What I Believe
Welcome to the heart of my beliefs, where I share the core metaphysics that shape my Pagan worldview.
In this exploration of philosophy, I invite you to ponder these perspectives of life, death, and the divine. This section is updated daily and is prone to change, according to my personal evolution. If you wish to discuss these and other ideas, feel free to contact me.
My Personal Manifesto and Creed
Fundamental Realizations in Paganism:
What the Divine is and isn't
Arriving at my current set of beliefs proved to be a challenging journey, particularly considering my previous stance as an atheist. Initially, grappling with the idea of ethereal beings governing nature and residing in the sky posed a significant hurdle. My struggle stemmed from a primitive misconception of polytheism, envisioning gods with specialized departments, such as a rain god solely managing atmospheric moisture, rainfall, and orchestrating minions to manipulate clouds.
However, a profound shift occurred as I delved deeper into the intricacies of polytheistic concepts. Rather than adhering to the notion of deities micromanaging specific natural elements, I've come to the conclusion that gods symbolize various facets of nature, human ideals, or a fusion of both. In this perspective, ancient civilizations sought to understand, domesticate, and align themselves with these powerful forces. The gods, therefore, became metaphors or embodiments of certain aspects of the world, making them more comprehensible and perhaps more accessible for influence in favor of humanity.
"YOU WORSHIP ANIMAL HYBRIDS!"
The gods, contrary to literal interpretations as humanoid entities adorned with animal features, superhuman powers, immortality and such were instead symbolic representations that physically manifested people's understanding of them. These depictions served as tangible expressions of the abstract qualities and forces that these deities were believed to embody. Rather than viewing the gods as anthropomorphic beings with animalistic attributes, it becomes apparent that such figurative representations were a creative and tangible way for ancient cultures to capture the essence of these divine entities in a form that resonated with their comprehension and conceptualization of the sacred.
Indeed, the representations of gods ascribed with names, shapes, and personalities are only partial glimpses into the broader, formless, and nameless reality that encompasses these divine entities. It is inherently impossible to encapsulate the entirety of a god within the confines of human language, imagery, or conceptual frameworks. The named attributes, shapes, and personalities assigned to gods serve as mere facets, symbolic attempts by humanity to grasp and relate to the profound and boundless nature of these divine forces. For example: Ptah is not really named Ptah, He is not green-skinned, mummiform man with a weird scepter. He is our idea of the creative force itself, personified and identified with a name. His head bears a blue skullcap because it embodies the sky, the sea and all of the expanse of creation. His skin is green because he is life itself. He wears a mummy's shroud, not because he is dead, but because he symbolizes an eternity of unchanging perfection - something also emphasized by the Djed-pillar he is depicted holding. He wears the tripartite scepter of life, power, and stability because that's what the creative force of the cosmos encompasses. He stands on a base called Ma'at - balance, justice, truth because he is the lord over those things as an absolute creator. What he speaks into existence IS TRUE. This is a depiction of an incomprehensible force that the Egyptians managed to give a name to and imaginatively describe with these symbols.
In all truth, the essence of these gods transcends human attempts at categorization, residing in an expansive, ineffable realm that defies complete understanding or representation.
From Mystery to Personal Revelation
Accepting the idea of divine entities existing in a realm beyond our world is one aspect, but engaging with them poses a distinct challenge, particularly for someone with an atheistic, materialistic background. The Abrahamic god, residing in Heaven, the sky, or in elusive, intangible forms, remains beyond our direct perception. The rationale behind this elusiveness lies in the belief that the divine transcends human understanding, being greater and more incomprehensible than the created world. Biblical narratives illustrate instances where individuals, now recognized as prophets, briefly glimpsed the appearance of God, always shrouded in divine light, flames, and the wings of angels. For my newfound acceptance of religion to coexist without causing cognitive dissonance, it became imperative to reconcile how I could affirm the reality of science while simultaneously acknowledging the existence of not just one, but a multitude of otherworldly beings.
