The Magick Kitchen: Hungry for Magick?

My journey with you is about developing a spiritual experience with food, far beyond the dull habit of consumption. We have a marvelous opportunity here to take a mundane task and make it magickal!

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Why Christians Thrive and Pagans Fail

I have read many posts in forums, in blogs, and elsewhere regarding the social issues of the Pagan community.

 

Our community seems to be at a fork in the road. One we have been standing at for some time. We are divided by ego, misunderstandings, hate, fear, and worse.

Many authors, writers, and leaders are calling for peace and acceptance within our communities. They out forth the effort to strengthen and build our communities, while on their heels, others seek to sabotage any positive efforts made.

It seems that within our struggle to become our own spiritual pillar, we forget that others are on a similar path. We forget that someone else’s journey looks differently than our own, and for good reason; it’s personal.

Your spirituality is yours alone. Only you can relate to wholly and fluently. Our spiritual paths are not forged from cookie cutters or symmetrical molds designed to make us act, say, or experience things in the same strict way.

I have seen gossip, greed, tempers, and ego, destroy friendships, brotherhoods, sisterhoods, covens, and entire organizations. I have seen the inability to communicate and know one another create incredible fissures between people who were once happy and peaceful.  

The beauty of our community is our diversity. We are not bound by any one doctrine or religious study. We don’t have a single hierarchy pointing its condemning finger at us as we live our lives and learn our lessons. We are free, and yet we choose to remain caged and broken.

In contrast to all the ugliness I have seen and experienced, I have also know the beauty of the Pagan community. I have seen Pagans come together as they share, cry, and heal one another. I have walked a labyrinth with women who all had a different purpose for their journey. I have cried as I reveal my soul to people I only just met. I have been knocked down by the magnitude of energy raised by those who dissolved their walls to accomplish one single Magickal task.

I have walked forest trails barefoot, under the full moon at midnight to reach a sacred grove where Pagans following different paths than my own worshiped and connected. Ultimately we developed an energetic union that remains years later.

I have been around for many years, and I have experienced a lot of happiness and pain on this journey. I have been knocked down by the heartache caused by those who cannot and will not find peace in their hearts and acceptance for those around them.

“Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves.”

- George Gordon Byron

 

The fact is we cannot build a community when we refuse to accept or even tolerate one another because of our differences. We cannot become cohesive if we continue to raise our pitchforks as we look for another “Witch Hunt”.

Frankly, we have enough people outside of our communities seeking to tear us down. We need our communities more than ever. We can’t afford to burn ourselves at the stake while there are many others out there looking to do it for us.

I have been on both sides of the coin, as a Christian and a Pagan. I have experienced the differences in how each community interacts and reacts to a variety of situations.

It is time we recognize where we fall short as a community and how we can improve. No one is perfect, and you should never have that expectation placed on you, by another or by your own doing. We can always improve, but remember - perfection is an illusion.

Now some of what I say doesn’t apply to everyone a crossed the board. There are groups scattered here and there who have their perspective shit together. These groups are few and far between, but I believe we can change this. I trust we can create for ourselves bigger pockets of positive, cohesive communities where we can love one another, thrive in our practices, support one another, and become better human beings.

Here are 10 areas where I know Christians excel and Pagans tend to fail. In each area, I know that we can improve if we only work at it. Through our efforts, we can improve and become healthy.

1.    They stick together - Even when Christians don’t necessarily like one another, they are united by their faith. Part of their union is due to the fear mongering dogma of their leaders, but this is not the entire motive. They understand the idea that they are stronger in numbers. When one is attacked, they all unite and react. Strength in numbers is something Pagans lack, but we can change this. We can come together to create strength as we support one another, we only need to find or create the means.

2.    Christians support Christians - Christians buy from other Christian business owners. They congratulate newlyweds, new parents and they look out for their elders. When someone passes on, they grieve together and hold sacred space in their honor. When someone’s health is failing, they pray together, light candles, cook and eat food together, and more. They come together when they are needed most.

