NEO- Pagans
Story from one of our members:
I chose Athena as one I would worship because of the fact I grew up fighting wars within my head, two because she's fiercely protective. Three because of the fact she is famed as someone who is full of wisdom and courage. I'm extremely intelligent, and I've finally learned to have courage within myself.
I chose Athena as someone I would worship because of the fact that no matter what I went through in life, I have always loved. She is the goddess of love, sex and fertility. The second reason I chose her is because she is the goddess of fertility, I suffer from infertility, so I figure I needed a bond with the fertility goddess. Sexually is not really something I would worship over.
I chose Zeus because I am always centered and calm when it comes to thunderstorms. He is the God of Thunder. The second reason being is I've always had a fascination with the sky and watching it, watching the clouds and how they form. Hades because I've always felt a bond to the dead, regardless of if they were related to me or not. Not because of the underworld or anything.
Basically, I chose them because I feel like I have a bond with them in one way or another. Like they're attached to me.
Also, it doesn't help that I have multiple personalities, so I bond with more than one God/goddess.
MASLOW’S BASIC TRUTHS IN LIFE
Maslow's pyramid is a model of human motivation that was proposed by the psychologist Abraham Maslow in 1943. According to this model, human needs are arranged in a hierarchy, from the most basic and essential to the most complex and abstract. The lower levels of the pyramid consist of physiological needs, such as food, water, and shelter; and safety needs, such as security, stability, and protection. The higher levels of the pyramid consist of psychological needs, such as belongingness, love, and esteem; and self-actualization needs, such as creativity, growth, and fulfillment. Maslow argued that people must satisfy their lower-level needs before they can pursue their higher-level needs, and that the highest level of human potential is reached when one achieves self-actualization.
LEVEL ONE OF THE PYRAMID
Our basic needs come as food, water, warmth, and rest. Without these things you will not survive. You will do anything to get this unless you are truly broke in chi / spirit.
If you or your children are starving, then you would go against your core beliefs to get them or yourself fed. Without food after 4 days, you do not think straight, after seven to fifteen days you are either bed ridden and cannot talk, or you are dead.
Without water your body starts shutting down and in three to seven days you will be dead with no fluids.
Without warmth in your body, you will die. With this I add sex into the basic needs of humans, because sex will make heat and before man knew fire, we had each other. (Sex desire is different than having a true relationship.) I will get into that later in the writing.
without rest you will become deprived of brain function which will in turn will cause a lower quality of life to the point of death if it happens. Example falling asleep behind the wheel of a car.
LEVEL TWO OF THE PYRAMID
Security/ safety is important that your home (could as much as be as much as being next to a tree, a lake or in a house or in a Manchin it is where you feel safe.) family, property is safe. This is where you know you have that one place you will not be harmed from weather, predators, or just other people. This is where most people start working for things in their lives to secure what they do have. “Remember the grasshopper and the ant and tell me which one figured it out…life.”
LEVEL THREE OF THE PYRAMID
Belongingness is the need to be in a group or have friends of some sort or another. This is the desire to feel needed, and wanted by your peers, and members of the community such as the church Christian or pagan either one is a choice you can make.
At this level you begin the romantics of a true relationship if you had not begun early. Getting a girlfriend, lover, wife, and or mistresses. This is what you concentrate on then you get children.
Sex is mistaken quite often at this as a point of the pyramid as compassion or I belong to someone is normally felt in the first two layers of the pyramid. By the time you get to level three you should need that sense of belonging and feeling true Love having some self-control.
This is where you choose to be polyamorous or monogamous by choice without fear of others condemning you for your choices in life.
LEVEL FOUR OF THE PYRAMID
Esteem needs this is the feeling of accomplishment which will give prestige among your peers, and others around you. Example I got a premotion that raised my self-esteem and gave me a sense of accomplishments in turn have me the prestige in the community to be able to have pride in what I do.
LEVEL FIVE OF THE PYRAMID
Self-fulfillment is achieving one’s full potential, including creative activities.
For myself I am becoming one with my higher being/ inner self to be enlightened in the powers of heavens and earth to understand the meaning of why I am here and what the universe wants for me. For you it may be being the best husband or wife you can be. Perfecting what you have.
what you no longer need IS to gather and Concore but to learn from people, spirit, and thing around you to improve even more what you started with in the first place.
PERSONAL NOTES:
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1)What you choose to do with your life is up to you, these guidelines every student learned in civics class in school while I was growing up.
2) Be careful of people who try to skip around on their path because that can hinder you in your lifestyle.
3)If you do not know how to climb the pyramid there are people who can help you, and always remember to become a millionaire you do not follow a pulper.
4)Your spiritual guides / leaders will help you if you ask and if they can in one form or another.
5) If you teach your child to skip any of these steps they will fail and in turn you have failed as their guide in life. If you taught them and they ignore you that is on them
6) When you have a level complete then you lose it, it will feel as though your world has ended, and you will do anything to get it back… be careful not to be taken by predators or thoughts of suicide.
