Happy Sun’s Day
Announcements:
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 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.
Theme Song: ‘Úlfhéðnar’ – Norse Viking Music
If you want to get the most out of the Pagan Pulpit. Put the theme song on a loop and then read the rest of it. The Ulfhedmar were the wolf warriors of Odin.
Meditation:
It is important to know the difference. One requires sleep and the other requires action.
Text:
The most basic tenant of paganism is that it is your own responsibility, not the responsibility of any government, institution, church or other people, to choose what you believe in regards to spirituality, values, ethics, the nature of Divinity, etc.
Sermon:
In Paganism there is no appeal to authority to justify your actions. This would violate the first of the basic tenets which is that each person is responsible for their own beliefs. This is called the Responsibility of Belief.
The first point of this is to accept your responsibility for what you believe. It is yours and no one else to decide what you believe and how you practice your spirituality. It is yours alone and there is no one to blame or praise for where your spirituality is or your conduct regarding it. No blaming God. No “God told me to do this.” You act on your spirituality and take full responsibility for the results – good or bad.
The second point is to emphasize what cannot be used as a scapegoat. The government is not responsible for your spiritual state, nor a religion, institution or community of people. None of these things can be responsible for where you are in regards to the spiritual part of your life. Just you and only you. Your spirituality is the product of your own choices and journey. They should not be dictated to by anything else nor should you blame anything else for them.
The third point is the scope of what we mean when we say ‘spirituality’. It involves all things that touch spiritual life, ethics, morals, values, the nature of Divinity, etc. These are all yours and no one else to take responsibility for. If it can be considered spiritual in some way, then you are responsible for it. This is why I find most things have a spiritual side to them because they involve ethics, morals and simply a spiritual sense to them. There is more to this than pagan rituals and feelings.
There is no “Be patient, God isn’t finished with me yet” in paganism. No “I am waiting on God to make me more patient, loving, etc.” If you feel you lack spirituality, a moral compass or ethical understanding; it is on you and you alone to fix that. That is the essence of Responsibility of Belief.
Parting Thought:
The great face down the struggles of life and use them to become stronger.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
The Grey Wayfarer 