Pagan faith exercises encompass a wide range of spiritual practices and rituals that are rooted in ancient pagan traditions. These exercises can be performed by individuals or in groups and are aimed at deepening one's connection with nature, the divine, and the self. One common exercise in pagan faith is meditation. This involves finding a quiet and peaceful place in nature, such as a forest or a meadow, and sitting or lying down comfortably. The individual then focuses their attention on their breath, bringing awareness to each inhale and exhale. This practice helps to calm the mind, promote relaxation, and create a sense of inner peace.
May my arms be your arms (or legs or whatever muscle im working on)
While you could lift a weight thirty times straight, its easier and better to do ten reps, rest a little, ten more, rest some more, and finish the last ten. That s when I figured out my body type was simply not programmed to be the buff body builders of Zeus and Heracles, but more like the the runners and messengers and tricksters of the gods.
This practice helps to calm the mind, promote relaxation, and create a sense of inner peace. **Meditation is a powerful tool for pagans to connect with the natural world and establish a deeper bond with the divine.** Another exercise often practiced by pagans is ritual.
Pagan Spoonie
yourself: I don't deserve to live. I came out to my mom once and she told me I was wrong. I gave up arguing with her.
your body: is worthless (post-rape trauma).
your parents: I hate them.
God: I'm not sure there is one. I don't believe in Holy Communion or Reconciliation (Confession). I hate going to Mass.
religion: Catholic, but only by force.
school: I hated school. I tried killing myself at school once.
responsibility: I'm not sure.
guilt: Religious guilt, rape-survivor's guilt. Guilt over being a self-injurer-something I kept praying to be able to stop but couldn't.
sex: I thought it was supposed to be better than what I'd experienced
what makes you a good or bad person: committing suicide, stealing, hurting a child or animal, murder, cheating makes you a bad person
what is expected of me: to get scholarships to college
| Rosary and Blessed Virgin Mary |
yourself: No one would love me if they really knew me. I came out to my mom and she refused to believe I am not straight.
your body: I gained a lot of body self-esteem back when I lost a lot of weight.
your parents: were massively involved in every aspect of my life. I didn't realize the abuse that was going on then, I thought it was all normal.
God: the Father, Jesus the Son, Mary the Mother of God, and Joseph, the step-father of Jesus.
religion: hardcore Catholic. I depended on God to answer my prayers and to do all good things.
school: I knew I belonged in school but jumped around from college to college.
responsibility: I was responsible for being the best Catholic I could be and making good grades in college
guilt: if I didn't pray enough or trust it all in God.
sex: is supposed to be for marriage, but if I do everything but sex I'm not sinning.
what makes you a good or bad person: someone who pretends to be a good Catholic and isn't is a bad person because they are a hypocrite. Murder, cheating, hurting a child or animal, and stealing are also signs of a bad person.
what is expected of me: to finish college with good grades and to be a good Catholic.
Me Now Beliefs
yourself: I feel so special because DH tells me all the time that I am
your body: is breaking down from my many disabilities but I love it, because my body is trying her hardest to put up the biggest fight she can
your parents: I had the Order of Protection against them (it's a restraining order on steroids) but it expired. Now I just hope that they don't find me.
God: I know believe in the Goddess and the God, and I'm still learning more about them both
religion: Paganism, not even a year yet
school: getting my Masters degree in Professional Writing
responsibility: I get to take responsibility for my own actions, instead of waiting on the Christian God to fix everything.
guilt: I feel "bad" a lot from the years of abuse.
sex: In a monogamous relationship I finally feel safe and happy about sex
what makes you a good or bad person: cheating, stealing, hurting a child or animal, squatting in someone's house and refusing to leave are the signs of a bad person.
what is expected of me: to graduate with my Masters degree
| Blessed Be! |
After you have finished your sheets take a look at them. Are there any patterns? What beliefs haven't changed since childhood? Pick one or two of the most important of these and write them down separately. Where did these beliefs come from, and why do you believe they are true, and what influences brought you and now keep you with these beliefs? Do you think these beliefs are positive or negative for you? How do they free you and how do they limit you?
