Ignoring homework right before class

October 25, 2011 at 9:08 AM (Uncategorized)

I thought I’d come on here and see that nothing had changed and the blog was begging for a new post. Well, it has changed but this also leaves it begging for more. I popped in right before class (when I should be reading, as the title indicates) to see Nadia’s latest. Reading through it I had to chuckle at parts because it just sounded so…well, it sounded like me.

Ok, now that we know I’m completely bonkers let me explain why.

Even if I don’t believe in what she does, I can relate to it. That’s the wonderful thing about being human, we don’t have to hold the exact same ideas to get along. Seeing that brightened my day and made me start to think of all I have to be thankful for, and considering I didn’t even want to get out of bed this morning that says a lot. No matter how much things seem to be going wrong I always have my friends and family who love me no matter what.

I’ve been feeling rather overwhelmed this last week in particular, between my normal course work and one of my pet rats being on medication for myco. Maybe it’s time I take a step back from all this, breathe, and realize that no matter how much it doesn’t seem like it…life goes on.

Maybe I’ll add more to this later, but for now…I’m going to fail my quiz if I don’t get this reading done XD

 

~Crimsette

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“I want to be open minded…”

October 5, 2011 at 8:37 AM (Uncategorized)
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“…but not so much that my brains fall out.”

-Chaplin Powers

(Title directly taken from Getting By)

On my campus I am part of an interfaith group, and this was one of the last things said at our meeting last night. The discussion was one of my favorites, so when Cami asked me to write the post about it for Earth Spirit I gladly agreed. The discussion was mainly over a lecture by Eboo Patel that some members attended last week. I was unable to attend, but from what I heard he’s an amazing speaker and well worth listening to, if you have the opportunity and the time.

The ideas about interfaith intrigued me, especially hearing some of the other viewpoints from the group. Names of the other members elude me, so I apologize in advance for my lack of attribution.

“We can all sit at the same table. I can look across the table and think you’re going to Hell, but we can sit there and get along.”

This above all else rubbed me the wrong way last night. I spent a good portion of the hour working this over in my mind. My problem with it is this: What gives a human being the right to judge their fellow humans? How can someone sit and look at someone else and condemn them based on what they hold true in the world? There is a measure of truth in (most) every religion/spiritual path, so what dictates that there is only one correct one and the rest of us are doomed?

I understand the idea of an absolute book of truth. I have  many problems with this idea, but that’s an entirely different discussion. I’m not out to tell anyone that their views are wrong, I just can’t wrap my mind about humans having the right to judge one another.

In my opinion, part of being Eclectic is accepting that next to no one will believe the same things you do. Does this mean the rest of the world is wrong and condemned to an afterlife/next life of suffering? No, absolutely not. In fact, if that were the case then the one ‘correct’ person would likely be the only miserable one of the entire group. Not everyone can be wrong, it just isn’t possible. With all the viewpoints, all the opinions, all the ideas, there has to be truth somewhere. And that truth could very well be different for each and every person on this planet.

No matter a person’s beliefs though, it is necessary to be able to cooperate across faith groups. I take this as a hugely important step in negating some of the misunderstandings and hatred that has been present for…what’s an appropriate time frame? Centuries?

All in all I have to agree with Cami, my brains have already fallen out. I’m willing to accept that something completely different from my own beliefs, and even condemning my own beliefs, is right. Just not right for me. I can’t justify looking at someone and telling then that everything they hold true is a lie. I can’t. I don’t have that right. I can argue points, I can disbelieve it myself, I can even think it’s insane – and believe me, I will – but I can’t look at someone and say that they’re unquestionably wrong.

~Crimsette

(Also, check out the sister post to this one: “I want to be open minded…” on Getting By)

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The Path

October 1, 2011 at 1:22 PM (Introductory)
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I believe that the natural world is full of spirits and that every animal/plant/stone/etc should be treated with the same respect as our fellow human beings.

I believe that there are many gods and goddesses in the world.

I believe that there are spirit guides, and that they can sometimes come to us in the form of pets.

I believe in the power of the four natural elements combined with the spirit.

I also believe that everyone is different and everyone has their own path that they should and must follow. No one should be forced onto a path that doesn’t fit them or that they feel they don’t belong in. What I believe will not be and should not be exactly what anyone else believes. We all have a right to choose our own path, and this is the most important right that anyone could ever have.

We all have a lens through which we view life based on our background and personal experiences. We follow our own path, be it a country road or a city street, a forest path or a busy highway. It  could be spring, summer, autumn, or winter, but it will always be your own.

This is my path and I hope you’ll enjoy my journey.

~Crimsette

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Project Pagan Enough

September 30, 2011 at 12:05 PM (Uncategorized)
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I’m sure I’m not the only one who keeps coming across websites that say you have to do certain things to be pagan or that there’s no such thing as your type of paganism. That’s why I love Project Pagan Enough, and wanted to share it first and foremost.

Here’s a little snippit of information about the project:

“It is a movement, a cause, a Harmonious Riot that includes bloggers, podcasters, authors, shop owners, radio personalities, pagans, non-pagans, me, you, and (hopefully) the whole pagan community. It is my hope that the Project Pagan Enough logo continues to be a beacon of peace, progress, and change for our community. By using the Project Pagan Enough logo, you’re making a set of promises:

  1. You are Pagan Enough, because you try fervently to explore what it means to be pagan and apply it to your life, despite your physical appearance, personal tastes, level of experience, or other factor that others might use to say you are not pagan.
  2. You recognize others are Pagan Enough despite how they may look, act, or believe, as long as that person feels they are fervently seeking the divine on a pagan path.
  3. You attempt to debate those that have opposing viewpoints, learning from one another despite how passionate the debate becomes, instead of simply writing others off for not being up to your standard of ‘pagan’.
  4. You welcome, befriend, and encourage others in the pagan community despite their physical appearance, level of experience, age, or other physical or superficial characteristic.
  5. You promise to treat members of other religions and spiritual paths with equality, fairness, and grace, setting a good example for the Pagan community both in and out of the community, not judging the individuals based on fringe members of their same faith.

Like the points of the pentacle, these 5 tenets of Project Pagan Enough work together and will, I hope, launch our community into a new era of tolerance, love, and peace. Our community cannot become cohesive if we are constantly judging one another or pulling apart.”

This is something I would like everyone to try to keep in mind while exploring these pages. Tolerance is the key (the back of my laptop even says so).

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Welcome!

September 29, 2011 at 7:09 PM (Uncategorized)

Welcome to my humble blog! I’ll  start by saying I have no idea how to begin, so here goes:

My name is Crimsette, and I’m a 19 year old university sophomore. I’m majoring in English, with either a double major or a minor in humanities. I might also pick up another minor, but I’m not sure yet. I’m a total animal lover. I have three cats (Jasper, Jezza, and Malachi) and two rats (Kiwi and Micah). I’ll add more about them on my about page later. Some of my other interests include photography, mythology, religion, anime, and musicals.

I decided to start this blog to keep a record of my adventures and thoughts as I explore my religion: Paganism.

I’ll try to be rather consistent in my posts, but it honestly depends on my workload and if I have anything to actually say. I highly encourage comments and would love to hear feedback from anyone. I do ask, however, that you respect my opinions and I will do the same for you.

One topic I’d like to cover rather extensively is surviving college/university as a pagan student, which may or may not be easy depending on someone’s specific situation. I’ll do my best to give my view on the matter and tips as I come across them. My university is very liberal which makes things a little easier on me.

 

Well, that’s the general idea anyway.

 

~Crimsette

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