Where I am
I realise it's a long time since I've posted anything substantial here, this is partly because I tend to inhabit Facebook more, partly due to my having less things to rant about partly I think due to my being less inclined to tell the world in general about everything that's wrong with it
I've just re-read my user info. It's struck me as to how much has changed since I wrote that. Whilst I still ID as genderqueer it's not the all consuming rahhh!!! of my life any more. It's simply part of who I am.
So What Am I Today? Well, unlike quite a few people I know I wouldn't call myself atheist. If I had to pin a label on my spiritual beliefs I would say that I'm pagan. But I follow my own path and have my own peculiar views on these things which tends to mean I disagree with most other pagans. I use the runes for divination and intend to start to use ogham but at the same time I recognise that these do not in truth tell the future. Rather they act as focuses for my own mind to sift through possibilities and decide upon the best course of action. It doesn't always work but as a means of focussing on many quite often complicated choices it seems to work for me
I use crystals as symbols to help healing. Let me make this next point clear - I do not think crystals have any special powers of healing beyond being pretty. But they can act as useful symbols for my unconscious which is where mental healing truly comes from. Again I have had major arguments with other pagans over this. They don't seem to think that someone who doesn't believe crystals have any true power can really be a pagan.
I'm still a sceptic though. I don't see how you can divine true knowledge of the universe without using the scientific method. I don't 'believe' in relativity or evolution or big bang theory. Belief is not required. The evidence is available for all who wish to see. Belief is only required when a hypothesis is inherently untestable such as the hypothesis that god/gods exist. Do I believe that gods exist? Not as such. I believe that they are anthropomorphisms. They are ways of understanding the universe and are useful as such. But it should be remembered that this is what they are - tools.
So where am I today? I'm currently working through my notice period in my current job. This is at the organisation I used to volunteer at and that I wanted to work at for a long time. I've been here over 2 years now. Unfortunately things didn't turn out as I had hoped as those of you who have read previous entries in the last couple of years will know. It's been very stressful and at time miserable here but in the end I think I did good work and will have left the organisation I a far better position than it was when I arrived. This is probably as much as I could hope for. Such is life
As to where I'm going? On Monday 23rd August I start a PGDE Secondary Education in Physics. For those non-UK people this is a professional teaching qualification. I must say that I am really looking forward to this, however I recognise that what I expect/hope for may well bear only a limited connection with the reality of teaching. I shall find out in due course
Personally, I've been in a relationship with my partner Mies for over a year now. We live together in a main door flat which has a garden and we are currently growing a number of crops including tomatoes, salad, carrots, raspberries and peas. This makes me happy. I'm currently planning on getting a sour-dough starter going when I get round to it. I've been told I'm not allowed to call it Bob.
It's possible in 2 or 3 years that Mies and I will move back down south. WE are talking about getting hand-fasted and having a baby after I finish my teacher training. When we do Mies would like to be closer to our families than we currently are.
I'm still involved with Beltane although this years may well be my last performance due to time constraints as a teacher. You may get a lot of holiday but there is no flexibility as to when you take it.
I've just re-read my user info. It's struck me as to how much has changed since I wrote that. Whilst I still ID as genderqueer it's not the all consuming rahhh!!! of my life any more. It's simply part of who I am.
So What Am I Today? Well, unlike quite a few people I know I wouldn't call myself atheist. If I had to pin a label on my spiritual beliefs I would say that I'm pagan. But I follow my own path and have my own peculiar views on these things which tends to mean I disagree with most other pagans. I use the runes for divination and intend to start to use ogham but at the same time I recognise that these do not in truth tell the future. Rather they act as focuses for my own mind to sift through possibilities and decide upon the best course of action. It doesn't always work but as a means of focussing on many quite often complicated choices it seems to work for me
I use crystals as symbols to help healing. Let me make this next point clear - I do not think crystals have any special powers of healing beyond being pretty. But they can act as useful symbols for my unconscious which is where mental healing truly comes from. Again I have had major arguments with other pagans over this. They don't seem to think that someone who doesn't believe crystals have any true power can really be a pagan.
I'm still a sceptic though. I don't see how you can divine true knowledge of the universe without using the scientific method. I don't 'believe' in relativity or evolution or big bang theory. Belief is not required. The evidence is available for all who wish to see. Belief is only required when a hypothesis is inherently untestable such as the hypothesis that god/gods exist. Do I believe that gods exist? Not as such. I believe that they are anthropomorphisms. They are ways of understanding the universe and are useful as such. But it should be remembered that this is what they are - tools.
So where am I today? I'm currently working through my notice period in my current job. This is at the organisation I used to volunteer at and that I wanted to work at for a long time. I've been here over 2 years now. Unfortunately things didn't turn out as I had hoped as those of you who have read previous entries in the last couple of years will know. It's been very stressful and at time miserable here but in the end I think I did good work and will have left the organisation I a far better position than it was when I arrived. This is probably as much as I could hope for. Such is life
As to where I'm going? On Monday 23rd August I start a PGDE Secondary Education in Physics. For those non-UK people this is a professional teaching qualification. I must say that I am really looking forward to this, however I recognise that what I expect/hope for may well bear only a limited connection with the reality of teaching. I shall find out in due course
Personally, I've been in a relationship with my partner Mies for over a year now. We live together in a main door flat which has a garden and we are currently growing a number of crops including tomatoes, salad, carrots, raspberries and peas. This makes me happy. I'm currently planning on getting a sour-dough starter going when I get round to it. I've been told I'm not allowed to call it Bob.
It's possible in 2 or 3 years that Mies and I will move back down south. WE are talking about getting hand-fasted and having a baby after I finish my teacher training. When we do Mies would like to be closer to our families than we currently are.
I'm still involved with Beltane although this years may well be my last performance due to time constraints as a teacher. You may get a lot of holiday but there is no flexibility as to when you take it.