We don’t pray here – we figure God, the gods, goddesses, or whatever powers that be either know already, don’t give a fuck, or are busy with more important matters than our petty stuff. We also kind of assume that they expect us to do stuff that we can do for ourselves and that we will do them ourselves and not be lazy. We also believe in being good friends, so we don’t presume on our friendship with the powers that be by asking them all the time for stuff while giving them nothing in return.
We also don’t take an offering here. We figure the powers that be probably don’t need it. Let’s be honest, offerings are not given to the divine powers, they are given to an organization to support it. Just being honest. God, the gods or whatever never sees a dime, farthing or peso of that money; it all goes to the church, mosque or shrine.
Theme Song: ‘Völuspá’ – Einar (Live @ Castlefest Winter Edition)
Nice to hear the song written by an artist sung by that same artist. Guy has a great voice.
Scope of Consciousness – That consciousness is greater than the five senses, that there is a spiritual part of consciousness that exists.
When I say I have pagan tendencies to people this is what I mean. As a deist, I am very much rational about the whole faith and religion question. Knowing that nearly all of what is termed religion is made up by human beings so pick what you want (Principles #1 and 4). My humanist side though states that we alone are responsible as human beings (Principle # 2). My pagan side says that spirituality exists and therefore I need to respect the spiritual quality of all things (Principles #3 and #5).
I have personally enjoyed this series and meditating on its principles. It has been enlightening, to say the least. Next up will be me going through a book on Asatru I have been reading and digesting.
Parting Thought:
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
We don’t pray here – we figure God, the gods, goddesses, or whatever powers that be either know already, don’t give a fuck, or are busy with more important matters than our petty stuff. We also kind of assume that they expect us to do stuff that we can do for ourselves and that we will do them ourselves and not be lazy. We also believe in being good friends, so we don’t presume on our friendship with the powers that be by asking them all the time for stuff while giving them nothing in return.
We also don’t take an offering here. We figure the powers that be probably don’t need it. Let’s be honest, offerings are not given to the divine powers, they are given to an organization to support it. Just being honest. God, the gods or whatever never sees a dime, farthing or peso of that money; it all goes to the church, mosque or shrine.
Just a little reminder of last weeks lesson before we hit this one.
Text:
Most pagan religions believe that everything in the universe is sacred, but the definition and level of sacredness applied to an object will generally vary from one pagan to another. For some pagans, all parts of our universe are considered divine and as such, sacred and worthy of our deepest respect.
Everything is sacred in paganism. This means there is no distinction of things as evil or good which is the first significant implication of this principle. No object or thing is better than another. Objects and places are all sacred. So they cannot be evil or good. Moral ‘evil’ or ‘good’ is found in our actions, results, and intents, not things. Yet all things have a spiritual quality to them. This is mostly to remind us that we are connected in some way to everyone and everything around us.
Like all things pagan, this principle is individually applied and its application is as individual as the pagans themselves. We each see some things as more sacred than others. That’s why in some forms of paganism there are still religious aspects with sacred places, practices, and rituals. Some consider the universe itself as divine while others see it more as spiritual but not necessarily divine. Like I said at this point there is a lot of variances but in the end, there is nothing wrong with any of these views. Paganism is very genuinely tolerant, so to each their own.
For me, the religious aspects of paganism are not my thing. I live with a more deistic mindset on those things, although I understand the benefits of community and honoring things that are virtuous and respecting the past, present, and future actions of my fellow human beings. I suppose I consider human beings and their liberty as the most sacred thing as a humanist, so it is reflected in my paganism. For me, my paganism is ultimately found in Asatru and following the Nine Noble Virtues.
As far as the rest of creation as being sacred that includes the things that man creates. not just the natural world. Human beings and what they do are also natural and I feel the whole natural/ artificial thing is a bunch of noise. Where did the so-called ‘artificial’ come from if not nature? A computer is just as sacred to me as a tree. Beavers create dams, bees make hives, humans create computers. The difference is only in the mind of people who want to use this distinction to control others. I am far more a conservationist than an environmentalist.
The beauty here though is once again freedom of choice about it. It is simply a principle that flows out of the previous principles that your beliefs are your own and you alone are responsible for them. This includes how you look at the world around you.
