Earth-centered Spirituality: Pagan, Wiccan, Druid, Native American, Other

[Chimera]

I hope I'm not off in my question I apologize if I am. I have been trying to research the different e...

Trust in what feels most natural to you..
I avoid all organized religions/faiths/beliefs, but I respect them all as well, they just aren't for me...because I believe in all things...
I am a solitary practitioner, started very young, wasn't until I was 15 that my eldest brother said to me "do you realize that are a witch?" I laughed at him.
He was serious.

But your faith, when you choose it?
It should be "of you".
jmho

 

[Dergrosse]

Trust in what feels most natural to you..
I avoid all organized religions/faiths/beliefs, but I respect...

That makes a lot of sense. Instead of trying to force myself into fitting into one, treat it more like a buffet and have it my way. I tend to only find peace when out in nature and I've somewhat lost that in trying to find the perfect fit. Thanks.

 

[Whyteferret]

I hope I'm not off in my question I apologize if I am. I have been trying to research the different e...

@Dergrosse
Do some reading on various paths. There's not a right one. There's a right one for you.
My path is influenced by several different spiritualities. But, it makes sense to me and feels spiritually right. I feel connected.

Scott Cunningham has a couple of good books about Wicca.

There's a ton of information and it can certainly be confusing

 

[Fadeaway]

I just got back from an amazing Solstice/Litha trip. It was also my trauma anniversary on Saturday, so it was very unique. I had been trying to hide the fact that I had PTSD from my local pagan community, but I ended up sharing about my trauma and the support I received was amazing. Very healing.

@BloomInWinter For a thorough smudging, I start at my front door and go clockwise through my house getting in every nook and cranny and inside every cupboard and such. I carry a step ladder around with me as I go. I use either white sage or mugwort sticks depending, but there are other types like cedar and palo santo. Some advice I was given was to make sure you fill you house with positive love and light energy afterwards since smudging leaves a vacuum that you need to fill that nothing unwanted comes to fill the vacuum or returns.

 

[BloomInWinter]

How wonderful about your trip, @Fadeaway! I'm so glad you were yourself. Good for you for taking good self-care on your trauma anniversary.

I've found such acceptance and support through others who walk with nature. Of course not all but as a general rule, the social atmosphere is peaceful, supportive, and kind.

Thank you for the smudging tips! I have 3 levels of house so I will begin at the bottom. There's a lot of negativity associated with the house from every owner (including us) that I wish to cleanse. I ordered a smudging feather and an abalone shell. I shall use a smudge stick of white sage, lavender, and sweetgrass. I will meditate beforehand and set my intentions of only bringing in love, laughter, and kindness into my home. I will also use a chime as I enter each room.

I picked up a lovely piece of fluorite yesterday to place on my alter. With the purple and green colors, it reminds me of being out among the lilacs as a child and picking them for my mother.

 

[BloomInWinter]

The wonderful thing about spirituality is that we get to find it for ourselves. Feel free to "try things on." There's been some great suggestions here already.

Our spiritual paths need not follow anyone else's map, and that is perfectly ok. I enjoy picking and choosing practices that feel comforting and meaningful to me. I read and follow people I respect on the internet. I ask questions, and try new things that sound fun or healing. How I feed my own spirituality is totally up to me, as yours is to you.

I think, most of all, that we need not limit ourselves to try to fit in with any belief system which requires we lower our standards or participate in the harming of other human beings or the planet.

 

[Lionheart]

I was once part of the local Wiccan / Pagan community and found that there were too many "fringe" people who were there to use religion as an excuse to host wild orgies and the like, which is fine if that is what you are into, but I found it difficult to be amongst others who did not share the same values and so, I opted to be a solitary practitioner.

Also, I never understood how Wiccans, (who believe in do what you want just don't hurt others), and pagans (who believe do whatever you want to)...could hang out together...it seems to be a conflict of interest and I never really understood that.

Anyways, I later found my way back to Christainity and hold a Universalist view.

I think there is good in all religions and what I found out is that all religions have some things in common which at the core are; Love the Creator (however you view him/her), love yourself, and love one another....(and don't hurt others unless it is self-defense)...period.

So you could say that Universal Love is my religion now.

At any rate, I still find that I am interested in Wicca and Native American Medicine Ways, and while I can tolerate others with differing beleifs than myself, I don't necessarily want to hang out with those folks.

I guess what I really wanted to add to this discussion is that Diety or God/dess etc, does not belong to just one group of people, spirituality is for those who want it and religion is for those who are seeking a personal path of spirituality.

To close, I consider myself to be a Universalist Christain, but that doesn't mean I won't invoke the Lords of Karma to clean up a mess on ocassion.;)

*(Also, I like angels because they kinda bridge the gap between religions).:angelic:

Okay this has been my two cents....

brought to you by the maker of Lionheart777!!! :laugh:

 

[Crow]

I joined a small women's circle about 8 years ago and then they decided it was a womyn born womyn group and voted to keep out a trans sister so I left. I'm trying to rebuild community finally and I've been looking at the groups online. Any suggestions on finding a place to belong? There are things I like and red flags on each group website. Not sure how to proceed.

 

[Ronin]

@CrowFeather, honestly I find it fairly complicated.

Pagans are transmisogynic as whoah. It's not better than in other faiths. I'd look at starting your own group / Coven / what have you, rather than looking at fitting somewhere else, because people are just awkward that way. Or they advertise openess & inclusivity only to recruit and are wildly different thing when one meets up in person.

0.02 & YMMV as usual.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Thankfully the CUPPs people I know are trans-inclusive women groups. I guess I've been lucky that I've not run into problems with other people. Though I absolutely not hang out or tolerate people who cross my boundaries, are unkind to others, or are doing drugs.

 

[Whyteferret]

@Lionheart777 @CrowFeather

I'm lucky. There's a local Wiccan/ pagan group who welcomes LGBT people. We get together mostly socially because each one of us has a slightly different take on ritual. We're planning to do Litha together together to see if we can mesh now.

I had a similar problem with women only groups. My gut reaction to that group is that there was a lot of grief and trauma.

 

[Whyteferret]

Yesterday I went into a local shop. I felt drawn to something outside. B-line to the gems. Then two particular gems pulled me over.

Snowflake obsidian: A stone of purity. Balances the mind, body, and spirit. Calm and soothes you and allows you to view unhealthy patterns in your own behavior, thus opening the door to change.

Bloodstone: excellent for centering and grounding. Increase adaptability while lessening confusing and anxiety. Aids in emotional trauma and brief.

I sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD several years ago. Since then I am totally emotionally, mentally, and spiritually off-balance. I am always anxious and confused. I won't go into stores alone if I don't have someone with me. Then there's grief. I basically feel like I died that day.

I'm working with a therapist at the Vet Center but it's slow going.

I think Spirit is telling me something.