Shamanism/Paganism - info for all

It's always nice to see some new diversity added to a community from which we all can learn and grow from.

I label myself an agnostic usually if people ask but I don't think that fits me entirely as I believe there is something more to this world then what we see but I try not to restrict myself to one set of beliefs because I think there are so many things to learn and multiple sources to learn from.

I also read your blog about your experience with finding your spirit guide and I found it very interesting and would love to hear about future happenings.

 

I myself was raised Catholic, though I did for a time waddle in research of other religions, spiritual beliefs, quantum mysticism, pseudoscience, etc. and found fundamental truths, as well as unique characteristics, within many, even between what's though to be such polar opposites like Christianity and (some forms of) Satanism, which I found interesting. There's a lot I don't know, though. Right now I label myself as an optimistic agnostic with catholic existential influences. I always found paganism/shamanism cool because it's so in touch with Earth.

I'm really interested in knowing my spirit guide and wouldn't mind some advice/explanation on things.

 

I like this.

 

I've never heard of this before (and I'm a quantum philosophy freak)! Teach me, O wise Owly!!

 

Hey guys, as you may know I'm a firm Wiccan and have been for about a year and a half, I would be more than happy to contribute to this discussion and answer any questions people have about Wicca or other pagan religions.

 

OK, is Quantum Mysticism interpreted in the same way as the popular film "What the Bleep" which was the transformation of Quantum Mechanics into a mystical religious structure. I went to a Seminar put on by the producers of the film in Scottsdale Arizona a few years ago. I met a lot of cool people there and some of the cast of the film and a two producers. It turned out that a lot of the people behind the film had attended the Ramtha School of Enlightenment. If you are unsure what Ramtha is, it is an entity channeled by J.Z. Knight at her retreat. She was a speaker at the event, and had us participate in some actual psychic activities and then had all of the successful people in those tests up on stage to show how many people could do it successfully (it was a psychic transference of images from one person privately looking at an image to another person who would draw the image by concentrating on the other person). Then everybody swapped positions sender becoming receiver etc. Then the successful went back up on stage a second time. The results with proof on paper were staggering. Is this anything like what you are talking about?

 

Interestingly I see many of the elements of the science of quantum mechanics in pagan shamanism, which is one reason it resonates with me. QM theory can lend itself to some radical interpretations, and because it invariably crosses over into the realm of philosophy (to the chagrin of many scientists) it tends to drag in some ideas that are loosely associated, to say the least. That's why I was wondering about quantum mysticism.

QM can sometimes be hard to understand and accept, but it is a conventional science that tells us a lot about our universe and the things in it. For me any religion (or spirituality as I would prefer to call it) needs to be reconcilable with the findings of science, and must stand up to the scrutiny of science. When I put on my QM "glasses" and look at our universe through the eyes of science I see the "one-ness" of nature and all life in it, man included. I also see provision for a "spiritual realm", which is quite a bold prediction for science to make (again much to the discomfort of many physicists). It has been called consciousness, it has been called "the observer" role, it has other manifestations, but it is predicted by QM. All of this fits more neatly into the tenets of pagan shamanism than many other religions I've studied - at least that's my opinion.

 

A question (from someone who grew up in a strictly religious family) - why is there a general indignation towards the Native American religions or spiritualities in our society? When we talk of the "great religions of the world" we hear Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. but we never hear of the religious practices of the original inhabitants of this continent. Their beliefs sustained them for literally thousands of years. Why are modern theologists so apprehensive of looking objectively at them to see if there is anything to be learned from their ways and practices? Why does the term "pagan" have such a pejorative connotation in our modern religious vernacular?

Or is the world much more enlightened than I make it out to be and it's just my closed religious upbringing shining through in my questions?

Chip, you've given me even more reason to investigate this further. I want to get those books and see what there is to learn from them. Thanks!

 

Serpent's Song

'Neath the serpent lies the gem,
Secret jewel of fabled Khem
Of timeless wonders it will tell
With silent voice and mystic spell
Of hidden ways in clearest sight
On a Mobius road through darkness bright.

Oh wisdom of our ancient past
By riddles are your measure cast
To hold away from profane eye
These visions and this haunted cry,
An echo down timeless tomorrows
Giving meaning to all earthly sorrows

Now to us is knowledge granted
And in our garden a great tree planted,
Starry children drink deep this power
Dance your circle around our tower
For the cosmic chain of evolution
From life to life will find solution.

Learn love's the sole divine petition
And fate is only our own volition;
We choose the drama of these dreams,
From this web only love redeems.
A fragile life is ours on earth
But loving hands give us rebirth.