3.    They commune regularly – I know many of us don’t like the idea of weekly church service, much less the idea of Wednesday Bible study, or more. But this regular dedicated social interaction and communal worship allows each member of their community to get to know one another. As Pagans, if we are lucky, we might see our Pagan congregation or community once or twice each year at our local PPD event, retreat or festival. Unless you are part of a dedicated group, you might not see other Pagans, ever. In many cases, when you are a part of a single group this group of people/Pagans is often all you ever see of the Pagan community. I am sure you have heard the phrase, “it takes a village,” this wisdom is valuable and is something we should consider for our daily lives.

4.    They follow in faith – Sometimes this can be viewed as the “Sheeple” mentality, but Christians don’t look to discredit or mock the services and messages they are about to experience. They have faith in their leaders and their God. While I believe that Pagans (in most cases) have opened their eyes to organized religion and the negativities within, our fierce resistance has blinded us and allowed is denounced it’s positive aspects. We have the option to questions our beliefs and the beliefs of others without the threat of damnation. However, we don’t always use this awaken insight in the best ways. Most often we use it to tear other down instead of engaging in thoughtful and intellectual discussions. This path is an intellectual path. One that requires us to educate and improve ourselves. We cannot become well educated and balanced if we close ourselves off to and scold different ideas and theologies.

5.    Respect –Christians have respect for their leaders and elders as well as for one another. This is one confident guiding principal more Pagans should once again adopt. After all, Pagans were the first to recognize that their elders were a valuable source of insight and wisdom. Tribal leaders and the people respected their Sages, Crones, Witches, Seers and more without unwarranted skepticism, hate or discrimination. They were never jealous of their elders because they understood the importance of their position within the community. The same goes for their neighbors. They recognized that we are all connected and to disrespect another was to disrespect yourself.

6.    Formal Clergy Training – Perhaps the widespread skepticism we have in our Pagan communities is because we lack well trained-experienced elders, leaders, and guides. Christian Clergy has a slight advantage because they are trained to be leaders. They go to seminary (and colleges) and work on their internal baggage (in theory) so that they can be closer to Divinity and help others do the same. In the Pagan community, we discredit our elders and teachers. We bash them and disrespect them. I know part of this is because there are too many selfish people posing as leaders when really they were predators looking to satisfy their own egotistic desires. The good news is that not every leader is like this.

As a seeker, you must be responsible and interview and research each perspective elder or leader you want to learn from. This is one evident personal responsibility of the path.  This can be done easily and without malicious intent. I consider myself a skeptical believer. I will feel people out, and get to know them before I trust them as a leader or wise counsel. As a result, there are few I trust, but I will not tear down another simply because their type of guidance or level of experience is not right for me. Wisdom comes in many packages. While it is admirable that anyone in our community can become a leader or elder, we lack any formal guidance that is necessary to becoming a well-rounded and effective leader or wise counsel. To become a leader must heal yourself before you can lead and heal others. You must work through and begin to eliminate your own baggage before you can help others do the same.

If you want to be a leader, leave your bags stuffed with your personal and emotional issues at the door. This ability takes time and effort. You have to work on yourself daily. I am not saying you have to be 100% free and clear of all your baggage, but you at least need to reach a point where you recognize the influence your baggage has on you and others. You have to gain the ability to allow yourself to let go of your ego and desires, thusly leaving your baggage at the door.

Subsequently, as Christians train and multiply their leader base, they create for their community the opportunity for their leaders, clergy and elders to commune with one another. This gives them a chance to learn and grow from a deep well of knowledge and experience. This is another aspect our greater Pagan community lacks.

7.    Christians utilize their elders –When disagreements, gossip, and other matters pop up, Christians turn to their elders for advice and guidance. This applies to marriage counseling, legal issues, tiffs between friends, and more. In some cases, a meeting might be called, and the two opposing parties will be asked to speak with a minister, priest, or the like to help them resolve the issue. While this might be done in a coven environment where the atmosphere is more intimate, this does not happen in forums or in online groups; much less at Pagan gatherings. Most likely, the perceived aggressor is removed from the group, and each is left to deal with any residual negative feelings. We don’t have a central resource of wisdom that can help us move through domestic or social issues. However, this poses a grand opportunity for our community. We have the chance to grow our networks and become healthy and widespread for the purpose of healing one another.  

