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As Above, So Below
Apostate's rebellion
Don't know why you have cursed me
Seems like I already felt every agony
Years have been spent to pray...
You have to hear me God, and stop this decay.
I became an apostate, and I quit
Maybe it is something that you could predict
Now, according to you, I am not supposed to exist
Because I'm not afraid, and fear is the only weapon that you can equip.
I can see a barrier between me and possibility of being happy
Like always has been, like this is how it has to be
When others destined to smile and rejoy,
I am the creation that God wants to destroy.
Thousands of years; without new message, without new prophet...
We're just humans, what exactly do you expect ?
All the past mistakes and acts that we reject,
Never had on us special effect.
After all these deaths, after billions of tears,
After guns, shields and spears,
After genocides, wars, after years spent in fears
It seems you are having fun up there, not planning to interfere.
On the way to find something to rely
Humans have been told a lie
Adding almighty being impossible to define,
They killed each other, but everyone deny.
Doesn't matter what religions say
In the end, we all are the same
Back to stage from which we came:
An emptiness we can't give a name.
*catholic spy voice* yeah heyy hi hail sa-*voice cracks*-amen i mean aHem. fellow satanist. what yeah ofc im a satanist. i follow the precept - the tenets. *adjusts scapular out of view* and i read my *squints furtively at hand* paradise lost every night. anyway. how do i go to a metal show
Part V: In Which I Absorb More Pagan Literature
The next book that I picked up for my weird, newfound obsession with studying occultism, was Simply Wicca: A Beginners Guide to the Craft of the Wise by Lisa & Anton Stewart.
This book lost me at the point that the authors started to go into the belief of elemental spirits such as gnomes, elves, fairies, and undines, as well as elemental guardians who serve as deities that guard each elemental kingdom. It seems the authors believe in the actual existence of these things rather than thinking of them as metaphors or symbols. Of course, I respect all beliefs--but I can’t just force myself to believe in real-life fantastical creatures such as fairies and elves (no matter how amazing and cool it would be if they were real).
Nonetheless, I couldn’t ignore the fact that all of this lore under the Pagan umbrella of beliefs is so rich, imaginative and beautiful. I do envy those beliefs, and I did take some nuggets of wisdom from Simply Wicca despite my ruinous skepticism:
1. “The craft of the wise [Wicca] encompasses, honors, and celebrates the very nature of nature itself.” What’s not to like about that?
2. The common thread that ties all Wiccan traditions/beliefs together is the natural rhythms and cycles of the the earth, more specifically the movement of the sun and moon in relation to earth.
3. Learning the correspondences of each season and element, while not rooted in objective truth or science in any manner, provides the Pagan with a way to celebrate and revere nature the way it deserves--after all, without nature and the elements none of us would be here.
4. “A wiccan is more appropriately described as “one who influences fate and fortune by bending, shaping and weaving the very fabric of reality.” While on the surface this can sound supernatural--it’s really not, and by assuming this we are prejudging something based on popularized stereotypes. We all bend, shape and weave the fabric of reality through our actions regardless of our beliefs--but Wicca places special emphasis on the individual’s responsibility and control over their life; in other words, Wicca celebrates the self as a powerful agent of change who can affect the course of their fate. And this--deities aside--this I can easily get behind.
Ritual and reflection is useful for everyone. Non-believers can partake of that too.
Really good article for a baby witch like me that wants to practice my craft in a nontheistic way ⭐
Theistically Neutral Adaptation of House Blessings
As I am moving in 2 days (to a new, hopefully short term, place half a mile down the road as I continue to search for my forever home), I decided to adapt the House Blessings from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals to a theistically neutral form (also a trans/NB inclusive form) to help my new place feel more like home, as it’s far from ideal, and really is a roof over my head. I put some work into this, so I thought I’d post it here.
A Note: this has more... supernatural?... language than most prayers I include, and may be a bit too... theistic-ish? traditionally religious?... for many people’s tastes. There’s a bit of language asking for protection, and implying that something other than ourselves can do that. And there’s one prayer towards the Earth as Deity. (It was the only way I could make it work w/o scrapping everything, and I was tired and didn’t feel like scrapping the whole prayer and starting from scratch.) In the end, if I wanted something fully in keeping with my (mostly “secular”) humanistic beliefs, I probably should have scrapped this text completely and chosen another one (possibly a pagan one?).
