Posts tagged beliefs

This post is my intro for others participating in the Pagan Study Group. Feel free to keep scrolling otherwise :-)

I go by the name Dulcea (dull-say-uh), but you can call me D. My path is a very eclectic one which is constantly changing and growing, as I discover more about myself, and the Universe.

I will try to explain the best I can.

My mother always raised me to think for myself, and I’m very grateful for that. She, herself, is agnostic but was raised (in England) as an Anglican. It is why, out of the seven of us kids (I’m the 3rd-born, first female) there are Agnostics, an Atheist, a Pantheist, Christians, and one brother says he’s Catholic now. We’re a diverse bunch!

I discovered Paganism when I was about 15, which was the same time my stepmother started forcing me to go to church and telling me that I was “going to hell.” . . which only pushed me farther away from Christianity. I started by diving into World Religion and read up on everything from Wicca, to Satanism (LaVey), to Buddhism, Hinduism, etc and though no one path felt really “right” for me, I found sanctuary in my new learnings …and thus the Eclecticism began!

Now, I am a Pantheist (still arguing in my head between monism and dualism) and study mostly Hermetics along with bits from religions and philosophies worldwide. My studies in bost eastern and western religions and philosophies ( along with Traditional Chinese Medicine, as part of my career studies, as I’m a massage therapist) has led me to see similarities and correspondences throughout all history and all religions and I have discovered many of the similarities seem to come from the teachings of Hermes (aka: Thoth or Enoch). So this is my main focus, but I’m still very eclectic.

But these studies inspire me to find balance - between light/dark, love/hate, east/west, mind/body etc etc . . as Hermetics and Eastern philosophy teach. The world and every part of it, from atoms, to people, to galaxies can be divided into yin/yang. Two seemingly opposite things or aspects that completely depend on each other for existence.

Everything you see, know, or are oblivious to is the creation of a thought, of the Infinite Living Mind - Spirit - Divinity - God - Cosmic Consciousness - whatever you call it. We are it. The Universe and all of Nature IS it. We, indeed are all one (I know this sounds more monistic but I want to divide this ONE into mental/physical because of the law of polarity and I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but who has?) It’s hard for me to put into words because I’m still drilling it in there, but I have finally found something that feels right to me.

Also, though I believe in all deities of all ancient religions I don’t see them as any more ‘divine’ than any other thing in existence (because I’m Pantheist). Since everything is of a mental creation, I see them as created by the minds of men, over centuries of constant thought and prayer (which makes them as real as anything else) and used as ways to focus your mind/spirit on certain aspects of the Universe (whatever the deity ‘reigns over’) for daily life or ritual purposes. They serve in the same way as a magicians tools and robes, to help to train your mind to focus on certain things, to remind you the state you need to be in for successful ritual, to create certain vibrations and create the change you want or need. They focus your will onto whatever’s important,to you, at the time of prayer/ritual etc. Once someone is adept enough (in my humble opinion) they will need no tools and no gods .… but I’m a long, long, long way off from that.

This is the first time I’ve really put my beliefs (or a summary thereof) onto paper and not yet outloud because it’s usually met with a wtf from the rest of the pagan/occult communities. They see my beliefs as contradictory. I see them as complimentary. If anyone has questions about my path, I’d gladly answer them, to the best of my ability. Just remember, I’m only a student, and always will be (at least for a few more lifetimes), just like you!