When I was introduced to Paganism in my early teens, I knew I’d found what I’d been looking for. Even though I hadn’t really been consciously searching, something inside me said “Yes! This is it!” and that was enough for me. I feel my internal voice is rarely wrong and I try to listen to it whenever it speaks... Which wasn’t often in my teens so I felt if it was telling me something instead of sitting silently on its arse then I should be listening! But then I had a conundrum and the internal voice did nothing to help (ass hole!); what kind of Pagan am i?
Here I am, thinking that Paganism was the answer when it turned out to be the question! Was I Wiccan? For a while I thought so. The structure, the hierarchy, the wealth of information at my fingertips; it all seemed perfect. But the further I looked into it, the more I realised that I wasn’t choosing based on what I wanted, what I felt, but what others had told me I needed. I’d always been told I needed structure, I needed rules, I needed to listen to those who “knew more” than I did. So constricting, so stifling!
Please, don’t misunderstand me I have no issues with other’s beliefs. As long as you’re not harming someone for your beliefs, they’re no one else’s business and no one has the right to scoff, berate or laugh at you for them; it just wasn’t for me.
So, how does one go about choosing ones faith? After many, many... Many years (more than I’d like to admit to!) of thinking, pondering, musing, it was my children that gave me the answer. Or rather, it was my chosen style of parenting that gave me the answer. When choosing whether or not to raise my children Pagan I made the decision that the best thing I could do for them was to teach them the tools for self exploration! For, how can we know our beliefs, how can we know which practices work for us, unless we first know ourselves? Furthermore, how can we know ourselves if we’re not taught how to listen to ourselves, be honest with ourselves, nurture ourselves even if we can’t love ourselves.
So now, I know who I am, I know how to listen to my body, my mind, my inner voice. I know what my beliefs are. It’s taken a huge weight off my shoulders, I feel lighter (which is surprising considering how much weight I put on! Cake being my go to thinking food, you understand!).
As is usual though, when I got all the answers I thought I’d been looking for, more arose! But this time, the answers weren’t for me. The questions were mine but the answers are yours! I have a great many friends, I’m very lucky to say so. Many Pagan friends, Christian friends, those of other or no faith... Many of them have one thing in common and it’s something that they’ve come to me for advice on and that is becoming self aware, listening to themselves; mind, body and soul and how to listen better to each other!
So, this is my path. As is typical, my path is not for me; it’s for you. I want to share my journey of self discovery, including every bump in the road, so that you can use it to aid your own voyage into yourself!
I hope you can learn from me, from yourself and from each other and I hope to keep learning, for our education is never ending!
I hope you can join me and discuss with me, get to know me, get to know yourself and each other.
Blessings!
Here I am, thinking that Paganism was the answer when it turned out to be the question! Was I Wiccan? For a while I thought so. The structure, the hierarchy, the wealth of information at my fingertips; it all seemed perfect. But the further I looked into it, the more I realised that I wasn’t choosing based on what I wanted, what I felt, but what others had told me I needed. I’d always been told I needed structure, I needed rules, I needed to listen to those who “knew more” than I did. So constricting, so stifling!
Please, don’t misunderstand me I have no issues with other’s beliefs. As long as you’re not harming someone for your beliefs, they’re no one else’s business and no one has the right to scoff, berate or laugh at you for them; it just wasn’t for me.
So, how does one go about choosing ones faith? After many, many... Many years (more than I’d like to admit to!) of thinking, pondering, musing, it was my children that gave me the answer. Or rather, it was my chosen style of parenting that gave me the answer. When choosing whether or not to raise my children Pagan I made the decision that the best thing I could do for them was to teach them the tools for self exploration! For, how can we know our beliefs, how can we know which practices work for us, unless we first know ourselves? Furthermore, how can we know ourselves if we’re not taught how to listen to ourselves, be honest with ourselves, nurture ourselves even if we can’t love ourselves.
So now, I know who I am, I know how to listen to my body, my mind, my inner voice. I know what my beliefs are. It’s taken a huge weight off my shoulders, I feel lighter (which is surprising considering how much weight I put on! Cake being my go to thinking food, you understand!).
As is usual though, when I got all the answers I thought I’d been looking for, more arose! But this time, the answers weren’t for me. The questions were mine but the answers are yours! I have a great many friends, I’m very lucky to say so. Many Pagan friends, Christian friends, those of other or no faith... Many of them have one thing in common and it’s something that they’ve come to me for advice on and that is becoming self aware, listening to themselves; mind, body and soul and how to listen better to each other!
So, this is my path. As is typical, my path is not for me; it’s for you. I want to share my journey of self discovery, including every bump in the road, so that you can use it to aid your own voyage into yourself!
I hope you can learn from me, from yourself and from each other and I hope to keep learning, for our education is never ending!
I hope you can join me and discuss with me, get to know me, get to know yourself and each other.
Blessings!