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| Author |
Message |
bnm
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Too Much Peace and Contentment???
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Aug 7 01:02 UTC 1994 |
Maybe I'm just a flake, but I'm curious as to whether
any of you have had a similar experience. Have you
ever been in a church, temple, or even newage bookstore,
soothing music is playing, incense is wafting through
the air, and you suddenly get this feeling of overwhelming,
smothering, PEACE!? Yes, yes, I know that this is one
of the functions of religion, balm for the soul and all that.
Sometimes I welcome it, but at other times it seems a
foretaste of death, being beyond caring, the need to strive
entirely gone. Okay, have any of you encountered this?
Even if you haven't, you're welcome to psychoanalyze me,
if you dare...
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| 204 responses total. |
arwen
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response 1 of 204:
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Aug 7 22:10 UTC 1994 |
Brett...you are not a flake...just a victim of "Universal Love and
Light" ARRRGH!! I refer to it as the loo-loo la-la syndrome
usuallty found at New Age festivals and overpriced bookstores.
I think they are trying to lull you into a false sense of
security so that you will open up your heart as well as your
wallet or your purse. Irritating isn't it?
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gerund
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response 2 of 204:
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Aug 7 23:26 UTC 1994 |
I know this sounds like a paradox (it does to me anyhow) but I don't
ever really feel at peace or even happy unless I'm striving for something.
I don't ever feel at peace except when everything is at stake and the only
thing LEFT to do when everything else has been done is to make peace
with the situation. I only feel at peace when I see where I'm heading.
My security comes in being unsure at each turn.
Does that make even a tad bit of sense?
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bnm
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response 3 of 204:
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Aug 8 03:12 UTC 1994 |
Re: #1
Yup, I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. A lot
of the places you run into "Universal Love and Light" are out
for a portion of your wallet as well. And to think I've been put
off by religious institutions that say up front that they
want some cash from you. At least they were honest about it.
Re: #2
This makes a bit of sense to me. I don't court uncertainty, but
when I'm faced with it, I'm not happy unless I'm actively doing
something about it. Sitting around waiting for things to take
their course drives me nuts.
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kami
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response 4 of 204:
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Aug 8 03:59 UTC 1994 |
I guess I find something a bit dishonest or unrealistic or self deluded about
"sweetness and light" religion, which seems to go with that sort of lulling
atmosphere. I find a pragmatic approach, something along the lines of the
"serenity prayer", much more comforting. And I want solutions, not platitudes!
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phaedrus
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response 5 of 204:
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Aug 8 13:08 UTC 1994 |
I can't believe I'm reading this...THIS IS GREAT!!! Thank you Brett!!
This has been one of my major stumbling points with Paganism! I'm a Witch,
and I believe in Peace, AND love, but PLEASE get out of my face with that
sweetness and light!! Oi!
It is incredibly dishonest, and almost aquiesent to everything. "Oh, that's
ok, we *love* you..." I also love huggs, and kisses, but it's almost expected
that protocol at gatherings. I know many people that are uncomfortable with it,
and I really try to respect peoples space.
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kami
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response 6 of 204:
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Aug 9 03:26 UTC 1994 |
I'm a hug junky, but now and again I just want to be left alone, or someone
doesn't feel right to me. I'm too blunt to be tactful about it, I just say
"I'd rather not, sorry." But I really don't know how to interract with
mundanes very well. NOt much experience, thanks be given.
I try to be gentle with people's preferred paradigms; they haven't given me
permission to change them, after all. But sometimes it isn't easy to keep
my opinionated self to myself.
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dang
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response 7 of 204:
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Aug 9 05:27 UTC 1994 |
well, by all means, get them out in the open, at least when i'm around.
differences if opinion are what keeps the world running, and me learning.
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phaedrus
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response 8 of 204:
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Aug 9 12:34 UTC 1994 |
I agree dang, talking about the things we feel strong about is the
only way to progress. (IMHO:)
And keeping in mind that opinions change, how can you lose!??
Kami, your lucky you haven't had to deal with mundanes much, where
do you live??!! For me the weekly outing to see Pagan people keepos
me going!
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kami
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response 9 of 204:
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Aug 9 21:52 UTC 1994 |
It's not where I live, it's that I was not at all well sociallized before
I met the SCA, the pagan community, and fandom. I have stayed where I felt
welcome as much as possible since then.
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bnm
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response 10 of 204:
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Aug 10 02:06 UTC 1994 |
My problem is that I'm too middle-of-the-road. Mundane folks
consider me a bit eccentric while those toward the other end
of the spectrum consider me too mundane. Sigh...
