Well, pretty much all white caucasians (for example in Australia or America) have ancestors at some point in history (and often not that far back) from Europe - the Spanish, French and British Empires (for example) extended across the globe, and there were all the immigrations, forced or voluntary. So you could say that a white caucasian has a connection to druidic (or British or Spanish or any other European) traditions. In the same way the Native Americans could have a strong connection to their traditions, or Aborigines [sp?] to theirs.
Perhaps ones ethnic background can forge a stronger link with some traditions than other. But equally, I also think that there is no reason why a person cannot feel connected to another tradition, particularly if they live in it's traditional area, or even if they don't.
I would agree with ethnic background forming a strong link. For me, that's definitely the way it is. My background would include Celts (although if I go back really far, I'm Italian), and even though I live in the U.S., I personally would feel a bit silly worshipping Native American deities from any of the groups (I believe Algonquins were the local group), because to me, that's an ethnic tie. I'm not going to argue with anyone else's right to practice that, it just wouldn't work for me, although I find it very interesting. I find a much deeper affinity with deities from what I consider to be my homeland, Scotland, because that is the place from my heritage that I feel closest too (needless to say, I love your icon). No, I haven't lived there, but my ancestors did, and we've passed down a fair amount of pride through the generations, and it is the place the has spiritually moved me the most, because of my background. So, I would say ethnic background/deities from a place that speaks to you are some of the strongest ties. If you'
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DISCLAIMER: I'm not arguing with you.bittercatAugust 26 2005, 14:33:57 UTC
That does not hold true for me. My ancestry is overwhelmingly northern Eurpoean: English, Welsh, German...BUT, I'm not drawn to any of those pantheons at all.
My personal pantheon includes Greek, Hindu, and African deities, primarily. I also have a strong interest in and sympahty for Native American traditions. I dabble in Norse lore, but not nearly as much.
I don't see it as being any form of rebellion against my ethnicity, either. The connections I feel to those Gods run deep and are strong. (The Greek deities are my very strongest and the ones I work with most.)
Re: DISCLAIMER: I'm not arguing with you.bittercatAugust 26 2005, 16:33:16 UTC
I'm very, very strongly drawn to those parts of the world. My interest in Norse Craft may be ancestral, but it is not as strong and centers mostly on Runecraft.
I've suspected possible past life connections, but who knows? I do know they are places I would like to visit, and I feel equally drawn (though not so much on the religious level) to China and Chinese culture.
Re: DISCLAIMER: I'm not arguing with you.nimolothAugust 26 2005, 16:29:22 UTC
I guess everyone's different. I feel most connection to the ideas of British gods (specifically Herne and other horned gods), but not particularly celtic, even though I'm half Scottish, half Northen Irish. Feeling a connection to horned gods and forests as I do, I also feel more of an attracion to Pan, Faunus and the like as far as "foreign" gods go. So to me it's a mix of location, ethnicity and landscape archetypes.
Icon: thanks! It's from a photo I took of Loch Eilt in the north west highland on the Road To The Isles, after Glenfinnan, just before the coast, en route to Mallaig, somewhere we've been holidaying for 18 years.
Perhaps ones ethnic background can forge a stronger link with some traditions than other. But equally, I also think that there is no reason why a person cannot feel connected to another tradition, particularly if they live in it's traditional area, or even if they don't.
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My personal pantheon includes Greek, Hindu, and African deities, primarily. I also have a strong interest in and sympahty for Native American traditions. I dabble in Norse lore, but not nearly as much.
I don't see it as being any form of rebellion against my ethnicity, either. The connections I feel to those Gods run deep and are strong. (The Greek deities are my very strongest and the ones I work with most.)
Just wanted to point that out.
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I've suspected possible past life connections, but who knows? I do know they are places I would like to visit, and I feel equally drawn (though not so much on the religious level) to China and Chinese culture.
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I've felt drawn to Herne, but I've never explored that, really.
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