Merry Meet

It’s easy to see why so many pagans are still ‘in the broom closet.’ Many misinformed people immediately assume that we are ‘devil worshipers’ because we choose to see an external or higher power in a different way than their organized religion dictates. As time goes on, this viewpoint tends to generate more vocal fundamentalist believers of organized religion rather than those quiet, respectful masses participating in organized religion in general.

Today I came across this website, which describes how the ram is typically used to symbolize the devil.  The site’s author asserts that since Paul McCartney is pictured with a ram on the cover of his “Ram” album (and even called the album “Ram”), he is Satanic.

See the offending animal pictured here:

Firstly, one should never throw the term “Satanic” about in a general let alone accusatory manner without first differentiating between its two branches. After all, Theistic Satanism and LaVeyan Satanism are very different things. While fundamentalists might remain blind to it, the truth is that Theistic Satanism does in fact worship the devil in a way that is logically adversarial to Christianity. LaVeyan Satanism, however, examines Satan in a philosophical way, recognizing the devil as a symbol. Although I am far from either brand of Satanist, I definitely agree with the validity of examining religious figures as symbols–because they are–whether or not one believes they do or do not have supernatural abilities.

Factually, by the way, McCartney has claimed to be a “non-believer,” but was inspired by his mother’s faith. McCartney was baptized as a Roman Catholic, but later admitted finding an appeal in the nature-worshiping ways of his ancestors as he created his symphony, Standing Stone. Personally, I think McCartney asserts a comfortable view of both nature and traditional religion in his music and lifestyle, often using religion to symbolize his relationship with his mother.

The aforementioned site accuses McCartney of “fondling” the ram on the cover of his album. Obviously, this is an attempt at a backlash against Paul McCartney’s lifestyle and activities, especially in the 1960s. I wonder if the site’s author ever considered the fact that McCartney perhaps chose a ram because he likes animals (and doesn’t eat them), spent time as a farm owner during the time he made the album, or appreciated the symbolism of the ram, as his song “Ram On” suggests.

You will note that the site also finds Satanic symbolism in John Kerry’s campaign logo, further asserting the belief that all of us damn liberals are quite frankly licentious devil-worshipers! There’s also a bit about one of Ozzy’s albums. One might actually be shocked to discover that there’s a devil on the cover of Ozzy’s album! Who would have guessed?!

I could also mention that the pentagram and pentacle are actually two separate things, but that’s another post entirely.

Damn!

I’ve always struggled with the concept of energy and how to use it. In many pagan paths as well as more widely practiced Eastern religions and beliefs, understanding energy is central. It can be a way of understanding balance within ourselves and within nature, it may be central to healing, and it can also allow us to interact with others. It has been said that empathetic individuals have a certain capability to pick up on others’ energy.

I am not sure if this is true or not, nor do I believe it matters. I am a person that is generally perceptive and creative, and over the years I have developed these abilities in a sense that generally allows me to communicate effectively, especially in the business world. There are, of course, other sides to the energy issue…for example, I am definitely sensitive to the paranormal. Sometimes I also perceive things in different senses. If I am looking for a word in my mind while I am writing, sometimes I feel a color or hear the sound of the word before the word itself becomes illuminated. While I am certain that pursuing this in a spiritual way could lead to some enlightenment, I’m not at that stage. I don’t even feel that it is right for me to mess with others’ energies or mood unless it’s face to face, word to word–honest and direct.

Perhaps my unease comes due to some real experiences I’ve had that may be paranormal in nature (I’m still kind of trying to convince myself they’re not, no matter how culturally acceptable it is becoming to have paranormal experiences).

What are your thoughts?

Just like every other group of people, pagans have diverse and eclectic musical preferences, some fitting neatly into their spiritual paths and others not as much. I am an example of this, as I listen heavily to Celtic and Irish music (which happens to be in line with both my path and heritage), but also enjoy contemporary songs and The Beatles. Below are a few examples of my favorite music. Please feel free to respond and comment with your favorite music. Does it coincide with your spiritual path?

This is Mummers’ Dance, by Loreena McKennitt. I actually discovered this artist by accident when I was looking for Paul McCartney albums, back when I worked in a music store. The cover design of her album was decidedly Celtic, and so I gave it a try and I’m glad I did.

Above is a video of Enya singing Amarantine, the title track of the same album. Enya is eccentric, creative, and soothing. She’s considered an example of New Age in general, and specifically does new things with traditional elements in her music, making her a favorite of mine.

Here’s Paul McCartney singing Mull of Kintyre. Back when I was sixteen or so, I loved Paul more than any other musician. Even then, I was drawn more to his simpler ballads and acoustic style. I really appreciate that he considers his heritage and uses tradition in his music. In the 1990s, McCartney also released Standing Stone (below), which was somewhat controversial due to the pagan content in its accompanying symphonic poem. Here’s a very short bit of that beautiful work.

