Author Topic: Is there such a thing? (Read 2385 times)

SkylarB · « **on:** September 08, 2011, 05:57:26 pm »

I'm brand new to this forum but I started practicing Wicca when I was a teenager... then for the last 10 years or so, I stopped.. but now I'm getting back into it.. Wicca doesnt 100% resonate with me anymore and I'm wondering if there is another path that more closely aligns with my beliefs? The biggest thing is that I don't believe in a Goddess or God, or any deity that is like a "person". I think there is an energy that permeates and is part of everything. It doesn't think or feel, it just goes where it is needed to create balance or it goes to where it is directed. And I can direct that energy by focusing my thoughts, or utilizing crystals and stones, or doing small spells, or meditating, or doing Reiki and other energy healing. Like the Law Of Attraction.

And I like to celebrate the seasons, as they are changes in the earth's energy and the cycle of all life, which all boils down to energy in the end because energy can not disappear, it merely changes and moves.

What I'm hung up on the most, though, is my view of deity. I dont think it's a "person" that has names and can talk to you or will hear me if I talk to it. But I do like to have balance so I sometimes do that with man/woman. or black/white or silver/gold.. and especially sun/moon (my favorite!) .. meaning it's one energy, but has a positive aspect and a negative aspect that must be in balance to be harmonious and happy and "full"

Okay.. I'm not sure if that is clear enough.. but does anyone know of a specific Pagan path that has similar belief's?

Livia Indica · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2011, 06:40:58 pm »

Quote from: SkylarB;18609

Okay.. I'm not sure if that is clear enough.. but does anyone know of a specific Pagan path that has similar belief's?

You sound pretty generally like a pagan witch to me.

SkylarB · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2011, 09:14:07 pm »

Quote from: Livia Indica;18624

You sound pretty generally like a pagan witch to me.

Thanks Livia! So even if I don't think there is a man and woman "God" ... I can just say I'm a Pagan, just not specifically a Wiccan Pagan, or other specific path ?! Which I'm fine with!

: I just want to make sure I'm not missing out on learning about a specific path that is similar to my beliefs if there is one and I don't know about it!

I just have a hard time putting a persona on the energy of the universe... (though I have NO trouble talking with my spirit guides!) I think I hold my spirit guides more in the place of what Wiccans hold the Goddess and God. But I think I have 3 of them, not just two.

Aster Breo · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2011, 12:38:48 am »

Quote from: SkylarB;18667

Thanks Livia! So even if I don't think there is a man and woman "God" ... I can just say I'm a Pagan, just not specifically a Wiccan Pagan, or other specific path ?! Which I'm fine with! : I just want to make sure I'm not missing out on learning about a specific path that is similar to my beliefs if there is one and I don't know about it!

"Pagan" is a very broad term, so it can cover a huge variety of paths. Of course you can say you're "pagan" -- you can say you're pretty much anything.

To be honest, there probably IS a specific path out there that is similar to your beliefs. There are lots of people who are creating their own paths, and it stands to reason that one of them is probably at least close to what you're looking for. But I don't think that's what you mean.

Have you looked into other spiritual practices, besides Wicca? There are a couple of resources on this site that can give you a starting point: the Pagan Primer and the Teens and Paganism FAQ. (Despite its name, the FAQ has lots of good info and links for people who are past their teen years. Just ignore the parts about things like school and parents.

) Another good resource is this website put together by long-time TC member, Jenett. And there might be some articles that are helpful for you on TC's articles page.

As you read through those things, hopefully, you'll find some ideas that pique your interest, and you'll have more specific questions to post here.

Good luck!

~ Aster

SkylarB · « **Reply #4 on:** September 09, 2011, 01:02:14 am »

Quote from: Aster Breo;18689

Have you looked into other spiritual practices, besides Wicca?

As you read through those things, hopefully, you'll find some ideas that pique your interest, and you'll have more specific questions to post here.

Good luck!

~ Aster

Thank you very much Aster! Perfect! That is exactly what I needed, to be pointed in the right direction! Tomorrow I'll be reading all day! LOL! I'm so excited to get back into my practicing after a loooong hiatus that I can't hardly think about anything else!

Boy, I do wish I was still a teenager sometimes! And I still feel like one sometimes.. but I haven't been a teenager in almost 20 years!

Aster Breo · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2011, 01:12:29 am »

Quote from: SkylarB;18692

Thank you very much Aster! Perfect! That is exactly what I needed, to be pointed in the right direction! Tomorrow I'll be reading all day! LOL! I'm so excited to get back into my practicing after a loooong hiatus that I can't hardly think about anything else!

You're very welcome! Have fun reading. And you might want to jot down the questions that occur to you as you go, so you can remember to post them later.

veggiewolf · « **Reply #6 on:** September 09, 2011, 10:05:38 am »

Quote from: SkylarB;18609

...

You might also want to check out FlameKeeping, which is intended to be a foundation and scaffold for a religious path...and was created by one of our members!

Here's a link to the official FlameKeeping website and we also have a SIG here on TC.

Have fun!

SkylarB · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2011, 04:05:12 pm »

Quote from: veggiewolf;18733

You might also want to check out FlameKeeping, which is intended to be a foundation and scaffold for a religious path...and was created by one of our members!

Here's a link to the official FlameKeeping website and we also have a SIG here on TC.

Have fun!

Thanks Veggiewolf!

Fagan_the_Pagan · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2011, 02:47:57 am »

Quote from: SkylarB;18609

The biggest thing is that I don't believe in a Goddess or God, or any deity that is like a "person". I think there is an energy that permeates and is part of everything. It doesn't think or feel, it just goes where it is needed to create balance or it goes to where it is directed. And I can direct that energy by focusing my thoughts, or utilizing crystals and stones, or doing small spells, or meditating, or doing Reiki and other energy healing. Like the Law Of Attraction.

This sounds rather pantheistic to me. Or possibly panentheistic.

Briefly,

Pantheism: "God" is everything (nothing more than the sum of the universe)
Panentheism: Everything is a part of "God." (Like pantheism, only God is MORE than the sum of his/her/its parts)

Neither of these necessarily require "deity" to have any discreet identity or personality.

SunflowerP · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2011, 05:55:42 am »

Quote from: Fagan_the_Pagan;20722

This sounds rather pantheistic to me. Or possibly panentheistic.

Briefly,

Pantheism: "God" is everything (nothing more than the sum of the universe)
Panentheism: Everything is a part of "God." (Like pantheism, only God is MORE than the sum of his/her/its parts)

Neither of these necessarily require "deity" to have any discreet identity or personality.

This pantheist who is absolutely not a panentheist would like to quibble with your definitions. "More than the sum of" can be, and often is, used metaphorically, so I don't think it's all that good a phrase to use to define the difference between pantheism and panentheism. Also, even with quote marks around it, and even with your disclaimer, using "God" tends to make people think in terms of capital-G omni-omni-foo-foo God. That's generally okay for the definition of panentheism, because they're usually talking about a Prime Cause that has something resembling agency, even if it's not otherwise personified; not so good for defining pantheism.

So:
Pantheism: Everything is divine. There is nothing outside/beyond the divine All-That-Is.
Panentheism: "God"/The Divine contains everything, and everything is part of "God"/The Divine, but "God"/The Divine also exists beyond everything.

Sunflower