8.    Love and Trust – Christians don’t go to church with an enormous chip on their shoulder, and if they do they tend to keep it to themselves. Ideally, they go because they trust in their God and that their God has chosen the best clergy for them related to their current point of their path. Pagans do the opposite. We go into most situations or gatherings with our walls up, and we seek to discredit everything the leader is trying to achieve. The interesting thing I find about this is in the Wiccan community, where “Perfect Love, and Perfect Trust,” is highly valued, but not always honored. Even when the leader has the best intentions for us, and is only trying to do good in our community, we find a way to make a mockery of their efforts.  

If we cannot come together with our walls even half way down, we will never achieve the positive results we need. Now, I have seen the opposite be true, and I know what I say does not apply to the whole of the community. A great example people coming together is at various women’s retreats and gatherings. Women seem to have an innate ability to bring down their walls (in most cases) and trust the work about to be done by the leader performing the task. I also know from experience that this ability seems to leave us when we exit the atmosphere of the gathering, as we return to mundane life.

9.    They accept “Newbies” – I often see newbies apologizing for their questions. They begin their question with “I know this might sound dumb, but…” There is an overwhelming sense that coming into this path, you should “already know” whatever it is you seek. This simply in not possible. When you are new at something, you need to learn about it in order to know it.

In the Christian church, the congregants and leaders are eager to teach their faith to anyone. This is a double-edged sword, because as we know, some people don’t want to hear it. BUT, they are willing to take time with seekers and help them understand their theology. They do not make them feel stupid or ridiculous for asking questions. They express their faith with passion and actualization. They encourage questions, and they do so without a patronizing tone. While I agree that all we need to know is already available to us, we still have to go through the process of stripping away our own limiting beliefs and blockage. Baggage that prevent us from fully recognizing and understanding the wisdom we have within. These programmed blockages are constructed by years of social and family conditioning. It takes time and effort to relieve ourselves of the muddy weights that hold us back. That is why having experienced leaders, teachers, and elders to guide is absolutely critical.

10.Their community is abundant – Christians don’t hide. Everywhere you look, there is a Christian church on the corner or Christian-based charitable organization helping someone or a Christian based business selling products. Pagans have become accustomed to hiding. Well of course we have. We have been “forced” to hide for about 2000 years. After a while it becomes a habit; a habit we seem to accept as normal. As with all things done in excess, this habit harms us. It allows those who seek to destroy our theologies to say what they want about us, and we are nowhere to be found in contradiction.  We cannot show the greater community that we are indeed valuable members of society when we hide away and act in ways that validate their blasphemy. I am not saying you have to divulge your most sacred secrets to the world. What I am saying is that we should not hide out of fear or habit. We do ourselves and our community a disservice by allowing the negative propaganda of other faiths be confirmed by our actions and worse our absence. Instead of showing the beauty and honor that our traditions offer, we are seemingly content with allowing the greater community to fear us and mistrust us.

The fact is, most Pagans despise organized religion because it seems to justify crappy, bigoted, self-righteous beliefs. So why does it seem that so many Pagans indulge in the same actions that they claim to dynamically hate?

When we tear someone else down, we perpetuate the cycle of bigotry we supposedly condemn. Sure there are some out there who are simply wrong in what they say and do, but who are you to judge them? What gives anyone of us the right to point our finger and shout at someone for being different? Perhaps the opportunity is to educate rather than destroy.

Expressing your opinion about something is acceptable, choosing to have a meltdown over it is not. If you plan to comment on a post or in a forum about how someone is wrong, you are positioning yourself as an expert or at least knowledgeable in the field of discussion. This action can either bring us together or alienate us. When you seek to prove someone else wrong, you need to understand your position. Are you in a position to be the wise council or are you simply taking a few tidbits of knowledge you picked up along the way and posturing as an experienced and knowledgeable leader?

The attitude you take will determine the outcome. Remember we are all connected and when you disrespect someone you are revealing to the world your own insecurities and baggage. When you feel drawn to intervene, it’s a good time to ask yourself some revealing questions.

