Witchy Rigor
So, Jay and I were having a discussion in bed last night, and the conversation turned to paradoxes. I suppose we were probably urged onto that line of thought by the recent discussion of pagan rigor (and lack thereof) in the Wild Hunt blog.
Specifically, the way that "paradox" is used in Feri/Reclaiming (although far more frequently in Feri) to explain things that are not really paradoxical at all. The example Jay gave was "Blue Fire." Fire is hot, but the color blue is associated with cold, and that is a paradox.
Well, no it isn't a paradox. Fire is frequently blue. (Go turn on a gas burner and have a look.) And the statement doesn't meet the definition of a paradox:
Paradox: (n)
1. A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking.
2. One exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects: "The silence of midnight, to speak truly, though apparently a paradox, rung in my ears" (Mary Shelley).
3. An assertion that is essentially self-contradictory, though based on a valid deduction from acceptable premises.
4. A statement contrary to received opinion.
Source
I think the defining attribute of a paradox is that it is false and true by it's own criteria or logic. And actually, having really looked at some of the teachings that I was given as "Feri Paradox" ("All gods are Feri gods," the Divine Twins, etc.) I have a hard time finding any that are true paradoxes at all. At best, they are counter-intuitive or have multiple meanings, but none of them are self-referentially false, like a true paradox.
I suppose it's that "Feri Counter-intuitiveness" doesn't sound as juicy as "Feri Paradox." So is it just poetry? Or am I missing something here?
Specifically, the way that "paradox" is used in Feri/Reclaiming (although far more frequently in Feri) to explain things that are not really paradoxical at all. The example Jay gave was "Blue Fire." Fire is hot, but the color blue is associated with cold, and that is a paradox.
Well, no it isn't a paradox. Fire is frequently blue. (Go turn on a gas burner and have a look.) And the statement doesn't meet the definition of a paradox:
Paradox: (n)
1. A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking.
2. One exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects: "The silence of midnight, to speak truly, though apparently a paradox, rung in my ears" (Mary Shelley).
3. An assertion that is essentially self-contradictory, though based on a valid deduction from acceptable premises.
4. A statement contrary to received opinion.
Source
I think the defining attribute of a paradox is that it is false and true by it's own criteria or logic. And actually, having really looked at some of the teachings that I was given as "Feri Paradox" ("All gods are Feri gods," the Divine Twins, etc.) I have a hard time finding any that are true paradoxes at all. At best, they are counter-intuitive or have multiple meanings, but none of them are self-referentially false, like a true paradox.
I suppose it's that "Feri Counter-intuitiveness" doesn't sound as juicy as "Feri Paradox." So is it just poetry? Or am I missing something here?