Parting Thought:
Tolerance (the real stuff), admiration, compassion, kindness – these are real love and they don’t involve – obedience, conformity, fear or submission. Those are not aspects of love – rather they are aspects of slavery.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Well, the time has come in the rotation of Odin’s Eye to deal very directly with my own personal spirituality. There is no wrong or right way to practice spirituality as a pagan. One simply looks at life and the universe and seeks to both understand its spiritual nature and develop spiritual strength within through doing so. There are common themes in the spiritual life of pagans to be sure, but the ways of practicing paganism are as individual as the people that do so.
So when a pagan talks spirituality, they use their own metaphors. For me, the concepts of Wolves, Ravens and other Viking metaphorical language are my way of describing abstract concepts. The wolf is symbolic of that part of me that is filled with passion whether that passion is based on need or want. It contrasted with the idea fo the Raven which is the rational and wise part of me. The two work together to pick and follow the best path for me.
‘The wolf within’ is the concept of that part of me which is wolf itself. As a Christian is used to deny and try to subjugate to slavery this wolf. Now I let him roam free. That wolf is the sum of all I want and need. The hunger and fury of being a man in this world. If there is anything that I recognize now, it is my wolf within is not inherently sinful or evil and I let him live free and roam free. Funny thing is, he is not all bad. Like anything else in human nature, I have found him to be the motivating force of my life and the one that is truly strong when I need strength.
This is an important spiritual concept for me right now. That if there is a wild and untamed side to me, that is a good thing. It is just a question of how to best utilize it.
Time to Look Through the Eye:
Faith:
I have always felt that if there is something to have faith in, it is my own passions. Passion drives us, but it can be a double-edged sword. That said, I have found that my intuition is something more right than wrong. That intuition didn’t come from my reason or wisdom; although they certainly chimed in, it came from the gut level uneasiness that the prowler of the wolf within creates. It is this sense of danger that comes from the wolf, not the clear seeing raven of reason. When it comes to the danger these days, particularly with regard to danger in relationships, I find the wolf is far more my friend and something I place my faith in to be both wary and watchful.
Religion:
Religion always has a moral code based on whatever the founder of the religion says is right or wrong. Sexual desire becomes lust. Industry becomes greed. There is no end to this and it is more often this notion that so-called ‘baser’ instincts are labeled as sinful or evil than other things. Fulfilling needs and wants becoming bad or evil. This notion of higher desires and lower ones is inherently religious. I don’t find any desire sinful anymore, just a question of whether is it is wise to engage it. I can understand all virtues engage all desires at some point and thus engage them all in their proper time and place. In pursuing virtue rather than religion, I can find the profitable in any need or want, even the base power of rage or hunger. I don’t have two natures to feed one and starve the other. I have a single nature that at times resembles a wolf and at other times a raven and sometimes both at the same time.
Theology:
I view mankind theologically as what they are. Every part of us has a purpose in that, and what others consider sinful, I see as human. That is not to say there is no morals or ethics, but I can draw as much spirituality from passionate sex as I can from reading a book on logic. All things that a human being wants or needs can be the door to spiritual strength and enlightenment. All desires, needs, thoughts, and experiences are righteous to me. Ethics and morals for me is something that involves it all, not simply what supposed revealed religions says those morals and ethics should be. All parts of what it means to be human have the potential to lead to spirituality. We are not divided in nature as human beings; it is all the same human nature and no part of it is inherently good or evil.
Spirituality:
So here is the central path for me right now. Learning how each feeling, desire, need, thought and experience can lead me to greater growth of my spirituality. To do this doesn’t just mean I embrace the raven but also the wolf that is inside myself. To feel is just as spiritual as to think, and I have found this transition enlightening. I grow spiritually when I hold my grandson; when I lift weights; when I make love to my wife; when I hang with friends; when I work. When I am doing anything really there is a potential to see something with my spiritual eyes and grow and gain the strength of spirit I need for each day. That includes when I let the wolf out to hunt and play.
Conclusion:
The image remains for me of myself as a Grey Pilgrim. Part of what it means for me to be grey is not to label any part of my nature as dark or light. It is just at times I am a pilgrim that is following his wolf’s heart and not just his raven mind. There is no difference between the two of them when it comes to who will give me the greater potential for spiritual understanding and growth. The wolves and ravens don’t just walk with me, they are inside me and I embrace them. They are what help me find my path and passionately pursue it.
