QUESTION - I am trying to figure out what path I am headed on.. I believe in every living thing being connected and therefore responsible to each other.. I don't believe in gods as people but as energy. How in the world do I figure out what I am? I know lots of people say not to label but I would like a direction to go in my studies.. Thanks!
ANSWER - I understand what you mean. Yes, labels can be frustrating to some people but sometimes they give you the confidence to know you are heading in a direction with a definite goal and a certain progression. And it certainly helps in understanding what you are and in explaining yourself to other people.
But equally, applying a label to yourself when you are still open to all the ideas and influences that can help you define your personal path can be limiting and may mean that you end up rejecting elements of tradition and learning that could have strengthened your own path and helped you on your journey. So yes, apply labels with caution.
So instead of looking for a hard and fast definition of yourself, lets explore the general directions that you could start to look into. The lack of belief in the Gods probably rules out formal Wicca as Wicca is very much a religious path. But your very humanist focus on interrelated energies could suggest you would be suited to a Druidic path. Or even a Shamanistic path. Meditate on what your core beliefs are. Do you have an affinity with nature, animals, magic? Do you seek to shape your own destiny or to blend into a pattern as you relate to other people? Do you practice magic? Are you drawn to ceremony and ritual or simple acts of everyday influence?
The thing is that few magical practitioners fit neatly into a labelled box. People have diverse ideas and beliefs and the paths of most are a blend of what suits them. This is often referred to as eclectic witchcraft. Rather than looking for a path where you feel every element is right for you, why not pull together the elements from each way that feel right for what you want to do. You can label your path eclectic and your journey forward will be more personal and more right for you as everything you choose to practise, believe or study will be based on your own intuition on what will work for you.
So what I am saying is bend the path to suit you, don't bend yourself to follow the path.
ANSWER - I understand what you mean. Yes, labels can be frustrating to some people but sometimes they give you the confidence to know you are heading in a direction with a definite goal and a certain progression. And it certainly helps in understanding what you are and in explaining yourself to other people.
But equally, applying a label to yourself when you are still open to all the ideas and influences that can help you define your personal path can be limiting and may mean that you end up rejecting elements of tradition and learning that could have strengthened your own path and helped you on your journey. So yes, apply labels with caution.
So instead of looking for a hard and fast definition of yourself, lets explore the general directions that you could start to look into. The lack of belief in the Gods probably rules out formal Wicca as Wicca is very much a religious path. But your very humanist focus on interrelated energies could suggest you would be suited to a Druidic path. Or even a Shamanistic path. Meditate on what your core beliefs are. Do you have an affinity with nature, animals, magic? Do you seek to shape your own destiny or to blend into a pattern as you relate to other people? Do you practice magic? Are you drawn to ceremony and ritual or simple acts of everyday influence?
The thing is that few magical practitioners fit neatly into a labelled box. People have diverse ideas and beliefs and the paths of most are a blend of what suits them. This is often referred to as eclectic witchcraft. Rather than looking for a path where you feel every element is right for you, why not pull together the elements from each way that feel right for what you want to do. You can label your path eclectic and your journey forward will be more personal and more right for you as everything you choose to practise, believe or study will be based on your own intuition on what will work for you.
So what I am saying is bend the path to suit you, don't bend yourself to follow the path.
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