Merry Meet!
Okay, you want to tell the world you follow an Earth-Centered Spirituality. You are a Pagan.
My first suggestion is don’t. At least not right away. Many of the problems I’ve encountered when telling people about my spirituality is that I don’t know enough about it. I know that the general practice of those under the Pagan umbrella resonate with me the most. I feel more alive, connected, and in tune with the Creator.
But know what you’re talking about.
As a whole, humans live by definitions. There is a need to define “Otherness.” To know who is part of their group and who isn’t. In prehistoric times, this saved our lives. It helped us become strong as a species. So strong, we changed the face of the Earth.
Today, that evolutionary defense can manifest itself as prejudice and fear. By knowing why someone fears you, you can help to alleviate that fear. To do that you need to know what you’re talking about.
Deciding who to tell about your spiritual awakening should be done with great thought and care. Remember, you are part of the “An it harm none” Crowd. And that tenet creates a great starting point. You’re first thought needs to be for the person you’re getting ready to tell. Will knowing harm this person? Will it harm me? Will it harm my family?
I don’t mean to pick on Christians, but they do tend to be the people who accept us the least. Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and other non-Chrisitan practitioners I’ve encountered tend to be much more willing to listen before they decide I’m going some place unpleasant. So most of my advice will come from that perspective. Also, I grew up Southern Baptist and understand Christian views better.
Let’s take a look at that tenet or “Law” I just mentioned. “An it harm none, do as ye will.” Many people believe this means that I can do whatever I want. In a word…No. The rule means that by my actions or inactions, my thoughts, words, or deeds, I may not cause harm to others OR myself.
Here we have pretty much the ultimate responsibility law. As a Pagan, I must understand the consequences of my, well, pretty much my whole existence. You’ll go nuts thinking about it too hard, but the bottom line is a sort of “Dear Abby” approach. Like her advice to consider if you are better with or without the person, we need to seriously consider whether we are better off telling or not telling. someone.
The same applies to the person they want to enlighten. I have a friend who would never be able to accept my beliefs. I will never be able to share the joy I feel with her. The connection I feel. This makes me sad, but I’ve also fulfilled my belief in the law of “An it harm none.” Can I discuss other topics with my friend? Of course. Can we still be friends? Absolutely.
But this “Law” isn’t exclusively a Pagan concept. The Christian Bible contains the same sentiment in I Corinthians, only with different wording: “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient.” Here the Bible shows that eating meat might be okay for me as a Christian, but if it causes someone else to do something harmful or “wrong,” then it is wrong for the Christian.
By becoming Pagan, you have also become responsible. Whether you meant to or not remains to be seen, but, for me, there is something rather wonderful in knowing I have become part of those responsible. For my fellow man, for the Earth, for myself. Now it’s your turn to start on your path.
To Think About:
Take a few minutes to sit quietly. Call to mind the people in your life you would like to tell. Start with the person you think will be easiest to tell. Hear yourself talking with them and their response.
Now go tell them. You can do this one of two ways. You can just blurt it out one day. No prelude, no warning. For many, this will be the only way you can work up the courage to tell someone. Just understand this might set the scene for some reactions you didn’t count on. We’ll talk about dealing with negative reactions in another entry.
Another way, you can call them and say, “I really have something I’d like to tell you. I’m really happy about it and thought of you to share it with.” Then meet them somewhere they feel relaxed and comfortable. Start the conversation with how you’ve been feeling about your spirituality lately. Your search for a good fit for your spiritual beliefs. How you feel about your new path and why you’re happy with it.
Then tell them about your Earth-centered belief system. And this is where knowing about yourself and your chosen path will help the most. Don’t use the word Pagan at first. Most people see Pagan and Devil in the same light. Too much TV and propaganda.
Now that you’ve told them, ask them if they have any questions or concerns. Address them honestly, and without judgment as much as you can. Don’t get angry.
Until you know that you can talk about their misgivings without getting angry or offended, don’t tell them. If you can’t show your joy, how can you expect them to believe it?
Next time, we’ll talk about more of the similarities between Christian and Pagan ideals and look at some simple things you can do to bring more joy to your life. In the meantime, take a look at www.sacred-texts.com. It’s a great resource for learning about spiritual path including Pagan. If you have questions, leave them in the comments section, and we’ll explore them together.
Bright blessings and merry part ‘til merry we meet again!
Asha