Selina, I was wondering what you thought of non human evil, as in the darker entities that attack people. I understand the concept of evil not being a manifestation of a Satan figure, as in going against the will of the gods or fate, but where do these entities fit into a pagan worldview? They are acknowledged in all the major world religions as well as animists. They seem to mean us harm.
Oh, I think they exist, but I also think we attract them and can make ourselves vulnerable to them with interest or fear.
When I was in college, I had a lot of dark energy following me around. I asked for guardians and got them, but that turned into even more chaos. Eventually I realized that some of the nasties were manifestations of my own un-integrated darkness, as were the good things. I did a great deal of mental preparation, but eventually pulled back in everything that was mine and put myself back together. Then I sent the stuff that was not me away. Basically, I told it to fuck off.
Pagans learn the basics of spiritual clearing of aura and personal space ASAP. A lot to us of us are some form of sensitive, and are well aware of what's out there. That being said, the stronger our connection with the unseen world that cares for us, [land spirits, ancestors, angels and daimons, gods] the less concern we have for that kind of darkness. We know it's real, we just learn how to deal with it and not let it into our space.
Thanks for the response! Yeah, I've had some experiences with these things in my college years as well. I was doing a lot of lucid dreaming and attempted astral projection.
I've wondered if the darker entities I encountered were unintegrated shadows of my own psyche, in a Jungian sense, or something else, something that was never human. They definitely had bad intentions, they gave me a visceral sense of dread. I've not been bothered by anything like that since I left that house.
I've always had, I believe, a polytheist spirituality, while being culturally Christian. I was baptised Greek Orthodox, but we never went to church except for weddings and funerals. I was raised more with Greek mythology , Bible stories, not so much.
I am trying to fit my experiences of these entities into a Hellenic oriented cosmology. I know the gods dispense good things and bad things, but on the whole, the gods are good and mean us no harm, if we abide by their laws. But there are a multitude of daimons in the Soul of the World, positive, neutral and negative. Thanks for the advice on keeping them at bay.
If you're working the Hellenic gods, you might want to check out some Neoplatonic practices. My prayers and devotions are roughly based on that and there's both theology and practice in the translations.
I got both Greek mythology and Bible stories [my babysitter was Mennonite] now I'm re-writing the Greek myths for a modern palate.
Politics came up when my husband, then boyfriend, had been dating for six months. It was obvious that we had different views and decided our relationship was more important than politics. He isn’t evil or ignorant. My husband is loving and intelligent, who has a right to his own viewpoint. As do I.
What about those who were not merely misled or misinformed about the choices before them, but consciously and happily voted for harm to befall their fellow Americans, those for whom cruelty is not a bug but a feature, those who wish to burn the country down because they are so consumed by hatred of their fellow citizens, those who wish for revenge and retribution for real or imagined slights, those malefactors of great wealth who wish to tank the economy for their own personal gain? Those who are now gleefully imagining the pain and suffering they hope to inflict on fellow human beings because they believe differently, speak another language, or have a darker shade of skin? What are we to call them, the Stephen Millers, the Steve Bannons, the president-elect himself? The myriads of followers who rub their hands together delightedly at the prospect of deporting 20 million hardworking people who came to this country, like most of us, without documentation, and whose labor is essential to the economy? Those who now feel it is acceptable to taunt women by announcing, “Your body, my choice”? I agree most of the people who voted for this are not inherently evil, but I have a hard time extending that courtesy to the Iagos (Shakespeare foresaw the type three centuries ago) who delight in the thought of inflicting suffering for its own sake.
Thank you, I will! My workplace is pretty diverse in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, but not so much politically, so I’ll have to try to start some conversations elsewhere. Thanks for the book suggestion, also!
Thank you, Selina, for your kind and thoughtful reply. I will try to follow your advice and speak in person to someone who voted for the other side. Everyone in my personal circle and at work is pretty much on the same page as me, so reaching out and finding someone who does think differently may be a bit difficult. Talking to more Hispanics, Asian Americans and African Americans (outside of work, where they are all politically left-leaning like me) might be a good place to start. (I also read that a larger percentage of Native Americans voted red this time; I think it was in a post by Sherman Alexie, who would know what he’s talking about, but nevertheless it surprised me.) I do agree that connecting on a personal level, face-to-face is vitally necessary.
I will also take up your suggestion to write down my thoughts and feelings about the election. As far as reading suggestions you might have, I guess I was looking for something geared toward the solitary practitioner just starting out, not necessary specifically Celtic, though that is what resonates most with me. I have thought about trying to reach my parents, both of whom passed away within the last few years, to ask them for help and guidance. I also have in mind my maternal grandfather, whose wisdom and compassion I have wished I could still share, ever since he passed on when I was a teenager. I don’t really know how to request help from them, except I lighted a candle in their memory on All Souls Day. Coming from a hard-nosed, skeptical, science-based upbringing, I struggle with doubts still as to whether there is anything after death. (It would be ironic if I could reach my father, especially, the hardcore empirical no-nonsense physician; I imagine he’d be as astonished as me.) So, if you have any suggestions in that area as well, I would be very grateful.
