Paganism/Wicca

[Eilis]

:love :love :bowl :love :love

This post is inspired by GeminiZ (hope I remembered that right :sarcasm )when she replied to another post asking for more information. So being the gabby :fishy I am :bounce :bounce I thought I'd give it a go.

First of all paganinsm is one of the oldest religions in the world, dating back thousands and thousands of years. Many get confused between the differences and/or similarities between oaganism and Wicca. Wicca is a fairly new term, only within the last century as people began a renaissance of the Old Religion. Another thing to realize is that Wiccans and Pagans generally do not aspire to organization. There are covens, and groups, but most are solitary practiitoners who take their own interpretations from Old Text or belief and apply it to their lives today. Most - and thats a hefty MOST - believe firmly in not bashing other religions, yet respect them. As our faith has been persecuted for centuries as heresy and being in cahoots with the devil, the Salem Witch trials etc, we have learned that ANY religious perscution is bad.

We do not believe in one God - we believe in a God and Goddess. We believe in divination thru herbs, rituals and cards - this is called majic. Caution: what you send out comes back, some believe three-fold. This is a very positive and peaceful "religion", and divination is supposed to be used to strengthen inner spirit and to control ones own destiny - not the destiny of others.

The God is symbolically seen as the Sun (solar influence) and the Goddess is seen as the Moon (lunar influence) Thousands of years ago the Celtic pagans were a matriarchal group. Theyw ere also agrarian, so the sabbats and cycles associate to the seasonal changes. We do not believe in a heaven or hell. We do NOT believe in the existance of Satan/the devil/Lucifer - whatever you might want to call him. We believe evil is essential for the polarity of good. The horned God was a god in which people prayed to in the winter - the god of the hunt. This was because crops had been hauled and people relied heavily on hunting for food. They prayed to the goat god for a good hunt and for permisison to kill. This was later taken by others and preached that we - or thepagans of old - were actually praying to the devil - the horned god. NOT the case.

We believe in reincarnation. I have an entire other post - or I should say HAD :sarcasm - on that. I'll repost it some day. There are eight sabbats (or holidays) and then lesser esbats throughout the year (such as a full moon)

The two principle Gods r the Oak King and the Holly King, and to make that short they signify changing of seasons. Many chrstian holidays have been taken from pagan sabbats, but at the risk of a religious debate here its best you read that on your own. The two biggest sabats are Litha (summer solstace - June twenty-first) and Samhain (Haloween- October thirty-first)) beacuse they marked agrarian changes. Many thousand of years ago only had two seasons - summer and winter, and they were marked by these dates.

The goal - for me - is finding karmic balance and harmony through the energy of our earth and solar system. My proof is nature - every day I see my God and Goddess. Every day I told to them and I dont need an altar or a ritual to simply talk. They are my equal in the sense that we are all equal life forms. I draw down their energy for my own good, and I call upon them and other elementals (earth, fire, air and water) for my own good as well.

This is getting way too long - but I think I have outlined it okay. Any other pagan/wiccan fishies please feel free to add! There is sooo much to it - impossible to post it all.

BLESSED BE

:love
Dory

[Eilis]

P.S. LOL

I just told someone about this post and she said "So do u consider yourself a witch?" :bounce Why yes, I do. However the connotations of "witchcraft" or "The Craft" often breed a deep fear in people. I would guess that to be fear of the unknown. Wicca is called The Craft, and witches do divinate. But its a very peaceful, positive GOOD practice. Does divination work? Yes, it does. It has for me. Should a beginner try it without guidance? Emphatic NO. Since there ARE energies that can be altered, and because things CAN get out of our control, it is best to solicit the help of someone who has practiced for years. someone ethical. Unfortunately all faiths carry the unethical in some degree. Be very careful whom you ask to help you. I had the fortune of my mothers side of the family - multi generational pagan, as well as some other very experienced people as I grew up. I value that more than anything as it really helped me from too many "Oops's!" There are also a lot of great books out there, as many people nowadays are self taught. Seek those out. (Does it sound like I have been talking to GeminiZ this entire post? :sarcasm )

OK - end of P.S.