Continuing to Walk that Path,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
We don’t pray here – we figure God, the gods, and goddesses, or whatever powers that be either know already, don’t give a fuck, or are busy with more important matters than our petty stuff. We also kind of assume that they expect us to do stuff that we can do for ourselves and that we will do them ourselves and not be lazy. We also believe in being good friends, so we don’t presume on our friendship with the powers that be by asking them all the time for stuff while giving them nothing in return.
We also don’t take an offering here. We figure the powers that be probably don’t need it. Let’s be honest, offerings are not giving to the divine powers, they are given to an organization to support it. Just being honest. God, the gods or whatever never sees a dime, farthing or peso of that money; it all goes to the church, mosque or shrine.
Opening Song: “Hammer to Fall” – Queen
I consider this one of the lesser known but better songs of Queen. It also deals with today’s subject – time.
Poem: ‘Priceless Words’ by LK Pilgrim
LK Pilgrim has some good stuff for poems and seeing I am not inspired for my own poetry right now, enjoy.
Meditation:
Definitely yours for wasting time on them. Time to find someone better.
Song of Preparation: “Wasted Years” – Iron Maiden
I think we could all sing this song about someone or something. The point is to learn and head a different direction.
Text:
“There is Never Time to Do It Right, but There is Always Time to Do It Over.” – The Book of Rabyd 3:2
Sermon:
I don’t know actually where this expression originated in our family but I do know it was a favorite with my Father. He was a big one for doing things right the first time. He hated coming back to do something again if it could have been avoided by simply doing things right the first time. He also felt by doing it right the first time and taking a little extra time to do it that way saved time in the long run. He was most definitely right.
It is when we get sloppy that we find ourselves doing things again and wasting time. It is interesting that the one thing humans take so seriously is time, but that we waste so much of it doing a sloppy job is also true. Sure the sand of time is ticking, but does doing things quickly really save time? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting things to get better with each repeat or doing things right the first time and have time to reach other goals? I prefer the later and have to conclude that my dad, wherever he got the saying, was right.
Time is the most important commodity anyone has. You don’t even really know how much you have so it is important to get things right the first time so you don’t waste time doing things over and over again. That goes for relationships too.
At this point, we will leave the Book of Rabyd for a bit. I will come back to it whenever I add another verse or modify an existing verse. Next up is a series on universal religious concepts. I also may from time to time go truly pagan on the Pagan Pulpit.
Closing Song: “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” – Freddie Fender
I honor of my father who has provided two verses of The Book of Rabyd, I leave you with a country song and this was one of his favorites. It also has a message I need to remember for myself.
Parting Thought:
Ain’t that the truth.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
We don’t pray here – we figure God, the gods, and goddesses, or whatever powers that be either know already, don’t give a fuck, or are busy with more important matters than our petty stuff. We also kind of assume that they expect us to do stuff that we can do for ourselves and that we will do them ourselves and not be lazy. We also believe in being good friends, so we don’t presume on our friendship with the powers that be by asking them all the time for stuff while giving them nothing in return.
We also don’t take an offering here. We figure the powers that be probably don’t need it. Let’s be honest, offerings are not giving to the divine powers, they are given to an organization to support it. Just being honest. God, the gods or whatever never sees a dime, farthing or peso of that money; it all goes to the church, mosque or shrine.
Opening Song: ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ – The Neptunes Remix
I suppose it wouldn’t be a playlist for the pagan pulpit without some reference to something controversial – like having sympathy for the devil.
Poem:
This is hard for me. The truth of this little poem; as much as it hurts, is still the truth.
Meditation:
Song of Preparation: “Safety Dance” – Men Without Hats
Hats and a maypole for Beltane. Easy call here.
Text:
“You Need to Use Your Head for Something Besides a Hat Rack” – The Book of Rabyd 3:1
Sermon:
Chapter three of the Book of Rabyd represents some of the sayings and ‘-isms’ that have dominated the Raby Family for years. They are not necessarily principles or wisdom but just stuff that is around our family that we just say as part of our particular family collective. This one is from my father and I have no idea how many times he said it to me. “You Need to Use Your Head for Something Besides a Hat Rack” was on his lips every single time I did something stupid. It was a polite way of him telling me I should use my head to think rather than just have it occupy space and hold up my hat.
