Study Group 5 The Rational Warrior

The subtitle of this chapter is "Avoiding Fundamentalism. Many of us are drawn to the Pagan path because we have trouble accepting the beliefs and practices of mainstream religions. However, if we are not careful we find ourselves creating the same atmosphere we tried so hard to get away from.

"What seems to happen first is that Pagan individuals try to set up religious organizations recognized by state and federal authorities." (P42) Cuhulain reminds us that the rules for such recognition were written mainly by the majority religion. If we are not careful, before we know it you have Wicca that has been so modified for the purpose of acceptance that it really isn't Wicca anymore.

Do you think we try so hard to be accepted that we sacrifice the essence of Paganism?

This question led to a lengthy discussion. Some said yes, and that we shouldn't let authorities make us compromise our principals or conform to their idea of religious structure. Some on the other hand felt that sometimes you have to do what you have to do so you try to do it with as little sacrifice as possible.

Does the end justify the means? Opinion varied.

Most of our study group time was spent discussing this topic. Cuhulain also cautions us to be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. Pagan groups and organizations should be careful of making decisions that get them in over their heads financially. If anyone has ever studied the Reformation you will have a better understanding of why such decisions can have an adverse affect on spirituality.

In this chapter the point is brought up that some religions are "revealed" religions. There was a prophet or messiah that was given the world of God through an angel or other intermediary. Pagans on the other hand have a personal connection with deity. We do not need someone else to talk to the Gods and Goddesses for us.

"There are many valid paths to deity. We ought to be celebrating our similarities rather than nitpicking over our differences." (p49)

We closed study group with this thought.

The assignment was to go back through chapters 1-5 and create 12 Principles of the Wiccan Warrior. Example: A Wiccan Warrior must be impeccable-To earn respect you must be respectable.

Read Chapter 6

We will not meet for study group Sat July 14, we will be at the St. Louis Pagan Picnic.
Lady Devin will be giving a workshop on Beginning Tarot
Gaian and Willow will be giving a workshop on the Art of Staves.

We hope to see you there!

 

Study Group 4 The Creative Warrior

Most people are bound to tradition. We are comfortable with doing things the same way over and over because that is always how it has been done. Sometimes we continue to do something the "traditional way" even when it doesn't work for us.

"The Warrior does things a particular way because it brings results. If the traditional way doesn't work anymore, the Warrior seeks alternatives." (WW P 27).

This is where we begin this week with creativity.

Cuhulain tells us that in order for our belief system to work for us we have to know and be honest about the origins or our belief. By being honest, we become more effective and objective.

"All religions were started by people, for it is people that they serve." (p 29). This is leading up to how the mythology for Wicca developed. I'm not going to explain it here, but Cuhulain did research on this and what he discovered supports the point that researching your beliefs is very important. Research is actually what led me to this path. In doing research to find the connection between Jesus's crucifixion and Easter Eggs, I discovered a religion that pre-dated Christianity.

"Those who fall into the trap of shifting their emphasis from the substance to the form of the religion interpret myths as historical accounts that are literally true. When this happens, the mythology will cease to function for them." (p 29)

This is an important revelation in a way, but in a way I think it is something that most of us knew, we just didn't know we knew it until someone pointed it out to us. How many times have you met or talked with someone who was "new" to the path and the questions they asked were mostly about how to cast spells? Six months later they are not as enthusiastic about the Pagan path and it was because they found out that along with that aspect of the belief you need to study, learn, follow the Rede, be kind to nature etc...

On page 29 the author shares with us a thought from Kate Slater that "there are 3 patterns of developing our craft." The first is to create, the second is to take "the most optimistic interpretations of the fragments we have and build new structures", the third is a more cautious approach to the second method.

In our discussion we concluded that each person will eventually use all these methods depending on the level they are on their path (beginner, intermediate, long time follower).

So then, if this book is telling us to be creative about our beliefs, then how is it that Paganism has not been flooded with a mass of newly created mythology and traditions by those trying to make a name for them selves?

Our group concluded that there have been those who have tried, but the mainstream has stuck to "traditional" beliefs in one way or another and the boundaries have been set. Although we do get creative in our methods and somewhat in our beliefs there are lines we don't cross that help keep the snakes out of the pond so to speak.

Every religion has to have a starting point. Someone somewhere at some point "invented" religion. We are now faced with the "older is better" argument. Is one religion more valid than another simply because it has been around longer?

The author answers this question by saying, "My religion isn't "better" than any other religion. It works for me, therefore it is better for me. Each person should find the belief that works best for them." (p 31-32). He points out each path offers something to each of us that we can use. We must take what we learn and make it work for us.

Cuhulain shares his research and shows us how Gerald Gardner "invented" modern Wicca. Very interesting stuff!

In the last paragraphs of the chapter we are warned, "But the moment that you start looking at myth as literally true, as the fundamentalists do, you negate its power." (p39) The stories are created for the conscious mind to understand and the subconscious mind to understand the symbolism.