Nerdy Debates
The Christian God, it seems, veils Himself in a shroud of mystery, occasionally revealing fragments of His nature and divine plan. The Bible serves as a repository of these revelations, offering glimpses into His preferences, such as the narratives of Cain and Abel, Abraham's sacrifice, and the meticulous measurements of His temple. As Christianity unfolded, adherents claimed an intricate understanding of Jesus' nature within the Trinity, drawing their conclusions from scriptural interpretations. The historical rifts within the Church, including the Great Schism, stemmed from disagreements over the precise relationships between the divine persons, showcasing a level of certainty that contrasts with the inherent mystery attributed to the divine.
The paradox of God's supposed mysteriousness, and the simultaneous audacity of claiming a comprehensive understanding of His intricate theological nuances, perplexes me. The arrogance displayed within Abrahamic faiths, particularly in matters of divine intricacies, stands in stark contrast to the very mystery that these religions acknowledge. It remains a puzzle to fathom how such a complex and contentious religious framework has given rise to one of the largest faith traditions in human history. Perhaps, in a way, the tendency to engage in theological debates and assert definitive positions on unknowable things is a human inclination, akin to arguing about the number of angels that fit onto the tip of a needle, the strengths of superheroes and if they are truly worthy to lift Mjolnir or not.
The notions of mystery and a stark division between the material world and the divine realm are concepts that I fundamentally reject. If I were to consider a return to religion, the metaphysical framework I would entertain certainly wouldn't resemble the prevalent ideas of veiled mystery and stark separation. I hold the belief that the world, being visible and concrete, should inherently make sense, prompting me to question why the gods, if they exist, wouldn't operate in a similar, tangible manner.
This perspective leans towards a desire for a more palpable connection between the divine and the observable world, where the workings of the gods are not obscured by layers of mystery, but rather intricately interwoven with the tangible aspects of our existence. This approach seeks a more immediate and comprehensible engagement with the divine, fostering a belief that the metaphysical aspects of existence can be integrated seamlessly into the visible fabric of the world.
In response to this rift in my mind, I decided to leap into the unknown. I made a conscious decision to set aside my ego and immerse myself in the act of worship, offering, and prayer. I made my practice less about myself and my understanding, and more about the gods. I believed that by establishing a genuine and reverent relationship with the gods, my understanding of them would gradually crystallize. It was a deliberate step towards embracing the spiritual realm, recognizing that the depth of comprehension often emerges from an earnest and committed engagement with the divine.
Shaping my cult practice around the worship of gods turned out to be a significant and positive stride in my spiritual journey. The multitude of personal revelations I encountered during this period has been truly remarkable. While I choose to disclose certain insights in in this section, it is not my intention to prescribe specific paths for others. I firmly believe that, while the gods are in no way intangible and certainly out there, some creeds of my path should remain unspoken, inviting individuals to embark on their own personal quests for understanding. These sacred revelations, in their essence, are best pursued individually, fostering a sense of personal connection and discovery within the realm of the divine.
The Unity of the Spiritual and Physical
Navigating my newfound spiritual journey based on devotion only, without the reassurance of certainty led me into uncharted territory. However, as I immersed myself, a profound understanding began to take shape, and the pieces seamlessly fell into position. The gods, I realized, defy the notion of being ethereal or detached from our reality. Instead, they exist ubiquitously, present everywhere simultaneously. While they may manifest through natural phenomena, this manifestation is merely a fraction of their multidimensional nature.
Analogous to a two-dimensional creature struggling to comprehend the third dimension, our perception of the gods remains constrained by our three-dimensional reality. They reveal themselves through familiar natural occurrences like the sun shining, the wind blowing, or rain falling. However, these manifestations offer just a glimpse of a more intricate reality, akin to perceiving a single slice of a multidimensional object. Higher dimensions, like the gods, surround us but often elude our perception for reasons unknown.
Engaging the gods with our limited vision, fixated solely on immediate surroundings, yields results that may seem ordinary—such as the sun's warmth, the wind's breeze, or rain's descent. Yet, this perspective falls short of revealing the profound depth of their influence and existence. What lies beyond our immediate perception is a vast and intricate reality that demands a broader, more nuanced understanding.
The few throughout history granted access to this comprehensive reality are deemed prophets, serving as conduits between the mortal and divine.