Ask yourself:

What do I really know about this area of discussion?

Do I fully understand the context of what this person is expressing?

Do I have the right to judge this person and their situation?

What will I accomplish by being rude or judgemental?

How can I express my thoughts and experience without coming off as a bully or hypercritical?

How can I be compassionate as I relay my thoughts or opinion?

I teach my student that there is a time and a place for everything. It is up to you to discover when and where your judgments, anger, and hostilities are appropriate. I can assure you that when it comes to building community, slinging around our baggage and aggressions will never work.

 

BB,

Leandra

 

www.LeandraWitchwood.com

Last modified on
I just want good food and to live a Magickal life! Is that so much to ask?   Through persistence, I found the honest answer… I can have both! I realize that I could forge my own path using the skills and knowledge I gained, and the simplest of techniques.   I love food, from the cultivation to cooking, and of course eating. I have spent more than 35 years in the kitchen, enjoying every minute. Okay… well, enjoying almost every minute of it.   In addition, I have disbursed nearly as many years studying Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism. Combining these two passions has created a Magickal path where I combine food and spirituality. To my delight they play brilliantly together.   My love of whole healthy foods, and unique recipes has also lead me to help run a local teen cooking program, where I teach kids valuable life skills in the kitchen. In addition, I teach a variety of cooking classes for adults and covens. These subjects range from making the time spent in the kitchen more enjoyable, to cooking together as a group, and recipe-spell creation.   It only made sense that I would begin writing and sharing my experience. From this, The Magick Kitchen was born. My journey with you is about developing a spiritual experience with food, far beyond the dull habit of consumption. We have a marvelous opportunity here to take a mundane task and make it Magickal!   The Magick Kitchen is about connecting to Divinity through food and the ritual of preparing and sharing food. It is about developing a sacred balance between nourishment, ritual, and spirit. Food has the power to heal, sooth, and bring us together as friends, families, and community.   I am so glad you joined me! Sharing knowledge, experience, and personal perspective with you is an honor. Thank you!

Comments

  • Sam Webster
    Sam Webster Saturday, 09 July 2016

    Thanks for this! We need this kind of critical self-examination in our community. Sadly, we are so self-destructive. Perhaps we will learn, but in the 34 years I've been at this, most of the stories are about how we don't support each other.

  • Leandra Witchwood
    Leandra Witchwood Sunday, 10 July 2016

    Thank you for taking the time to read it.
    I didn't intend to write this as a tongue lashing. I hope to inspire our community to see things as they are and to make choices that will help bring us closer together.
    I hope the efforts of our community leaders will contribute to remedying this disconnect. In my community, I am working with many other Pagans and Spiritual leaders to help build an organization that will connect elders to seekers.
    We have tremendous power at our fingertips, and we can use our power to become whole if we only choose to do so. It starts with self-care.
    BB,
    Leandra

  • Steven Posch
    Steven Posch Sunday, 10 July 2016

    My dear friend and colleague Sparky T. Rabbit (of "Lunacy" fame)--a professional actor well-versed in methods of critique--always used to say, "The best criticism doesn't just identify problems; it identifies problems and suggests constructive alternatives."
    And that's exactly what you've done in your analysis here, Leandra. Thanks.

  • Leandra Witchwood
    Leandra Witchwood Sunday, 10 July 2016

    Thank you.
    I am a firm believer that if you bring a complaint or issue to the table you must also come prepared with a solution. Even it is not "THE" solution, at least take the time to come up with something that will help the situation.
    BB

  • Anne Newkirk Niven
    Anne Newkirk Niven Sunday, 10 July 2016

    Dearest Leandra,

    Your criticism is spot-on, and your proposed solutions sound. I have only one caveat: you are comparing a squalling two-year old to a mature adult.

    If (as I do) you date the beginning of the modern Pagan movement to the publication of Gerald Gardner's "High Magic's Aid" (1949) or something in that relative time frame, then modern (neo)Paganism is a little over 65 years old.

