Obviously, I have no child and that's not an option right now (I mean really.). I figured I should start out with that disclaimer cuz of the title. I was just on PI and reading this letter that a woman wrote to her baby that died early in the pregnancy. It made me tear up because I never realized how hard it must be. My mom lost 6 babies that way. 6! This woman is tore up over the one and she's getting help and my mom lost 6 and my dad wasn't even there to support her.
Objectively, a child is nothing more than a parasite. A parasite is something that... takes nutrients from a host. A child lives inside the mother and, let's be realistic, very few women say "yes, I would like to have a child from this session of sex" or even want one when they get pregnant. Something happens, there's some sort of hormone though that changes that idea. Something that changes the "ehh. crap. not right now" feeling to "*love!!!*" That's weird to me. Natural but weird. I can't imagine such a change of heart that's not made by choice.
I'm trying to figure out how much my mom would have loved me. I was born after four miscarriages (she had another when I was a year old or so and another when I was four or five). So I really was her "miracle baby," as she always called me. And she was a stay-at home mom. She helped out in my pre-school, pre-K, and she cooked at my school cafeteria. I think I get it now. She was scared that something would happen to me and I was her only chance of a baby, as well as a gift after all the miscarriages. When my dad took me away from her, that was what she was trying to avoid all along. That really is what destroyed her... Or maybe what killed her more is the fact that she had already begun to lose it
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Celticism
Yes, I'm pagan. No, I'm not any form of pagan you've ever met (more than likely). I'm Celtic, I don't know a better term for it. I believe in Celticism.
What is Celticism?
ehehe. Its actually very simple. Its merely a...way of life and beliefs that was used by ancient Scottish and Irish peoples. The Pagan flavor of Druidism is based on Celticism but, as we will discuss in a later blog, is a bastardization of the laws and beliefs. The core beliefs, however, are shared. From the Druidery website, I got this description of the laws:
"1. Every action has a consequence that must be observed and you must be prepared to compensate for your actions if required.
2. All life is sacred and all are responsible for seeing that this standard is upheld.
3. You do still live in society and are bound by its rules.
4. Work with high standards.
5. Make an honest living. [be honest in all things]
6. Be a good host as well as a good guest.
7. Take care of yourself. (Health was held in high esteem amongst the Celts, so much that a person could be fined for being grossly overweight due to lack of care.) [be properly groomed and bathed]
8. Serve your community.
9. Maintain a healthy balance of the spiritual and mundane.
10. Uphold the Truth, starting with yourself.
11. Be sure in your convictions, particularly when judging or accusing someone, but also when debating. Ask yourself: are you really sure? Do you really know that this the case? "
Right. That makes sense. Its not necesarily easy to follow but if everyone did, to some extent, some version, I'm convinced the world would be a better place. I bolded what I feel is most important. As you can see, I find it almost all important but really. These things are just so essential to life and creating a good community, a good life. Notice, that some aspect of these are in all religions. Oh, before we move on, lemme explain what the Truth is. Its not that magic exists or anything. No, the Truth is those laws. They are the Truth because they are irrefutable.
As for the beliefs, that is where Druidism and Celticism diverge. Druidism believes in magic and all that blah blah wicca stuff. Celticism believes in the possibility of magic and holds the idea of certain ritual magic. When I say "ritual magic" I'm not talking about making someone well. I mean, literally, magic used in religious rituals. Divination, etc. Making an ill person well was called "healing magic" or some derivative of the term but it was clearly understood that this was just medicine and not mystical. The important fact to note is that not much is known about the Druids, the original practicioners of Celticism. Therefore, we cannot exactly know what they believed. We know that they believed there were Gods and Goddesses that were in all things (which is not much different from the Christian belief that the Holy Spirit is in all things) and in the holiness of the three elements (fire, water, earth). Beyond that, there is very little evidence of anything. The beauty of Celticism is that all beliefs that fall within the parameters of the laws and few known beliefs are okay because it is the journey to the knowing that is important.
Personally, I believe that all Gods are one god and just different variations. I do believe (obviously) that gods are in all things, all natural things. Every plant, every clod of dirt, and every litre of water is holy. Natural things are holy because it is from them that humans exist. I do not exactly worship every tree I see but Nature as a whole is an entity that must be cared for and caring for something is a manner of worship. I believe thats a fairly common idea in Celticism although I wouldn't say absolutely. I also believe that there are beings that are not quite human and not quite god (known more simply as demi-gods). Whether or not they walk among us mortals, I really cannot say.
And...I know I left something out. Damn. I got distracted. Start the questions!
What is Celticism?
ehehe. Its actually very simple. Its merely a...way of life and beliefs that was used by ancient Scottish and Irish peoples. The Pagan flavor of Druidism is based on Celticism but, as we will discuss in a later blog, is a bastardization of the laws and beliefs. The core beliefs, however, are shared. From the Druidery website, I got this description of the laws:
"1. Every action has a consequence that must be observed and you must be prepared to compensate for your actions if required.
2. All life is sacred and all are responsible for seeing that this standard is upheld.
3. You do still live in society and are bound by its rules.
4. Work with high standards.
5. Make an honest living. [be honest in all things]
6. Be a good host as well as a good guest.
7. Take care of yourself. (Health was held in high esteem amongst the Celts, so much that a person could be fined for being grossly overweight due to lack of care.) [be properly groomed and bathed]
8. Serve your community.
9. Maintain a healthy balance of the spiritual and mundane.
10. Uphold the Truth, starting with yourself.
11. Be sure in your convictions, particularly when judging or accusing someone, but also when debating. Ask yourself: are you really sure? Do you really know that this the case? "
Right. That makes sense. Its not necesarily easy to follow but if everyone did, to some extent, some version, I'm convinced the world would be a better place. I bolded what I feel is most important. As you can see, I find it almost all important but really. These things are just so essential to life and creating a good community, a good life. Notice, that some aspect of these are in all religions. Oh, before we move on, lemme explain what the Truth is. Its not that magic exists or anything. No, the Truth is those laws. They are the Truth because they are irrefutable.
As for the beliefs, that is where Druidism and Celticism diverge. Druidism believes in magic and all that blah blah wicca stuff. Celticism believes in the possibility of magic and holds the idea of certain ritual magic. When I say "ritual magic" I'm not talking about making someone well. I mean, literally, magic used in religious rituals. Divination, etc. Making an ill person well was called "healing magic" or some derivative of the term but it was clearly understood that this was just medicine and not mystical. The important fact to note is that not much is known about the Druids, the original practicioners of Celticism. Therefore, we cannot exactly know what they believed. We know that they believed there were Gods and Goddesses that were in all things (which is not much different from the Christian belief that the Holy Spirit is in all things) and in the holiness of the three elements (fire, water, earth). Beyond that, there is very little evidence of anything. The beauty of Celticism is that all beliefs that fall within the parameters of the laws and few known beliefs are okay because it is the journey to the knowing that is important.
Personally, I believe that all Gods are one god and just different variations. I do believe (obviously) that gods are in all things, all natural things. Every plant, every clod of dirt, and every litre of water is holy. Natural things are holy because it is from them that humans exist. I do not exactly worship every tree I see but Nature as a whole is an entity that must be cared for and caring for something is a manner of worship. I believe thats a fairly common idea in Celticism although I wouldn't say absolutely. I also believe that there are beings that are not quite human and not quite god (known more simply as demi-gods). Whether or not they walk among us mortals, I really cannot say.
And...I know I left something out. Damn. I got distracted. Start the questions!
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