My father was not an educated man. He was dyslexic or at least we think so. He was a blue-collar man who had a gift for manufacturing. He learned machinery and grinding early in his factory work days and knew math very well. He just could never read very well. These days, he might have been diagnosed early and he might have learned to read much better. He was, however, a math genius in his own way and he believed highly in learning and common sense.
I don’t actually use this expression of his much myself. I, however, hear it all the time in my head. I always hear it when I am about to do something stupid or have not thought things through before I am about to act on them. Most people don’t wear hats these days so I wonder if somebody would get it, but I certainly do.
This expression being 3:1 in the Book of Rabyd is more about my love for my Father than anything else. I want the expression preserved for my kids and grandkids and all the rest. I think it is a very polite and creative way to tell someone to start thinking and using your head. I know he was proud of me when I graduated college but he did not live to see me get my master’s but I could not have made either without this expression rolling around in my head. Thanks, Dad, I still miss you.
Closing Song: “Walpurgisnacht” – FAUN
English lyrics version:
In honor of this past week being Beltane, I include this song. The song is definitely a Celtic flavor I love. Included the English translation version second if you are interested in the words. Truly pagan for the pagan pulpit on this one.
Parting Thought:
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
In my Christian blogging day I made quite a name for myself among nudists, naturists, and people of like nature when it came to the subject of nudity and sex. My view back then was nudity being sinful in and of itself was false. I have a few online friends who are my friends precisely because of this view and they maintain a Christian nudist lifestyle. My most famous work from that blog is probably The Bible and Nakedness which you can still view by clicking on the link above.
In addition, I had some controversial views on marriage and sexuality. Most notably that the bible never condemns polygamy of either form. That adultery and homosexuality are the same levels of ‘sin’. I proposed that line marriage as proposed by Robert Heinlein is still well within the realms of Christianity, etc. Mostly I simply separated that which is cultural from that which was the bible and discovered that most of what Christians believe about nudity and sexuality was based more on culture than the Bible.
So what has changed now that I follow a more deistic, humanistic and paganistic path? Honestly, once you take out sin and the appeal to authority; and as I reflect back to the holiday discussion last week, I have the following observations:
Nudity being wrong in some way is pure Grade A opinion and based on cultural mores, not rational thought. In truth, there is no basis for morality laws regarding nudity or modesty as they are simply one ethical viewpoint imposing itself on everyone else. There is simply no way to prove a man or woman walking down the street naked is harmful to anyone using reason.
Sexuality has many biological factors and I don’t really support the notion of gender neutrality or fluidity because of genetic and biological reality. There are two genetic and biological genders and it is rare for anyone to be born with none or both. Most of us are either female or male biologically and those differences are biologically and psychologically observable right from birth. That’s science, not culture talking. The video below is well researched and linked and points out these are real differences, not culture.
I would say the real problem is not gender identification but rather a lack of personal gender acceptance. It is part of accepting yourself to accept your biological gender. Sorry, most of us either have a penis or a vagina and we need to accept that part of us as part of who we are, not fight it.
That said, I think a lot of role expectations are culturally based, and given my views of liberty, I think gender roles beyond what is biologically natural are often just societal and religious coercion. How a woman wants to view her role in society is her own business and the same for a man. If a woman wants to be female and do what her culture traditionally thinks is the role of a man, she is perfectly free to do so and she should be allowed to do it.
Of course, the real question looking at it from a pagan point of view is how nudity and sexuality express themselves on the spiritual front. This reflects more of my pagan opinion than my deism or humanism but they both chime in on this discussion.
Time to Look Through the Eye:
Faith:
I have faith that there is male and female and we can observe that both of these are real, different and beautiful in their naked expressions. For me, the faith question here is that I think the human body has inspired my spirituality far more than made me feel guilty or ‘sinful’. What made me feel sinful about the whole thing was the fact that people told me I should be and if I didn’t there was something wrong with me. In cultures where nudity is common and prevalent, you never hear of this guilt about nakedness to being male or female. Faith tells me that being male, female or naked is nothing to be ashamed of at all. The real problem is not our maleness, femaleness or nakedness, it’s people who want to use those things to promote an agenda.