Throughout history, those few individuals granted access to this all-encompassing reality are revered as prophets, acting as conduits bridging the mortal and the divine realms. Contrary to a notion of being plucked from our world and transported to the gods, prophets serve as interpreters of a reality that extends beyond the conventional boundaries but is all around us and accessible to anyone who puts their mind to it.
This concept brings to mind a conversation with my brother when he inquired about whether God resides in a separate dimension. My response, articulated aloud, resonated with a profound sense of understanding. God, or the gods, aren't separated or confined to a distant dimension. Instead, they constitute the ultimate reality that surpasses the truncated version of reality we typically perceive. Their presence is as tangible and genuine as ours, but they exist ubiquitously and persistently throughout every space and time, for all of eternity.
Rejecting the notion of a separate physical and spiritual world, I propose that our perceived divide stems from our limited understanding of the natural world. Furthermore, it is Paganism that acknowledges this mystery around not the divine as a separate phenomenon from the Natural, but the Natural as the Divine, and seeks a relationship between the Natural and the Human. It establishes that the Natural and the Divine are one and the same, and cult practice is the proposed conduit between our limited understanding of the Natural and its divine nature. The mutual influence between spirit and matter is profound, and is the only thing that can be experienced in the physical world i.e. be shown to be anything close to 'real'. The natural and spiritual are indivisible, shaping each other in form and quality. By the same logic, the gods reflect the natural world and vice versa.
Adherents of other religions may raise objections to the notion of a direct connection between the creator and the created, often invoking the argument from causality, necessity, and the exemption of the first cause from the constraints of that which is caused. This argument suggests a sequence of causes, each dependent on a superior, uncaused cause whose characteristics may not necessarily conform to physical constraints or visibility in the same manner as natural phenomena, and that that is the reason why God is separated from his creation.
In response, I acknowledge the validity of their perspective as logically coherent, and i acknowledge the possibility that I might be mistaken. However, I invite them to substantiate their claims in any real way that isn't sophistry and philosophical discussions. I ask for proof that this argument from causality is unquestionably true. Proof that can be observed. I remain skeptical until there is tangible substance to their argument, substantiating the existence of a necessary causer who reigns supreme over creation and operates in a manner distinct from the created world. Furthermore, clarity is needed on whether this singular deity aligns precisely with the version of God worshipped in existing religions. Until such evidence is presented, I withhold any benefit of the doubt, emphasizing the importance of empirical support and consistency in their assertions.
My Argument for Polytheism
Building on my assertion that the natural is the divine, and emphasizing the interconnectedness of the spiritual and material realms, I propose that the diverse material phenomena and opposing forces in the universe necessitate the existence of a multitude of divine entities. According to scientific findings, everything originated from a singular point of infinite density and potential, a state devoid of entropy and division among natural forces. This aligns with mythological depictions of an infinite sea of chaos and indeterminate distribution.
When referring to the 'waters' in ancient texts, the intention is not to represent a large body of H2O, but rather a vast, uniform mass of indeterminate matter. The singularity, identified as the origin point of the Big Bang, signifies the great expansion of space, time, and energy condensing into matter. From this singular source, which was not separate from anything but rather everything in its undifferentiated state, emerged a multitude of forces and various phenomena.
This scientific perspective aligns with the core argument of Polytheism prevalent in paganism, asserting that the diverse and complex natural forces originated from a singular source, underscoring the interconnected and multifaceted nature of the divine. Polytheism as such, emerges as a compelling framework due to the necessity for many gods to encapsulate the diverse and intricate forces at play in the natural world. The fundamental concept is rooted in the acknowledgment that the material realm, with its multitude of phenomena and opposing forces. It requires a pantheon of deities to adequately represent and govern these complexities. Paganism resonates with the scientific understanding of an initial singularity, an undifferentiated source from which various forces and phenomena originated.
The diversity inherent in the material world necessitates a pantheon of deities to capture the intricate forces at play. Each god represents a unique aspect of nature, offering a nuanced and comprehensive framework that aligns with the multifaceted reality we observe. In essence, paganism's polytheistic structure emerges as a fitting and harmonious response to the diverse and interconnected forces shaping our existence.
Locality is the key to Paganism!