:love
Dory

[Ickleclaire]

hey,
i'm gonna give y'all my view, on the hellenismos.

i follow the ancient greek gods and festivals. this means that' i don't follow the eight sabbats mentioned above, but different festivals throughout each lunar month. the athenian year began with the july full moon, and then festivals followed the cycle of the year. the new moon was honoured, as was the full moon and the dark of the moon, whilst certain days during the waxing (new to full) moon were dedicated to individual gods and goddesses. and so i follow those fesitvals as closely as i can - of course no massive parades thru the streets or animal sacrifice or nething - just some incense and candles. :sarcasm

i also practise magick (with the k so people don't confuse it with bunnies-out-of-hats-magic). this isn't like sabrina :sad :sarcasm - it's kinda just like bending the universe a little bit to make things go ur way. god that sounds really evil...it's weird; but it works. god that was eloquent.....:winky

however, i differ with the wiccan view above because i don't believe that things will come back and hit me threefold, nor do i follow the wiccan rede that states 'harm none'. now that don't mean i'm out cursing left right and centre - just that i'll give as good as i get.

so yeah, that's me. but that's just one person's view; corner another hellenic and they'll probably say something completely different!

eudaimonia!

much :love *hugs* and :clover
ickle :touched

[Freetobe-Me]

Thank you for this post Dory. I am a :greenfish that was brought up Catholic (well, my dads side is anyway) and I am trying to figure out what I "am". I sort of know what my beliefs are but have never really clearly defined them. I am pretty sure ********% that I am not Catholic. Paganism/ Wicca is something that I have considered but I have never seen it outlined. SO thank you, you have mad eme think . :wink


:sun Tina :sun

[farmgirl]

While the basis of Paganism is more or less consistent, the individual seems to have his/her own details, when it comes to beliefs and practices. When I think about what I believe, what is important, how I behave, etc., it is what I know to be best for me, and there is no need or requirement for me to impose my system on others.

I think that is really comforting.

-Laura

[DancinHippy]

I call myself pagan, wiccan, a witch, but really I just take what speaks to my soul and work with it. I do belong to a group of women who practice the Reclaiming tradition--we work mainly with the Goddess. I don't know if I believe in more than one God/Goddess, I kinda think of it as a duality, the masculine/femine energy of Spirit.

I have a lot of issues regarding organized religion and their attitudes towards women, so working with the God energy is not easy for me. I try my hardest to respect other's religions, because I know in my heart that is how it should be, that is how to work from the heart. But I do have my issues which I am concious of and try not to hoist them on others.

I am curious, how do y'all use your wiccan/pagan traditions to help you with your ED???

Huggs
Peace--Dancer

[Eilis]

TY all for your replies. I'd first like tosay this post was a general outline of beliefs. It was in no way or form meant to be "If u r pagan u believe this." That is the glory of this spirituality - individuality. I have no statistic, but I would imagine paganism is one of the leading belief systems with "sole praxtitioners" for this reason.

How does my spirituality help with my ed? Well for me its a true belief that my most important "parts" have NOTHING to do with my physical shell. I say shell because I believe in reincarnation and this body and appearance I have now is the least important as to who I am. I believe in finding zen - that ultimate karmic balance, and the lessons I need to learn to evolve are spiritual. I did a post awhile back on my belief in reincarnation and the panes of our existance. When I get a little more time I will re-post it. My journey is inward now. The theory of life is a process, not a state, is big to me. Through my rituals I stay in tune with the constant process, not BEING one thing or another. As for food - it is what nourishes me, and I am grateful. I give thanks for it as I need it and I have it. It is fuel for my body and mind to complete what I need to complete tomove on. For me - NOW - to believe being heavy or skinny will deliver me to some bliss is nit an option, It merely proves to deter me from my true path.

I'll get back tot his later. I am tired and having a hard time thinking :cute

Blessed Be

:love
Dory

[Trickster]

:stars:hugonEILIS:hugoff:stars

hey chicky!! :supergrin that was one onf the best condensed definitions that i have seen on wicca/paganism......i often have a hard time explaining what i'm all about, and what wicca is all about. i am solitary...i've only been "practicing" and CALLING myself a witch for about **** years, but i've believed for much longer......ever since i was about nine or ten you should check out my website, and let me know what you think!! it is mainly about wicca, all natural health/healing......it is a work in progress, but i have some good info on there! and sign my guest book!! :sarcasm

:starsbLeSsEd bE!

:flower*hEAtHeR*:flower

[Millificent]

As Dory said, there are MANY variations among Wiccan. The term "Wiccan" is about as specific as the term "Christian." Within that, there are many differing beliefs.