Religion:
In the area of defining gender roles and demonizing nudity, religion takes center stage. The Abrahamic religions being the most notorious for the definition of traditional male and female roles according to an ethic that is thousands of years old based on a patriarchal, male superiority mindset. The question I have always wrestled with is why women put up with this but I think ultimately it is the appeal to authority and not wanting to displease ‘god’ that drives it, but then again I have watched as those roles get redefined all the time to reflect reality. If the various scriptures that are the claims for God’s authority are discredited as simply concoctions of men, then women should be free to follow their own personal sovereignty.
Religion and nudity go way back and some religions are pagan enough in scope that they don’t have a problem with it. Those that do often use their holy books to justify it. The one problem I developed was that on the one hand, I knew what the religious folks said about nudity being wrong, but my own biblical studies concluded the opposite. When that happens you start to realize that most of the concerns about the human naked form are based on personal preference and culture, not honest biblical studies. Religion simply seeks to control people by taking those personal preferences and forcing them on others.
Theology:
My theology these days is based in large part on what is the reality of the world that is. I don’t engage in fanciful notions about the divine. I believe in the divine more than I don’t because of notions like love and beauty being something more than biology and physics. That is based on observation from my point of view so take them for that. When it comes to sexuality I find there is a great design in having two sexes and their need to cooperate as fellow human beings. Treating each other as justly as possible while respecting differences starts in accepting ourselves as men and women and accepting our differences because of sex. Glorying in those differences not condemning each other because of them.
Because I don’t believe in sin anymore and dismiss it as a human made up concept, I simply do not see anything inherently wrong with the nude human form. I kind of laugh at our responses to this as we seem to have a greater amount of problems with sex and nudity than violence where people are actually raped and murdered. It’s a sad thing really that something as beautiful and wonderful as sex and the human body has been demonized so that both are considered evil and sinful based on opinions designed to control others. I don’t have that anymore and my attitude toward both is pretty much based on George R R Martin’s below. To me, sex and the beauty of nude human form have given me as much joy as a good painting, book or any other art form and it is a crying shame that most religion and theology rob us of that.
Spirituality:
I draw a lot of spirituality these days from this freedom. I posted this picture on the pagan pulpit this last Sun’s Day:
For me, it reflects a lot of my changed attitude toward these subjects. I think the look on the man’s face says it all. The topless woman hasn’t caused him to be a lustful pervert, but she has brightened his day a little by being topless. She isn’t a slut for doing so either, Just a woman taking a walk who is comfortable in her skin. Males and females being themselves and doing what they do without coercing each other to do something they don’t want to do. No sexual pressure, but there is a sexual expression that is being enjoyed by the man as he sees it and the woman as she does it.
Personally, I find that my liberation from ‘sin’ has been wonderful in both these areas. I can appreciate good art and writings were the questions fo sexuality and nudity are seriously discussed and beautifully presented. No appeal to authority jumps in to ruin it. I now very freely accept that I am a man and I’m heterosexual and enjoy both of those parts of who I am. So I enjoy the female form and there is nothing wrong with it. While there are certain biological factors in being a man, I don’t accept any societal roles about being a man that is forced on me. I embrace those I wish to and nothing more.
I feel comfortable in my skin as much as in any clothes I wear. The questions of nudity for me are more about how to avoid being arrested for being freer than others accept, not calling down judgment on others for not sharing mine. My paganism treats my nudity and that of others as a natural thing not abnormal. Naked is our natural form and represents who we are in truth. Everything else is an add on.
I draw a lot of spiritual insight and strength from accepting these things and living in these freedoms.
Conclusion:
I doubt society will change with a wave of our hands. Religion will continue to ruin and pervert sexuality through the forcing of gender roles. It will continue to demonize the beautiful and seek to cover it over to hide it. Control is the objective of religion through defining roles and social mores. All of it is bullshit, but it is bullshit we have to live with because of laws that threaten, coerce and engage in fraud to control others.
