Paganism and Wicca, a healthy spirituality?

[Moreira]

Ive been ultimatyely attracted to paganism and ancient celtic folk, as it seems a precious knowledge based in a close relationship with Gaia (mother nature).

As far as I know they celebrate the changes in nature, birth and death, fertility as a cycle of life, which in my opinion is wiser than the morals of judeo-christian-islam that enslaves us.

What is very eye openeing is in wicanism we can find astonishing similarities with other cultures in sacred geometry and objective truths (universal laws) like the hermetic priciples.

The principle of polarity, rythm, correspondence and gender... these are the main blueprints in paganism.

As Above, So Below; As Within, So Without; As the Universe, So the Soul…

Ive seen the wiccan simbolism and sacred geometry patterns in Thailand, Tibet, mayans calendars, the illuminati, satanists, and even nature or the microscope...

Is it just devotion or gratitude toward God's language and creation?

I find healthy to listen the rythms of our bodies, and the influence of nature has in it, celebrate the seasons and the changes that they give.

Once being stigmatized by thechristian catholic inquisition who make burn whom worshiped gaia instead of jesus...apart of that nonsense I think, its the same worship Jesus, nature, Allah, or whatever

The aspect of witchcrafts is somethins that as a rationalist I tend to be skeptic about it, alchemy, magic, rituals, and celtic mythology is more of a fairytale than objective facts.

Id love if Leo made a video about this ancient folklore as far its very interesting.

[IndigoGeminiWolf]

I love Celtic Shamanism. I have a book on it somewhere that I read some time ago.

You might like this Celtic song.

 

[mandyjw]

I'm pretty immersed in studying this currently. One of the key insights of my awakening is that fairytales are real. Crows, trees and stone structures literally played a big part in waking me up. I started intuitively practicing a kind of "witchcraft". It goes deeper than devotion or gratitude, but that's how it begins. 

My opinion is that the traditions of paganism, wicca and witchcraft suffer the same limitations as Christianity, in that in their modern accesible surface forms, they can be a like a house of mirrors and full of distractions. What's really unfortunate and problematic is that a lot of the attraction to Wicca and Paganism often comes as a sort of rebellious reaction to Christianity and it's influence on society and culture. From that partially misunderstood place of motivation many distractions and impurities arise.  

I was raised Christian and extremely devoted to Jesus as a kid, so I've traveled through the path of Christianity. I sometimes like to criticize Buddhism for lacking a certain spark but one must say that it's not as deceptive and distracting as other religions and traditions. The very best thing to do to begin with is to take it to its bare bones and study from someone who doesn't profess to follow any religion, tradition or identify as atheist. Like Leo or many of our modern teachers today. 

All religions lead to the same place. If you've tasted enlightenment and have visited there, you'll be fine studying any tradition you want and you'll be able to sort out the relevant pointers and connections. The more you learn the more duality collapses in this sort of beautifully orchestrated dance of history, myth and tradition. 

The thing I truly love about paganism and witchcraft is that they give nature the focus and emphasis that it deserves. Trees are incredibly important key elements in Buddhism and Christianity, but they are easily overlooked. Nature doesn't just assist in clearing your mind of thoughts and teaching you how to truly listen. Nature speaks. 

 

[Moreira]

1 hour ago, mandyjw said:

I'm pretty immersed in studying this currently. One of the key insights of my awakening is that fairytales are real. Crows, trees and stone structures literally played a big part in waking me up. I started intuitively practicing a kind of "witchcraft". It goes deeper than devotion or gratitude, but that's how it begins. 

My opinion is that the traditions of paganism, wicca and witchcraft suffer the same limitations as Christianity, in that in their modern accesible surface forms, they can be a like a house of mirrors and full of distractions. What's really unfortunate and problematic is that a lot of the attraction to Wicca and Paganism often comes as a sort of rebellious reaction to Christianity and it's influence on society and culture. From that partially misunderstood place of motivation many distractions and impurities arise.  

I was raised Christian and extremely devoted to Jesus as a kid, so I've traveled through the path of Christianity. I sometimes like to criticize Buddhism for lacking a certain spark but one must say that it's not as deceptive and distracting as other religions and traditions. The very best thing to do to begin with is to take it to its bare bones and study from someone who doesn't profess to follow any religion, tradition or identify as atheist. Like Leo or many of our modern teachers today. 

All religions lead to the same place. If you've tasted enlightenment and have visited there, you'll be fine studying any tradition you want and you'll be able to sort out the relevant pointers and connections. The more you learn the more duality collapses in this sort of beautifully orchestrated dance of history, myth and tradition. 