Also, this is simply the text. I may incorporate other meaningful actions, such as candle lightings, incense burning/smudging, etc.
*****
At the Doorway May blessings be upon this house. Bless this house from roof to floor, from wall to wall, from end to end from its foundation and in its covering. In the name of all that is holy, [or Right] all disturbance cease, captive spirits freed, The spirit of goodness alone dwell within these walls.
We call upon all that is sacred to save, shield, and surround this house, this home, this day, this night, and every night.
In the Entrance or Foyer May all we welcomed here, friend and stranger, from near and far. May each be blessed and honored as they enter. There is a friend’s love somewhere within all of us. For the love of that place of goodness we offer friendship and welcome every guest.
We call upon all that is sacred to save, shield, and surround this house, this home, this day, this night, and every night.
In the Living Room There is a friend’s love somewhere within all of us. For the love of that place of goodness we offer friendship and welcome every guest. Kindle in our hearts a flame of love for our neighbor, for our enemies, our friends, our kindred all, from the lowliest thing that liveth to that which is highest of all.
We call upon all that is sacred to save, shield, and surround this house, this home, this day, this night, and every night.
At a Warm Place (or the Furnace) There is a fiery power in the gentle heart of the Spirit. Our hearts agreed as we kneel by the heart, and call on all that is holy to save, shield, and surround us and our kin, this house, this home, this day, this night, and every night.
We call upon all that is sacred to save, shield, and surround this house, this home, this day, this night, and every night.
In the Kitchen May we welcome the poor and honor them. May we welcome the sick and care for them, in the presence of wonderful beings, we ask to be blessed and embraced in love. Seeing a stranger approach, may we put food in the eating place, drink in the drinking place, music in the listening place, and look with joy for blessings of the highest who often comes into our homes in the blessing of strangers.
We call upon all that is sacred to save, shield, and surround this house, this home, this day, this night, and every night.
For a Bedroom [Note: this one is heavily modified] Peace be here in this place of rest this place of sanctuary this place of holy solitude the one place in the world that is truly ours that we can truly call our own. Blessings of the highest form be upon it.
We call upon all that is sacred to save, shield, and surround this house, this home, this day, this night, and every night.
For the Bedroom of a Single Person Peace be here in the name of all life the peace that transcends all others blessings of the highest form over you.
May all that is good be upon this place its power guarding it and bringing peace that fear may find no entry here. May we be blessed with chosen companions and friends. May loneliness be banished. May the Spirit bring lightness and laughter, and be the comforter of tears. Courage be at each going out; rest be present at each return; each day, each night each going out and each returning.
For the Room of a Young Child to be said by the parent(s) if possible: Peace be here in the name of all life the peace that transcends all others blessings of the highest form over you.
They say nothing is given birth without pain. I have a secret joy in thee, oh Gaia, for if thou art my Mother, thou art my Father too, and of thy tenderness, healing and patience there is no end at all. I pray for (name). (Name), may the joy and peace of heaven be with you. May you be blessed.
For the Room of an Older Son, Daughter, or Child, Present or Absent To be said by the parent(s) if possible: Peace be here in the name of all life the peace that transcends all others blessings of the highest form over you.
Son of my breast/daughter of my heart/child of my soul, the joy of Goodness be in thy face, joy to all who see thee, a circle of safety around thee, protectors shielding thee. Joy of night and day be thine; joy of sun and moon be thine; joy of all people be thine; each land and see thou goest, be every season happy for thee; be every season bright for thee; be every season glad for thee. Be thine the compassing of Life; be thine the compassing of Love; be thine the compassing of Grace; as thy constant friends and companions to aid thee, (Name), thou beloved son of my breast/daughter of my heart/child of my soul.
At the Door (or other Symbol of Faith) Righteousness, in our coming and in our leaving, the Door and the Keeper; for us and our dear ones, this day and every day, blessing for always. Amen
We call upon all that is sacred to save, shield, and surround this house, this home, this day, this night, and every night. Amen.
I hate to admit it, because I'm an atheist. But after reading about Buddhism, which is nontheistic not atheistic, I'm starting to really get into it...