*Apologies in advance for the blocky nature of the text. There are some technical difficulties on the blog hosting side–we’re working on it.

Fluffy bunnies. The term sounds so innocent, but it’s not exactly a wonderful thing to be called if you happen to be on the pagan path. Essentially, experienced practitioners of various pagan faiths use this term to classify people beginning their spiritual path, those who only wish to include certain pagan beliefs in their practices, people that become pagan for the image or look, and beyond. Because there is sometimes a resistance to paganism in the open, I think some pagans tend to blame others for this negative outlook and as a result the term ‘fluffy bunnies’ has been coined.

The same goes for most other groups, both religious or non-religious. Think about World of Warcraft, and the term ‘n00b.’ Personally, I resent being called such a thing by a thirteen year old gamer when I was a geek back in the pre-’geek is cool’ era, about the time when he was likely born. There are also devout Christians who criticize others of their faith for not attending church as regularly. This is not a phenomenon unique to paganism or religion in general, but when many tend to emphasize inclusion as a spiritual or moral practice, it’s rather noticeable. This also sometimes goes along with the attitude that paganism = Wicca, and that every other pagan aspect is false. To non-pagans, this is like someone saying that Christianity can only be seen as Catholicism, and that all other worshippers of Jesus are not doing the proper thing. To clarify, not all Christians are Catholic, and not all pagans are Wiccan.

While I am using the fluffy bunny term as a general example here, overall I’m trying to say that it’s difficult to learn something new, especially if you are serious about it, when others call you names or exclude you. I’ve seen this happen in games including LARPs. While it can be annoying or cause difficulty for more experienced people to slow down and explain the rules, it just looks and ultimately feels bad to continually exclude someone from any activity due to lack of experience–especially in a spiritual or religious context.

While I don’t exactly agree with everything in the below video, I think it’s done in an honest light and has some value. What do you think?

Once upon a time, I posted a picture of my simple altar on my LiveJournal. A friend said he liked it, and then I told him what it was and he got all creeped out. I think part of his shock was likely due to the fact that he had a preconception of what a pagan altar should look like. Mine tend to be very organic and unassuming and change with the seasons. I am not particularly devout, but I do like to have seasonal objects up in a specific way to bring balance to my living space.

Cypresso on YouTube put together the below altar montage. I really like this specifically because of the diversity presented. This shows that not all altars are the same or even used for the same purposes.

Please feel free to post links to pictures of your altars in the comments.

Technorati Profile

Because religion is a topic that stirs a lot of controversy, it isn’t always easy finding valid resources on any religion. People of all faiths so often argue over what is valid, and pagan religions are no exception. Some pagans prefer to follow only historical records. Others, such as myself, see their spirituality as more of a patchwork path, taking bits and pieces of various paths and faiths and making them personal.

Recently, National Geographic, their channel, and other stations such as The History Channel have expanded their research and footage to include some nontraditional topics such as the examination of the Christian Bible from different perspectives, or even valid inclusion of Islam in religious discussions. I feel that this is important due to the misconceptions many have about each other’s religions, based mostly on things they have learned or observed about religion via a vocal minority of practitioners. Below is National Geographic’s video on Wicca. It follows a coven of witches in England during Beltane, where most people still celebrate this tradition as May Day.

Disclaimer: I do not personally follow the Wiccan path, but feel that this video offers a fair view of that path and is an excellent foundation for balanced discussion here on this blog.

Please leave any comments here!

On my own personal spiritual path, I find that my perspective is very much in line with universalism. Seeking to find truth at the center of all religious practices and beliefs tends to allow for a naturally curious, more open-minded perspective on religion in most cases.

While I do not know of other pagans that openly identify themselves as universalist, I can understand why. Many people do try to emphasize the differences in religions, practices, and beliefs rather than the similarities, especially when they are confronted with new or altered traditions as are often present in various pagan paths.

My own personal quest has definitely involved some questioning of my fundamentally universal beliefs. I have come to believe that there certainly are both commonalities and contradictions within my own set of beliefs and those of others. This seems proven true and demonstrated in nature.

What do you think?

[Note: Milky Way Galaxy photo credit: NASA, public domain image]

Thank you for stopping by my new blog. This blog will cover various branches of paganism, pagan-friendly topics, holidays, and more. Intolerance towards others’ beliefs will not be tolerated on this site–this is to be a safe place for visitors of all faiths to discuss paganism (the comments are therefore moderated).

Please enjoy your stay and feel free to contact me regarding anything you’d like to see covered. While I do aim for a friendly atmosphere, I am not opposed to posting controversial topics.  Please note that I am also specifically open to friending pagan-friendly blogs, promoting local, national, and international events, and more. Don’t be shy, just contact me!

I look forward to presenting and exploring various pagan paths on our journey here.

~Tara