The best we pagans can do most of the time is to live our lifestyle expressing the truths of real sexuality and nudism when we can. On the nudism side, some (like myself) find their answer in practicing nudism secretly, while others carve out places in the world to practice it freely without society’s prying eyes. In any case, being the man or woman you want to be is possible without secrecy in the western world at least. Just be prepared for the backlash of not fitting in with your specific expression of your gender either male or female.
Continuing to Walk the Path,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Defining justice is not easy especially when you have realized a couple things. 1) That there is no such thing as fair. 2) There may not be an afterlife or a supreme being to balance the scales after this life is over.
The first means that justice is not based on fairness so much as equitable treatment of each person as much as possible. No matter what might seem fair, it isn’t always going to happen. Something you can either accept which will give you a lot more peace, or fight which will lead to personal strife. Hopefully, the price of that strife is worth it, so the peace that follows more than makes up for it.
The second notion is a little harder to accept and one of the reasons I think belief in the afterlife with a supreme being that balances all the scales of justice is a common concept among many religions. It might just be wishful thinking to a childish hope. It might well be that you may be the victim of a crime or an injustice and there will never be any resolution to it in this life or the next. What do you do about that?
For me, I have decided that it is more important to act justly than receive recompense as my personal definition of justice. I may never see justice done to certain people that I think deserve it, but I can treat people with just dealings that fit a certain definition of justice. I can behave justly, so perhaps this definition works best:
Justice: Just behavior or treatment of others, a concern for justice, peace, and genuine respect for people.
To the Wolves and Ravens:
Needs (Geri):
I need this sense of justice in my life as I deal with others. I don’t always like the people that I deal with, but there is still a need to be respectful of others’ humanity regardless of personal feelings. Being respectful has its own rewards. People also know when that respect is genuine or not. That means there is a need for this definition to be more than lip service but a genuine lifestyle.
Wants (Freki):
If you want to be treated justly, you need to treat others with justice. Even though you may not receive it at times, you will never receive justice if you are a person who never gives it. If you play favorites, don’t be surprised if people do the same back. If you do treat people equally, then you have a better chance of receiving the same in return. Personally, this is why my definition of continues to be about respect for everyone’s humanity.
Reason (Huginn):
Reason address the subject of mercy verses rightness. I have pretty much abandoned the notion that forgiveness should just be given. I find a whole lot of injustice goes on and it basically white-washed in the name of forgiveness. A lot of injustice takes place and is glossed over in the name of ‘God will fix it later’ or ‘it’s better for you to forgive’. Reason tells me that those two statements might not be true. Sometimes when you receive justice in this world for wrongs, that’s when you find peace. It is also more responsible to act like we are the only instruments of justice and not believe blindly that others will do it for you later, even a supreme being.
Wisdom (Muninn):
The wisdom issue is when to forgive and when to demand justice. I forgive a lot as most things are just not worth crying or expending the emotional energy to achieve in regards to justice. Life isn’t fair, so many things are just a reflection of that and you can spend your life bitter if you don’t let a lot of them go. There are a few things and they center around I know that I won’t be at peace until I see the scales balance. It is identifying these issues and how to approach them knowing that I might never receive justice. Patience again is key but also knowing the fine line between vengeance and justice.
Conclusion:
I have about three things in my life right now that I struggle with concerning justice, the rest is just noise and things I forgive most of the time. These things haunt my dreams and thoughts almost every day.
1) I struggle to still respect the humanity of certain people, it is hard being equitable at times when you see douchebags get away with shit in how they treat others.
2) I still struggle with how people perceive me as more responsible for my affair than the young woman with whom I was involved. The only thing I hold against her is that she really hasn’t or I haven’t heard of her doing much to correct this notion. I would give it as much thought as the rest of the issues in our relationship – chalk it up to love lost and ‘that’s the way some relationships go’ except for this one thing. Hurts, but I can live with most of it. I wish her well for the most part. The favoritism toward her, which is unmerited in my opinion, and she doesn’t seem to have ever done anything to correct herself that bothers me.