One thing that didn't change since childhood is that bad people hurt animals and children, they cheat, and they steal. Another thing I noticed is that at any time in my life I'm in school and striving for better grades. I don't think I'm a perfectionist, I think I'm just an academic nerd. I think these beliefs came from the environment I was raised in. I've also had a disdain about any kind of cheating my entire life; though I have cheated on homework a couple of times, I wasn't proud. I believe that these beliefs are positive for me. They do not feel limiting; I find them to be moral and ethical beliefs.
Now take a look at the beliefs that have changed dramatically from your childhood to now. Write them down separately. What happened to bring about these changes? What were the people, influences, and events that were relevant to these changes? How did you arrive at your current beliefs? Do you think they are positive or negative for you? How do they free you and how do they limit you?
The most dramatic belief change is going from Catholicism to Paganism. The other one is the relationship with my parents. I had been losing faith in Catholicism for quite some time. Then, when my mother had a priest pray over me because of my "evil" ways I went to another priest and asked him if I was still welcome in the Catholic Church. It came up that I'm pro-gay rights and that pissed the priest off. It turns out I'm not welcome in the Catholic Church. This felt very negative at first. After quite a journey I ended up being a Pagan. I find this to be a positive experience, I just wish I left Catholicism on better terms. I feel much freer happier, and less guilty, being a Pagan. The reason I had to get an Order of Protection against my parents was for "adult abuse and stalking." It was a painful experience, but I'm all the better for having them out of my life. It limits me on going to my parents town, but I don't want to go there anyway, so it doesn't matter.
| Three witches celebrating the full moon |
Teach your children the myths and legends of your tradition. Image by Siri Stafford/Stone/Getty Images
Rituals can take many forms, such as ceremonies, celebrations, or daily offerings. They are performed in sacred spaces, often outdoors, and often involve the use of symbols, tools, and incantations. **Rituals help pagans to honor and connect with the earth, the elements, and the deities they worship. They provide a sense of structure and meaning in a chaotic world and offer a way to express gratitude and seek guidance from the spiritual realm.** Divination is another common exercise in pagan faith. This practice involves seeking insight and guidance through various methods, such as tarot cards, runes, pendulums, or scrying. It is believed that these tools can tap into the energies of the universe and help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their present circumstances or future possibilities. **Divination allows pagans to access the wisdom of the divine and navigate life's challenges with greater clarity and purpose.** Nature-based activities are also important exercises in pagan faith. These can include spending time in nature, observing and learning from plants and animals, and participating in environmental conservation efforts. **By immersing themselves in the natural world, pagans can experience a sense of awe and wonder, and deepen their connection with the earth and all its creatures.** In summary, pagan faith exercises encompass a wide range of spiritual practices and rituals that focus on connecting with nature, the divine, and the self. These exercises, such as meditation, ritual, divination, and nature-based activities, help pagans to establish a deeper bond with the natural world and seek guidance and meaning in their lives..
Reviews for "Cultivating Gratitude with Pagan Faith Devotions"
1. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆ - I was really disappointed with "Pagan faith exercises." As someone who was interested in learning more about Paganism and its practices, I found this book to be extremely lacking in substance. The exercises suggested were generic and did not provide any real insight or guidance. It felt like the author just threw together a random collection of ideas without any clear structure or purpose. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for meaningful and in-depth exercises to deepen their Pagan faith.
2. John - ★★☆☆☆ - I had high hopes for "Pagan faith exercises" but ultimately found it to be a letdown. The exercises themselves were uninspiring and didn't offer anything unique or thought-provoking. Additionally, the writing style was dry and lacked the enthusiasm that I expected from a book on spiritual practices. I feel like there are much better resources out there for those interested in exploring Paganism and connecting with their faith on a deeper level.
3. Emily - ★★☆☆☆ - While "Pagan faith exercises" covers a range of topics, I found the exercises themselves to be rather cliché and unoriginal. It felt like the author simply recycled ideas that have been done countless times before. The lack of originality made it difficult to fully engage with the material and find value in the book. I would recommend seeking out other resources that offer more unique and insightful exercises for those interested in Pagan faith.