The thing I truly love about paganism and witchcraft is that they give nature the focus and emphasis that it deserves. Trees are incredibly important key elements in Buddhism and Christianity, but they are easily overlooked. Nature doesn't just assist in clearing your mind of thoughts and teaching you how to truly listen. Nature speaks. 

 

I have to admit that these superficial distractions like the romantic aspect of wiccanism is what made me interested in it, because in Spain we have an artist that themed her books and paintings about this https://www.instagram.com/victoriafrancesofficial/

Apart from this, what is the message behind that you have found related to spirituality?

[mandyjw]

@Moreira I don't think the romantic aspects are distractions, rather they add to the richness and beauty of life. Not that they can't become distractions, though. In my opinion the potential for distraction is more about choosing one religion as true above another, or getting caught up in other people's interpretations and dogma, or identifying oneself as being a follower or a member of particular tradition. 

The message I have found is the same truth that flows through all religions, pointers to oneness and suggested ways to experience it. 

Edited September 8, 2019 by mandyjw

[Matt8800]

4 hours ago, mandyjw said:

@Moreira I don't think the romantic aspects are distractions, rather they add to the richness and beauty of life. Not that they can't become distractions, though.

@mandyjw Spoken like a true Tantrika

Tantra is a path that embraces pleasure and beauty as transcendent while warning that it can be a distraction if a healthy detachment isnt maintained.. Even the act of eating delicious foods can be considered sacred. A book that I love that explains this philosophy is Desire - The tantric path to awakening.

Edited September 8, 2019 by Matt8800

[IndigoGeminiWolf]

Thank you Matt. I didn't realize that about Tantra. I thought it was painful work to clear yourself.

[Matt8800]

5 hours ago, Moreira said:

Ive been ultimatyely attracted to paganism and ancient celtic folk, as it seems a precious knowledge based in a close relationship with Gaia (mother nature).

As far as I know they celebrate the changes in nature, birth and death, fertility as a cycle of life, which in my opinion is wiser than the morals of judeo-christian-islam that enslaves us.

What is very eye openeing is in wicanism we can find astonishing similarities with other cultures in sacred geometry and objective truths (universal laws) like the hermetic priciples.

The principle of polarity, rythm, correspondence and gender... these are the main blueprints in paganism.

As Above, So Below; As Within, So Without; As the Universe, So the Soul…

Ive seen the wiccan simbolism and sacred geometry patterns in Thailand, Tibet, mayans calendars, the illuminati, satanists, and even nature or the microscope...

Is it just devotion or gratitude toward God's language and creation?

I find healthy to listen the rythms of our bodies, and the influence of nature has in it, celebrate the seasons and the changes that they give.

Once being stigmatized by thechristian catholic inquisition who make burn whom worshiped gaia instead of jesus...apart of that nonsense I think, its the same worship Jesus, nature, Allah, or whatever

The aspect of witchcrafts is somethins that as a rationalist I tend to be skeptic about it, alchemy, magic, rituals, and celtic mythology is more of a fairytale than objective facts.

Id love if Leo made a video about this ancient folklore as far its very interesting.

 

@Moreira Ive been involved heavily in witchcraft and sorcery lately. Previously, I studied and practiced Buddhism and Yoga intensely for several years.

I appreciate Buddhism and Yoga (as in the Yoga Sutras) for ego transcendence but western mysticism excels at mastering and maximizing the physical realm, which is also considered divine and sacred.

Many western mystical practitioners look past the importance of meditation. All great and powerful western mystics will say that meditation remains their most important spiritual practice....something to be mindful of.

[Matt8800]

1 hour ago, IndigoGeminiWolf said:

Thank you Matt. I didn't realize that about Tantra. I thought it was painful work to clear yourself.

@IndigoGeminiWolf There is an ancient story that describes a King who wanted enlightenment but didnt see spiritual asceticism as a practical path for him. He was told that there is another path besides traditional yoga - the path of Tantra. Yoga is considered the safe and long route to enlightenment. Tantra is considered to be the faster but more risky route to enlightenment. 

There is an ancient story about a king that wants enlightenment without asceticism and he is offered the path of Tantra, with the warning that it is more risky, but faster. I cant remember the story exactly but you will see it in a lot of Tantra books.

I think Tantra Yoga should be combined with Western mysticism imo as it fills in some holes.

I was never one to take the "safe" route. Ive never been averse to a little risk

Edited September 8, 2019 by Matt8800