I will certainly be doing that with the deities of my choice, and I admit that I’m far from perfect myself (an ironic understatement if you knew me!)
and above all undoubtedly in need of much more spiritual guidance from any and all sources, but I can also see that there are those who wish to harm me and everyone I love). I fear for everyone who is in danger and for everything about this country that I also love. I don’t hate those who chose differently in the late election, despite how my rant above may have come across. I think perhaps you may have mistaken my cri de coeur for something that I didn’t intend, not even to contradict what you are saying. I’m sorry if my anguish was misplaced in replying to you as I did.
I have never been a practicing Christian since I come from an agnostic family, but I also believe strongly in the precepts of the Sermon on the Mount. Meaning that I believe in returning love for hate and radical nonviolence. I am a neophyte pagan , drawn to the Celtic traditions of my ancestors but also to the Revolutionary Love, based in Sikhism espoused by Valarie Kaur. Perhaps you could also suggest a book or two that might help me understand, as one still seeking guidance wherever I can find it.
Rants can be problematic for sure. I can't see your face and you can't see mine. This is my major issue with social media! [and why I ditched my FB account] That in itself might be the problem. FB was a bubble. It's far to easy to 'other' people we can't talk to in person.
Do you have anyone you know personally who is local to you who voted differently? A listening, openhearted sit-down might be more useful. Your cry of the heart paints a picture of people who hate you. However, while nastiness is common online, that's far less likely in person. Statistically, the majority of that nastiness is perpetrated by a small percentage of people. Most people aren't like that. They just want to get on with their lives.
Maybe ask yourself too why so many who were politically on the left voted red. For example, black people and Hispanics. Perhaps you could find one to ask. There's no way that was an easy decision, or done hatefully.
My suggestion is to write down what you fear [I did that before the election] Be specific and find some data to back it up. Then pray. Ask for help. Do you have a specific deity or ancestor to work with? That helps. I get direct answers about what I need to learn more about or what I need to do. [I should write about that] Having some action can be very calming.
I'm not clear what sort of book you might be looking for. On Celtic Paganism or did you mean something political?
You're exactly who I'm talking to. You're so busy pointing a finger that you're not seeing the three pointing back at you. Humility and more spiritual practice is in order. If you're having trouble understanding then ask the gods. If they don't answer then you're either asking the wrong question or you demanded instead of asking with an open heart.
Selina, I was wondering what you thought of non human evil, as in the darker entities that attack people. I understand the concept of evil not being a manifestation of a Satan figure, as in going against the will of the gods or fate, but where do these entities fit into a pagan worldview? They are acknowledged in all the major world religions as well as animists. They seem to mean us harm.
Oh, I think they exist, but I also think we attract them and can make ourselves vulnerable to them with interest or fear.
When I was in college, I had a lot of dark energy following me around. I asked for guardians and got them, but that turned into even more chaos. Eventually I realized that some of the nasties were manifestations of my own un-integrated darkness, as were the good things. I did a great deal of mental preparation, but eventually pulled back in everything that was mine and put myself back together. Then I sent the stuff that was not me away. Basically, I told it to fuck off.
Pagans learn the basics of spiritual clearing of aura and personal space ASAP. A lot to us of us are some form of sensitive, and are well aware of what's out there. That being said, the stronger our connection with the unseen world that cares for us, [land spirits, ancestors, angels and daimons, gods] the less concern we have for that kind of darkness. We know it's real, we just learn how to deal with it and not let it into our space.
Thanks for the response! Yeah, I've had some experiences with these things in my college years as well. I was doing a lot of lucid dreaming and attempted astral projection.
I've wondered if the darker entities I encountered were unintegrated shadows of my own psyche, in a Jungian sense, or something else, something that was never human. They definitely had bad intentions, they gave me a visceral sense of dread. I've not been bothered by anything like that since I left that house.
I've always had, I believe, a polytheist spirituality, while being culturally Christian. I was baptised Greek Orthodox, but we never went to church except for weddings and funerals. I was raised more with Greek mythology , Bible stories, not so much.
I am trying to fit my experiences of these entities into a Hellenic oriented cosmology. I know the gods dispense good things and bad things, but on the whole, the gods are good and mean us no harm, if we abide by their laws. But there are a multitude of daimons in the Soul of the World, positive, neutral and negative. Thanks for the advice on keeping them at bay.
If you're working the Hellenic gods, you might want to check out some Neoplatonic practices. My prayers and devotions are roughly based on that and there's both theology and practice in the translations.
I got both Greek mythology and Bible stories [my babysitter was Mennonite] now I'm re-writing the Greek myths for a modern palate.
🙏
Politics came up when my husband, then boyfriend, had been dating for six months. It was obvious that we had different views and decided our relationship was more important than politics. He isn’t evil or ignorant. My husband is loving and intelligent, who has a right to his own viewpoint. As do I.
Relationships are much more important! Kudos to you for your priorities!
inflicting suffering for its own sake.
