Ask a Pagan

skylark1 · Feb 24, 2005

pensive said:
So I find myself skeptical of just how "differently" these words are supposed to be taken.

I get the feeling that you would be skeptical of anything that I had to say.

I didn't realize when I posted here one this thread that people would take such issue with the message that God wants our undivided love. My only point was that God desires for us to love Him with all of our hearts, mind, soul, and strength.

morningstar2651 · Feb 24, 2005

When you say "our" undivided love...does that mean non-Christians and non-Jews?

skylark1 · Feb 24, 2005

morningstar2651 said:
When you say "our" undivided love...does that mean non-Christians and non-Jews?

I meant all of us.

pensive · Feb 24, 2005

skylark1 said:
I get the feeling that you would be skeptical of anything that I had to say.

You could possibly be right. But then again, I'm skeptical of what most people have to say. Even those who tend to agree with me. So don't take my skepticism too personally.

morningstar2651 · Feb 24, 2005

It is always good to examine and question information to make sure it is reliable.

skylark1, I've always interpreted the Judeo-Christian God's word and His commandments as being meant for those who choose to follow Him. I may be wrong -- but then again, I may be right.

Cassiopeia · Feb 24, 2005

skylark1 said:
I don't think that we should assume that His jealousy is petty and a failing, like human jealousy is. He wants us to love Him! If He is the all good, perfect, holy, creator of the universe, then He deserves our love.

I think we must remember that the Bible is being quoted here and as such is subject to the translation of man. It is uncertain as to whether the word jealous is appropriate and one would have to get a copy of the original unabridged version. I understand where Krysia is coming from as it does make it appear that God is falliable in his emotions here and that would be an incorrect view.

Perhaps I should go into this field of study I find it fasinating the way man has interpreted things and I would love to know what was originally said to understand it more fully.

Blessing,
Casi

skylark1 · Feb 24, 2005

morningstar2651 said:
It is always good to examine and question information to make sure it is reliable.

skylark1, I've always interpreted the Judeo-Christian God's word and His commandments as being meant for those who choose to follow Him. I may be wrong -- but then again, I may be right.

There is one God who created the universe. I believe that He desires for all of His creation to love Him, and love their neighbor.

morningstar2651 · Feb 24, 2005

Do you have any questions about paganism, skylark1?

pensive · Feb 24, 2005

morningstar2651 said:
Do you have any questions about paganism, skylark1?

Ah yes, we have gotten quite off topic, haven't we? My apologies for contributing to that. And thanks to you for getting us back on track, morningstar.

Cassiopeia · Feb 24, 2005

In an effort to bring this thread back to it's original pupose to get to know what Pagan's believe, I wanted to give a reference you all might appreciate if you haven't already found it. On google the other week I came across a site called The Celtic Connection. It divides many different Non-Christian religions into their groups and does a fairly good job of it. There you will find Pagan, Wicca, Witchcraft, Native American Spiritualism, a forum (i would not recommend joining with the agenda to evangelize as they will ban you quickly), and other subjects such as gemstones and crystals and what not. Each section as links upon links.

If you are sincere in your interest I would go to that site. I came across it doing research on the first usages of the pentagram and looking to find out how it came to be corrupted. Very fasinating indeed.

To add my voice to the crowd...the very center of Wicca, as I can not speak on Paganism as I am not versed enough, but in my mind, Wicca embraces truth, all truths. It is a path of exploration and growth and learning. It respectfully recognizes the validity of all paths and allows for others to follow theirs while peaceably going about following it's own. The very Rede of "and do no harm" is actually akin to "love one another" in my thinking. For that which you love you would not do harm to. I once heard it said at a church I used to attend that because God is good, then all good things come from God...therefore if someone follows a path that it is good no matter how different from our own, it will lead them back to God. I believe that with all my heart. Those who would find God or the Gods, or Goddess must embrace the good and the beauty of our life to find our path back to the divine.

May we all find our feet meet up one day and be able to embrace each other in light and love,

Peace be yours,
Casi

SquareC · Feb 24, 2005

Wakeup2god said:
suppose the only way you would believe in my God as the most high and only true God would be if He revealed himselg to you personally. Would you be open to that?

I would have no problem with a revealed God.

Cassiopeia · Feb 24, 2005

SquareC said:
I would have no problem with a revealed God.

the problem I see here is that the person asking if you would be open to it does not recognize that you may have already experienced that through the Divine. It is a small and narrow world that would box in the God(s).

Peace be to all,
Casi

skylark1 · Feb 24, 2005

All,

I am sorry that I diverted the topic earlier. I had intended to simply post one comment, but people kept asking me questions.

Apparently, my thinking, logic, dialogue, and communication skills need a lot of help. A lot of assumptions have been made as to what I realize, and what I think, that are simply not true.

Cassiopeia · Feb 24, 2005

skylark1 said:
All,

I am sorry that I diverted the topic earlier. I had intended to simply post one comment, but people kept asking me questions.