3) The man who handled things ‘for me’ in front of the church claiming to be my friend. Yeah, my hope would be to see poetic justice done where his lifestyle of lies is revealed for what it is. He is as phony as a three dollar bill, but some people think he is a good man. I know better now. He dumps anyone who is no longer of use to him, as evidenced by the people he has broken faith with who are in a long line of broken relationships behind him. When they no longer serve his purpose or are an advantage to him, he dumps them often deceiving them in the process. It is a pretty clear pattern going back quite a way. If I saw poetic justice done to him, I would clap. If I had the chance to be a part of it – yep, no hesitation to pull that trigger. I just patiently wait to see if it will ever happen or I will be given the opportunity, as I know it would give me a great deal of peace to see it or help it along.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
We don’t pray here – we figure God, the gods, and goddesses, or whatever powers that be either know already, don’t give a fuck, or are busy with more important matters than our petty stuff. We also kind of assume that they expect us to do stuff that we can do for ourselves and that we will do them ourselves and not be lazy. We also believe in being good friends, so we don’t presume on our friendship with the powers that be by asking them all the time for stuff while giving them nothing in return.
We also don’t take an offering here. We figure the powers that be probably don’t need it. Let’s be honest, offerings are not giving to the divine powers, they are given to an organization to support it. Just being honest. God, the gods or whatever never sees a dime, farthing or peso of that money; it all goes to the church, mosque or shrine.
Opening Song: “Wash It All Away” – Five Finger Death Punch
This song is on my playlist but for multiple reasons. After my series with the Book of Rabyd, I will be doing a series on spiritual concepts that are universal and one of them is going to be ‘baptism’. This song inspired that idea although it goes back to an idea that someone else suggested to me before I left the ministry. Five Finger Death Punch is a new band for me in many ways, but I like the energy of this song. The bridge is also very expressive of my emotional state at times:
“I won’t change for you
and I can’t take the pain
There is nothing you can do
and nothing you can say”
Poem: “I Speak to a Ghost” by The Ruined Man
Don’t have a poem of my own this week so The Ruined Man will speak for me this time.
Meditation:
Song of Preparation: ‘Shut Up and Dance With Me’ – Walk the Moon
Just a feel-good song, we are talking about happiness after all.
Text:
“No One’s Happiness but My Own is in My Power to Achieve or to Destroy” – The Book of Rabyd 2:4
Sermon:
Originally this Quote by Ayn Rand was The Book of Rabyd 2:10; but with my desire to remove duplicate quotes as far as quotes from the same people, she jumps to 2:4. This also presents a problem of the fact I have eliminated about six verses at this point so some new people to quote from will be necessary to get the other points. I may jump ahead to chapter three and then drop those verses from chapter 2 in when they come to me. The Book of Rabyd is after all not a closed canon of scripture like some.
This statement is more complicated the more you meditate on it. But let’s break it down.
The first concept is that you cannot make people happy. I think this is the most enlightening thing as I have watched people give their all trying to make others happy and then get frustrated that 1) They fail or 2) They are not happy themselves. There is a lot of energy saved emotionally and mentally when you figure this out.
You can make yourself happy, in fact, your own happiness is the only happiness that you can really strive to achieve. You also are the only person who can destroy your own happiness. That is not to say that others can’t affect your happiness or life and general, but how you perceive, interpret and/or act about those things that determine your happiness and those are all in your power to do.
That’s not to say your emotions cannot be entwined with another. I think Heinlein’s definition of love is applicable here. The notion of love being where someone else’s happiness is essential to your own and vice versa. In the case of love, even here through the choices and who has the power over your happiness is still you.
In my own life, this principle has been difficult, even though the truth of it resonates with my soul. Being an empathic person kind of causes people’s emotions to affect you at times, like it or not. That said it is still my choice of whether or not to let that affect my happiness in general. I find also that memory can be a difficult thing to deal with at times. I have choices to make about each and every time I remember things because my memories are highly emotional which of course causes me to relive them like they were yesterday.
All in all, though, the principle is true. it is just you might have to make a lot of decisions and fight a lot of battles to stand on that mountain top of happiness. It is, however, your power to achieve or destroy.
Closing Song: “Don’t Stop Believing” – Journey:
Just the lyrics so you can sing along.