The beliefs that Dory describes are generally from the Gardenerian branch - named after Gerald Gardner, who founded modern-day Wicca in the middle of the twentieth century. Nowadays, many people tend to call themselves "Ecclectic Wiccans" which means they have combined the Celtic/Garderian beliefs with other traditions, often Shamanistic (American Indian).

By the way, despite what they say on the show "Charmed," there is no such thing as THE Book of Shadows. Every coven (or solitary individual) has their own Book of Shadows, in which their particular set of rituals are written down. They tend to be rather similar in some ways, but there are also huge variations.

:stars Millie

[outspoken_poet]

i'm a pagan too... an eclectic pagan drawing from several different traditions. nothing to add here except that i think that Dory did a good job explaining. :cheesy
be well, :bowl
~poet

[Pisces Rising]

:hugon :love Dory :love :hugoff

There was a post you wrote before the Boards crashed about your beliefs, which I thought was rather interesting. I meant to print it out and never got a chance to. Could you re-post it if you have it saved somewhere? I'd like to re-read it.

Thanks,
Pisces )-(

[Eilis]

Pisces I didnt save any of my posts. I am assuming u mean the reincarnation one because I have received a lot of requests for that - it was called the component levels of a human being, and it was LONG LOL. Yes I am going to redo that one and soon, probably over the weekend.

Blessed Be

:love
Dory

[kieralee]

i too am a pagan, i am a solitary practitioner and although i worship the god and the goddess, i also worship and call upon the lesser gods and goddesses, especially from ancient egypt.

to me my religion is a pathway in life, unlike some religions which are a set of rules to follow. it is a very free religion, with only one rule: an' harm ye none, do what ye will
which basically means that whatever your practices, you should do no harm by carrying them out.

i work from deep within my heart and my soul to find inner peace and harmony.

blessed be :fishy

[Pisces Rising]

:hugon :love Dory :love :hugoff

I actually have a copy of the Past Lives post. I was afraid if I started to reply to it, I might never shut up :grin, so I withheld. You made a reference to the Component Levels post in the Past Lives post, which is how I stumbled across it. But I didn't manage to print it out in time :sad. Thanks for redoing it. :stars

:love Pisces )-(

[CJGriffin]

I'm fairly new around here, and am still working through some of the issues around my compulsive overeating.

I'm also a Pagan, and have found my spirituality very helpful in moving away from disordered eating and toward a happier life.

Recently I quit the therapy I was in - after ******** months it didn't seem like we were getting much of anywhere. Since I've quit, I've come to realize that I *was* getting better that whole time.

One thing that bothered me about the therapist was her unwillingness to engage with my spirituality. I believe that the end of my ED will come through my religion. (I said that to a wise friend, and she said "It can't come from anywhere else!")

Since quitting therapy, I've been trying to make more time for spiritual activities. One really great insight came from a Tarot study group I'm in. The card was the Star, and in meditation I "heard" this:

"You ARE enough. You HAVE enough. There IS enough."

[outspoken_poet]

re: the last post on this thread:
wonderful thoughts. i copied that down onto a post it and stuck it near my altar.
thought i'd let you know.
be well, :bowl
and blessed be! :sun

[Arkali]

Hi guys,
I'm new, so I apologize for dragging out an old topic.

Anyway- I thought I'd clarify Millificent's post a bit - Pagan is actually the broad term (think Christian). Wicca is a "denomination", if you will - just as Baptist is a denomination of Christianity. Celtic/Druidism and Shamanism are not considered sub-sets of wiccan, but of rather of paganism.

Anyway - I sometimes wish paganism was like on Charmed or Sabrina or something. LOL I'd love to be able to clean my house through spells :bounce On the bright side, we can hope that shows like this will open people's minds a bit that we are not baby-snatching cultists :happy

[Feak]

Good to see this thread :happy

I'm raising a fin as another Wiccan :fishy

My beliefs are very personal to me, but they are consistant with Wicca in particualar and also Buddhism in parts.

Not many RT people know about my beliefs anymore. I hate to think of people thinking that it's a phase, that I'm after attention, not to mention all the stigma attached to Wicca to begin with!

My beliefs have helped me so much with recovery. It helps so much to believe in the higher powers, in reincarnation, and particularly in karma. Also the Rede, "an it harm none, do what ye will". I am part of a universal energy, I want my contribution to be positive, not negative! :happy