~~ Spiritualosophy ~~

Spirituality, for me, has always been a religion/philosophy of poetry, not theology. Many refer to this as "theosophy".... my word is "Spiritualosophy" because I am not a person of theology, I am a person of spirituality and philosophy. There is a difference, and you will see how and why (I hope) as you read on.

The myths, legends, and teachings are metaphors for "That which cannot be told".... the absolute reality our minds can never completely express because of the limitations placed on us through biology.

The mysteries of God/dess, or one's own spirituality, can never be explained -- only felt or intuited. Symbols and rituals are used to trigger unusual states of awareness in which insights that go beyond words are revealed. When the phrase "secrets that cannot be told" is used, it is not a matter of oaths taken or the threat of penalties that might be imposed. The true meaning is that the inner knowledge literally cannot be expressed in words. It can only be conveyed by experience, and no one can legislate what insight another person may draw from any given experience. This is why Paganism is not a spectator religion and/or philosophy, where one can refuse to put in any effort and gain anything meaningful for one's own development.

There are many traditions of Paganism. To better define this, "tradition" to pagans would be equal in meaning to "denomination" in Christianity. I will also reiterate .... Witches are pagan, but not all pagans are Witches. Furthermore, Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccan (confused yet?).... just to clear up misconceptions and fears, as people in general become afraid of the words "The Craft, Witches, Pagan," etc., because of how they are portrayed by the media .... which, unfortunately, is very twisted!

Paganism is simply a very loose term, basically meaning a "nature and/or universe oriented spirituality and/or philosophy" .... therefore, many traditions are pagan. Witches (of all traditions), North American Indians, most Eastern religions and philosophies; even religions such as Voudoun (voodoo), African and South American .... all of these cultures are of a pagan nature. Shamanism, Wicca, Hermeticism, Gnosticism are also pagan. The list can go on and on ....

(Most of these so-called primitive civilizations are considered "uncivilized" but in actuality are the most civilized people in the world in my opinion; granted, their beliefs, practices and lifestyles may not be understandable to most Westerners, but they are truly the cultures that live most harmoniously .... in peace, love, true communities, no power struggles or wars unless they literally have to defend their homes!)

To sum it up as simply and briefly as possible, pagans are people who choose a path that connect them to the rhythm of life, nature, the universe .... the circle and/or spiral of life. The "Wheel of the Year" refers to the changing seasons of the year, and most (if not all) pagan mythologies are very connected to this. Even Christianity, if looked at in a historical or anthropological point of view, can be seen as connecting with the Wheel of Year, the cycle of life .... Jesus was born on or around the Winter Solstice (the birth of the pagan Wheel of the Year god myths), and was resurrected at the Spring Equinox (the time of conception/reconception of the pagan Wheel of the year god myths) .... notice that the Spring Equinox, the time of Jesus' death and resurrection, is nine months before his birthday, approximately the Winter Solstice, as celebrated by nearly every Christian religion? (There are a few exceptions and debates about his date of birth, by a select few denominations of Christian sects.) Personally, I see a connection here. Honestly, I see a connection with all religious creation stories; they all have vast similarities. Also, Jesus Christ was not the first in history to be a Sacrificial King; he was one of the last, but there were many before him. This was a traditional pagan ritual, that was performed to "ensure" the continuity of the cycle of life, the Wheel of the Year.

There are monotheistic pagans (those who revere only one deity), polytheistic pagans (those who revere more than one deity), and atheistic or agnostic pagans (those who do not believe in "deity" so to speak; rather they practice paganism as a philosophy only, and if they were to define deity, it would be something to the effect of the combination of all the power and energy of the universe, including that in rocks, plants, animals, humans .... any and everything in the universe).

But in my belief it is not a Cosmic or Higher Power with a personality as in most religions, so to speak; rather, it is what I referred to above. (Which is basically a Pantheistic and a Humanistic viewpoint.) Therefore, in my perspective, "God/dess" and/or "The All" is simply a symbolism, a metaphor, for "that which cannot be told" .... or that which the human mind cannot fathom.

However, I fully respect all religions and philosophies, no matter what they are; even the ones that I personally feel are harmful to themselves or others. This writing is NOT to undermine anyone's differing beliefs. It is to explain what spirituality, philosophy, and the symbolism of god/dess means to me; from all I have studied, gathered, and interpreted for myself and my own well-being.