My personal opinion is that I'm mad as a hatter, but I just
don't look the part.
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kami
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response 11 of 204:
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Aug 10 03:07 UTC 1994 |
The only way to stay sane in this crazy world is to be a bit mad.
Me, I was the token "conservative" at one place I went to school; I ate meat,
didn't jump on bandwagons, listened to the opposition, and even considered
voting for a really responsible Vermont Republican (tm) now and then...
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phaedrus
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response 12 of 204:
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Aug 10 12:19 UTC 1994 |
Acctually Brent, some of the most bizzare people have to look
normal just to hide thier weirdness.
As well, it sounds like both you *and* Kami are being true to
yourselves, and not joining the ever growing movement of
"conformity to Unconformity"! Ugh, the shock tatics really bum me
out! Unfortunatly, I was one of those black wearing, loud and annoying
kids. Oh well.
I find that ussually when Pagans find you too mundane, it means you have a
well rooted grip on reality, and don't see faeries in every room. Keep
your objectivity, be ready to accept, but that good sense will keep you
"sane"
Has anyone had the experience of being in a magikal situation, that just felt
unreal?? I think sometimes people think the Craft is going to mean some very
sensory experiences, and it can happen, but my experience has been more subtle.
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kami
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response 13 of 204:
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Aug 13 00:57 UTC 1994 |
Well, I DON'T see faeries in every room, just the yard, the park, the arb,
my front room, and other bits and places. Do you? Really, they aren't all
"faeries", either.
I find black so drab, anyway. I do the rainbows and full skirts stereotype,
but without the pachouli oil, and I did go through my excessive jewelry
phase, just not THAT excessive, nor for that long.
But it does seem strange to be considered relatively sane... :}
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dang
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response 14 of 204:
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Aug 13 11:45 UTC 1994 |
the litany of me and my friends: "what!? us sane?!"
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bnm
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response 15 of 204:
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Aug 13 13:22 UTC 1994 |
Re #14: I figured you'd come up for air on that one. I was
just waiting for you to catch up on your reading. And only
a minor amount of capitalization. Nice restraint.
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arwen
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response 16 of 204:
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Aug 15 23:54 UTC 1994 |
I love black simply because I look damn good in it!! ;-) But those
nouveau wiche types with the dead white face and the black nails and/or
lips drive me insane. I mix my patchouli with cinnamon and I too went
the excessive jewelry bit....and still do at rituals....:->
Loo-loo lala's are goofy and make the resrt of us crazies look
moderately approachable. Anyone got any sandlewood incense
for me? I have probably just gathered up alot of bad karma....
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dang
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response 17 of 204:
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Aug 16 00:43 UTC 1994 |
(re #15: i never use capitalization, except in some proper nouns. don't
ask me why, but it's only on grex. maybe i should start? who knows.)
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arwen
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response 18 of 204:
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Aug 16 12:46 UTC 1994 |
Dang or dang ;-> I get ragged on by *some people* for all my
ellipses. Let's go start an item about why we type the way we do
and state if we want correction. (I am giggling madly while I write
this so don't any of you take this seriously).
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brighn
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response 19 of 204:
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Aug 16 14:55 UTC 1994 |
i don't know arwen... (i don't want you to leave this item...) If Y'All
WAnT tO ... TYPE funny, ... that's FiNe with ((me))
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arwen
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response 20 of 204:
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Aug 16 15:03 UTC 1994 |
TyPe FunnY?/ Now noT Wht yu mEan.....\
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loupgaru
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response 21 of 204:
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Aug 17 17:49 UTC 1994 |
But is there anything really wrong with universal love?
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arwen
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response 22 of 204:
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Aug 17 18:12 UTC 1994 |
Universal love is too often used as this giant band-aid, IMNSHO.
We need to recognize the Universal Dark as well as the Light
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phaedrus
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response 23 of 204:
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Aug 18 12:51 UTC 1994 |
Ok...her comes my peace and love self...
Nothing is wrong with universal love, but it's not as easy as it sounds I
think. And it doesn't have to be complacant and weak as it is often
portrayed. I agree Arwen, it ussually is a big bandaid, on the finger, when
then arm has been severed! But I don't think that love has to be tempered by
hate, perhaps a little reality.
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loupgaru
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response 24 of 204:
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Aug 18 14:36 UTC 1994 |
Ok...this is making better sense to me. I want a world of
peace and happiness but I guess we have to make it peaceful
and happy. Yes?
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