Seeking Some Advice and Guidance

[BeardedBoggan]

Hello there!

So, I've been bouncing between being a theist and an agnostic for years now.  I spent much of my teenage years thinking I was Wiccan and studying a plethora of religions before stumbling upon Unitarian Universalism a few years ago.  It forms a wonderful foundation for my own sense of ethics (UUs have the Seven Principles and the like which basically equate to diverse is good, be compassionate and respectful and yay democratic process) but I found that I wanted something more concrete, something more "focused" that reflected my own spiritual beliefs.  I do think someone can call themselves a UU and that can be their faith but it just didn't fit entirely for me.

The core of what I believe in, after many years of contemplation and self-reflection (with many more to come, I'm sure!) boils down to this:

1. I believe in some sort of Divine Force, Being, Deity what-have-you.  It has infinite facets, faces and names.  A very "Many Paths, One Mountain" sort of belief.  We find one part of it we can identify with and feel drawn to and that becomes our own understanding of the Divine.  

2. I personally find myself drawn more to the Celtic deities for my own particular brand of "Deity Face" but I also find it hard to get into something like Celtic Reconstructionalism (as much as I do love research and history) yet don't want to fall into cultural appropriation.  

3. Sacred space doesn't need to be created as it is all around us.  Everything in nature is sacred.  However, we can make it more personalized and attune ourselves to it through ritual and magic work etc.  

4. I have an interest in the classical four elements but see more of a "land, sea, sky, Inner Flame" quality to it.  They play into everything and are interconnected.

5. The spirit world can be interacted with and wisdom can be drawn from it via divination, dreams, meditation - anything that focuses less on the physical, material world and more on the surreal and sublime.

6.  Energy is eternal and bound by laws of physics, something we can understand and rationalize.  The Divine fits into this too ... if that makes sense?

7.  Reincarnation is a firm belief I've always held onto.  I don't see it in a sense of "getting out of the cycle of death and life" but rather always being a part of it and following the cycles of life, death and rebirth.  It can be spiritual or physical.

That's about it in a very condensed post.  There's much more to it but I just want to get some advice and guidance on it all.  In what capacity you ask?  Well... what are such beliefs called?  Is there a label or branch of Paganism that espouses all that?  I know I can believe what I want and call it what I want but I'd enjoy having some sort of identifier to work with.  I'm odd like that I guess.

I really appreciate any input and wisdom you all can share.  Thank you for reading my ramblings.

Best,
Boggan

[Mountain Cat]

Hello there!

So, I've been bouncing between being a theist and an agnostic for years now.  I spent much of my teenage years thinking I was Wiccan and studying a plethora of religions before stumbling upon Unitarian Universalism a few years ago.  It forms a wonderful foundation for my own sense of ethics (UUs have the Seven Principles and the like which basically equate to diverse is good, be compassionate and respectful and yay democratic process) but I found that I wanted something more concrete, something more "focused" that reflected my own spiritual beliefs.  I do think someone can call themselves a UU and that can be their faith but it just didn't fit entirely for me.

The core of what I believe in, after many years of contemplation and self-reflection (with many more to come, I'm sure!) boils down to this:

1. I believe in some sort of Divine Force, Being, Deity what-have-you.  It has infinite facets, faces and names.  A very "Many Paths, One Mountain" sort of belief.  We find one part of it we can identify with and feel drawn to and that becomes our own understanding of the Divine.  

2. I personally find myself drawn more to the Celtic deities for my own particular brand of "Deity Face" but I also find it hard to get into something like Celtic Reconstructionalism (as much as I do love research and history) yet don't want to fall into cultural appropriation.  

3. Sacred space doesn't need to be created as it is all around us.  Everything in nature is sacred.  However, we can make it more personalized and attune ourselves to it through ritual and magic work etc.  

4. I have an interest in the classical four elements but see more of a "land, sea, sky, Inner Flame" quality to it.  They play into everything and are interconnected.

5. The spirit world can be interacted with and wisdom can be drawn from it via divination, dreams, meditation - anything that focuses less on the physical, material world and more on the surreal and sublime.

6.  Energy is eternal and bound by laws of physics, something we can understand and rationalize.  The Divine fits into this too ... if that makes sense?

7.  Reincarnation is a firm belief I've always held onto.  I don't see it in a sense of "getting out of the cycle of death and life" but rather always being a part of it and following the cycles of life, death and rebirth.  It can be spiritual or physical.

That's about it in a very condensed post.  There's much more to it but I just want to get some advice and guidance on it all.  In what capacity you ask?  Well... what are such beliefs called?  Is there a label or branch of Paganism that espouses all that?  I know I can believe what I want and call it what I want but I'd enjoy having some sort of identifier to work with.  I'm odd like that I guess.

I really appreciate any input and wisdom you all can share.  Thank you for reading my ramblings.

Best,
Boggan

Fits well with Druidry. There's a section on the forum related to Druidry, if you want to check it out. And if you have any questions feel free to ask. :)