polytheistic or aspects of one?
I've posted something similar on another journal, but thought I'd post it in a different way on here.
The changes that have happened in the moot and the renewed interest in group practise and rites, plus the other plans that are coming in fruition have got me thinking about my beliefs.
Many people who describe themselves as 'Wiccan', 'witch' or 'hedgewitch' view the gods and goddesses as aspects of one singular Deity. From the beginnings of my interest in paganism I've always viewed the gods and goddesses as seperate beings, each highly individual in terms of personality and in terms of their wants and needs. There is a a certain arrogance found in paganism just the same as other belief systems. You'll always find someone desperate to look down on others practises and beliefs, maybe that's the only way some can find to validate their own beliefs. I've met any number of people who look down on people because of the pantheon they follow; this seems to be particularly directed towards people who worship Greek, Roman, Egyptian or Celt gods or goddesses as though for some reason these are inferior. I appreciate that there are people out there who have read only superficial material and aren't perhaps the most dedicated of people, maybe talking more than they practise. But on the other hand what gives those arrogant, self-important egomaniacs the right to say 'your gods aren't the true gods, mine are'. Says who? Who are you to tell me my beliefs are inferior to yours? Or that someone else is somehow less than you because of their practises?
For everyone elses ease I generally call myself a polytheistic hedgewitch. By which I mean that I believe the gods and goddesses to all be individual deities rather than simply different personality traits of one un-named deity. I am also nature based, generally speaking, although this is the 21st century and I have no intention of trying to live how people did a millenium back. I happen to like modern life, I like having electricity, I like my MP3 player, DVD's, digital cameras and yes, especially modern medicine. There are things about modern life I don't like and I work to change what I can, or at least I choose not to participate in aspects I don't agree with where I can. That's the important part to note as well I think, the 'where I can' part because lets face it; I need to take quite a quantity of medication and much that has been tested on animals in the past. I don't particularly like that fact, but I can't escape it. I can campaign and I can work towards changing people's views but I am going to throw my meds away and declare myself to be entirely one with nature. Yes, there are some things in nature that can help me and somewhere hidden away there's a lot more to be discovered, but I truly believe that modern medicine has saved thousands, maybe millions of lives that could not have been saved without the innovations we have. I try not to buy Chinese products because I disagree with the human rights violations that still take place there. I would rather buy local produce, followed by regional, English, British, European and so on in that order. For me the less airmiles the better, plus frankly while I do support a number of world-wide charities I live in a country where thousands live on the streets begging for food every day. How can we possibly be so arrogant as to think we can sort problems out across the world when our own home is in such a poor state? It's right and proper to help those that are starving to make a better life, but let's not forget the people living in such a way that they barely exist here at home.
I believe that although I'm not exactly the wealthiest and healthiest person in the world I should do what I can to help others and to help make the world a better place to live in. I am the first to admit I'm a long, long way from perfect, but I try to do what I can.
When it comes to my beliefs it's only recently that I've gone back to participating in group rites. Partly because as a disabled individual many of the rites that have taken place in the past have been inaccessible to me. I can walk about 15 metres at a go, so things have to be within walking or rolling distance for me. The Yule rite I attended was arranged somewhere that I could access and even had a mobility scooter for hire (for free), making things even easier. When I'm taking part in a rite I do so with the permission of local wights, spirits and the gods and goddesses. While I never invoke, I always ask for permission. I've not been refused yet.
The changes that have happened in the moot and the renewed interest in group practise and rites, plus the other plans that are coming in fruition have got me thinking about my beliefs.
Many people who describe themselves as 'Wiccan', 'witch' or 'hedgewitch' view the gods and goddesses as aspects of one singular Deity. From the beginnings of my interest in paganism I've always viewed the gods and goddesses as seperate beings, each highly individual in terms of personality and in terms of their wants and needs. There is a a certain arrogance found in paganism just the same as other belief systems. You'll always find someone desperate to look down on others practises and beliefs, maybe that's the only way some can find to validate their own beliefs. I've met any number of people who look down on people because of the pantheon they follow; this seems to be particularly directed towards people who worship Greek, Roman, Egyptian or Celt gods or goddesses as though for some reason these are inferior. I appreciate that there are people out there who have read only superficial material and aren't perhaps the most dedicated of people, maybe talking more than they practise. But on the other hand what gives those arrogant, self-important egomaniacs the right to say 'your gods aren't the true gods, mine are'. Says who? Who are you to tell me my beliefs are inferior to yours? Or that someone else is somehow less than you because of their practises?
For everyone elses ease I generally call myself a polytheistic hedgewitch. By which I mean that I believe the gods and goddesses to all be individual deities rather than simply different personality traits of one un-named deity. I am also nature based, generally speaking, although this is the 21st century and I have no intention of trying to live how people did a millenium back. I happen to like modern life, I like having electricity, I like my MP3 player, DVD's, digital cameras and yes, especially modern medicine. There are things about modern life I don't like and I work to change what I can, or at least I choose not to participate in aspects I don't agree with where I can. That's the important part to note as well I think, the 'where I can' part because lets face it; I need to take quite a quantity of medication and much that has been tested on animals in the past. I don't particularly like that fact, but I can't escape it. I can campaign and I can work towards changing people's views but I am going to throw my meds away and declare myself to be entirely one with nature. Yes, there are some things in nature that can help me and somewhere hidden away there's a lot more to be discovered, but I truly believe that modern medicine has saved thousands, maybe millions of lives that could not have been saved without the innovations we have. I try not to buy Chinese products because I disagree with the human rights violations that still take place there. I would rather buy local produce, followed by regional, English, British, European and so on in that order. For me the less airmiles the better, plus frankly while I do support a number of world-wide charities I live in a country where thousands live on the streets begging for food every day. How can we possibly be so arrogant as to think we can sort problems out across the world when our own home is in such a poor state? It's right and proper to help those that are starving to make a better life, but let's not forget the people living in such a way that they barely exist here at home.
I believe that although I'm not exactly the wealthiest and healthiest person in the world I should do what I can to help others and to help make the world a better place to live in. I am the first to admit I'm a long, long way from perfect, but I try to do what I can.
When it comes to my beliefs it's only recently that I've gone back to participating in group rites. Partly because as a disabled individual many of the rites that have taken place in the past have been inaccessible to me. I can walk about 15 metres at a go, so things have to be within walking or rolling distance for me. The Yule rite I attended was arranged somewhere that I could access and even had a mobility scooter for hire (for free), making things even easier. When I'm taking part in a rite I do so with the permission of local wights, spirits and the gods and goddesses. While I never invoke, I always ask for permission. I've not been refused yet.