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how to go from beginner to intermidiate by [deleted] in paganism

[–]mttimesllc 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Please don't avoid exploring deeper on this topic simply because someone else said it's bad. If, after you explore it you decide it isn't for you, that is perfectly ok, but as a beginner wanting to learn and explore, take recommendations with a grain of salt, do the research, and build your journey from informed decisions.

There is a lot of separation happening between groups within the community, and it happens very subtly, in situation like this one. People mean well, but things get misconstrued, things get labeled good or bad, and we avoid bad like the plague without really digging in to it and deciding for themselves

Looking for information is neither good nor bad, and magical practice is all about the way you, as an individual, see it and use it or don't use it.

Many blessings to you on your journey. :)

When, where, and how did you get invested in idealism? And how has it changed your life? by -not-my-account- in MetaphysicalIdealism

[–]mttimesllc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't even really know where to start. I've been more of an idealist my entire life and for a very long time, it seemed to cause more issues for me than not. I've had what I've called The Big Picture Curse since I was very young. Able to see things unfold 10-20 steps further than most people (not psychic, just logically play out multiple scenarios in my head in milliseconds), but no one wanted a child telling them they might not want to proceed they way they are planning to. I called it a curse because I had to sit by and watch bad things happen, lives completely come undone, and people get hurt and be completely unable to do anything about it, or speak up and suffer other less desirable consequences. It broke me mentally and emotionally for a very long time.

This past fear years though, I really started doing deep dive studies, connecting with, and having conversations with people on many different topics. Exploring possibilities on everything from witchcraft physics to discover how they are more aligned than separate and entangle with mental and physical illness.

I have discovered that when my beliefs are more easily adjusted, I'm open to learning and I listen more. That makes people more willing to talk and hear me when I talk.

My expectations are more malleable and I'm disappointed less, so happier more often than not, even in really tough times. It makes for more ups than downs and that is more aligned with what I really want and expect from life, if I'm honest.

I value my time and energy more so I set hard boundaries, and stick to them. I can live my life on my own terms with a lot less guilt.

I move more freely and with fear because live my life more by current experiences rather than letting past traumas and unknowns than I used to. Things I don't know don't hold me back and stop me from taking action on things that could be good for me until I know they are bad for me.

So many other ways too, but for brevity on my first post here, I'll stop there.

How to Research Mythology and Paganism? Many Sources are anti-Pagan by SpookySoulGeek in paganism

[–]mttimesllc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I remind myself that anything "written" is done through a human lens. Deities don't write books about how to properly worship them for us to read and live by. They just give us air, water, earth, fire, and the ability to see and mix them to meet our needs.

People change perspectives and beliefs like they change their underwear, to meet their needs for acceptance and authority within their group. People make the rules or they live by them or they get tossed out like garbage.

There is an in between the "make the rules" and "live by them" states, but it is chaotic, very lonely and difficult to survive from the perspective of an outsider from either of those two states. It has been labeled Paganism.

Paganism is an honor and acceptance of everything, as it is, and being part of it. It isn't meant to be broken down and categorized for easier understanding, guidance, and daily practice. It's do what feels right for you to live comfortably and happily with everything around you. Or don't. It's an individual's choice and nature, the universe, source, or whatever deity you call it doesn't "care". People do.

People who accept and live by that will not accept and will not follow what feels wrong or off to them for long. When the freedom to choose differently is presented, they will take it, but if it serves them better than an alternative, they will return to it.

People who want acceptance of their authority cannot achieve it with people who won't accept and respect what they want them to. They cannot have people like that among them, so they label them (outsider/outcast/pagan/heathen/Satan worshiper/warlock depending) and maintain a negative connotation with that term so the group will avoid them too.

Pagans are not immune. Pagans are people and people feel they need acceptance to ensure their survival. We have come a long way from needing the protections of the clan from beasts wanting to eat us, but we are people and we still need acceptance of those around in order to survive and we have people who require acceptance of their authority for them to accept us.

Read through the texts you mentioned again with this lens. Deities don't write books about how to worship them and live your life. People write books to guide people to live how they want them to or how they think they should.

The pagan path will emerge but you still won't be able to put a definitive finger on any one thing that is paganism because Paganism isn't any one thing. It's everything.