I don’t know if I’ve covered this yet in this blog as a post, but I thought I would share some information about my current spiritual path and why I practice the way I do.
Over the years as I became obsessed with shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed and then Supernatural – Witchcraft and Wicca seemed to call out to me. I studied both practices and also worked with Animism (Shamanism) and attended local drumming circles.
I went through a sort of spiritual awakening in the past two months and I’ve never felt more “alive” in the spiritual sense. I feel at peace and learning more and more every day.
The Karmic Law
My main belief being: karma will find its way back to you. What you send out to the universe, will come back to you. And so, I try and live a good life. But I often attract people that will test this faith.
It’s similar to the whole “do unto others” that you see in Christianity. There is some truth to it, at least that I’ve experienced personally. Some people are meant to teach you karmic lessons. While others will help you grow.
Shamanism and Animism
There’s a lot of controversary in some circles about sticking to your own heritage instead of adopting Indigenous beliefs. But I digress. Shamanism is one of the oldest forms of religions and is practiced worldwide. No one owns it. So, if you want to practice Shamanism, go for it. I’m a firm believer in individualism and you are free to do what feels right for you.
The main principle of Shamanism is that there is one Creator – one source for the divine. Mother Earth. It is working with natural elements, the moon and the sun. It’s about using natural healing methods. And dream work or astral travel. Something I’ve done a lot of. Animals are a big part of Shamanism and I’ll touch on that in a later post.
Animism refers to the attribution of a soul to living things and inanimate objects. Or the belief in supernatural power that animates the material universe. It is believed that objects can posses souls.
An example of this is in Thailand where they believe that dolls can inherit a soul and become real. Animals are also considered spiritual beings and can act as spirit guides or harbingers of news or communication.
Green Witchery
This is a new term for me and it’s something I can strongly identify with me. In very simplistic terms, being a Green Witch means being connected with nature and using natural elements.
Many Green Witches work with dried herbs or have home gardens where they grow their own plants and herbs. They may work in the kitchen and apply this to their daily meals or beverages like tea.
It’s also about connecting what is available in your vicinity. Many Green Witches choose to live in isolated or rural areas where they have access to natural bodies of water or are surrounded by beautiful scenery. They make their owns potions, oils, candles and are very crafty with organic materials.
For me, I love this simple way of life. I wish I lived in a rural area where I had better access to flowers and gardens. And where it isn’t winter six months of the year!
To learn more, subscribe to The Green Witch on YouTube. She’s wonderful.
Norse and Celtic Paganism
The practice of Paganism isn’t a new concept to me, however, celebrating Norse and Celtic Paganism is. After learning the controversy about adopting Indigenous beliefs when you aren’t Indigenous, I did a lot of soul searching and started learning about my own heritage.
My background is a bit of a mixed bag. I have a strong Danish background, with some Irish, English and like 2% German. Because the Danish genes are so pertinent, I’ve always felt strong ties to the Nordic ways and more recently – the history of the Vikings. Yes, I like the thought of pillaging a little too much.
Paganism predates modern Christianity and was commonly practiced in European countries. The main differences being that in Paganism, more than one deity is worshipped. There is a long list of Gods, Goddesses and Deities that you can choose from and work with.
For Nordic Paganism, Odin is the main God, while there are others like Thor, Frigg, Heimdall, Tyr. And coming up next week is Imbolc, where the Goddess Brigid is celebrated. I’ll write more on that later.
In Paganism, there are 7 festivals that are honored along with other celebrations to mark certain events during the year. Christmas for example, was adapted from Yule which is celebrated on winter solstice – December 21st. Samhain, also Halloween, is celebrated on October 31 and so on.
Next week is Imbolc, and I will be sharing a post on what Imbolc is and how it is celebrated around the globe. I will also create separate posts to describe in more details what each of these religions or practices detail. But – these are often life long lessons and take years to master.
I’m also working on a list of reference books too that I will share via Good Reads when I get a chance.
Celtic Roots
In addition to Nordic Paganism, I have always felt a strong connection to my Irish or Celtic roots. Something about Celtic music just transports me to a different timeline. Artists like Loreena McKennit, produce music so magical that you’ll feel as though you’re in a dream when listening.
In Summary
My beliefs and spiritual practices are constantly evolving. I love to learn and platforms like YouTube are a good place to start. Just take what you learn with a grain of salt, and do your own research.
You may need to try a few things before settling on what you really connect with. Connection is probably the most important aspect of spirituality. Follow your heart and what brings you most joy. It does help overall with healing.
Read, read, read. And read some more.
That’s the best piece of advice I can give for when you are doing shadow work or trying to find what works for you. You’ll make mistakes and that’s okay. And you may change your beliefs as new experiences and revelations come into your life. And that’s okay.
And lastly.
Thanks for reading.
Blessed Be.
Related Posts
Check out my “spiritual” page for a list of Sabbats, celebrations and other important dates. Look out for future articles that will be posted here.
- Spirit guides are around us always
- Anxiety healing bath recipe
- The things they don’t tell you about shadow work
- When the stars align just right
- Working with intentions instead of resolutions
- Wolf Moon Rituals
- My favorite youtube artists and herbalists
Charmed Reflections 