms. Though this is not a central tenet of all Pagan traditions, it is a reasonable assessment of generic NeoPaganism.
⢠Witchcraft, Wicca, SanterÃa, Voudoun,
Every day in our lives, we are surrounded by people whose personal convictions are so varied that we often lose ourselves in the ocean of opinion. It is wise to always question your decision to open up to others on the subject of your spiritual path. If you do feel like opening up to a friend at school, then you will need to ask yourself a few questions regarding their attitudes towards issues not just of a spiritual or religious nature, such as homosexuality and abortion. Generally, if you have known them to react to the above issues negatively, chances are they will not take to the idea of you following an alternative spirituality. Even so, we cannot always be so readily strategic with our dealings with others, and often the truth finds ways to out itself. In cases such as these, it is best to simply take a straightforward approach and hope that the person in question will accept you. Many Pagans find that they have incorrectly assumed how others will react and rejoice inwardly when friends and peers simply smile and nod.
As Paganism is essentially a decentralised, autonomous, and sometimes anarchistic group of spiritualities, there are no universal organisations or networks that apply to all Pagans. Therefore, it is important to note that everything we say about our spirituality will affect the way outsiders view Paganism. When discussing your spirituality with peers and attempting to reconstruct their misconceptions, it is preferable to start small and use solid examples. For instance, start with the pentagram; bring the personâs attention to the construct and design of the symbol. Indicate the five points and how each individual arm interlocks and passes onto the next. Also mention the circle that encompasses the five points, and explain what the symbol means, highlighting common misconceptions and deconstructing them, replacing them with truths.
After you have introduced your peers to something apparent and visible, the next step is to attempt to give words to your thoughts and to allow yourself to make sense. Explain the basic beliefs of Paganism, remembering to use examples wherever possible and to attempt to answer all of their questions kindly and not in contempt.
The following is a list of key points you might like to include in your spiel about Paganism:
⢠Paganism is a Nature-based set of spiritualities that has its roots in the pre-Abrahamic (or pre-Christian) ancient civilisations of the world.
⢠The word Pagan derives from the Latin word âpaganus,â which literally means ârusticâ or âcountry-dwellerâ and was applied to people who retained their native and cultural practices and customs, e.g., agricultural and pastoral communities who continued to worship Nature deities and local spirits. Later on, the word evolved into an insult implying a savage, unintelligent, backward, and hedonistic person.
⢠Pagans do not worship Satan or demons, as these entities stem from Judeo-Christian and earlier Zoroastrian concepts that developed into complex schools of thought. Nor do Pagans see opposing forces as inherently good or evil, as we have no absolute power recognising either.
⢠NeoPaganism, a term referring to the current Pagan traditions, abides by the general law of âDo unto others as you would have them do unto youâ in its varying forms. Though this is not a central tenet of all Pagan traditions, it is a reasonable assessment of generic NeoPaganism.
⢠Witchcraft, Wicca, SanterÃa, Voudoun,
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