    At this period in its development, Christianity had finally split from Judaism (messily and with a great deal of angst), and was busy *re* defining itself with a maximum amount of chaos. The split from Judaism (CE 70-100) defined Christianity as a separate religion, but not much else had been figured out, and Christians spent pretty much the next 200 years in roiling conflict (until the Council of Nicaea, CE 325.) Look at this period in the history of Christianity, and you'll see early Christians busily doing every single bad thing you have described Pagans doing, with bells on. When it comes to "raising pitchforks" the early Christians were masters of the art. Other successful religious movements (cf history of Buddhism and Islam) also had long periods of massive, fundamental conflict after the death of their founders while trying to figure out what the heck they were on about.

    Thus, it's really JUST NOT FAIR to compare our current baby steps as a religious community to literally millennia of Christian theological and institutional development. A more apt comparison would be to look at other mid-20th-century New Religious Movements and compare ourselves to them. Our best-known contemporaries (founded approx. CE 1950) include the Unification Church (aka Moonies), Unarius Academy of Science (UFO church); Scientology; the People's Temple (Jim Jones); and the Church Universal and Triumphant (Elizabeth Clare Prophet) along with lots of other groups you've never heard of. (cf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_new_religious_movements). I'd say, in that company, we are doing pretty well.

    In summation, it's completely normal for a broad religious movement like modern Paganism to be undergoing this kind of chaos, in-fighting, and creative disintegration at this period in its development. The only thing (historically speaking) that will end this process is schism and the subsequent consolidation of divergent paths.

    I believe this is already happening, with several sects of Paganism growing apart into separate religions. I forsee the development of the following denominations from Gerald's original seed: Wiccaism (in a variety of forms); Gaiaism (my name for pantheism, animism and non-theistic Paganisms); Druidry; and devotional pantheon-based polytheisms (of which Heathenism is currently the most popular.) Of course, since this process takes decades (if not centuries) I'll likely be long dead before this process concludes, so I'll never know if my prognostication is right-on, or a complete crock.

    In any case, as painful as this period in Paganism's development is, it's the hand we've drawn, and your advice is very well taken.

    Most sincerely and respectfully yours,
    Anne Newkirk Niven

  • Brian Radcliffe
    Brian Radcliffe Saturday, 16 July 2016

    Honestly, I don't know what Christian church the author went to because in my experience they are very fractured. The differing denominations each believing that their version is the right version. Most pick and choose which parts of the Bible that they will follow. I have found that it is near impossible for pagans to financially support a pagan church. The older congregants are usually ignored unless they are in the church hierarchy. Fear and intimidation tends to be the way that they keep members in line. Christians only support their own if it is in their best interests most of the time. Doing a good deed to clear one's conscience. Doing good things also has a psychologically positive effect on a person. Christians don't have a chip on their shoulder, really? Everyone that I have met believes they are superior, and want to sway me to their way of thinking. Many also compare themselves to each other. Who is more successful, who looks better, who is more Christian, who is more favored by the preacher. The constant comparing against each other is rampant in most Christians that I have dealt with. Formal clergy training. While this is offered, It is only the norm within a defined sect(s) of Christians that tend to place their own and usually rotate clergy positions. While welcoming newbies is very much in the Christian wheelhouse, they do have to attend meetings, donate time and money, and show sincerity after they have been "saved". Many churches start to ignore their new members after the saving is done. Maybe the Christians that you have met are different than the hundreds that I have met and have spoken to in my life growing up in a large mega Church. The one thing that the Christians have is a single text that defines their religious belief. Without a singular text on paganism, there will be fracturing. The various versions of the Bible has created some of this in some churches. The Christians are abundant because they threatened death, employment, heath care etc if someone did't at least fake believe. Paganism wasn't even allowed to exist in many societies legally until the 20th century. That's a lot of time to brainwash a culture. The Christians by then had the keys to power. You will notice that Christianity is loosing followers and the push back to force their ideals onto society. One only has to look at gay marriage as an example. While I agree the pagan community needs to be more inclusive, the fear of reprisals still exists. While an employer may not fire you for being pagan, you may just become a bad employee overnight.
    Respectfully.
    Timber

  • Emil
    Emil Tuesday, 19 July 2016

    There are other things, which hold the pagan community back.Myself, being dedicated pagan for many years, I had moments, when I wanted to reject Wicca because alongside with its good and vital aspects, it brings many things, which are actually destructive. I would share my personal experience and I would try to rely on some historical facts, considering the development of the neopaganism/Wicca. Note, that I do not wish to impose my views!