Echoing my stance on the relationship between the Material and spiritual, I must emphasize the integration of locality into my pagan practice. It has significantly impacted my spiritual journey, fostering a deeper connection with both deities and the surrounding material environment. This practice aligns with older pagan traditions, reminiscent of the ancient belief in local manifestations of gods. This approach already gave rise to diverse deities, each with distinct domains, personalities, and lore. The following section presents the necessity of discovering and cultivating local manifestations, one core belief of mine, providing three reliable methods to incorporate this practice.
To embark on this practice, I started my exploring historical worship in the area. This unveiled gods associated with the local geography. A lot of Experimentation was necessary if identified gods belonged to a different pantheon. Additionally, I found that connecting local landmarks to gods through divination or meditation deepens the understanding of these deities.
In my personal practice rooted in the Egyptian pantheon, historical worship facilitated the identification of locally present gods. Expanding this approach, recognizing the significance of a regional river led to the discovery of a previously overlooked deity through the syncretism of Khnum with the Slavic Vodan, a freshwater deity linked with out local Drava river.
Given my Slavic origin, I integrate Egyptian and Slavic gods by using Slavic names as epithets for Egyptian deities, maintaining a traditionally Kemetic practice while embracing locality. This approach alleviates cognitive dissonance and feelings of religious impostorship I had as a non-Egyptian by acknowledging the need for a practice rooted in the local context. I had previously left a dessert religion whose lore is completely detached from and foreign to my locale and time (it's as if God created the rest of the world as an afterthought), so I wasn't going to return to a dessert religion with no reference to my locality and which has been dead for millennia, this time either. Furthermore, why worship Amun of Thebes, if ancient Thebes is four thousand kilometres and two thousand years away from the here and the now? (I go as far to say these gods are dead and will stay dead, until their local cultus has been re-established!). However, their local manifestations in the here and now surely are alive and we need to start talking to THEM!
Furthermore, intuition and meditation play crucial roles in this transformative journey. Whatever one choose to do regarding this matter, the gods must first agree and approve of it. I have had only one instance where the god explicitly rejected my idea and let me know that I had made a mistake. And that was nothing out of the ordinary. Aligning with the gods' approval through these practices ensures a harmonious transition. While the gods may communicate rejection in rare instances, respecting their autonomy remains paramount.
In conclusion, introducing locality to the pantheon enhances the relationship with existing gods, providing a clearer understanding of their multifaceted nature in the local context. This practice unveils the potential to connect with both familiar and previously undiscovered deities, fostering a rich and diverse spiritual experience.
Embracing the Sacred Form:
A Defense of Idol Worship in Pagan Practices
In the context of my broader exploration into the interconnectedness of the material and spiritual realms, the defense of idol worship within my pagan path holds a significant place. Rooted in the foundational belief that the divine is not a distant abstraction but an intrinsic part of the natural world, idol worship becomes a tangible expression of this connection.
As established in earlier discussions, the pagan philosophy I adhere to rejects the separation of the spiritual from the physical, emphasizing their unity. In this light, idol worship serves as a focused ritual act that centers on a specific object imbued with divine presence, amplifying the intricate relationship between the tangible and intangible. It is through these idols that the gods' forms take shape and gain definition.
Building upon the notion that the gods' essence is deeply influenced by human interaction, idol worship becomes a potent means to channel devotion and shape the divine narrative. As explored previously, these idols are not the gods themselves; instead, they act as conduits for worship, fostering a more personal and tangible connection with the divine forces.
This practice not only enables hands-on worship through artistic expression but also imbues the gods with distinct forms and names, enriching the spiritual experience. The amount of thought, choice of material and level of craftsmanship can greatly influence the divinity of an idol, although a statue may not become divine just because it is made from precious materials and by skilled hands. A significant factor of it being imbued with the divine presence is the ritual activation through incantations and regular worship.
It is crucial to acknowledge that, in the event of damage to these representations, the gods remain unharmed, but the symbolic act may alter the dynamics of the worship, potentially invoking the displeasure of the entities, as discussed earlier.
Thus, within the broader context of my pagan path, idol worship emerges as a dynamic, meaningful, and symbolically rich practice that deepens the connection between the worshippers and the divine entities.
