Free Friday

Determining One's Paganicity (yes I made that up)

I've seen a lot of discussion lately regarding what/who a pagan is, and it has made me think.  Mostly 2 key things pop into my mind.

1. Does it matter?
2. If it does matter where would you possibly begin?

As to the first, people will probably get upset at me for thinking that but I have to say I really do hate labels.  Yes I know as a society we love to label things, it makes the world more succinct, but guess what - the world is messy, embrace it.  Why is it we have to come to some form of consensus as to how to label ourselves?  Are we trying to make ourselves more comfortable or others?  This I guess leads into part 2.  If you are determined to label and define how the heck do you plan to do that?  To me it seems about as easy as herding cats.  If we run with the general idea here that most people who call themselves (or that others call) pagan couldn't sit down and agree on a set of standards that all of them follow, nor do the majority want a governing body that would create this list for them, then how does one come up with a definition that covers everyone?  You sure as hell won't find a definition that doesn't make someone unhappy.  This once again cycles me back to point 1, why does it matter? If someone can give me a good answer to this I'm willing to listen, as of yet I haven't encountered one.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

1. Getting to catch up with wonderful friends both Friday and Saturday
2. The glorious spring-like weather that has graced us each day this week
3. The fact that I've lost 6 pounds since Jan 1st.
4. The beautiful ficus that continues to thrive on my desk to remind me of the outside world and my connection to nature as I struggle through the office workday.
5. A much less stressed and therefore happier husband.

Imbolc

Imbolc

As the sun rises sooner each day

And the fresh buds begin to make their way.

When spring can be felt to glimmer on the horizon

And the world around us begins to enliven.

We take the time to acknowledge the coming light

To bid farewell to the darker night.

And with candles lit and intentions set

We cast our purpose for the year to come yet.

All original content copyright Julie Grucza, 2013

(Source: http://druidgroveofbega.blogspot.com/2010/01/imbolc-prayer.html)

The nature of good and evil

The Nature of Good and Evil

Lets face it, this is a pretty significant part of most peoples faith/belief system and yet when this question was posed to me (and I was lucky enough to have quite a lengthy discussion with my professor about it) I was somewhat surprised about how much I still had to think about my opinion on this and if it all meshed in together well.

Do I believe in Good and Evil?  The answer is simply no.  In my belief system I don't believe in these things.  And I'm not talking here about the whole God/Devil generalized aspect, I'm talking about notions that there is good and evil in the world.  You can imagine the responses I got when I put forth this statement in my class, and I was immediately challenged with the most obvious example of why I had to believe in evil - Hitler.  How could I possibly view his actions as something that wasn't evil.  Simple really, to me the idea of evil is a cop-out.  It is an easy and comfortable way for people to deal with actions that have harmful consequences. If we can't understand it, if it causes pain, then it must be evil.  I just don't get that.  To me actions are just that, they are actions.  They have consequences, and these consequences can result in pain and suffering, but that doesn't make the actions evil.  Besides, who decides that something is evil?  Would Hitler have thought what he did was evil - I don't think so.  If evil is something that truly exists as apposed to our interpretation and explanation of events then how does one explain that dramatic shifts that take place with regards to what is considered evil and what isn't throughout history?

Of course the response to this I received was that if I didn't believe in evil then I couldn't believe in good either.  Totally fine by me, I don't.  I believe in actions and effects.  Why is it we label things as good?  Positive effects can occur but that doesn't make the action itself inherently good, nor the person completing the action.  Now it was suggested that perhaps I really didn't understand these concepts because I'd never had to deal with 'true evil'.  It was even suggested that I was being offensive to those who have suffered because I didn't hold what happened to them as something evil.  That would never be my intention.  If someone disagrees with me - so be it, I'd love to hear your side of the discussion.  I would never demean the  way someone chooses to deal with an event such as rape, murder, mugging etc.  If they label it as evil and that helps them to deal with it than that is great.  I don't feel that way, and yes I have been through events that people would label as evil - I have been through child molestation and rape, emotional abuse etc and I can say with complete honesty that I don't consider the person or the events themselves to be evil.  They were actions, actions that had harmful results, but actions nonetheless.  That's just me, you don't have to agree.

So why this topic today?  I think it is important that we try and understand the things we believe and whether we believe in good and evil plays a huge role in some of the other things we believe in.  Balance, Karma, Fate etc.

Musing Monday

Intuition, do you ignore it more than you should?

I've been thinking about this a lot the past few months.  I have become aware in the last 6 months especially an increase in times when I've known I should do something or say something or that something was going to happen.  What have I done about it?  More often than not absolutely nothing.  I tend to push the thought aside, ignore it or shake it off as just some stray idea.  Then, later it becomes apparent that I should have spoken up, given that reminder, moved that item etc.  So why do I ignore these moments of forward clarity? That is what I'm pondering right now.

Thankful Thursday (1/24/13)

This week I am thankful for...

1. The rain - I love rainy weather and the cozy environment it makes (though not so much the inability of others to drive in it).
2. Lazy nights on the couch with hubby and kitty.
3. The ability to buy fresh and organic foods that hold so much more life energy within them.
4. The time off I've had from school (time to start thinking about going back in a week)
5. The fact that I get to go to Pantheacon this year with 3 wonderful ladies *squee*

Shadow Journey

Felt the muses descend today so Witchy Wednesday is my poetry.

Shadow Journey

Welcome to the deep within

The place where your true journey begins.

Fear not the shadows that loom large

They are not the ones in charge.

You have had the courage to go this far

Open to your inner shining star.

Beat the drums and blow the horns

It’s time to embrace you in all your forms.

The past has taught you to be strong

Hold not onto it too long.

But step forth into the strength and power

That is yours like the blooming flower.

Embrace the shadow and make it yours

Feel it sink into your very pores.

For you are a being of true power

Now is the time, now is the hour.

All original content copyright Julie Grucza, 2012-2013