Thursday, April 26, 2012

This Questionnaire is One Reason I Don't Call Myself a Pagan

The Great Big Pagan Meme of Doom


Do you have a magical/Pagan name?
(can I throw up?)
GAH!  However, I have occasionally used Hypatia and Ergane as confirmation-type names (a second name after my real birth name).  As I do not believe that I can "magically" raise myself to the level of the Gods or even send out the amount of personal energy that would be required to make "magical" change, it just seemed rather silly to me.

How did you find Paganism?
I do not believe that "paganism" is a religion of long duration.
The Greek Gods came into my life at a very young age (under 10).  I didn't know there was a name for this.  Of course I was a book nerd then, too.  I did read some of the better books on traditional Wicca and witchcraft; however, I found that these did not contain the things I was looking for (these were just magic).  I even attempted open Wiccan circles.  Even these were not ultimately satisfying and seemed to me to be very shallow and fluffy.  So I do not believe there is any such thing as Paganism other than the modern syncretic magical cum religious practice created in the 20th century.  In addition, I do not believe that so-called witchcraft is a religion but is herbalism associated with prayers to whichever gods are local in a region.

How long have you been practicing?
over 50 years

Are you out of the broom closet?
not totally

Solitary or group practitioner?
both

What is your path?
Hellenic Polytheist

D E I T Y

What’s your brand of deism?
hard polytheist with some animist tendencies

Who is your patron God?
I'm not sure about all this "patronage" business; however, I do have an interesting relationship with Hermes, Boreias, and Zeus.  I am not dedicated to any of them; however, as I believe that a person can develop a relationship with a God without being dedicated.

Who is your patron Goddess?
Presently, Athena and Hera have a predominant place in my life right now.  I am not ritually (formally) dedicated to Them; however, I am working toward becoming a priestess for them both.  When I was very young it was Artemis who first made the Gods a reality to me.

What Gods do you worship?
the Hellenic Pantheon

Do you fear darkly aspected Gods/Goddesses, or rather respect them?
DUH!  I am NOT a Dualist so this question has NO MEANING for me.

Do you worship the Christian God?
No

Do you worship animals? Or plants?
(OY, VEY!)  I honour the nymphs who reside on the Earth.

N A T U R E

Do you regularly commune with nature?
DUH!  Of course! 

Taken a camping trip just to talk to nature?
I had enough "camping" when I was on USAF active duty.  I don't feel that I have to go rustic in order to have proper awe for the greatness surrounding me.

Describe the moment you felt closest to Mother Earth?
all the time

Do you have a familiar?
NO
Do you hug trees?
? I leave offerings for the nymphs by them
What are your favorite plants to work with?
I don't do magic

what are your favorite trees to work with?
ditto

W H E E L O F T H E Y E A R

this section has no meaning to me as I follow a number of festivals dedicated to different gods


What is your favorite holiday?
Theogamia; Khalkeia
What is your least favorite holiday?

DUH


Have you ever held a ritual on a holiday?
try to
Ever taken a day off work to celebrate a Pagan holiday?
no
Do you celebrate Yule on the 21st rather than the 25th?

I don't celebrate Yule


Have you ever felt the veil thin?
no
Ever danced the Maypole?

no


Know what the Maypole symbolizes?

DUH

How do you usually celebrate the Pagan holidays?

dimwit: MODERN, IRISH, NORSE, GERMAN, SLAVIC, ROMAN, GREEK, EGYPTIAN, ETC......

D I V I N A T I O N

Do you use Tarot?

NO


Do you use runes?
N
SOMETHING SIMILAR


Do you use a pendulum?

no


Do you use dowsing rods?
NO
Do you use astrology?

NO

ANY OTHERS?
DREAMS


S P E L L S


What was the first spell you did?

I don't remember-- I just know that I felt weird and that the gods disapproved.


What was the latest?

don't do magic

Ever done a love spell?

see above

A job spell?
ditto
A healing spell?
ditto
What was the most powerful spell you’ve ever performed?
none
What deities do you usually call on?

no


C R Y P T O Z O O L O G Y
now we are in the realm of the rabid fluff bunny: be afraid, be very afraid!!!! 
Do you believe in vampires?
DUH!
Werewolves?
ditto
Shapeshifters?
ditto

Dragons?
no     dinosauria--yes


Elves/Fairies/Nymphs/Sprites/Satyrs/Mermaids...?
I believe that these are local names for the various demi-divinities of the earth, sea and sky.  As such, they are not all sweetness and light as the FB would have it.

Ever “seen” any of the above?
not sure
Ever used any of the above in magic?

I would NEVER USE any BEING!!!!!!  GAH!!!!  How distasteful is that!

Do you have one of them as a personal guardian?

no

R A N D O M


Do you see a rabbit, a man or a woman in the moon?
HUH

Own a cat?

Owned by a passel of them 


When you meditate, what does your happy place look like?

no place

Do you work with chakras?
no
Do you believe in past lives?

maybe

If so, describe a few briefly:


Do you believe in soul mates?

No.


Do you have a spirit guide?
no
Is it always love and light?
you have got to be kidding


1 comment:

RevAllyson said...

LOL... Oh thank you for sharing that! My hubby and sis now think I am crazy for spluttering and laughing out loud. :) I spent my late teen and early adult years as a Wiccan, but not of the ... er... modern type. No fluffy stuff. Very ... hard polytheistic. Not at all what's in the books they hand out today. I'm a somewhat Hellenic polytheist myself, although I also worship Yeshua, which is a whole other story. He's "just another Middle Eastern god" to me, though. :)