The Reality and Material Nature of the Soul
In alignment with my philosophical interpretation of the interconnection of the material to the spiritual, the necessity of divine plurality in a world of pluralistic natural world, the relationship between these axes of existence come into play right at the Human level. The essence of humans, i.e. souls do not only consist of the material, but are as diverse and plural in nature.
Humans consist of matter and it is matter that gives us expanse and the ability to influence other matter. The essence of each human, i.e. the soul is that which distinguishes us from other entities consisting of matter. The relationship between the soul and the body emerges as a dynamic and reciprocal interplay. In contrast to the simplistic notion of the soul as a separate entity leaving the body at death, a my perspective aligns with the ancient Egyptian understanding. Here, the soul is considered an integral part of the body, comprising various equally significant components or soul bodies.
Importantly, the soul is not confined solely to an individual's physical boundaries; rather, it extends beyond, encompassing elements like the name, images and statues of individuals, etc. In this intricate interconnection, the soul becomes materialized through the thoughts and expressions of others. Indeed, the Ancients believed that as long as your name is spoken, part of you shall life on. In that way, part of our soul exists within the consciousness of those who speak our name or actively think about us. This underscores the profound and mutual influence between the body and the soul, emphasizing their equal importance in shaping the holistic essence of an individual.
Furthermore, our spiritual essence extends onto non-living entities as well, such as images, statues, engravings, and contemporary audiovisual media. Through these representations, our soul transcends the boundaries of our physical form, leaving imprints that persist in time and space. While it's true that upon death, our consciousness ceases to exist, the absence of post-mortem evidence doesn't necessarily disprove the existence of the soul. Drawing parallels, during sleep or in a coma, our consciousness is temporarily dormant, yet we don't equate these states with non-existence. Similarly, when individuals remember us after our passing, the thoughts and memories are not invalidated by the absence of our physical presence. This dynamic interplay suggests that part of our existence genuinely extends beyond the confines of our body, even beyond our conscious brain, leaving an enduring impact on the world and the consciousness of those who remember us.
So to clarify and exemplify my philosophical stance on the soul, here are the different aspects of our soul, which, in my opinion, are best reflected by the Egyptian interpretation are as follows:
The Ka, or the life force, given from the Creator (or the Source of all existence) onto non-living matter to create living matter. All living beings have a Ka and it (whatever its true nature might be) is that which distinguishes them from non-living matter. The Ba, akin to the soul's personality, is that part of the Soul which distinguishes living beings from each other. It manifests in the thoughts and memories of others, perpetuating our existence beyond death. It is like the unique fingerprint of every living being. The Khet, or the human body, is the material 'expanse' of our soul (essence). It has substance, mass, it fills space and time. It helps us interact with this material world and moves within the 4 dimensions of space. Furthermore, there is the Ib, or heart. Egyptians used to believe it is the source of our thoughts and personality, which is not entirely factually correct. However, the main idea was to identify the body part that makes our body 'work' and that makes us make decisions, formulate thoughts etc. In my scientifically informed interpretation, the Ib extends onto the inner workings of the body - including the brain. It is that which is weighed in the judgement of the dead. These are the soul-bodies that extend from our immediate person.
In contrast, there are soul-bodies that extend beyond our person, such as the Ren, our name, which transcends our immediate physical boundaries, existing in the minds of those who utter it. The Shaut, our shadow, but also our reflection in images and representations, extends our presence onto non-living matter It represents us and awakens the thought of us within the minds of others. A select few, who wield worldly and religious power carry a soul part called the Sekhem, or 'power'. It is the aspect of our soul that extends onto our people and makes them subservient to our will.
In addition, there are soul-bodies that transcend our physical life and make us still physically present even beyond death. The first of these bodies is the Sah, or the departed soul. It has a physical manifestation, the mummy of the deceased - perfect and unchanging body meant for eternity. Finally there is the Akh, representing our immortal and transfigured self, finds resonance in the enduring impact we leave through memories and the legacy we create.
Embracing these different soul-bodies illuminates the multifaceted nature of our spiritual presence, highlighting its tangible extension onto various aspects of existence.