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Author Topic: priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.  (Read 1873 times)

Kahina

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priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.
« on: July 18, 2014, 10:47:24 pm »
Is it possible to walk that kind of path if you're outside of an organized pagan religion?

I have some words that stuck with me when I was hanging out with some friends last summer. One of them, with interests similar to mine, was discussing how you didn't need a coven or to be a part of a religion to become a priest(ess). Devotion in what you do to another level is all that you need.

Personally, I like that kind of concept, but I'm not sure if it's valid. I'd like to eventually become one when I feel I'm ready for that kind of step, but is that even possible?
"be careful, you are not in Wonderland. i\'ve heard the strange madness long growing in your soul, in your isolation."

Sage

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Re: priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.
« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2014, 11:22:15 pm »
Quote from: Kahina;153278
Is it possible to walk that kind of path if you're outside of an organized pagan religion?

 
There are certainly priests in religions other than pagan ones, so the answer is yes. :) The next question to be is: what do you mean when you write about priesthood? What does it mean for you, your spiritual path, and your gods? Obviously a Catholic priest is not an eclectic Wiccan High Priestess of a small coven is not a trained ancient Egyptian priest of Ra.
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Kahina

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Re: priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2014, 11:31:36 pm »
Quote from: Sage;153280
There are certainly priests in religions other than pagan ones, so the answer is yes. :) The next question to be is: what do you mean when you write about priesthood? What does it mean for you, your spiritual path, and your gods? Obviously a Catholic priest is not an eclectic Wiccan High Priestess of a small coven is not a trained ancient Egyptian priest of Ra.

 
I think being a priestess for me would mean becoming more masterful over what I do in terms of establishing the intuition for knowing what is proper (what kind of spell a situation calls for, being more insightful during my readings, being able to assess people's emotions with even greater clarity, and invoking the energy of the sea). I still consider myself a student-practioneer at the moment, but at some point, it's something I dream about. I see it as a kind of honor I'd love to reach.
"be careful, you are not in Wonderland. i\'ve heard the strange madness long growing in your soul, in your isolation."

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Re: priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2014, 08:47:43 am »
Quote from: Kahina;153278
Is it possible to walk that kind of path if you're outside of an organized pagan religion?

 
That would depend on what "that kind of path" means to you.

Some people mean "a full practitioner of this path", which strikes me as a rather useless definition, but it has a lot of common usage, and doesn't require an organised path.

Some people mean "a group leader", in which case there has to be a group to lead, and unless it's a total mess, that's an organised pagan religious practice.

Some people mean "a servant in the house of the god", and whether or not that requires a group around it depends on the particular usages of 'servant', 'house', and 'god'.  Some yes, some no.

Some people mean other things I'm not able to bring to mind at this hour of the morning....
as the water grinds the stone
we rise and fall
as our ashes turn to dust
we shine like stars    - Covenant, "Bullet"

BrighidsAura

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Re: priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2014, 10:03:22 am »
Quote from: Sage;153280
There are certainly priests in religions other than pagan ones, so the answer is yes. :) The next question to be is: what do you mean when you write about priesthood? What does it mean for you, your spiritual path, and your gods? Obviously a Catholic priest is not an eclectic Wiccan High Priestess of a small coven is not a trained ancient Egyptian priest of Ra.


I think this is a great answer.

I agree that you can be a priestess of something about having an organzed religion but within reason. For example, some religions ARE organized and require ordained priest/esshood. Catholicism is one of those. ARGUABLY, Wicca was too (traditionally, one had to be initiated by a coven but times have changed and that's not what Wicca is to many people anymore). I am one of those that is a stickler on Druids not calling themselves Druids until they earn the title but that's my snobbish Celtic Reconstructionist background calling out. By "earning" the title, what I mean is that they should put in a lot of effort and study until they feel they can represent something like a priest to the faith. A novice calling themselves a Druid, to me, is a little inappropriate.

So it would depend for you. Do you feel like you hold the skill set? Do you feel like you have a calling for it? Not to sound like Grandmother Willow here but listen to what your heart tells you. If you dont belong to an organized faith, then you dont need an organized initiation into priest/esshood.

