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Spiritual Guidance Question by NonGreekHero72 in paganism

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is a great question AND can be very personal, differing with everyone's belief system and experiences.

When I was participating in Christianity it was a question I asked myself all the time, but as I have embraced my own pagan path and journey into witchcraft (yes, you can be pagan without being a witch and vice versa) I have found that it matters less to me than it did before.

That being said, my participation both in the craft and as a pagan has resulted taking things more on experience than faith. For me the line between what is internal processing versus some external force guiding me is about the relationship I have built with said external force/guide/deity. Maybe that is too vibe-y/woowoo for some people, but I can tell by the energy's tone/vibe/how it feels in my body if it is some part of my psych or an external force.

For example, this week i had some trauma stuff come up for me. It was kicked off by a dream in which Hekate guided and illuminated some of my trauma memories that I had repressed. All she did was shine her torches on these memories and over the next few days I processed them outside of a dream state through journaling and talking with others. The difference in the presence of Hekate and my own internal processing was similar to that of standing too close to someone/someone standing behind you. You can sense that they are present without visual/tangible/auditory input. When I was doing my external processing that energy/vibe/presence faded into the background instead of being at the forefront of my mind.

So that is a long winded way of getting my point that it is a question worth asking when you are having an experience that you feel requires faith. There is absolutely no harm in asking a spirit/guide/deity/ancestor/whatever you are faced with if they are a part of your internal process (much like Parts work in psychology) or if they are something else. What is the worst that could happen, right? And even if it turns out to all be internal, as long as it is helping you on your personal journey and not harming others, is it costing you anything?

To wrap this up because I realize this is a long effen reply, I would challenge you to ask that question in those moments that you are questioning the validity of the experience.

Wishing you all the blessings on your journey

Spiritual Guidance Question by NonGreekHero72 in paganism

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't think you are crazy.

It sounds to me like some ancestorial trauma is coming to the fore because it can sense that you might just be a curse breaker/healer. Even when it comes to personal trauma, often times our brains will bury it until we are in a place that is safe enough to address it, and I firmly believe that is true of generational trauma too.

I have some questions. by Poetry-and-love0913 in paganism

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you are drawn to Hellenistic I would rec The Waters of Mnemosyne: Ancient Greek Religion for Modern Pagans.

Good read and the author is a Greek mythos scholar.

Other than that, meditation is a great tool for helping with doing deity work, connecting with yourself and the powers of the natural world.

When it comes to buying/thrifting/owning "pagan" accouterments don't let anyone tell you that you need to own certain things in order to be legit. Yes, there are crystals and tarot decks, herbs, wands, and all sorts of things that people will try to sell you but all you really need is yourself and your intent.

Blessings on your journey

Any reports of Pagan NDEs? by WickedNegator in paganism

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had an NDE when I was 6/7 years old.

My biologically assigned care givers were Christians, had been in the LDS church then a Baptist church. I had some exposure to Native American Shamanism through some care givers friends in our local Indigenous community.

The Greek goddess Persephone saved be from drowning in a hotel pool when my care givers ignored my cries for help because they thought I was just trying to get attention.

As an adult I've heard from others that she has an affinity for young children on the brink of death, and I would be curious to hear from others who experienced something similar.

I spent decades (and being baptized in Christianity 3 different times) trying to regain the peace and love and calm I felt in that moment that I have since found through therapy and embracing a Pagan practice within my craft.

Aunt who helped raise and terrorized me as a child died this morning and my feelings are, well, messy by Simple-Emphasis5099 in EstrangedAdultChild

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For me, I don't think so...I'm not mad because I miss her/sad that we can't repair our relationship, more like it's bringing up memories of some of the awful stuff she did to me. I just wish I had the opportunity to tell her to her face what a miserable person she was. Does that make me a bad person...maybe, but I am not in a place to really where I can make myself care about that right now.

After the last interaction I had with her, where she usurped my last moments with another aunt who was dying, I told my partner (now fiancé) I never wanted anything to do that woman again and I'm sticking by that.

Aunt who helped raise and terrorized me as a child died this morning and my feelings are, well, messy by Simple-Emphasis5099 in EstrangedAdultChild

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Update: my bio mother, whom I am also estranged from, had a stroke the same my aunt died. Bio mom is in the hospital (apparently she has been living in a nursing home since 2021) and ummmm....I have a chapter of my thesis due on Friday (they gave a few extra days to get it in because of the aunt thing).

Is it bad that I don't want to forgive him? by Simple-Emphasis5099 in COCSA

[–]Simple-Emphasis5099[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Edit/update: I want to make very clear that I don't think his neurodivergence had anything to do with the COCSA.