I'm an eclectic pantheist but you can call me pagan. :) Borrowing heavily from another's words I came up with this:
I am a spiritual skeptic. My spirituality and my skepticism work symbiotically. My interest in science and philosophy bring perspective to my intimate treatment of the occult. I withhold belief from astrology, reincarnation, God, the spirit world, psychic powers, magic spells and such, but I cultivate a speculative and operative interest in non-mainstream religion and other spiritual and imaginative traditions and practices. I read, meditate, converse with other travelers of life's path and attend and participate in rituals intended to strengthen and balance my mind and spirit. I seek to align me more closely with that which is greater than myself. To expand my existence for my benefit and that of others.
I'm not part of a circle, church or coven, per se. I'm mostly a solo practitioner. I do participate in some group rituals, especially at the Ancient Ways Festival or PantheaCon. I do have fairly close ties to the Church of All Worlds. I am a close friend to the Ravenheart family (Oberon/Otter and Morning Glory Zell, Wynter, Wolf, Liza and Jon) and others of the Tribe for several years. I am an Ordained Minister of the Universal Life Church. :) I May of 2003 I was chosen to be King of the May for the Church of All Worlds at Annwfn.
I see myself as having bits and pieces of being an Erotic Priest, Shaman, Witch, Energy worker, Body Worker, Healer and so on. Most of all, I work with seeing and being the Divine within my Self (and others). I do acknowledge and work with archetypes/Gods/Goddesses by some names; mostly from the Greco-Roman and Celtic panthea. I haven't done much formal training and rather little study or reading. My knowledge is most rooted in wicca/goddess stuff, as far as structured ritual work goes. But, on a 'organic' or intuitve level, I seem to be an elemental magician - I can sometimes influence or work with Fire, Air, Water and Earth directly.
For me, being Pagan also means that I am not Christian, Muslim, Jewish, etc., I am "Other." I used to be Anti-Christian. Now I've come to a place where I find that while I do *loathe* much of the dogma, distortion, power-monging, politicking, 'we want to tell you how to live and DAMN you if you disagree' mentality, etc., that goes with certain of those whom call themselves "God's children" (or more likely "God's Warriors), I can largely agree with what I see a being the underlying intent and message. It's not so different from a common thread I find in most of the world's spiritual practices and faiths. It's all about becoming something 'better' and to concurrently find love, peace and harmonious existence. Or something like that.
One of the major reasons I align with paganism has to do with the generally sex-positive outlook they share. The hypocritical, self-denying, painfully stifling and downright dangerously ignorant attitudes of the sex-negative patriarchial paradigm make me horrified and indescribably saddened. Most of my "Magic" seems centered around sex and the juicy stuff that connects people. :)
"All acts of Love and Pleasure are Her Rites," indeed.
Another piece of my alignment has to do with my animal 'identity.' Besides the nickname Bear, there are other things about me that are related to the beasts. Since pagans in general rever Nature and Earth and it's denizens, I find affinity for animals among my pagan kin. Also, shamanism and other traditions work animal energy for healing and to gain wisdom. I feel more whole and more powerful for being 'integrated' with my "Inner Animal." :)
Basically, I'm still evolving. I am learning to believe in myself. That's where Magick lives.
I've transcribed a poem about Elves that speaks to me.
