Woot a thread for me. I guess I fall in the Pagan spectrum. Heathen to be as exact as I can.
Why did I become a Heathen? I remember vividly being 13 years old and my Dad filling in the census form stating that I was Christian. I hadn't been brought up to be particularly Christian, being white and English makes you a Christian by default apparently. I remember telling him I didn't believe in God, I wasn't sure what I believed in but a part of me was outright against Christianity. He didn't change the census answer which bugged me for 10 years untill I was finally able to put Pagan on this years one, hurrah! but I've strayed from the point.
It was at that point I began to seriously question what it was I believed. I spent a couple of years on and off researching various belief systems. I delved into the occult, "satanism", traditional magic and so on. I should point out aswell that I knew I wasn't an Athiest. It might be what the intelligent people do I'm sure but as any person with faith in anything will tell you, it's not something you know in your head, it's something you feel.
I discovered Wicca, first the twisted version the media portrays it as which became really popular in the early 2000's (thanks Buffy) and then the more traditional. Of course, none of the old ways today are exactly as they were, they have had to adapt to the times, so when I say traditional I mean as traditional as we can get. I realised that so much of our lives today were shaped by these beliefs, I saw how snippets survived through the ages handed down as Folklore and how to a degree those traditions and beliefs could still be relevant today.
Something still didn't feel right however, although I felt I was getting close. Asartru/Heathenry came next in my studies and everything seemed to fit into place in my mind and in my soul. These beliefs were not about control or forcing a population to behave the way you want them to, these were beliefs OF the people, which wound themselves around every aspect of their daily lives. I felt something to, a kind of full circle thing, knowing that these were the beliefs of my ancestors.
I do not practice fully, I have things I do on special days but really I feel somewhat alone. Athiests call you retarded for following any path that is not theirs, the general majority of other people simply do not understand. Most see it as ancient mythology and therefore dead, believed by those silly bearded men with horned hats (sigh). It's something that in the real world I keep very private, on the internet less so but still I don't go running round shouting it at every possible moment.
The one perception of modern day Paganism overall I would love to change is the way it is viewed as a very white power thing. Some of the aspects of course appeal to the white power/neo nazi crowd but they twist it to suit their own purpose.
What else is there to say really? If you wish to know anything else just ask.
Why did I become a Heathen? I remember vividly being 13 years old and my Dad filling in the census form stating that I was Christian. I hadn't been brought up to be particularly Christian, being white and English makes you a Christian by default apparently. I remember telling him I didn't believe in God, I wasn't sure what I believed in but a part of me was outright against Christianity. He didn't change the census answer which bugged me for 10 years untill I was finally able to put Pagan on this years one, hurrah! but I've strayed from the point.
It was at that point I began to seriously question what it was I believed. I spent a couple of years on and off researching various belief systems. I delved into the occult, "satanism", traditional magic and so on. I should point out aswell that I knew I wasn't an Athiest. It might be what the intelligent people do I'm sure but as any person with faith in anything will tell you, it's not something you know in your head, it's something you feel.
I discovered Wicca, first the twisted version the media portrays it as which became really popular in the early 2000's (thanks Buffy) and then the more traditional. Of course, none of the old ways today are exactly as they were, they have had to adapt to the times, so when I say traditional I mean as traditional as we can get. I realised that so much of our lives today were shaped by these beliefs, I saw how snippets survived through the ages handed down as Folklore and how to a degree those traditions and beliefs could still be relevant today.
Something still didn't feel right however, although I felt I was getting close. Asartru/Heathenry came next in my studies and everything seemed to fit into place in my mind and in my soul. These beliefs were not about control or forcing a population to behave the way you want them to, these were beliefs OF the people, which wound themselves around every aspect of their daily lives. I felt something to, a kind of full circle thing, knowing that these were the beliefs of my ancestors.
I do not practice fully, I have things I do on special days but really I feel somewhat alone. Athiests call you retarded for following any path that is not theirs, the general majority of other people simply do not understand. Most see it as ancient mythology and therefore dead, believed by those silly bearded men with horned hats (sigh). It's something that in the real world I keep very private, on the internet less so but still I don't go running round shouting it at every possible moment.
The one perception of modern day Paganism overall I would love to change is the way it is viewed as a very white power thing. Some of the aspects of course appeal to the white power/neo nazi crowd but they twist it to suit their own purpose.
What else is there to say really? If you wish to know anything else just ask.