7) Understand that compassion toward your fellow man can help you in your climb to the top of your personal pyramid, and that it may enrich your life many folds over. Remember we are all on the same path.
8) When you are having troubles remember the first point of life from your mother’s womb was breath, breathing is what you concentrate on when it gets tough. It will level out in your body.
9) There are other paths or later to climb later after you get to the faith levels like the qabalah or your other religious orders, but remember this pyramid is what starts before anything. If you forget that then you may not succeed in your life.
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[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_paganism ""
[2]: https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/pagans-modern-world-what-neopaganism-007698 ""
[3]: http://www.paganlibrary.com/introductory/neo-pagan_satanism.php ""
[4]: https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-08956-0_48-1 ""
[5]: https://rainateachings.com/what-is-a-pagan-or-a-neo-pagan/ ""
Neo-Paganism, also known as Modern Paganism or Contemporary Paganism, is a collective term for new religious movements influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs of pre-Christian Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. While Neo-Paganism draws inspiration from old pagan religions, it does not represent a single unified religion but rather a diverse group of practices and beliefs. Neo-Pagan paths vary widely, from reconstructionist attempts to revive ancient religions with great fidelity to eclectic approaches that blend elements from different traditions. Common themes among these movements include polytheism, animism, and pantheism, with a focus on nature worship and a reverence for the divine as manifested in the natural world.
In contrast, the term 'Paganism' traditionally refers to the various polytheistic, non-Abrahamic religions that were practiced before the widespread adoption of Christianity and other monotheistic religions. This historical paganism was indigenous to various cultures around the world and was characterized by a diversity of beliefs and rituals.
Today's Neo-Pagan movements often emphasize personal spirituality and experience over dogmatic belief, and many modern pagans find meaning in reconstructing or reimagining the beliefs and practices of their ancestors in a way that resonates with contemporary life. Some of the more well-known Neo-Pagan religions include Wicca, Druidry, and Heathenry, each with its own set of practices and theology, yet all share a common thread of seeking harmony with and respect for nature.
The rise of Neo-Paganism can be seen as part of a broader spiritual awakening or renaissance, where individuals seek connections with the natural world and its cycles, which they find lacking in mainstream religious practices. This movement also often intersects with environmentalism and ecological activism, reflecting the deep ecological awareness and values of its practitioners.
While Neo-Paganism is inspired by ancient practices, it is a modern interpretation and revival of these traditions, often adapted to fit the needs and sensibilities of contemporary practitioners. It represents a rich tapestry of spiritual paths that honor the past while forging new religious identities that speak to the present and future.
wicca vs. Neo paganism
[1]: https://howtowitchcraft.com/understanding-the-paths-wicca-witchcraft-and-paganism ""
[2]: https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/pagan-and-earth-based/what-are-the-different-pagan-religions.aspx ""
[3]: https://metaphysical-store.com/blogs/metaphysical-blog/pagan-vs-wiccan ""
[4]: http://www.arcane-alchemy.com/blog/2021/4/8/what-is-wicca-is-it-the-right-pagan-path-for-you ""
[5]: https://www.learnreligions.com/wicca-witchcraft-or-paganism-2562823 ""
Wicca distinguishes itself from other Neo-Pagan paths through its specific structure, beliefs, and practices. It is a contemporary pagan witchcraft religion that emerged in the early 20th century, rooted in ancient pre-Christian beliefs and practices, but with a unique framework that includes the worship of a Goddess and a God, often viewed as representing the dual aspects of nature and divinity. Wiccans celebrate a cycle of eight festivals known as the Wheel of the Year, which marks the seasonal changes and agricultural cycles. They also practice ritual magic, which is central to Wiccan belief and practice, using it as a tool for personal and spiritual development.
In contrast, other Neo-Pagan paths may not have such a structured belief system or may focus on different deities or pantheons. For example, Druidry, another Neo-Pagan path, places a strong emphasis on the veneration of nature, wisdom, and creativity, drawing inspiration from the ancient Celtic priests known as Druids. While Wicca has a more defined set of practices, Druidry is more flexible and philosophical, often without the ritualistic magic that is so integral to Wicca.
Another difference is the approach to religious texts and dogma. Wicca has foundational texts and figures, such as Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente, who helped shape modern Wiccan practice. Other Neo-Pagan paths may not rely on such texts, focusing instead on personal experience and interpretation of ancient traditions. Reconstructionist Paganism, for instance, aims to recreate historical pagan religions with as much accuracy as possible, based on archaeological and historical research, which is different from Wicca's more eclectic and modern approach.
Furthermore, Wicca's ethical guideline, the Wiccan Rede "An it harms none, do what ye will," provides a simple yet profound moral framework that guides practitioners in their actions, emphasizing the freedom of will as long as it does not cause harm. This contrasts with other Neo-Pagan paths that may not have such a universal rule and instead may have a variety of ethical guidelines that vary from tradition to tradition.
In summary, while Wicca shares many similarities with other Neo-Pagan paths, such as a reverence for nature and the divine, it has its own unique identity characterized by its deities, rituals, ethical code, and its place in the broader context of contemporary paganism.