How Do We Meet Our Spiritual Needs?

Posted by Susabelle on July 23, 2008 at 9:36pm in Missouri Pagans and Witches

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How do we all go about meeting our spiritual needs? I'm in the middle of a discussion with a Pagan woman I know, who is trying to convince me to come to an event I'm not interested in attending. It is not spiritual in nature (although they want to claim it is) but instead a big party and orgy, not something I'm interested in. I like social events, but if I'm going to spend a weekend away from my kids, then I want a spiritual experience, not a party. I can party any time.

So...how do I feed my spirituality without doing everything alone, at home in the dark of night with the shades pulled? The reality is, I don't do much of that at all; I do some magickal work at home, by myself, but I also look for spiritual outlets where I can participate with others.

I attend local rituals when I can, but it is only with groups I feel comfortable with and can ritualize with. I tend to not be as active in the summer because I don't do heat well and have asthma, but I do manage to get out to some events as my body permits.

But the most important aspect of my spirituality, I think, is how I live my life. Am I cognizant of how my actions affect others? Am I leaving the smallest possible footprint on Mother Earth? Am I raising my kids to be tolerant and open-minded, and am I behaving in a way that is ethical and responsible?

I recycle, although not zealously. I believe my kids are tolerant but I can't be sure. I try to treat people with respect and openness and don't sweat the small stuff. I'm trying to leave my world a better place than it was when I came into it.

I think this is almost more important than what rituals or group events I attend. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Brad on July 24, 2008 at 3:04am: In my opinion, if you make just one trip to a recycling bin, you have already done more for Mother than most other in this modern time. I feel that ritual is a way to help channel ones thoughts and energies. I would perceive a person taking an extra half hour to drop off their plastics as more of a ritual than 13 people with ten billion candles and a cloud of swirling incense. well, maybe that's just a little dramatic, but I'm sure you understand my idea.

Our religion has always been about what our actions do.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lady Scarletmoon on July 24, 2008 at 9:10am: I agree with you both. I do what I can to keep our mother clean & beautiful (carry a trashbag with me when I walk in the woods, pick up trash others have thoughtlessly dropped on the street, recycle when I can), but I am not a zealot. Zealotism kind of defeats the purpose.

As far as the partying, back in the early '70's when I was first starting out I joined a group in hopes I'd learn what path I'd be drawn to. My sole purpose was to learn & grown. I ended up being terribly disappointed. This was in Las Vegas (a notorious party town, especially back then) & every sabbat & esbat was a good excuse to buy several kegs of beer, go out in the desert, build a bonfire, get sick drunk & mess around with as many people as you could in a weekend. Several of the members I had known most of my life (I grew up in Nevada) & they thought I was being judgmental when I stopped attending their get togethers. Actually, I was BORED TO TEARS, I was there to learn, not throw up my shoe soles & wakeup up with someone (or multiple someones) I didn't know. To this day I find being a solitary most rewarding. Especially since moving to Missouri. Does anyone else find Missouri pretty closed minded when it comes to 'alternative religions'? I work in the Univ of Missouri system & since moving here have had to go back in the closet bigtime. To say they frown on anything that isn't mainstream religion is putting it mildly.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brad on July 24, 2008 at 10:08am: in my neck of the woods, fairly open. I took my area manager a healing pouch when she was having some problems. She's very secure in her christian faith. However, she did reconize that the pouch was a religous thing from my belief, and asked me to explain it to her. a different manager asks various questions all the time. kinda nice. ok... gonna go back to sleep. AM means absent mode!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lady Scarletmoon on July 24, 2008 at 10:19am: You're very lucky. If my manager had any idea I'm sure he would find a way to cleanse his office of this old witchy woman. ;-)

Yes, SLEEP is next on my agenda also. I work nights & it is close to my bedtime. I have the most wonderful thunderstorm to rock me to sleep today. We've had alot of those lately. I sleep best to nature's music.

Nightie Night.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Susabelle on July 24, 2008 at 10:47am: I work for a college, and I'm completely open. They HAVE to allow you to believe what you want to believe at a public institution. It goes along with the whole academic freedom thing.

I think there are areas of the state where you can be more open than not, of course. I am near St. Louis, where we can be pretty open.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lady Scarletmoon on July 24, 2008 at 11:24am: Columbia is a pretty small town & with the small town mentality comes small minded acceptance. Logically they know they have to allow me to believe what I want, but in coming out I become a target of close scrutiny. A good friend of mine ( a druid) lost her job in the Univ of Missouri system because she refused to be in the closet. They nit-picked her job performance until they got her. I kept warning her to watch out, but she felt safe in being open. I won't make the same mistake.

I think larger cities, with larger populations, are more open because there are so many of us they can't deal with us all. ;-) Here I am a minority.; ▶ Reply to This