General question...help?

[Kitsune]

Personally, I think that magic is something everybody has, and most people have one or more areas that they are particularily good at...

For example, I'm always right on with tarot cards, unless I'm reading for myself (I'm vaguely superstitious about reading them for myself, so I don't... Yeah I know, 10 years, and I still balk at that. ), and I'm reasonably good at putting energy where I want it go, as well as being a summoner of sorts (meaning that I enjoy contacting spirits to request help whenever I can... They just seem to like me ). Crazy on the other hand is a healer extrodanaire, and following something similar to a shaman's path, even if she insists that it's completely different... My Grimwell is incredible at manipulating people (small stuff, like making drivers move to a different lane than the one he's in while driving) and let me tell you, nobody I've met is a better "combatist" than him... I mean, The guys taken care of 50 year old toxic spirits on his own!

Of course, it takes years before you tend to figure out what your specialties are.

As for how often it works... I've always considered magic to be something that allows me to stack the odds of getting something I want quickly in my favour. I have cheap rent (in Calgary, I'm paying over $350 less than most people for what I have), a guy who loves me (been together over 10 years now, and he was voted "most likely to die a bachelor' in high school), I have a great job with room for advancement, and I've healed myself and my fiance of a couple of major health problems, so that they don't bother us.

I'd say that magic works wonderfully and often, so long as you believe in it... And as a newbie, I remember that's the hardest part, especially since you need complete trust and confidence in yourself first.


But no fireballs yet... trust me, I'm still waiting for that skill to materialize.

[Crazy Healer Lady]

Kitsune, you and Grimwell are absolutely amazing people and amazing energy workers!

[MaryE101]

That makes a lot more sense now! Well, to start anyway!
Thanks!
Mary E

[MaryE101]

Okay, I've been doing some reading from the online library here and I have some new questions....of course!

So in what I was reading (several different articles under the intro section) and some of them talked only about the God and Goddess, but some of them also talked about the Greek/Roman pantheon, Egyptian mythology, etc. How does it all fit together? Just a little confusing!

Thanks!
Mary E

[Kystar]

Well, it depends on what moves you, what inspires you.

There are some people who follow a full pantheon from a historical religion (Egyptian, Greek/Roman, Norse, Celtic)...then there are some who look at the old gods and goddesses as names given to the same thing...like all goddesses of life are different names for the same entity. Others regard the old named gods as Guardians of an aspect of life...and regard the God and Goddess as nameless beings.

I pretty much fall into the last category.

In my view of the world...there is the Creator God and Goddess...nameless powers...they created everything...and are still creating. Prime is one of the only names I'll give them...and I tend to lump them together...Creator...Great Mother, Great Father...that's about as detailed as I'll get.

Then, there are the Guardians...mostly Elemental Guardians...like the Guardians of Air, Water, Fire, Earth. Some of them are named...Mother Earth...Lady Sea...Father Sky. Sometimes, I'll throw an old name out...but usually I don't. Elemental forces are greater than the old names, I think.

Aspect Guardians are when I start using old names. I tend to use the Greek names the most because I love the old myths.
For example, I was traveling on my own a while ago, which is difficult for me since I have to use public transportation and there's a timing issue involved. So, I asked that Hermes be my guide that day...as he was considered a "god" of travel...therefore, he's a Guardian of that aspect of life. When learning a new skill, I'll ask that Athena be my guide.

It all depends on what FEELS RIGHT to you. If calling on Greek gods gives you a focus and feels right, then that's your path. If it doesn't, find something else that feels right. How personal or abstract is your view of God? Do you think there are degrees of divine?

The wonderful but slightly scary thing about being Pagan is that there are no absolutes. There is no Holy Book that tells you "This is the way of the Pagan Path...and the only way." It's very personal. And it's all about learning...and keeping your mind and heart open...along with your eyes.

I hope this helps.

[katsu]

I'm partially on the same wavelength as Kystar here.
For me there is one creative force. For lack of a better word; Creator.