    1. The first problem - the confusing Wicca and the other branches of the neo-paganism with the New Age and the hippie beliefs. The original Wicca wasn't as peaceful and "love and light" as many people want it to be these days. Wicca has had its dark side, embracing many Dark Gods and Gods of the Death alongside with the Light ones. If we should embrace and revere Nature, we must know, that it has its own predatory, destructive, violent side...actually these qualities were the ones, which supported the evolution. I have experienced the destructive influence of the "love and light" mentality by becoming unsuccessful, with low self-esteem, too sensible, too vulnerable. However, it is completely possible to follow both Wicca and New Age/Hippie spirituality without mixing them or making them same!

    2. The eclectic approach. I made comparison with other paths, which include eclectic approach(for example Chaos magicians) and other, who do not(traditional ceremonial magicians, traditional witches or shamans etc). While it is possible for some traditions to go together and interact, mixing various paths or taking aspects from them and mix them brings nothing good. The results are painful doubts and self-doubts, insecurities, finally depression(something very often occuring among eclectic pagans, chaotists and other).

    3. The misunderstood Rede and the Rule of Three. You may refer to point 1. "An ye harm none" does not mean not to harm never. Doreen Valiente has said in Witchcraft for Tomorrow, that there is a place for curses and harms and its time is the wanning moon- when you or your loved ones are in danger, for example. It is wrong to harm for no reason. I remember a Wiccan who has told me, that "wiccans are peaceful people, but when they have to, they may become savage warriours". Just like the Norse Heathens!

    The nature and the world do not tolerate people or living beings, who are too peaceful. Sooner or later, they will become victims of the predators. Have you ever asked yourself, why there are so many pagans, who suffer depression? Myself, I could be one of these, if I didn't changed my worldviews, behavior or beliefs. I decided to develop warrior spirit and abilities(the Heathenism helped me in this direction). I train fitness and martial arts.

    4. The refusing of the use of manipulative techniques. Again, like it or not, there are many people, who use manipulation on regular basis. These skills and techniques for some are profession- not to mention priests and politicians, they are kings of this. One religion cannot survive without it. Note, that I do not mean for High Priests and Priestesses to manipulate their neo-pagan fellows, but when you meet aggressive opposition/oppression/ conflict with other religious people to use them as a counter-attack. You may see the real attitude towards the manipulation of Gerald Gardner in the book of Doreen Valiente "Witchcraft for tomorrow". She explains, that all the magic is based exactly on the influence of one mind on another. If you read Scott Cunningham's books, you will note elements of manipulation. As a matter of fact, I have never seen a pagan or satanist, who is good at psychological/psychic/magical manipulation. The best adepts, who were mostly skilled at this were exactly people, following Right-Hand spiritual paths! And in most cases these were...Christians.

    One of the biggest mistakes of the pagans is, that they seek justification and vindication from the society, more especially their attackers(conservative christians and others). Memes such as "Educate people, that being witch is not bad" or "Burning times, never again" put you in humiliating position and destroy your psychological and psychic defense. People, who seek acceptance will gain more attacks. By the way, this horrible fault does not belong to Wicca, but to Freemasonry - they fear the satanic accusations and seek vindication and as a result, ridiculous events may arise(http://freemasoninformation.com/2012/12/mainstream-grand-master-of-florida-expels-wiccans-and-others/). Remember, the highly religious people are low-intelligent(http://www.humanreligions.info/intelligence.html). No matter how logically you defend your beliefs, they will not agree- they will continue quoting the Bible/Koran. To try to speak frankly with them and educate them is just like to speak with the radio :D.