Apparently, my thinking, logic, dialogue, and communication skills need a lot of help. A lot of assumptions have been made as to what I realize, and what I think, that are simply not true.

Hello dearest skylark1

I hope you are feeling better. It is a very muddy medium we use to communicate with. I would not take it personallly that you are being misunderstood or if you are misunderstanding others. You have a good heart. I would never doubt your intent.

Peace always,
Casi

Lovehound · Feb 24, 2005

I can't resist...

Q: Also what are some of the god/goddess names? I love learning new god/goddess names.

A: Oh goodness we're going to have some fun with this...bear in mind I just got in from work and can't call to mind EVERYTHING, but I'll just toss some names out here...

OK first, I'll just type out a very popular chant that is sung at a lot of Pagan gatherings:

Isis - Astarte - Diana - Hecate - Demeter - Kali - Inanna

But here are some deity names just as I can think of them off the bat:

NORTHERN EUROPEAN GODDESSES
Frigga - Freyja - Skadi - Sif - Sigyn - Gefion - Hel or Hela - Holla or Frau Holle - Idunna - Nerthus - Jord - Ran

NORTHERN EUROPEAN GODS
Odin - Thor - Tyr - Loki - Njord - Bragi - Balder - Aegir - Heimdall or Rig - Freyr

CELTIC GODDESSES
Brighid - Airmid - Morrigan - Cerridwen

CELTIC GODS
Lugh - Manawyddan - Daghda

ANGLO SAXON GODS
Herne

MIDDLE EASTERN GODDESSES
Asherah - Al-Lat - Inanna - Astarte - Ishtar

Oh man, there's so many swimming around in my head I will have to do this in Word first then paste it in later...

Dagda · Feb 24, 2005

morningstar2651 said:
You've got questions, we've got answers.

Do Pagans think that magic is a literal, concrete reality and that it's truly possible to practice, not just as a ritual? I have an open mind about this if people have had real experience with it.

I didn't look thru the whole thread, so I apologize if it's been asked before.

morningstar2651 · Feb 24, 2005

Do Pagans think that magic is a literal, concrete reality and that it's truly possible to practice, not just as a ritual? I have an open mind about this if people have had real experience with it.

Well, I do and I have had experience with it.

Dagda · Feb 25, 2005

morningstar2651 said:
Well, I do and I have had experience with it.

Then, that's one of the things that appeals to me about Paganism. I've read a little about their belief in magic on websites, but I never quite got the impression of whether they really felt as though it worked as a tangible reality. I like that they feel like it is a tangible thing. It's kind of cool that they can use something like that to have some control. And a lot of Christianity seems to find magic evil automatically. I would love to use something proactive like that.

Do you mind if I ask what your experiences have been?

morningstar2651 · Feb 25, 2005

Do you mind if I ask what your experiences have been?

Not at all.

Just yesterday I was given a potion to heal my sore throat. It tasted nasty, but I got better fast.

I believe in animism. The belief of animism is probably one of man's oldest beliefs, with its origin most likely dating to the Paleolithic age. From its earliest beginnings it was a belief that a soul or spirit existed in every object, even if it was inanimate. I can feel it in inanimate objects. The other night I cleansed a necklace of negative energies and transfered some of my own energy into it.

More specific stuff to share later, I'm really tired right now though.

My current studies are in Sex Magick.

pensive · Feb 25, 2005

Jerusha_Girl said:
...but a lot of work goes into working magic.

Someone should really put that on a bumper sticker. Truth be told, there's a reason why a lot of ceremonial magicians and experienced witches prefer to say that they're doing a "Working" rather than casting a spell. Because there is a lot of work that goes into effective magic.

Jerusha_Girl said:
It is neat to stand and ritual and work magic, but the sometimes hours of research and planning that goes into each spell... Finding spell compliments and correspondences, looking up planetary alignments, charting the moon, some people even record things like wind direction, weather, and the powers of the day and month that the spell is cast...

It sounds to me like you do a lot more along the lines of Ceremonial Magick than I do, but I agree with you. Of course, the planning goes into a lot more than just the details of how the ritual is going to be performed. There's also the time spent working in divination and otherwise communicating with the gods and/or any other guides and helpers to further refine just what it is you're trying to accomplish and what the best way to go about it would be. Then there's the consideration of what greater effects such a working might have.

But the thing to remember -- and unfortunately, I don't feel this is properly expressed in most of the books that are flooding the market on the topic -- is that this preparation is a part of the Work itself. The magic doesn't begin when you cast your circle or otherwise start your rite. It starts the moment that you get the inkling that you want to do magic for a particular goal. From that moment, every bit of energy you pour into pondering, planning, preparing, and everything else is power poured into the Working itself. The final "rite" is really just the capstone and the release of all of that power you've built up since the first thought.

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