Sophia C

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Re: priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2014, 10:26:50 am »
Quote from: BrighidsAura;153307
ARGUABLY, Wicca was too (traditionally, one had to be initiated by a coven but times have changed and that's not what Wicca is to many people anymore). I am one of those that is a stickler on Druids not calling themselves Druids until they earn the title but that's my snobbish Celtic Reconstructionist background calling out. By "earning" the title, what I mean is that they should put in a lot of effort and study until they feel they can represent something like a priest to the faith. A novice calling themselves a Druid, to me, is a little inappropriate.

I find this approach quite frustrating, when I encounter it in CRs, because it assumes that the CR view of the  world is the only view. The word 'druid' no longer means *just* 'Celtic priest' -  it has different meanings to different people. It also has an established meaning as a modern Pagan path with many varieties, not all of which are primarily Celtic, and certainly not all of which involves priesthood. Just as you note that times have changed for Wicca, so too have they changed with regards to what Druidry means. They changed in that sense starting in the 18th Century, so it's been a while.
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Kahina

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Re: priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2014, 05:54:13 pm »
Quote from: BrighidsAura;153307
Not to sound like Grandmother Willow here but listen to what your heart tells you. If you dont belong to an organized faith, then you dont need an organized initiation into priest/esshood.

 
My heart is definitely telling me priestesshood would be a wonderful path, but not in the sense of being in a group, or initiating myself into an organized faith. I think, after I've been practicing for longer, the time will come when I feel confidence in declaring that kind of title.

I just know for me, whatever I do, I want to do well, and explore the depths of. Most of my hobbies I try to turn into something I can work hard at. I write, but I want to become an author. I'm a psychology major, but I want to get a doctorate's, etc. I like to really get into the depths of something, and I feel this is one of the times in which I want to do more.
"be careful, you are not in Wonderland. i\'ve heard the strange madness long growing in your soul, in your isolation."

styr

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Re: priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2014, 06:11:30 am »
Quote from: Kahina;153278
Is it possible to walk that kind of path if you're outside of an organized pagan religion?

I have some words that stuck with me when I was hanging out with some friends last summer. One of them, with interests similar to mine, was discussing how you didn't need a coven or to be a part of a religion to become a priest(ess). Devotion in what you do to another level is all that you need.

Personally, I like that kind of concept, but I'm not sure if it's valid. I'd like to eventually become one when I feel I'm ready for that kind of step, but is that even possible?


In my early twenties, I referred to myself as a "witch" or "magician."  I was in regular contact with a group of spirits that insisted on calling me a "Priest of Many Colors."

This was confusing at the time, but they insisted that I wasn't at all a magician, that my yearning for Divine contact and focus on empathy definitely made me a Priest... and they said the "many colors" was appropriate because I refused to adopt a traditional path, yet had a knack for connecting with anyone on a 'quest for Divinity' regardless of tradition.

I've come to agree with them.  I've had many relationships with gods without pledging myself to them; and many mutually respectful connections with devout followers of gods who aren't known for being generally accepting or friendly.  In my book, "Generic Priestess" is a perfectly valid concept.

Kahina

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Re: priest(ess) hood outside of pagan religions.
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2014, 03:31:56 am »
Quote from: styr;154461
In my early twenties, I referred to myself as a "witch" or "magician."  I was in regular contact with a group of spirits that insisted on calling me a "Priest of Many Colors."

This was confusing at the time, but they insisted that I wasn't at all a magician, that my yearning for Divine contact and focus on empathy definitely made me a Priest... and they said the "many colors" was appropriate because I refused to adopt a traditional path, yet had a knack for connecting with anyone on a 'quest for Divinity' regardless of tradition.

I've come to agree with them.  I've had many relationships with gods without pledging myself to them; and many mutually respectful connections with devout followers of gods who aren't known for being generally accepting or friendly.  In my book, "Generic Priestess" is a perfectly valid concept.

 
Sounds good to me. I think when the time comes, I know when to call myself that, although I'd like to reach a point where I'm regularly helping other people find their way, too.
"be careful, you are not in Wonderland. i\'ve heard the strange madness long growing in your soul, in your isolation."

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