Wiccan Warriors are urged to create their own reality.

The challenge for journaling this week is to think of something you are doing the "traditional" way but is not working for you, and try doing it a different way.

Read Chapter 5 for next week.

Star River Coven wishes you a happy first day of summer!

Today is officaly the first day of summer, the longest day of the year. Today the Sun King reaches his peak and is in his fullest glory! We celebrate the light and warmth He gives us before his power weakens and fades as the wheel of the year turns.

Don't forget to leave something for the fairies this evening, a small plate of milk, cheese, or small cakes drizzled with honey.

Have a great day!

Blessed Be

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads!

 

Study Group 3 The Balanced Warrior

For those of you who aren't aware, we are studying the book Wiccan Warrior-Walking a Spiritual Path in a Sometimes Hostile World by Kerr Cuhulain.

One of the members informed me that this book is out of print. (awww man!) So if you don't have this book and want to get it, you might have to find it in used books at amazon.com or on Ebay.

Everyone had a chance to share what they discovered about themselves in their fearless moral inventory. One participant discovered she still had anger toward her father that she thought she had dealt with while another discovered fears and where they stemmed from.

The point of this exercise is not to find all the bad things about yourself, but to find the things that block you or hold you back. What does that have to do with right action? Right action makes the way for balance and that is where we begin this week.

Chapter three begins with this quote:

Our word religion comes from the Latin and means "to bind together." A successful religion is one that binds together all the fundamental rhythms that each of us experiences: the personal rhythm of the human body, the larger social rhythm of the family, tribe, or nation and the enveloping cosmic rhythms of the planet and the universe. If the religion "works," its followers are rewarded by a new dimension of rhythm and time-the sacred." -Mickey Hart (Planet Drum)

*Do you think earth based religions work?

All participants said yes. I think this is where the clash between religions comes in-it is hard for some people to accept that a religion can be different from theirs and work for those who believe it.

The first paragraph of page 19 talks about how we are linked to the earth and how divinity is in everything including all people.
The group was challenged to think about someone they really don't like and have trouble dealing with-can you see the God/Goddess in this person?

EEEEKKK!

How about this-after reading this passage can you look at this person differently and see the God/Goddess?

That was a little harder huh?

Kerr next talks about if a dualist looks at tree, they see perhaps a building or something that can make a profit, when he looks at a tree he sees a living thing, a sacred thing. So if the tree is used it must be replaced and that is how balance is achieved.

Here is one of the favorite quotes from page 20:

"A real warrior needs no strength at all to defeat an opponent who is off balance."

We talked about the chaos that exists when there is no balance.
*Can you think of a time in your life when you experienced chaos? Can you see where being unbalanced led to this chaos? In my opinion balance is the key to everything! If your charkas are not balanced you get sick! Maintaining balance is one of the most important things a person needs to do and the thing that many people struggle with the most. The proper use of energy will help with this and that will be covered in the book later.

Guilt was the next topic in page 21 paragraph 2 we are told that we "are not immune to failure but do not succumb to guilt. The Wiccan Warrior realizes we all have individual characteristics that in different circumstances may be assets or liabilities"

We discussed how guilt is used in other religions and how we allow people to make us feel guilty. The book tells us that "Guilt is eliminated and replaced with the rede."

When was the last time your read over the rede? I personally think the rede should be memorized. All 26 stanzas? Yes!

Another quote that everyone liked was "Power isn't something that you own, it's something that you achieve." (p22)

On the subject of power, the idea that "power shared is power lost" (p23) was brought up. This has to do with the withholding of information or knowledge. In our particular group (and coven) we feel that our knowledge of the path is a gift to be shared with others, whether they are a member of our coven or not. The idea that "I know something you don't so that makes me more important than you." Is not an idea that we prescribe to.

Kerr cautions the reader on page 23 to be careful of those who use the secrecy to cover up that they don't know anymore than you do.

Paragraph 1 on page 24 talks about the responsibility of teaching others:
"As a Wiccan Warrior I don't interpret, I point out possible paths."

We had to move things along at this point because we were running out of time- another important thing was pointed out on page 25:

"The point is every action that you take as a Wiccan Warrior should have a purpose."

The author is still talking about keeping secrets and the difference between common sense (keeping things quiet for protection) and keeping things quiet because it makes you feel important.

The very last paragraph tells us that

"A Wiccan Warrior's understanding of the interconnectedness and balance of the univers around them allows them to acieve startling results with a minimu of energy expenditure...Practicing honesty and openness both with themselves and those around them they banish guilt and live fearlessly." (p 26)

The challenge and journaling for this week is to look at areas in your life where you are not connected or balanced because you did not practice openness and honesty.

Read Chapter 4 for next week.

 

Just a reminder to any of you who may be in the Waynesville area, tomorrow night is Pagan Night Out from 7-9.  You can find more details at this link: http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_ev.html?a=usmo&id=46732

We will be wearing purple ribbons so you can find us, please feel free to do the same.

Hope to see you there!