What about those who were not merely misled or misinformed about the choices before them, but consciously and happily voted for harm to befall their fellow Americans, those for whom cruelty is not a bug but a feature, those who wish to burn the country down because they are so consumed by hatred of their fellow citizens, those who wish for revenge and retribution for real or imagined slights, those malefactors of great wealth who wish to tank the economy for their own personal gain? Those who are now gleefully imagining the pain and suffering they hope to inflict on fellow human beings because they believe differently, speak another language, or have a darker shade of skin? What are we to call them, the Stephen Millers, the Steve Bannons, the president-elect himself? The myriads of followers who rub their hands together delightedly at the prospect of deporting 20 million hardworking people who came to this country, like most of us, without documentation, and whose labor is essential to the economy? Those who now feel it is acceptable to taunt women by announcing, “Your body, my choice”? I agree most of the people who voted for this are not inherently evil, but I have a hard time extending that courtesy to the Iagos (Shakespeare foresaw the type three centuries ago) who delight in the thought of inflicting suffering for its own sake.
Thank you, I will! My workplace is pretty diverse in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, but not so much politically, so I’ll have to try to start some conversations elsewhere. Thanks for the book suggestion, also!
Thank you, Selina, for your kind and thoughtful reply. I will try to follow your advice and speak in person to someone who voted for the other side. Everyone in my personal circle and at work is pretty much on the same page as me, so reaching out and finding someone who does think differently may be a bit difficult. Talking to more Hispanics, Asian Americans and African Americans (outside of work, where they are all politically left-leaning like me) might be a good place to start. (I also read that a larger percentage of Native Americans voted red this time; I think it was in a post by Sherman Alexie, who would know what he’s talking about, but nevertheless it surprised me.) I do agree that connecting on a personal level, face-to-face is vitally necessary.
I will also take up your suggestion to write down my thoughts and feelings about the election. As far as reading suggestions you might have, I guess I was looking for something geared toward the solitary practitioner just starting out, not necessary specifically Celtic, though that is what resonates most with me. I have thought about trying to reach my parents, both of whom passed away within the last few years, to ask them for help and guidance. I also have in mind my maternal grandfather, whose wisdom and compassion I have wished I could still share, ever since he passed on when I was a teenager. I don’t really know how to request help from them, except I lighted a candle in their memory on All Souls Day. Coming from a hard-nosed, skeptical, science-based upbringing, I struggle with doubts still as to whether there is anything after death. (It would be ironic if I could reach my father, especially, the hardcore empirical no-nonsense physician; I imagine he’d be as astonished as me.) So, if you have any suggestions in that area as well, I would be very grateful.
You might try some gay folks as well. Quite a few voted for DT.
Since you seem to be already connecting to ancestors, I'll recommend this one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VKR7V9K
Galina is a prolific writer and devoted to the gods. She says an ancestor practice is the safest way to start.
I will certainly be doing that with the deities of my choice, and I admit that I’m far from perfect myself (an ironic understatement if you knew me!)
and above all undoubtedly in need of much more spiritual guidance from any and all sources, but I can also see that there are those who wish to harm me and everyone I love). I fear for everyone who is in danger and for everything about this country that I also love. I don’t hate those who chose differently in the late election, despite how my rant above may have come across. I think perhaps you may have mistaken my cri de coeur for something that I didn’t intend, not even to contradict what you are saying. I’m sorry if my anguish was misplaced in replying to you as I did.
I have never been a practicing Christian since I come from an agnostic family, but I also believe strongly in the precepts of the Sermon on the Mount. Meaning that I believe in returning love for hate and radical nonviolence. I am a neophyte pagan , drawn to the Celtic traditions of my ancestors but also to the Revolutionary Love, based in Sikhism espoused by Valarie Kaur. Perhaps you could also suggest a book or two that might help me understand, as one still seeking guidance wherever I can find it.
Rants can be problematic for sure. I can't see your face and you can't see mine. This is my major issue with social media! [and why I ditched my FB account] That in itself might be the problem. FB was a bubble. It's far to easy to 'other' people we can't talk to in person.
Do you have anyone you know personally who is local to you who voted differently? A listening, openhearted sit-down might be more useful. Your cry of the heart paints a picture of people who hate you. However, while nastiness is common online, that's far less likely in person. Statistically, the majority of that nastiness is perpetrated by a small percentage of people. Most people aren't like that. They just want to get on with their lives.
Maybe ask yourself too why so many who were politically on the left voted red. For example, black people and Hispanics. Perhaps you could find one to ask. There's no way that was an easy decision, or done hatefully.
My suggestion is to write down what you fear [I did that before the election] Be specific and find some data to back it up. Then pray. Ask for help. Do you have a specific deity or ancestor to work with? That helps. I get direct answers about what I need to learn more about or what I need to do. [I should write about that] Having some action can be very calming.
I'm not clear what sort of book you might be looking for. On Celtic Paganism or did you mean something political?
You're exactly who I'm talking to. You're so busy pointing a finger that you're not seeing the three pointing back at you. Humility and more spiritual practice is in order. If you're having trouble understanding then ask the gods. If they don't answer then you're either asking the wrong question or you demanded instead of asking with an open heart.