Wednesday, May 16, 2012

What it isn't


It’s not a contest, it really isn’t.  This isn’t some contest to see who’s the most magical, or who has the most fairies in their house, or the biggest, baddest motherfuckin’ dragon guardian around.   Stop that shit!  

Yes, I am a compassionate, empathetic individual. No, I do not want to hear all your sob stories all the time.  All that woe-is-me crap drives me nuts.  We all have problems. The Universe shits on everybody, and sometimes it’s just your turn.   “Some days you’re the pigeon, some days you’re the statue”.    

I repeat: This is NOT a contest to see who can be the most speshul and yuneek.  It’s not a game either.  Go back to your LARP or your D&D or whatever the hell people play these days.    You’re not a dragon. You’re not an elf. You’re not a fairy.  You were not Cleopatra.  No one in your family was ever burned at the stake for being a witch, making you a natural hereditary 18733897th level Grand Pooh-bah of Wicca or Paganism in general, or any other paths that fall under this umbrella term.

This is my life. This is my spiritual path.  Some people are making a mockery of it, and no, they aren’t (“evil”) Christians.   They’re other Pagans, running around with turkey platter-sized pentacle necklaces, too much eye makeup,  and a couple of Llewellyn publications collecting dust on their bookshelves.    They’re people running around saying they are otherkin, lycans, changelings, etc.    They’re the vampires and demon slayers.

Grow the fuck up, please.  You are either very bored or very delusional.  Maybe some from column A, some from column B.  I don’t know for sure.  All I want you to do is STOP FUCKING MAKING THE REST OF US LOOK LIKE WEIRDOS BY ASSOCIATION!

I take my spiritual path rather seriously.  Nope, I’m not a big spell caster.   I don’t do enormous, elaborate rituals in fancy robes.   I am not now, nor have I ever been, a creature that DOES NOT EXIST IN NATURE. 

I believe in representations of the Divine that we perceive as individual gods and goddesses.  I believe in Nature.  I believe in the seemingly magical force of nature, but I do not believe I can cast a spell to make you fall in love with me.  Nor would I do it, even if I believed it would happen.  Do I believe that some spells and prayers do take effect?  Yes. I’ve seen it.  Ask me about my prosperity shortbread recipe sometime. ;)

 I do not believe that dragons, werewolves, vampires, fairies, elves, gnomes, goblins, brownies, etc.  actually exist as physical beings.    I believe that running around saying you’re whole or part elf or fairy or vampire or whatever is ridiculous.  I believe that it’s the sign of some deep-seated problems that need to be sorted out by a professional.  Perhaps medication may even be involved.

A while ago there was a project called Project Pagan Enough.  Well, let me tell you all something. You are Pagan enough without the jewelry and the wardrobe.  You’re Pagan enough without telling people you’re a vampire or a lycan.  You’re Pagan enough even if you don’t have a totem animal, spirit guide, power animal, etc.   You’re Pagan enough even if you don’t have tons of books by Big Name Pagans.  

You’re Pagan enough by yourself.  You don’t need someone else’s approval.  You don’t have to try out-weird anybody.   Again, if you feel the need to draw all this attention to yourself all the time, positive or negative, you need to sit down and evaluate some things.  I know that isn’t easy, and I know not everyone has access to help.   I do understand that.   Shit, holler at me and I’ll scour your neck of the woods to find someone who CAN help you. 

As far as I’m concerned, the minute you walk out into nature and are awed by its beauty and power, you are Pagan enough.  You are Pagan enough when you acknowledge the Divine that is in you, and me, and everything and everyone else that is alive, no matter what name(s) you choose to use.

You are Pagan enough without being a jackass.   One of the reasons I haven’t burst forth from the broom closet in a big, huge way is because I don’t feel the need to draw people’s attention to me.  Another reason is, it just isn’t anyone’s business, really.  Yet another reason is because I do not want to be associated with most of the Pagans I’ve met either in person or on the Internet over the last 14 years.  Yup.  I don’t want to be associated with that crowd, thankyouverymuch.

So, let’s re-cap, shall we?
  1. It’s not a contest to see who has the most speshul, yuneek abilities.
  2. It’s not a contest to see who has the saddest back story.
  3. You’re HUMAN.  Accept it, and maybe other will too. In Time.

I’ve said my piece for now.  I’ll be back with some more delicious recipes and food lore later.  Right now, I’m going to enjoy my vacation from work, do some cooking and some crafting, and I’m going to be Pagan in my quiet, unobtrusive way.  No jewelry.  No robes. No “Blessed be!”.    Nope.  Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to enjoy the beauty of nature and give thanks for the blessings I have. 



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11 comments:

Sapphire said...

*standing ovation* YES! Exactly!!!! I may reblog this, with your permission, of course!

Aisha @The Bewitching Bibliophile said...

HSve you been reading my diary, You have haven't you?? I love the heck outta this post, although i disagree on the Fae part, and the dragons, but otherwise i agree. My Goddess is Fae, the Morrigan, there is no other way to believe in her and not believe in the others. But I get what you mean.
thanks for sharing this

Rose said...

Love this!

I also believe in Fae.
But wouldn't go to some crazy extreme and say I have seen them. Because its a lie. (Side Note: If I had seen them I still wouldn't mention it! I'd rather not be seen as a bucket of nuts)

Telling a person your pagan, gets a strange enough reaction without throwing in all the ridiculous shit. I tell people I respect nature and all her glory. End of explanation.

As soon as it becomes a show for other people, it looses its meaning.

Oracle Foxlyn Wren said...

This post has all my loves! Brava! ~)O(~

Sara said...

Awesome. Well said! Thank you!! And how about sharing those prosperity cookies? huh huh??? :-)

VH said...

THIS.

I only wish I had said it first. Honestly.

BLAZE said...

:megusta:

Coffee Gypsy said...

you've just said what I've always felt, just reflected my own frustrations. Thanks:)

Gaia said...

I like the post. Understandably, I still hide in the broom closet. And I'd like a good shortbread recipe.

Taycia's Cozy Cottage said...

i'm a 'need to know basis' pagan. there is no reason for me to than be an example to others as to what Pagan should be. Quiet contemplation of my own surroundings (or not so quiet), helping those in need. My perception of the Divine is different than any other person, just like my perception of Dragons and Fae consist of the fairy stories created to entertain and inspire small children around the community fire.

Miss Sandra said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Just in case I failed to mention it... thank you!
In this post, you speak on behalf of many of us. Kudos!
Blissful tidings,
Sandra