I was asked by a poster what my specific beliefs are so I figured it would be easier to just post a blog explaining myself than have to possibly type the same thing over and over again.
First and foremost I believe there is more than one path to the divine. I do not believe my way is the only path, its just the one thats right for me.
I am technically an eclectic pagan and I follow a cottage/green witch path. Being eclectic means I don't follow any ancient path, but I take things from each path to make up my own belief system. I take from here and there to make up something that makes sense to me. There are many things I haven't made my mind up about yet and I am still finding my way on this path.
I'm a polytheist, I believe there are many gods and goddesses out there that a person can choose to worship. I don't feel that the gods care so much if we worship them or not. I also get the feeling that they don't want us to bow to them like servants although they do require respect. I think the greatest compliment you can give a god is to live a full life doing what you feel is right, not bowing to them out of fear. Besides that I also believe in the gods as archtypal (some of them) like the greenman, vine king, etc. I don't discount those figures either, though I view them as personifications than actual gods.
I believe in the existence of spirits (I am a paranormal investigator - lol). When I say spirits I mean nature spirits (elementals) and spirits of the dearly departed. I also believe on honoring the ancestors in whatever way I can.
I believe in honoring nature and that nature is one of the best teachers if you're willing to listen. I don't have any sacred book, well I guess other than my little Book of Shadows if that counts. And I don't believe in the mythologies as to me they're just a teaching tool.
I closely follow the wheel of the year and the seasons and there are eight holy days as a part of my practice: Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon.
I'm solitary, and I only do rituals for very special occassions like one of the aforementioned holidays. Thats also the one time that you'll ever see me in a group setting (holiday). I may do a spell or two here and there, but only if I feel there is no other alternative to solve the situation at hand. I am not a ceremonialist on any level. I prefer to do folk magic, I do not believe I need to cast circles to do magic, etc.
I use divinition as a part of my path although I should say the form I use 98% of the time is runic divinition. Its the only form I've been able to do correctly.
As a part of my minimal native american heritage I also believe in totem animals and a few have made themselves known in my life. I am animistic, I believe every living thing has a sort of soul in it.
And as I mentioned Cottage and Green witchery I'll go ahead and post an explanation of what that is.
Cottage Witchcraft: Practice of domestic, practiced in the home, garden, and yard. Will likely have a well tended home and may know many protection and purification spells. LIkely have a garden and various household spirits. Tools will revolve around household chores and patron deities will likely be those of the home, hearth, family, agriculture, and the harvest.
Green Witch: Studies herbs, flowers, wildlife, wheel of the year and will likely know what trees grow in the area. Studies herbalism and will likely have a garden. Goes into the wild to gather plants and practice ritual magic, tools are natural patrons are likely to be deities of anture, the wild, animals, healing, agriculture, and the harvest.
The above are paraphrased from my BOS which was taken from a website (forget where). But anyways thats a brief explanation.
First and foremost I believe there is more than one path to the divine. I do not believe my way is the only path, its just the one thats right for me.
I am technically an eclectic pagan and I follow a cottage/green witch path. Being eclectic means I don't follow any ancient path, but I take things from each path to make up my own belief system. I take from here and there to make up something that makes sense to me. There are many things I haven't made my mind up about yet and I am still finding my way on this path.
I'm a polytheist, I believe there are many gods and goddesses out there that a person can choose to worship. I don't feel that the gods care so much if we worship them or not. I also get the feeling that they don't want us to bow to them like servants although they do require respect. I think the greatest compliment you can give a god is to live a full life doing what you feel is right, not bowing to them out of fear. Besides that I also believe in the gods as archtypal (some of them) like the greenman, vine king, etc. I don't discount those figures either, though I view them as personifications than actual gods.
I believe in the existence of spirits (I am a paranormal investigator - lol). When I say spirits I mean nature spirits (elementals) and spirits of the dearly departed. I also believe on honoring the ancestors in whatever way I can.
I believe in honoring nature and that nature is one of the best teachers if you're willing to listen. I don't have any sacred book, well I guess other than my little Book of Shadows if that counts. And I don't believe in the mythologies as to me they're just a teaching tool.
I closely follow the wheel of the year and the seasons and there are eight holy days as a part of my practice: Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon.
I'm solitary, and I only do rituals for very special occassions like one of the aforementioned holidays. Thats also the one time that you'll ever see me in a group setting (holiday). I may do a spell or two here and there, but only if I feel there is no other alternative to solve the situation at hand. I am not a ceremonialist on any level. I prefer to do folk magic, I do not believe I need to cast circles to do magic, etc.
I use divinition as a part of my path although I should say the form I use 98% of the time is runic divinition. Its the only form I've been able to do correctly.
As a part of my minimal native american heritage I also believe in totem animals and a few have made themselves known in my life. I am animistic, I believe every living thing has a sort of soul in it.
And as I mentioned Cottage and Green witchery I'll go ahead and post an explanation of what that is.
Cottage Witchcraft: Practice of domestic, practiced in the home, garden, and yard. Will likely have a well tended home and may know many protection and purification spells. LIkely have a garden and various household spirits. Tools will revolve around household chores and patron deities will likely be those of the home, hearth, family, agriculture, and the harvest.
Green Witch: Studies herbs, flowers, wildlife, wheel of the year and will likely know what trees grow in the area. Studies herbalism and will likely have a garden. Goes into the wild to gather plants and practice ritual magic, tools are natural patrons are likely to be deities of anture, the wild, animals, healing, agriculture, and the harvest.
The above are paraphrased from my BOS which was taken from a website (forget where). But anyways thats a brief explanation.
