A recent experience I had will leas into the main point of this post. So, I reconnected with a cousin that I grew up who is older then me and has kids. Anyway, during the conversation she started to talk about how she found religion again and is really active in a local Christian church and her kids are also very active in it (a born again Christian basically) and this whole experience as really helped her heal from her past and grow. During this part of the conversation my cousin asked me if I go to church and the conversation went like this;
"Do you go to church?" (Cousin)
"No" (Me)
"Do you believe in God?" (Cousin)
"Yes, but not in your idea of God" (Me)
"What do you mean?" (Cousin)
"I am Pagan" (Me)
"Can you explain what that is about?" (Cousin)
So, from there we had a great very educational back and forth conversation about my spirituality and her Christian beliefs. She did end the conversation by saying something along the lines of I hope you find Jesus. Anyway, I did not give this conversation a second thought because I felt like it was a really good conversation on both ends.
Well, about a week later I get a call from my mom saying she is worried about me and the conversation went on like that and devolved a little. I was able to get her to admit where all of this was coming from and the source was my cousin calling my mom in a panic about my dark and devious ways.
I learned a good lesson that day. Even though I am willing to have an educated discussion about my spirituality, I am going to be a lot more careful who I get down in the weeds with. Outside of the chosen few, I will just keep to my core system of operation. Just as a disclaimer, I am very aware of who to avoid this topic with all together.
My core operating system can be broken down into three parts:
- The principle of the Breath of Odin (Numina) affirms that all natural physical entities possess a portion of the divine spiritual essence which originates from deity and are therefore inherently blessed. This principle infers that humans possess no fundamental spiritual flaw or defect, and therefore denies any premise or need for restoration. As a result even the most faithful adherents are disinclined towards proselytism and embrace religious pluralism.
- The principle of Web of Wyrd (Tela) affirms that all natural physical entities possess Numina, thereby possessing an intrinsic, imminent and permeating interconnection called Web of Wyrd (Tela). This principle infers that a person’s conduct directly influences and affects all natural physical entities they share an interconnection with and therefore promotes a virtue based ethical view.
- The principle of Thew (Pietas) affirms that the interconnection of Web of Wyrd (Tela) endows one with the responsibility of dutiful conduct which focuses on cultivating positive characteristics which are valued for promoting individual and therefore collective greatness. This principle infers the purpose for honor and is intended to perpetuate harmonious coexistence through the cultivation of individual transpersonal self-improvement.
The three principals above are part of Vigilism. Witch Doctor Joe coined these terms and the Theology of Vigilism long before I could even put words myself to these beliefs. Witch Doctor Joe's prose, definitions, and explanation is a lot more academic and easier to understand then the words from my own mouth so I will let Witch Doctor Joe continue to explain on the practice of Vigilism;
"The term was coined in reference to the Vigilia, the primary liturgical invocation which illustrates elements of various theological viewpoints including animism, theism, monism, polytheism, and pantheism. Vigilism is a highly syncretic theology which embraces the belief that the natural world is a source of religious knowledge and revelation. Vigilism views the natural world as the supreme form of sacred text referred to as the Gospel of Nature, and promotes a practiced observation and interpretation of nature referred to as the Auspicium. "
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