    I experienced very hard times, until I decided to investigate and learn such techniques. Of course, not to apply them on regular basis.But when my beliefs are under attack...when the people I love or hold on are in danger, nothing could stop me from using them. I have learned various methods- starting from psychology or NLP and finishing with psychic methods and black magic.When I started learning them, many things in my life changed for the better.Before that, I experienced failures, bad attitude from the others, low self-esteem, emotional vulnerability. This was the harsh lesson from the Dark Gods, they reminded for themselves and demanded their due respect!


    5.Subconscious superstitions. Despite the fact, that many pagans want to render Magic(k) as natural, I suspect that most of them still have superstitious fears(which give power to the attacks of the religious Christians). I love to make magical experiments and I got some of the most amazing occult successes when I tried to work, instead of the traditional deities and spirits from the pantheons, with characters from tales and movies - including non-magical/non sci-fi/fantasy, but ordinary characters from action/drama/criminal movies. The more a character is immersed with emotions, the more effective magical effects this character can produce! I strongly suggest you to try this and to learn the psychological theories of Carl Gustav Jung about the archetypes. It is one thing to read in the books that "Magick is a natural phenomenon, not something supernatural or paranormal", but it is another story to realize and become aware of it. Personally, I have witnessed psi-abilities in animals(therefore nothing mystical!) and some parapsychologists such as Rupert Sheldrake investigate it. The psi-abilities aren't superpowers per se or Magic(k), but its elements.

    Believe it or not, but Magic(k) gave the basis of the development of science and technology, therefore the basis of Magic(k) should be as much rational, as those of the science and technology itself.

    6. Many pagans are ex-christians and they contaminate the paganism with christianity. Before one enters another religion/path, one must be sure, that he or she has renounced the negative sides of the religion he has left. If one must, let him or her seek a psychologist.

    7. The over-estimation of the 3 fold law. While it is good to believe in the cosmic justice, it is wrong to leave everything in the hands of the fate. To leave the bad people to do bad things, relying on the 3 fold law makes you accompliance. For me, regretfully, too pity, the reality is different. I knew people with golden hearts and souls, who had the most awful fate. And I note, that this repeats itself- they suffer heavy physical and mental illnesses...their children commit suicide...they live poorly and lonely....finally, they die young!

    The bad consequences of this over-estimation are paranoia/increased fear of karmic punishments of unwillingly done mistakes while casting a spell(unwillingly attacking or harming somebody etc).

    8. Lack of critical thinking, acceptance of pseudo-science, pseudo-history which are fruits of the hippie/new -age beliefs.

    9.The foolish need to be open about your spirituality/religion and the need to show it to the other people. A religion, which advertises itself, preaches and seeks to convert people is a rotten religion- just like monotheism. Christians and muslims will kill themselves in attempts to show whose God(they actually worship the same deity, which happens to be the Jewish one! ) is right. Dion Fortune has said, that the real spirituality never advertises itself, only the false one does it.

    The personal religion or spirituality is something very private and showing it to the others means to render you vulnerable. If people know your core beliefs, may become able to manipulate you! Well, we may consider us lucky, that there aren't many people, who are so good in psychology and psychotherapy out there, but this is not a solace! Revealing personal things such as religion, emotional matters, social status, political views(actually the most ardent political adherents are manipulated) puts us in vulnerable position. These may be revealed only to the closest people around you, even not to the closest friends(friends come and go, you know- today they are friends, tomorrow they may become enemies).

    This is from me, I could write more, but I will stop till here. Again, I do not impose my views, I shared my experience and my thoughts about that, what holds the pagan community back. Nietzsche has said, that whatever does not kill you, makes you stronger. The pagan community will grow successful, thriving and strong, when their individuals grow this way. The strong people find common language and find basis for cooperation despite their differences.

  • brianna
    brianna Thursday, 23 August 2018

    Interesting. but not fully accurate. I deconverted from Christianity because Christians cant get along with Christians from other sects. Also, I don't know if anyone noticed, but Christianity is dropping. even though the Christian Witches (don't ask, I don't agree with them but they exist), is growing, I for one will not join their numbers. I don't mind being a solitary Pagan, because people no matter what beliefs they profess, are not always compassionate or kind.

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