Parting Thought:
Yes, they do. When it comes to happiness you never know who or what will come along to brighten your day. You do have to be in the right frame of mind to be on the lookout for it.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
No Service today. I saw someone taking the day off for Good Friday and said to myself “Great idea – a day off for a holiday”, so I am taking my first Easter off pontificating in probably twenty years. Peace. Enjoy the chocolate eggs and sugar rabbits. If you want to know more about the real deeper stuff behind Easter and this time of year, stay tuned this week for Odin’s Eye on Thor’s Day.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
We don’t pray here – we figure God, the gods and goddesses, or whatever powers that be either know already, don’t give a fuck, or are busy with more important matters than our petty stuff. We also kind of assume that they expect us to do stuff that we can do for ourselves, and that we will do them ourselves and not be lazy. We also believe in being good friends, so we don’t presume on our friendship with the powers that be by asking them all the time for stuff while giving them nothing in return.
We also don’t take an offering here. We figure the powers that be probably don’t need it. Let’s be honest, offerings are not giving to the divine powers, they are given to an organization to support it. Just being honest. God, the gods or whatever never see a dime, farthing or peso of that money; it all goes to the church, mosque or shrine.
Opening Song: “No Rest for the Wicked” – Godsmack
No real official video for this song, but here is the lyric one so you can sing along.
Poem: “Salt in My Wounds” by Edward W, Raby, Sr. – Written April 13, 2019
Once you were the spice of my life,
You kept me from spoiling
You were the flavor I needed
You made life less plain
Then you left me
laying in a pool of my own blood.
Leaving a wound
a void from your knife
Now memories of you are salty
Burning as they are applied to the scar
Salt in my wound
Preserving the pain.
-Ed Raby – April 13, 2019-
Without a doubt this was the easiest poem I have ever written. At least as far as time and feeling are concerned. Took me literally just five minutes. It’s still rough, but I suspect it will be Grey Wayfarer canonized very soon.
Miss Salty, as I called her, helped me through a lot. She is definitely wiser and smarter than her years would say. But this whole thing in reflection was a doomed voyage like the Titanic. Right now memories of this whole thing are bitter-sweet. Salty like she was. They hurt and yet I hope they bring about some cleansing like salt removing infection.
Meditation:
Yep, which is why I don’t trust either party. The Wall for the right and Rich Wall Street on the left are not real threat in my opinion. Mostly fear mongering using a supposed noble cause to seize power.
Song of Preparation: “Cult of Personality” – Living Colour
I once heard these guys live via radio. The guy who was announcing made the remark that they were the loudest band he ever heard in concert. Good intro.
Text:
“Whenever You Find Yourself on the Side of the Majority, it is Time to Pause and Reflect.” – The Book Of Rabyd 2:3
Sermon:
This time through The Book of Rabyd, I am trying to quote as many different people as I can. Mark Twain was pretty much destined to be on this list and it was only a matter of time. This is my favorite quote from him and is truly a principle of wisdom.
Tribalism is inherent in the human species. Survival trait. We band together to take on common threats and deal with common problems. The issue is that it can also lead to a mob mentality. It can lead to just bowing down to the culture, group think or what everyone’s opinion is.
This quote is a regular reminder to all of us who prefer reason to mindless pandering. The issue is to take action on what makes sense and is most reasonable and this quote reminds us there is nothing inherently reasonable about the majority. The only quality they have is more numbers. The majority is not proof of truth or rightness.
For me there is a reminder here that I am both a free citizen and a responsible citizen. Free because on thing that can enslave is tribalism and cults of personality. Responsible, because from time to time you need to be the thinking one that calls into question the actions of the mob.
There are institutions that thrive on this tribalism but they can, in my humble opinion be boiled down to two things – government and religion. Both of these tap into people’s passions rather than their reason and thus are manipulative by nature. They tap into people’s inherent tribalism and mob mentality to get actions people think are the right thing but are actually the desires of those who would seek power either through politics or faith.
The lesson then is never let your loyalty to the group outweigh your loyalty to yourself and your principles. Something I hope gets carried on by those who I call my family is the ability to question anything and everything, even if the majority thinks it is the best course. I would rather have my descendents known for being rebels and original thinkers that people who just went along with the crowd and the mob. That they would be people of Courage, Self-Reliance and Truth
Closing Song: “Of Wolf and Man” – Metallica
I am thinking of making this my personal theme song. A lesser known work of Metallica but still one of their best.
Parting Thought:
Stay strong pagans. Keep going.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Spirituality:
The Grey Wayfarer 