link, and some discussion
Jul. 18th, 2006 10:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivendellroseVery eloquent and intelligent discussion of Blog Against Racism Week over at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
misia's journal. I'll let that list speak for itself in terms of my participation, because I really don't feel qualified to discuss the subject much, myself. I grew up white in suburbia. I'm working all that entails, and I figure that's the best I can do at the moment. Avoiding speaking for others, in a situation like this, seems like a virtue.
I will say, however, that point number three on the above link is something that has occasionally driven me to distraction. I understand curiosity (oh, do I ever), but I, personally, am very leery of asking questions that might be misunderstood as being too personal, too prying, hitting too close to things people don't want to talk about. I'll generally do a lot just to avoid asking questions directly, particularly about touchy issues like religion. On the other hand, I'm aware that assumption and silence is how people develop false assumptions. I'm always glad to speak about my personal experiences and impressions as a student, as a pagan, as a bisexual... what-have-you. It's the big questions ("What do pagans believe?") that throw me. I can answer "what's paganism" pretty well, especially from a historical perspective, but as for what we believe... ask a dozen pagans, get a dozen answers. And they're likely to disagree fairly strongly with each other on everything but the veeeeeery basics. And in my experience, that's the case with any group, particularly a group that's usually a minority. What feminists think, what Asian-Americans think, what Jews think, what Bostonians, Seattleites, Austin... umm.... Austonians?
Anyway, you get the point. But for the record, if anybody actually wants to know my opinion (gasp) on something that I actually have experience with, you all know that I'm talkative as all hell, and the only thing that holds me back from lecturing every time a holiday rolls around is that I really doubt you all want me on pontification-mode eight times a year. ;) I can only speak for myself, but I cherish the chance to begin a dialogue and keep things (especially matters like religion and sexuality, those controversial things that I feel that I can speak to some degree on) out in the open.
misia's journal. I'll let that list speak for itself in terms of my participation, because I really don't feel qualified to discuss the subject much, myself. I grew up white in suburbia. I'm working all that entails, and I figure that's the best I can do at the moment. Avoiding speaking for others, in a situation like this, seems like a virtue.I will say, however, that point number three on the above link is something that has occasionally driven me to distraction. I understand curiosity (oh, do I ever), but I, personally, am very leery of asking questions that might be misunderstood as being too personal, too prying, hitting too close to things people don't want to talk about. I'll generally do a lot just to avoid asking questions directly, particularly about touchy issues like religion. On the other hand, I'm aware that assumption and silence is how people develop false assumptions. I'm always glad to speak about my personal experiences and impressions as a student, as a pagan, as a bisexual... what-have-you. It's the big questions ("What do pagans believe?") that throw me. I can answer "what's paganism" pretty well, especially from a historical perspective, but as for what we believe... ask a dozen pagans, get a dozen answers. And they're likely to disagree fairly strongly with each other on everything but the veeeeeery basics. And in my experience, that's the case with any group, particularly a group that's usually a minority. What feminists think, what Asian-Americans think, what Jews think, what Bostonians, Seattleites, Austin... umm.... Austonians?
Anyway, you get the point. But for the record, if anybody actually wants to know my opinion (gasp) on something that I actually have experience with, you all know that I'm talkative as all hell, and the only thing that holds me back from lecturing every time a holiday rolls around is that I really doubt you all want me on pontification-mode eight times a year. ;) I can only speak for myself, but I cherish the chance to begin a dialogue and keep things (especially matters like religion and sexuality, those controversial things that I feel that I can speak to some degree on) out in the open.
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-18 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-18 07:45 pm (UTC)One of the biggest things, for me, is that I regard it as a serious spiritual path, not a way to power or a way to accomplish things. I take significant issue with the fact that the majority of books, articles, websites, etc on paganism are focused on spells and ritual formula. I love ritual as much as the next person, but the spells... I prefer to think of them as prayers. I'm not doing something, I'm asking for it. I know some people might regard that as a step back from the empowerment impulse of pagan practices, but I'm okay with that. Reverence is a big deal to me - I'm just a speck in all of this, and I think that sense of perspective is vital to me.
The important thing about paganism, to me, is personal relationship with nature and the spiritual side of life, and a connection to the land and the beliefs of my (very distant) ancestors. I tend toward Celtic and Norse gods and beliefs, and I don't think I could possibly connect so well with gods and beliefs that are in my blood, and in the stories that I heard so often growing up. I'm aware that the system I follow bears little resemblance to the practices of the ancients who worshipped the same gods and goddesses, and I'm okay with that. Times change. Human cultures have all come a long way since the days of sacrifice and tribal warfare (we all started there, I think), and while there's a lot to be learned from those traditions, there's a lot I don't feel the need to take on, either. I specifically distance myself from Wicca because I think Gardner and his followers were... questionable in their intentions, and, to me, not appealing in the way they ran things. I appreciate their work in beginning the movement, but I myself want little to no part of them. On the other hand, I've been friends with a number of Wiccans over the years, and have found them generally to be intelligent, interesting people.
I'm leery of groups (the ones I've visited in the past have tended to be a little too off the wall for me, too bent on conspiracies and what I consider fluffy stuff about the pyramids and such. I pride myself on my rational mind - I have a decent background in science, and I tend to be cautious and skeptical of supernatural ideas, as much as I love to read and think about them. There's a lot of things that I'd like to believe... but the 'evidence' usually doesn't add up to my satisfaction. However, I think that attitude perfectly fits the practical, do-it-yourself attitude that paganism has adopted over the last couple decades, as well as the historical sources. I lean a lot on Norse wisdom writings, and they emphasize a need to learn, a need to seek knowledge and be realistic, as well as accept that we're mortal. We can't know everything, and even if we could, we'd probably be happier without. But the search continues. I like to think that if the gods hadn't meant us to use our minds and question everything, they wouldn't have built that into us. I have no desire to be locked into a dogmatic faith that says "here is what you should believe." Better, for me, are metaphors and hints to be interpreted at my discretion. It's frustrating, sometimes, but it's honest and, I think, fulfilling.
And of course there's the connection to nature. That's the one thing I think most pagans have in common - that and the 8 holiday wheel of the year, which seems to almost be universal, now. That's one of my favorite things, actually - having holidays that tie directly to what's going on in the world around me, being aware of the changing seasons in the world. It's a great comfort and joy.
...And now we know why I generally keep my mouth shut about my spiritual practices. Once I start, it seems like I don't know how to stop....
no subject
Date: 2006-07-19 12:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-19 10:51 pm (UTC)