The Pagan Heart
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April 2005 Issue
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From the Desk of
Welcome to the latest edition of The Pagan Heart. Our magazine keeps growing - I'd like to take a moment to welcome all our new readers. And to thank those of you who've begun contributing articles and letters. Your input is helping us to create a magazine that truly reflects our diverse community. I am beginning to feel that spring is really here at last - the equinox last month was a glorious reaffirmation of faith for my family - I hope those of you who celebrated it found it to be similarly wonderful. I have felt a shift since the equinox - the energies around me are in a state of flux, and the earth seems to be "waiting", preparing to shrug. For me, this has resulted in changes to my abilities - I am finding that I have both less control over my energy, and greater skill - quite a mix. Formal ritual is not working for me right now, but if I simply go with the flow, things explode into action. I am thinking this may have something to do with the astrological state we are entering. A few issues ago Axiom mentioned the ending of a time of great selfishness and an international spiritual shift towards a more enlightened state. Considering what some of our world leaders are doing at this time, I hope this is true. I would like to see enlightenment reach the political stage, for the way it is going scares me. On the personal level, however, I think I am experiencing what she was talking about. Not that I am a greatly enlightened man. But I am finding my spiritual awareness increasing. My meditation is easier yet so much more intense. And I "get" a lot more things metaphysically than I did even a few months ago. How about you? Are you noticing changes? Wouldn't it be wonderful if worldwide we really are changing, bringing in a new era of conscious mindfulness? In light and love,
Being Christlike?
By Bill Wolfe This being Pagan thing has puzzled me for some time. I was raised, like it appears many Pagans were, Christian - and I never had an issue with Christianity. That is unusual among the Pagans I know. I had an issue with some of the people, but Christianity, as taught by Christ, is a pretty good gig. Since the church I was raised in considered the OT to be the history rather than the living word of God, we focused upon the NT and the word of Christ. As filtered through various apostles etc. And, as I said, Christ had a good idea. He even showed respect to those of other faiths and left alone those who wished not to hear his preaching - wash your hands of them and let them go their own way if they do not want to hear. Plus the whole get into Heaven if you have treated people with decency and compassion and charity thing appeals to me. So why, if I like Christ's version of religion, am I not Christian? Why have I turned away and taken another path? What on earth possessed me? People. It is very hard to want to be Christian when I live in the States and see the moral majority (ie American Christians) and the way they as a group treat everyone else. I know some of them are respectful and tolerant. But as a whole these people are brainwashed into believing there is one way and one way only to Heaven. And it's THIS way...no, THAT way...wait, maybe it's another way. Gods, they don't even agree amongst themselves as to who has it right. I look at these people and I fear. I fear for my future and that of everyone else. The Christian Reconstructionists especially terrify me. These people are so adamant and immovable in their convictions - convictions including the right to force others to conform and ostracise/punish those who rebel (as is espoused in Dominionism). There is no wriggle room, let alone room to profess a different idea. So, although I support the ideas of Christ, I cannot in good faith be Christian. Too many wrongs have been perpetuated under that title - and continue to be done. It's the "continue" that gets me. These people not only fail to learn from the crimes of history, but continue to wreak havoc - and dumb down their children so the next generation follows proudly in the steps of its parents. Christ was a prophet - as were Buddha, Ghandi, Mohammed, and many others - including Pagans. The message he brought is universal - love, tolerance, acceptance, and a striving to improve the self. But somehow his message continually gets distorted, with conditions laid on thick. He did not fail, but those who passed on his words did. Human frailty distorted what the gods offered. So I looked elsewhere. And I found that of all the faiths in this world, the most tolerant seems to be the Pagan collective. Diverse beliefs, conflicting ideologies, and acceptance and celebration of that. How cool can you get? My initial foray into Paganism was more that of seeking a blanket to conceal myself within. It was an analytical approach. But over time I have found that the very tenets of my chosen path have wound about and through my soul so tightly that I cannot consider myself anything other than Pagan. I am ecclectic and solitary in nature - the Celtic pantheons draw me more than the others, although I do beg, borrow, and steal. But every ritual I perform, every prayer I offer, I hear my gods. I live my life in what many of my associates refer to as a "Christ-like" fashion - which makes me laugh. I am anything but Christlike. I enjoy the Beltaine rituals as much as the next Pagan, and alcohol and I certainly do mix at times. But I am also very moral and ethical. I keep my word, I engage in charity, I love my wife, and I'm a community man. Mind you, we have no idea what Christ did for 25 odd years. Maybe I am more Christ-like than I thought. Yes, it makes me laugh. If the Christians are right, and Christ is the only way to Heaven, then I'm in like Flynn. After all I treat my fellow humans as Christ himself decreed to be the "right" way. And he said nothing about belief in him being a prerequisite. I just hope that Heaven is not all angels, harps, and fluffy white clouds. Give me the Apple Isle, a draught of beer, a leg of lamb, and a pretty partner anyday. |
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