I thought I'd tell you how I became interested in paganism. When I was a baby I was baptised in to the Christian church - Church of England - something I cannot remember, being so young. My family were/are not religious. They do not go to church regularly nor do they participate in any kind of religious life. Religion for them is going to a wedding or funeral.
My mother came from a christian family. Her mother was a church verger for many years, but years of Sunday School meant she did not bombard us with the same.
I have always been interested in religion and the meanings and symbolism behind it all. In my teenage years I went through a stage where I questioned who God and Jesus were. This was when I became a Goth, but even then did not show an interest in paganism. I was there on the fringes of the paranormal, but did not immerse myself.
At university I was very interested in different religions and learning about them and became very interested in the cult of the goddess and nature. I began to think about it and see that at one time man worshipped both gods and goddesses and then it all changed and the coming of the bible seemed to change how we viewed things. The Council of Nicea and Emperor Constantine had a lot to answer for! It made me see that the planet is made up of balance - yin yang, black white, man woman, etc. Now this will sound very feminist, but where had woman disappeared to in all this? She was once revered as something sacred - the carrier of new life.
It wasn't until I became attuned to reiki, that things suddenly opened up for me and my senses became more aware of things.
I developed a stronger interest in the old gods and goddesses. At home I have an altar on which I have the Greenman and a statue of Isis - the original earth mother and said to be where the inspiration for the Virgin Mary came from. I know many Christian symbols and traditions stem from pagan ones. Why change the old? Let's adopt them and give them different names.
Every day I connect with my faith through my reiki and meditations - though reiki is not religious. But for me it's brought me closer to my spirituality and had a profound effect on my life.
I always question everything and I know my beliefs will not to be everyone's tastes, but I do believe through it I am not judgmental and would say I am not a hypocrite.
For once in my life I am quite open about my pagan beliefs and am not afraid to hide it from anyone. I enjoy nature and working with the energies. I enjoy visiting churches and other religious houses, for the sheer calmness and energy that emanates from these places. I have been known to attend services at my local parish church - though I say my own prayers, but I go because there is such a presence in them and that presence, I feel, is older than us all.
Many of my friends come from different faiths. I do not judge them for their beliefs, but we all share something together. No matter what you call that energy - god, Allah, the goddess, etc - to me they share common traits.
The god and goddess are around us and within us all.
Love and light and reiki blessings
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