Pagan Village News

We often talk about religious freedom and the right to worship as we please. For a long time, many pagans were persecuted for simply believing a different way than mainstream society. Years of being oppressed by a religious group who used political clout to gain their own agenda had embittered many pagans towards the mainstream with the Christian church being the primary antagonist.

We all at one time cried out for religious tolerance and peaceful living in full equality. It seems the religion of our parents was geared to hunt the pagan down just as Christians were persecuted back in the days of the Roman Empire. Historically it appears that any society which gains a measure of freedom from oppression, ends up finding a group to oppress themselves due to cultural, racial, or spiritual differences. In America, the "Land of the Free" this is a pattern that the careful observer finds all too often. But of late, though there are many battles to fight for today's Pagan, equality is slowly becoming something realized.

Yet as pagans slowly gain freedoms and claim their openness and all that is rightfully theirs guaranteed in our Nation's Constitution, a disturbing trend seems on the rise. Hate seems to be
slowly breeding within a spiritual path that is supposedly a path of peace and love. We preach "Perfect Love and Perfect Trust", yet more
and more I am seeing a trend of distrust and overall jealousy amongst various people who ascribe to paganism. Indeed, I see outright slander and misinformation being thrown about all in the name of who is right and who is wrong. So that brings up the question; who is right? Who is wrong? Recently I was reading a book with many thoughts in eastern philosophy. The book was titled "Under the Plum
Tree, The Tao of Everything" written by Chung Fu, edited by Marjorie Giles. While reading this book, something jumped out at me as a simple part of living. I will quote it here as certainly the credit
is not mine.

"INFLUENCING OTHERS"

Q: (Part is inaudible) ...philosophy different than mine. What can I say to them without changing their views? I don't want to change them. Do I just speak as myself?

A: Speak as yourself. That is the most beautiful. Speak freely and flowingly of what you believe. Then when someone says, We do not
agree with what you say, answer, that is fine. Do not defend yourself, for defense of what you are means you do not believe what you are.. Defense causes war; if you never defend yourself, there
will never be war.

In regards to teaching, talking, express what you are. If someone disagrees, saying, That is ridiculous, or, What you are saying is
not true, they are saying they want you to be in their reality, not yours. Don't defend yourself. Know that is their expression. Listen to them, and then go to the next question. If someone says, What do you think of this? tell them. But if they try to fight you, ask for another question. It will not make you weak; it will make you stronger. Peace.
(Chung Fu)

I thought about this for a couple of days. Mulled it over and twisted it about in my mind. It seemed so simple, yet all of us are guilty of at one time or another, telling someone else their thoughts or beliefs are all wrong. My thought here is this. Each human holds a personal and sacred truth. I think there would be allot less conflicts if everyone simply followed the above advice. We have
no rights to judge one another for our beliefs or for our thoughts. This also needs to extend out past our own pagan brothers and sisters and beyond to other religions. It matters little if we feel personally they are wrong. Their thoughts are just as valuable and sacred as ours.

Everything is in layers past one person. The individual has allot of effect on those around you. But I figure, if
you truly love yourself, and that friends is so very important, then you can affect positive change around you. Start with yourself. Love yourself. Truly believe in yourself and in your sacred truth. When you can do this, take it to the next level, your family. Do unto them as you would have them do unto you. Treat them and everyone around you with that same kindness and respect you yourself would ask for. Even if you dislike a person. Accept them and bear them no ill will. It matters little if they are wrong, love them as a fellow entity and treat them with kindness. This will eventually be given back to you as what you affect in the world around you will ripple back on you. Pass your love that you profess on to those beyond your friends and family, out to those who hate you, for they need it the most. Avoid judging those around you. No one is right, no one is wrong. Each individual is a special creation and has the right to live as best as they can. I think it is paramount that we all respect each other's sacred truth. If we expect others to give us religious freedom and respect us for our spiritual paths, then should we not all agree to respect one another for the myriad of spiritual paths that we as pagans follow? Does it really matter by what we call our Gods and Goddesses? Does it really matter if one is eclectic or one is coven? Does it really matter what lineage holds the oldest history or original rituals? NO to all of the above. Each person's path to enlightenment is sacred to them alone. Each path one takes is designed to be learned from. The bottom line is that we must, as a whole simply accept one another and stop the defamation of one another. When one stops fearing the sanctity of their own faith, they will stop worrying about other people's faith. This is a truth all can embrace. This must also extend past our own religion. Yes, that means stop the anger towards the Christian establishment. Embrace the Muslim, the Jewish, the Buddhist. Embrace and love them all, even...AND ESPECIALLY.....if they turn away. Love them all anyways. If their truth is not yours, that's ok. But if you truly embrace your faith, and honestly believe in it, you will not have a need to defend it. Your actions will show all who is truly right and who is truly wrong. Try to gently reach out to everyone around you. Talk without anger in your voice or in your heart. I think we will all go very far if we can embrace these values.

Now, I am sure there are many who will be angered at my words here. I am sure more than a few will scoff at my ramblings. A few more will hate me for what I speak. This is ok. It is their right to do so. I still embrace all of them. I do my best to love all with equanimity. Do I always succeed? Absolutely not. But then, that is what life is for, learning. And how can one learn without making a few mistakes along the way? This month while the fires of summer are finally cooling down. Stop and think of the world and its people around you. Each bit of peace and acceptance you give out, is like a refreshing, thirst quenching drink of cool water.

Till next time, blessings to all your Spirits large and small.

Winterwolf

But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
--Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

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