Judgement, Love and Compassion
I often read in Pagan forums that "not judging others" is a Christian thing. (Even Judaism has a proverb saying "do not judge your friend until you stand in his place", and that's more relevant to me and my background, actually). I hear that most witches can judge, and are even encouraged to judge. That it is an expression of self-responsibility. Very well. I have no problem with that in principle. However, I think there's a huge difference between "judging another person" and "being a bitch".
Since the divine dwells in me, since I am goddess, I can judge other people. I am encouraged to look at the world with open eyes, and make informed, responsible decisions. But, I think that I'm also supposed to express my judgement in fairly specific ways, when I take into account the liturgy relevant to my religion and the values derived from it.
The Charge of the Goddess specifically teaches love and compassion. There's "For my law is love is unto all beings" and "Let there be... power and compassion... within you". Love is also a point in the Pearl Pentacle. Both love and compassion relate to the Mystery of the cup, and the Element of Water.
Love and compassion, I think, are two values essential for the expression of judgement. "Love unto all beings" is a direct result of acknowledging the immanent divine in all beings, including all people. A person does not lose her core worth or divine essence by acting like an idiot, or by making ill choices. It's still there, hidden by masks of improper language or behavior.
To me, the purpose of judgement as an act of self-responsibility is to help a person take off those masks, peel unhealthy patterns like an onion, and expose their divinity. As the Pearl Pentacle runs "from love to law", I also express my love through judgement, and create in that person an understanding of how things actually work in nature. This is also how *I* want to be judged.
If judgement is supposed to work like an opportunity to grow and expose one's own divinity, it really can't be expressed in nasty, malicious, spiteful, arrogant, or even sarcastic tones. This is where the value of compassion comes in. Compassion, I think, can help me say harsh things that are hard for the other person to hear, and still make her listen. In the Charge, compassion is paired with power. I can exercise power over another person when I judge her, but this power should be exercised compassionately.
Mostly, it's a choice of language. Also, taking a deep breath before I speak/write something, and actually *remembering* that I'm now addressing a divine being. This is especially important to me, because impatience and short-temper (esp. with people who are not so intelligent) are two of my most obvious flaws. I've made progress with improving both, and I'm still working on them, but judging is dangerous ground. By nature, I'm quick to judge, and now I'm learning that it's okay, as long as I apply love and compassion in the process.
Since the divine dwells in me, since I am goddess, I can judge other people. I am encouraged to look at the world with open eyes, and make informed, responsible decisions. But, I think that I'm also supposed to express my judgement in fairly specific ways, when I take into account the liturgy relevant to my religion and the values derived from it.
The Charge of the Goddess specifically teaches love and compassion. There's "For my law is love is unto all beings" and "Let there be... power and compassion... within you". Love is also a point in the Pearl Pentacle. Both love and compassion relate to the Mystery of the cup, and the Element of Water.
Love and compassion, I think, are two values essential for the expression of judgement. "Love unto all beings" is a direct result of acknowledging the immanent divine in all beings, including all people. A person does not lose her core worth or divine essence by acting like an idiot, or by making ill choices. It's still there, hidden by masks of improper language or behavior.
To me, the purpose of judgement as an act of self-responsibility is to help a person take off those masks, peel unhealthy patterns like an onion, and expose their divinity. As the Pearl Pentacle runs "from love to law", I also express my love through judgement, and create in that person an understanding of how things actually work in nature. This is also how *I* want to be judged.
If judgement is supposed to work like an opportunity to grow and expose one's own divinity, it really can't be expressed in nasty, malicious, spiteful, arrogant, or even sarcastic tones. This is where the value of compassion comes in. Compassion, I think, can help me say harsh things that are hard for the other person to hear, and still make her listen. In the Charge, compassion is paired with power. I can exercise power over another person when I judge her, but this power should be exercised compassionately.
Mostly, it's a choice of language. Also, taking a deep breath before I speak/write something, and actually *remembering* that I'm now addressing a divine being. This is especially important to me, because impatience and short-temper (esp. with people who are not so intelligent) are two of my most obvious flaws. I've made progress with improving both, and I'm still working on them, but judging is dangerous ground. By nature, I'm quick to judge, and now I'm learning that it's okay, as long as I apply love and compassion in the process.