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Author Topic: Questions for my Spiritual Journal?  (Read 2008 times)

Serpent

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Questions for my Spiritual Journal?
« on: July 05, 2012, 09:01:56 am »
I've heard a few people talk about a Spiritual Journal. In this journal you are supposed to write down your beliefs, experiences with deity and ritual, and just about anything that relates to your religion or spiritual experiences. I thought it would be a good idea to start this journal by first asking myself questions about my beliefs. My first entry will be my answer to the following question.

1) How do you view deity?

I will keep a handwritten journal at home and I was wondering if anyone could pose a few questions for me and I can include these questions in my journal and will try and answer one question a day. I will not be posting answers to these questions but I am just looking for ideas. I figured this is a good start to finding a path for myself by first asking myself WHAT, WHO, AND WHY I believe. Once I feel I have clearly outlined my beliefs I will begin moving onto writing about my experiences with deity. My experiences with meditation and prayer. Experiences with ritual. :D:
« Last Edit: July 05, 2012, 11:11:46 am by RandallS »

Aisling

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Re: Spiritual Journal
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2012, 09:27:45 am »
Quote from: Serpent;62819
I thought it would be a good idea to start this journal by first asking myself questions about my beliefs.

 
That's an excellent place to begin!

I have a category on my spiritual blog called "Path Forging" that focuses on about belief, practice, and defining a unique religious path. Each post has a serious of questions about a particular topic that are intended to help explore and define personal beliefs. Perhaps there's something there that you can use.

"The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you." -
Neil deGrasse Tyson

Faemon

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Re: Questions for my Spiritual Journal?
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2012, 12:44:21 pm »
Quote from: Serpent;62819
I thought it would be a good idea to start this journal by first asking myself questions about my beliefs. My first entry will be my answer to the following question.

1) How do you view deity?

I will keep a handwritten journal at home and I was wondering if anyone could pose a few questions for me and I can include these questions in my journal and will try and answer one question a day. I will not be posting answers to these questions but I am just looking for ideas. I figured this is a good start to finding a path for myself by first asking myself WHAT, WHO, AND WHY I believe. Once I feel I have clearly outlined my beliefs I will begin moving onto writing about my experiences with deity. My experiences with meditation and prayer. Experiences with ritual. :D:


Why Wicca? (Follow up every statement in answer with "why?" until you feel you've gotten to the very root.)
What are your goals, expectations, and pre-conceptions?
Do you believe that you perceive the world as it truly is?
By what methods do you test the reliability of the new things you're learning?

What is truth?
What is morality?
How do you deal with doubt, fear, bitterness, wrath, or other dark and unpleasant aspects of either yourself or the world?
The Codex of Poesy: wishcraft, faelatry, alchemy, and other slight misspellings.
the Otherfaith: Chromatic Genderbending Faery Monarchs of Technology. DeviantArt

Shine

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Re: Questions for my Spiritual Journal?
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2012, 04:29:13 pm »
Quote from: Serpent;62819
I've heard a few people talk about a Spiritual Journal. In this journal you are supposed to write down your beliefs, experiences with deity and ritual, and just about anything that relates to your religion or spiritual experiences. I thought it would be a good idea to start this journal by first asking myself questions about my beliefs. My first entry will be my answer to the following question.

1) How do you view deity?

I will keep a handwritten journal at home and I was wondering if anyone could pose a few questions for me and I can include these questions in my journal and will try and answer one question a day. I will not be posting answers to these questions but I am just looking for ideas. I figured this is a good start to finding a path for myself by first asking myself WHAT, WHO, AND WHY I believe. Once I feel I have clearly outlined my beliefs I will begin moving onto writing about my experiences with deity. My experiences with meditation and prayer. Experiences with ritual. :D:

 
I didn't know these things had a name. I keep one myself and have done so for about 4-6 months now. Mostly I've written stuff about experiences, but there are some questions that tend to repeat periodically. In the beginning, I wrote what I called my "exegesis", and then moved onto other stuff, like you plan to do. Seems like a good place to start. ;)

Soooo, those questions:

1. Am I going the right direction? Am I trying to cram myself into x-tradition when I belong in y-tradition?

2. Is the sign/experience I had from/with a deity only in my imagination or is there something I need to be paying attention to?

3. Am I doing enough for my deities? If not, what can I do that's traditional and meaningful, but doesn't cause too much interruption to necessary, mundane tasks?

4. How have my beliefs changed and how do I reconcile my personal beliefs with the ancient cultural beliefs that underlie my tradition?

5. Where is deity? In nature? Somewhere else?

6. What has x-deity done for me recently and in the past? (Usually followed by a brief expression of gratitude.)

7. Where did I come from and how does that currently affect my practice and how might it affect my practice in the future?

And a couple others I haven't answered but do think about on the right occasion:

8. How did my celebrations for x-holiday go? What needs to be done differently in the future?

9. How was my offering to x-deity received? Can I give this kind of offering again or should I avoid it?
Leave your darkness with me, and I will make you shine.

Waldhexe

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Re: Questions for my Spiritual Journal?
« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2012, 04:29:44 am »
Quote from: Serpent;62819




Sounds like a good idea! I can't think of a good question at the moment, but I remember I worked with this book when I was a newbie and it had a lot of questions/prompts for journaling:

http://www.amazon.com/Paganism-Introduction-Earth--Centered-Religions/dp/0738702226/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341563293&sr=8-1&keywords=higginbotham+paganism

dragonfaerie

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Re: Questions for my Spiritual Journal?
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2012, 06:12:53 am »
Quote from: Serpent;62819
I will keep a handwritten journal at home and I was wondering if anyone could pose a few questions for me and I can include these questions in my journal and will try and answer one question a day.


What did you enjoy about previous religions you've followed? What did you dislike?

How you you feel about spellwork? What is manipulative magic, to you?

What is your personal ethical code? How have you come to those standards?

How you do feel about the Wiccan Rede? Of the various ways people interpret the Rede, what seems most reasonable to you? Which is closest to your own ethical code?

What role do you think prayer should take in your practice?

How do you feel about the idea of "using" Gods for workings? Is it just a turn of phrase? Are the Gods there for us to utilize like tools? Or should we look to have a more reciprocal friendship?

Am I more interested in book learning or experiential practice? Some combination of both?

How do I feel about groups? What would a perfect group be?

How do I feel about teachers? What's the best way for me to learn? How adaptable am I to another's methods?

How do I feel about being pagan/exploring paganism? Are there times I might like to hide what I am/what I do? Do I want to be out, loud, and proud? Are there people in my life that would be difficult to share this with?

I think those are some good starters...

Karen

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