Now here my little grey cells start to go haywire. This isn't something my mind can grasp. So it dilutes into 'human' concepts. Creative force -> God+Goddess. Out of these two, certain aspects become more visual/familiar if you will. So I find that visualizing these aspect as persons (Gods) makes it easier to familiarize with them.

Now my preferred Pantheon is the Celtic one, but I've been know to look at the Norse one too. These Pantheons are things that make me feel like I belong there.But that is just one example...... That's why just about all of us have told you to read and make up your own mind.
(and I'll add my voice to that too )

If you feel drawn to a certain thing, explore it. Don't take things for truth unless you've explored them to your satisfaction (even our advise).

Blessings,
katsu

[MaryE101]

Very cool, very liberating, and very confusing! Ah, well, that's life...and what's like without a little mystery!?! Thanks for the explanations though, it's slowly starting to make more sense!

Oh yeah, there's a difference between Celtic and Norse mythology? Hamilton kinda forgot to mention that in her book!

Thanks for all the help!
Mary E

[Dark Waters]

Celtic = Ireland and Scotland

Druids, Stone Circles, Fae Folk, Lots of names that require a whole lotta phlegm to pronounce.


Norse = Norway, Sweden, etc.

Vikings, Dwarves and Elves, Asgard, Odhinn and Thorr.

[Kystar]

I'm not an expert on Celtic Vs Norse, but from what I know, they are two separate pantheons...in this instance.

Norse gods are like Odin, Loki, Thor, Freya...um...I don't remember the rest.

Celtic are Briget, Morrigan, Cernonnos, Various Fae...some heroes.

A really good reference website for Gods, heroes and myths is http://www.pantheon.org...Known as the Encyclopedia Mythica.

Encyclopedia Mythica has things broken down by region, so you can find the information quicker. You want the "Europe" section. It covers Basque, Celtic, Etruscan, Greek, Latvian, Norse and Roman. They say that the Celtic are the Indo-Europeans and the Norse are Scandinavian...so that's a difference right there.

Hope this helps point you in the direction of answers.

[Ragnar]

They say that the Celtic are the Indo-Europeans and the Norse are Scandinavian...so that's a difference right there.

Norse is a misnomer. GERMANIC is the phrase. Which covers all of what today is Switzerland West to France, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden. East as far as the Weichsel, and PERHAPS the Memel. And South East, Austria, to the old border with Hungary. With individual groups having "Islands" further East and South.

50 C.E what was left was;

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bild:Germa ... n._Chr.png

PLUS Scandinavia, North until mid way up Sweden Norway.

Both Germanic and Kelts are part of the "Indo-European" tribes/race.

[Kystar]

LOL...I DID say I wasn't an expert on that, Ragnar.

Thanks for the clarification...as I was only quoting the Encyclopedia Mythica's classification.

[MaryE101]

okay, that make sense. For some reason I was lumping the Celtic Gods in with the Norse...er....Germainic (sorry can't spell!) Thanks!

Mary E

[daibanjo]

Dark Waters mentioned the Celtic Pantheon as Irish/Scottish I try never to be critical or judgemental, I'm sure DW meant to include the Welsh, Cornish, Breton and Manx.
I'm Welsh, nothing but Welsh as far back as I know so I'm as Celtic as it gets. So not surprisingly I honor the Celtic/Welsh Pantheon and, as a native speaker of the Welsh Language I require very little phlegm in pronouncing their names.
In the Celtic tradition we especially celebrate the Gods eight times a year, following the harvest cycle. These festivals were so ingrained into the people that the christians were forced to transform them into christian holidays. The next one coming up is in February. it's called Imbolc or, Lady Day in christianity. Dedicated to the Goddess, Brigid.

[Dark Waters]

Unfortunately, although I have strong Irish ties from me mother's side, I've not been too much into the celtic history as I probably should have.

So yes, most of the population of the Isles can be said to be Celtic, ere the other tribes came in and started heaving their weight around.

[Crazy Healer Lady]

as a native speaker of the Welsh Language I require very little phlegm in pronouncing their names.

As someone who is trying to learn Gaelic (STILL), I had to bring this to the front and laugh my butt off.