Spiritual Peace through Paganism
Our desire to find true spiritual peace comes from a deep need within ourselves, and all of the spiritual belonging that we seek already exists within and around each of us at every moment. It does not come from any book, historical record, mythological tale, nor from any affiliation to any group labeling themselves with names, nor from performing certain rituals, or worshipping particular deities. It never comes from force, nor from devaluating and discounting the "spiritual paths" of another.
Over centuries, we've allowed ourselves to be conditioned to cast away the basis of our roots, to segregate, and to become closed to experiencing this most pure connection. We all share this common unity on a very basic level which cannot be severed by hate, distance, time, persecution, race, origin, governing groups, war, location, or nonsensical religious brainwashing techniques.
Learning to tap into these inherent connections may be considered an act of Paganism. The term Pagan was originally used to describe country-dwelling peasants who strongly held to their beliefs and ancient practices when nearby townsfolk were converting, or being converted to, Christianity. Today, pagan is generally known as "Relating to spiritual practices which pre-date the introduction of Christianity, and typically lack a hierarchical structure while emphasizing personal relationships with natural forces and cycles".
A person cannot wake up one day, read a couple books or webpages, take on some crafty name, and call himself a Pagan, Witch, or Wiccan. These practices are a way of life as much as the Native American Indian's lifestyle and beliefs were a way of life they were born into. Upon birth we all possess every element and skill necessary to follow any earthly path, however, each of these paths requires ongoing effort, study, self-exploration, discipline, rational thought, and personal achievement.
When we're able to open our minds, we can hear our inner selves, feel the forces around us, and begin to understand what we are really seeking:
That no matter the name of our churches or our Gods (if any), our goals, hopes, destiny, and desires for the future of our offspring are IDENTICAL, and forever intertwined among us all. And that many of our divided religious beliefs actually KEEP US FROM evolving, from utilizing our own intelligence, from connecting and reuniting with one another, with our deepest selves, and with the world around us - the very communion we're longing for.
Some religious teaching has historically kept us warring against one another while the destruction of our societies, and to our world, - the most destructive threats to us all - increases because of these divisions. When people are living in fear or of persecution, punishment, or repression for their religious beliefs, that is not freedom by any measure.
There are well over 200 "labeled" religious groups - too great in number to list here. Among them are divisions within groups, and 34,000 divisions of Christians.
Is just ONE of these the "right" belief system for ALL who walk the planet to follow and adhere to? No. Not one is superior to another. We are equal.
To fully achieve true spiritual peace, we must cast off the requirements of conformity, trust our instincts, open our senses, question those things which prompt our inner voices to speak out to us, feel the energies around us, and be prepared to seek rational answers that are solidly connected to growing scientific proofs, to our personal spiritual needs, and to the world as a whole.
CURRENT MOON
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