So dark, this dark, our shining dark,
Open your ways and be the Ark.
Your silence is so vast and pure
And touches the soul with wisdom sure.
Bright visions for us, no longer few,
Of the hidden and lost which we renew
by Dromadus

note: Khem is ancient Egypt

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I wrote that poem many many years ago. I have others. Notice that the line about the mobius road appears between my name and avatar. This is where I took it from. This poem contains much of my mystical philosophy. I hope you liked it.

 

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/cc002.htm

That is one of the largest Wicca, Witchcraft, and Pagan sites on the net, it was how I got started, it has everything on it, I'm sure it can answer a lot of questions.



Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

The Wiccan Rede.

 

That was lovely Redsaphire: in honor of the Goddess, may I offer this:

Moon Song

I extend into thee, oh blood fevered moon
I am thy servant as thou art my doom.
Radiant queen, night's pale handmaiden
Splendorous lady, with burdens so laden:
In reaching from heaven thy pallid hands touch
The thoughts and the feelings that underlie much
Of my shadowed world, so hidden so deep,
From such cool intelligence thy counsels I keep.

Sitting within my night enclosed palace
Drinking sweet drops of dew from thy chalice
I ponder thy pride and thy arrogant moods
And envision what thoughts must cause thee to brood;
Yet of thy wonder I'll tell all in song
Of noble enchantments and visions so strong
Of the gods' ancient promise and man's lawful right
And truths many mansions in the fastness of night.

I extend into thee, oh silver Selene,
I am thy servant as thou art my dream.
Lend to us goddess thy spiritual might,
And send us in dreams bright magical sight.
Thy people are scattered and lost in this world
Thy temple's been broken, thy banner's been furled.
But we serve thee true, our strength will not falter
Holding back the profane, keeping sacred thine altar.

And into our world will come a great power
Drawing a circle and building a tower.
A flame shall be kindled and a glory arise,
And thy holy subjects will look to the skies.
The stars shall cry out with a high piercing wail
And the dark earth will tremble as thine enemies fail;
With thy chariot of ecstasy descending at last
A soft brilliant laughter will hold our hearts fast.

I extend into thee and thee into me
As together we cross time's fathomless sea,
Be thou my eyes and guide me aright
As we set our course on this perilous flight.
For the way of thy wisdom is a frightening task
As I rip from myself that comforting mask
Which I've always known as body and mind,
But oh such a promise of mystery to find.
by Dromadus

Blessed Be

 

i have found this thread extremely interesting and enlightening. I knew little or nothing about most of the things mentioned in this thread previously. So you learn something new every day

Personally i would consider myself a non-religious theist. I believe in a creator/god, but i'm not a member of any religion.

Incidentally, on the pagan front, i often wonder how many anti-pagan Christians know why we celebrate xmas on December 25th, when its a known fact that Jesus was almost certainly born in summer. The reason is in fact that the 25th of December was a major pagan festival when the roman empire was trying to make the empire christian, and the resistance to it being removed was such that it was decided it was easier to put a christian celebration on that day, than to remove the pagan festival.

 

I have always been interested in Wicca, and have read a lot about it, but because of my family I have been restricted in exploring this religion. This summer when I worked across the country I was able to explore a little bit.. Once I go to college I plan on delving more deeply into this and ultimately find a coven.

As for Shamanism I have recently become interested in this and have also started reading/exploring this. However, I haven't gotten very far because I have problems visualizing scenes in the 1st person perspective (ie: through my eyes). I find it easier to watch from a distance, so I need to fiddle some more with this to see what it more comfortable. I also haven't discovered my spirit animal yet even though I've tried a couple times to drum for it and I've tried to dream for it. I'll have to explore some other methods.

I am also interested in Herb Magic and can't wait till I go to my school. Because it's a cooking school it has a humongous herb garden that would be really helpful.

Anyway, I find this a really interesting thread and it's good to know that there are others on here that believe some of the same things.

 

I find any organized religion somewhat moot, in my opinion. I consider myself agnostic. I don't know if there is a greater power than us. Many things--namely the pure randomness of evolution and the probability of it tells me there is someone pulling the strings. However, I also think that this being likely pressed the "start" button, setting off the big bang and has been mostly hands off since then. Yet other things in this word--wars, natural disasters--tell me there likely is no god. Yet, still, it is possible there is one that simply doesn't get involved.

Whether or not there is a god, I don't know. I know that I am not meant to know. If there is a greater power, I cannot nor am I meant to even begin to fathom its plans.