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| Subject: Re: Houston we have a problem (need advise) | |
Author: Rowan | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 31/10/07 11:12 In reply to: Pilgrim 's message, "Houston we have a problem (need advise)" on 29/10/07 15:14 Hi Pilgrim :) Just popped in after a long absence! LOL Well this may not exactly answer your question with any advice as such but just to say I know the feeling of not being able to say what you are .... especially to family in my case ... and the problem tends to arise with those belonging to the less tolerant religions ie Christianity / Islam etc. Because they believe that their faith is the only true one and the only way to be "saved" for want of a word. My parents are baptists and I was brought up Christian. It's not that being pagan I dismiss some of the christian teachings. To love one another and so on ... that makes perfect sense to me anyway. But its the theology that the church has built around those teachings i have the probelm with! LOL Anyway, I digress .... I know that if my parents knew I was a Druid they would be terribly upset and probably think I was on my way to hell or something. So I have to keep it secret and that's a shame because it means there is a part of me they never see. Never really connect with the true essence of Rowan. I am also careful what i say to my sister who is also Christian, as I think it would bother her too and she might say something to my parents. But I think this has happened to you for a reason Pilgrim ... as everything does! LOL Because it has made you stop and think. Perhaps wonder for the first time in a while ... "Mmmm, what exactly do I feel that I am?" Do you see yourself as a witch? Or if solitary, a hedge witch? Maybe the witch connotation makes you uncomfortable because of the negativity from others around that title. Which is why you wished you had asked what it meant to your friend. I don't think i remember reading in your posts just what you do call yourself ... pagan yes ... wiccan? druid? mystic? healer? But again labels sometimes don't always quite fit us if we are not actually a strong follower of one particular trad. Perhaps this has turned up in order that you spend some time with yourself .. perhaps exploring your beliefs a little. Maybe in some subconscious way, there has been some small feeling of not being sure just where you fit (as i did for several years) and this will help you discover it. I think when we spend much of our time denying what we are, we can sometimes lose track of what we actually are (if that makes sense, LOL) We can end up a little confused sometimes because we rarely get the chance to talk about our beliefs - at least not to anyone outside our belief circle. For myself, I would never deny what I am to friends or to strangers who asked. What they think about it is up to them. But I guess family are different in that I wouldn't deliberately want to cause hurt (even if, like you say, it doesn't seem right that they can air their beliefs, when i cannot). So then, I stay quiet on the subject. I would not lie to them and pretend I was a practicing christian to make them happy, but i diffuse it by saying something like, yes many of the teachings are good ones but I am also open- minded in my spirituality and see truths in other faiths too. And just leave it at that. A sort of half-way house / damage limitation! LOL. Ok it might not suit them pefectly but at the same time they won't panic that i'm totally lost, hee hee. I do that only because of my love for them and feel sad rather than angry that they have such a blinkered and narrow view of life. Anyway Pigrim, wish you all the best with this. Sending you blessings to see the way through it and hoping you come to a place where you are happy and comfortable, with yourself and with your friend. Rowan x :) [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> Subject: Re: Houston we have a problem (need advise) | |
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Author: Pilgrim [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 2/11/07 16:38 Thanks Rowan. You've pretty much said everything that I'm facing. Like you said, I don't want them to be worried about me but it also seems dishonorable to fear sharing with others (who are exactly where I was.) what I've learned when I've been asked about it. Anyway It's nice to talk to people who are understanding. The garden is always a nice place to chat about such things. Blessings. Pilgrim [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |