Spirituality Posting

[wyn]

So. Yeah. zorman32 and arualanne inspired this one.

Besides, it's been a while.

Spirituality posting- for those of you what are small-minded, unwilling to discuss such topics in a calm, rational and mature way, or just plain stupid... well, you might not want to take part. Because really, I will get out my Clue By Four. And then I'll use it. Heh. Please don't make me get out my LiveJournal Etiquette Rules, mmmkay?

For my own part, I look at Spirituality and Religion as two entirely separate things.

Religion is a system of beliefs put in place by man to try and explain the Spiritual- a unique and individual path to be walked by each being which taps into the energy, life-force and beauty of God, The Creator, The Divine, Allah, or whomever you relate to in this regard.

Spirituality does not need Religion to exist as it is already an individual's Spirit Journey. Religion, on the other hand, is a structured base of rules and regulations which tries to define how Spirituality works. As such, it needs at the very least the idea of Spirituality so as to be able to exist.

That being said, I have known a handful of deeply Spiritual people who are not in any way Religious. I have also met several Religious people who have no clue what true Spirituality is.

Now, in a friend's posting, someone brought up the point that he believes it is not possible for one to be spiritual and have a human experience.

I tend to disagree.

For one, I believe that I am a spiritual being having a human experience. I believe that when I die, the meat sack otherwise known as my body will fall off and then act as food for Mother Earth after having received sustenance from her my entire life. As I told arualanne, I kinda like this idea as it makes me happy to realize that there will come a time I can give back even that little amount (granted, there's a ton of other ways to give back to Mother Earth, but I'm not getting into that here as it would just totally derail my train of thought- and we all know where that leads to, heh).

Anywho, in looking upon myself as a Spiritual Being first and foremost, I realize that when I die, my body will remain as my Soul goes on to it's next great adventure, test or lesson needing to be learned. As such, I believe that while I'm a Spiritual Being, I do realize that my body is human- ie, having a "human experience."

Zorman states that by their very nature, spirituality and physicality are in complete opposition to each other, existentially. Yet I have to disagree in that I believe that the more we learn in the physical, the better spirituality is proven. The more complexities we discover in the very foundation of life (cells, mitochondria, atoms, dark matter, etc.), the more it proves to me that life is not simply some big colossal accident that happened when a big pointy rock smashed off of another big pointy rock. Plus, honestly? The Big Bang Theory never made sense to me... because where'd the rocks come from in the first place? Oh, I believe in evolution, but to say that we're just a Cosmic Coincidence... it doesn't make sense to me.

Now I know I have a fairly eclectic group of friends here on my list. There are a couple of atheists/agnostics, a Christian or two and a far greater number who probably identify as pagan or such. More than likely there's one or two of you who identify as something else entirely.

This is open to all of you.

Thoughts, ideas, beliefs, discussions, etc. are all welcome here. I simply ask that you be polite in sharing your beliefs and understand that it might not be that of another. Respect their beliefs as you would ask for your own to be.

After that, feel free to add your two cents worth :)

Comments

[5251962.livejournal.com]

I don't know...I think it may be a blend of both. I rarely contemplate these kindsa things to be fair, though.

I think this because when M and I got together, the physical, it made something VERY spiritual. Never before seen it, never since. Well, kinda- it lingers. It's there. It happened because the spiritual and the physical sorta well...you ever see that peanut butter that already has the jelly swirls? Like that.

However- physical is not in my nature. At all. I am not affectionate, I loathe closeness and very rarely tolerate it. The more at peace and spiritual I feel, the less inclined to physically interact I am.


I'm high, I forgot where I was going with that. Sorry. LOL
(Summer months+MS=fucking gorked the whole time)

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Oh, I believe that the two interact with one another, even compliment each other in certain ways or instances. But I also believe that spirituality can exist without physicality, i.e. spirits, ghosts, hauntings, etc.

I used to be a lot more physical then I am nowadays. I was the happy-go-lucky child who'd give anyone a hug if they looked even slightly down and never thought twice about doing so.

Nowadays, I tend to keep to myself a bit more. Being spiritual doesn't really affect this one way or another as far as I've noticed, but there are times when other human beings tend to grate on my nerves by the sheer idiocy and ignorance they tend to (sometimes proudly) exhibit.

If that's what zorman32 meant by what he said, then he'll get no arguments from me there. Because the more I do delve into Spiritual matters, the more ignorant and intolerant asshats piss me off...

No worries about losing your train of thought... mine almost constantly gets derailed XD

[5251962.livejournal.com]

I <3 zorman to bits and to be honest, some of his insights have been really awesome for me- so I tell you, I doubt highly he was being a dick. I can vouch. Actually, in cases of disagreements in my journal- usually I play "Grumpy" by shoot...I can't remember who sings it but it's off an album called Music for Aardvarks and Other Animals, I think and generally this is my response- however, you two were broaching some pretty interesting philosophical discussion and I feel quite confident you are both up to task.

As for religion- if humanity had any fucking clue what's really going on, the whole would implode. I cannot fucking wait.
:D

Not to sound full of- oh bollucks I am full of myself. But I once had a prophetic sort of dream. I know what's coming in a sense. The only thing I can remember was being told "That which is within will be without"- and being very, very excited.
The exterminator IS coming.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Nah, I didn't feel as if he had come across as such. It's one of the reasons why I figured I'd post this over here. Because while I may not fully understand how he views things or respectfully disagree, I do like how he comes across. I'm kinda hoping that he takes part in this discussion as I think he could offer some pretty interesting views on things ^_^

Besides, there's disagreements and then there's arguments. What we were having was neither- it was a difference of opinions ;)

::grins:: Oh how I cannot wait for the majority of humanity to catch up with the rest of us when it comes to that area. Kinda one of those "What? ::brain explodey:: Ow!" moments XD

As for the dream... it's quite true. Balance will be once more brought to Mother Earth, regardless of whether or not humanity wants such. We have two choices that I can see, really. We can do it the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. Either way, however, balance will be had. It's just a matter of how painful we want to make this on ourselves.

Personally, I say we should roll with the punches and just suck it up and start dealing with the consequences of what we've done to the planet, but then... I guess I'm one of the few oddballs that wants it as such. Like I always say, "as above, so below," holds multiple meanings. One of the more hidden of which will begin showing soon. 'Cause Mother Earth? She's gonna start rockin'. I'm only hoping that I can be there for the end result so as to admire her handy work. Heh.

[5251962.livejournal.com]

I've always had a feeling I would, even in this corporeal form. Oh, and to really deeply answer your question earlier, would take pages. LOL


Humanity has already sown the seeds. It's gonna hurt. The bandaid is going to come off and there will be rot.
I fully anticipate the fall of civilization as we know it, and I am not at all trying to be edgy- it's just time to give the entirety of society a big, fucking enema.


Christ, I wonder if I could talk about this without making gross comparisons. Naaaah.

If you want the "Oh okay here's why" look up the sun spot cycle and the new hole. ;) I don't need the conjoining prophesies- though it is interesting ALL of that meshes just so.

'Course, if it doesn't, I feel like a dick, but, so long as people think I am nuts anyway, may as well have fun with it.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Heh, believe me, the "succinct" version, as arualanne dubbed it was exactly that- succinct. Were I to go into exactly what I believed... well, it would take reams of paper. Add to that the fact that my beliefs are constantly shifting and evolving the more I learn and experience things and I have a feeling you'd be there for a while, lol.

Of course it's gonna hurt. You don't just erase centuries worth of pollution, destruction and poisoning in an instance. Nor do you do so with a smile plastered across your face. It's karma, baby- what you put out, you get back eventually. Well, our forefather's started it and we're here for payment rendered.

The sad, sick part of it all? I can so understand your visual. XD But really, when you think about all the shit that people have put into the Earth, that's really all it is. Time for the shit to come back up, work it's way out. It's the only way she can heal herself and like it or no, it's already happening. The fact that things that have lain dormant for hundreds of years are beginning to show again; animals, plants, civilizations even... all of those things are signposts and messages for us to acknowledge and follow.

Hmm, I vaguely recall hearing about a new sunspot, but I honestly haven't followed it. My woo-woo stuff is already vivid enough without giving it an extra dimension sometimes, heh.

To be honest, I sometimes hope like hell I'm wrong. Because even though that would one of the few and far between times in regards to such matters, if it meant that humanity could learn from it's mistakes before all was chucked in the shit-wagon? Well, it'd almost be worth it.

Then again, more often than not I just figure that until we get a clean sweep of the situation, not much is going to be accomplished. Look at Atlantis, for instance. It was the acme of the empire at it's time yet because of man's greed, it collapsed upon itself... We have become the new Atlantis. Instead of a civilization, however, we have become a world-wide mistake...

[5251962.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's not new. Firstly, we've got a great big fucking breach in the magnetic field surrounding the earth. It just so happens to be ten times larger than anyone realized it was. Oh, oops!
Now, given this protects us from the solar winds, and oooh, here in a bout *looks at watch* three more years, the sun's going to cycle again- it does this every so often. Last one fired of some x flares which disrupted some communication. No big, humans said, we've got the bloody fucking magnetic feild and tralalala, spray the aqua net, drive the gas guzzlin' SUV's it is okay.
Head in sand, up ass, what have you.
Long story short, the sun farts, communications got a little whonky- nobody thought much of it. However, predictions were a little bit dire as to how the next one would go- save, well we've got the magnetosphere, it'll be okay. Only, it won't, because in 2008, they found the big hole.
At the time, they thought only satellites would experience disruptions, but now?

Bye bye grid, bye bye communications. Ker-fucking-blooey.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Well, I knew about the big ol' hole in the magnetic field... you have to be pretty daft not to nowadays. Yay for the lack of ozone! ::gets out her spray cans and starts drawing graffiti again:: What? Y'mean this isn't good for the environment? Whatever, it's improving the looks of the buildings... yeah >.>

Gotta love the fact that we're about to reach the galactic center again, huh? I want a t-shirt that says I Survived 13.0.0.0.0 Lol.

Y'know, I always kinda wanted to go back to Medieval Times. Maybe I'll get my wish sooner than I first anticipated, huh? XD

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

I don't know.. Medieval times sound good and ren fairs water them down enough to make them fun, but the reality is very different. I don't know that I would like to live there, especially with the women are sort of like property thingy.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Oh hell, I love the ren faires. Partly because they're a mix of fact and fantasy enough to be just to my liking.

I don't really know, though. Back then, things weren't all King Arthur and Lady Guinevere with the romance, danger and magic, I know that much. But it was a much simpler time, one that held more Truth and Honor and Beauty in it's simplicity.

Granted, there was also a lot of killing, pillaging and destruction as well, so I know every good story has it's flip-side.

Still, if we could go back to that *type* of life without the chauvinistic aspects, I think I'd like it far more than this age we're in now.

You take the ignorance, fear and superstition out of it, I'm sure it would be a lot better.

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

lol the living off the earth aspect of the simpler time, I get. Teh fear superstion and ignorance is the part and the crux right now. To take that out of it would give us the tools to become as we are now and I don't think we learned the first time, so why would we take a different turn this time?

Also many of the politics were just as warped if not more due to the fear and superstions.

I think you might have liked Marie Antoinnett, well beyond the let them eat cake (bread) thing as the people were starving. She had a cottage that she used to go to to live like the peasants lived as she found that that was a simple life and in her mind closer to God. I learned of this through my art history classes as there are paintings of her there. I don't know the rest of the theory, but you might find that time period interesting as they artistically had that idea. That simple was good and that peasants embodied that and were noble in their poverty and simplicity. Artistically that was the idea anyway and thus a lot of work out in the fields paintings and what have you.

Also the Franciscan (or at least I think it was that sect I would have to look it up) monks went with simple as well and took it to the extreme with a vow of poverty to keep them closer to the spiritual by denying the physical form many of it's wants and looking to the spiritual needs instead. Good idea, I don't know if their practice or their theory on the spiritual is what I would buy, but simple is sometimes better. I am starting to lean more towards that thought with the more technology becomes a necessity in the population's lives. I think we need to have a sect of the population to preserve the old ways of doing things. To know how to do it all by hand even though the machines are there. Thank goodness for the Amish we could learn a lot from them. Also really yay for holistic health people as we should know more about how to take care of ourselves with what mother nature provides.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Yes, oh yes... If I wouldn't be shunned in Amish society for my beliefs, I would so go join them without regrets. 'Cause seriously? They're about the only ones that have even a slight chance of getting through if this all goes down like I think it's going to.

I know a bit about Marie Antoinette. Never really studied her in depth, though. Maybe I should pick up a couple of books and have a look-see. I like people who bucked the system back then and stood for higher morals and standards.

They still have the Franciscan orders around and about. Most of my childhood was spent around them as my family helped build their Friary about fifteen minutes down the road from here.

Their principles were good to start off with, but even they have become... well, let's just say they've broken off from what the original idea was behind the vow of poverty.

They still rely mainly if not soley on donations given to them by others, at least the Franciscans of the Immaculate do. It's an interesting concept at the very least, that's for sure.

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

that was mainly what I was getting at, the concept, not to uphold these people for following the concept very well, especially Marie as well she didn't seem to understand that it might be noble to be poor, however people aren't noble when they are starving and will resort to violence.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

I don't know if noble is the right word to ascribe to the lower class. Most people, given their druthers, would more often than not choose to be rich rather than poor. It's simply that they were born into the circumstances they were which makes them so.

The few people that would choose a more simplistic life over the riches and finery of the modern day world? They're the few I would mark as noble.

[5251962.livejournal.com]

Ah but science is well on the way to making men obsolete. Booy I know quite a few that would be happy if the announcement came down that they managed to make the sperm not only viable, but the babies lived after- and THEN the world goes kerblooey. LOL

Now, see if it breaks down like that, I will know, beyond all doubt that yes, Virginia, the Judeo Christian God is real, and, I will bend over and kiss my ass goodbye. LOL

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

::snickers::

Men will never be obsolete. Or, well, let's put it this way; the day that they become obsolete, Lucifer will be having a grand ol' time in Hell's Skating Rink. Because if the human species has a say in the matter, that'll be the day hell freezes over, lol.

Clarification

[zorman32.livejournal.com]

I intended to imply that we are both spiritual and physical, and that it is impossible to be entirely one or the other since the two contend equally for our focus. By it's nature, the spirit wants to fly, it wants to grow, yearning for more enlightenment, while by contrast, the physical side of the human condition wants comfort, "no pain, no gain" comes to mind...most people don't enjoy pain (unless it is their personal path to pleasure, I guess). The intent of religion is to bring the dichotomy to harmony so that both parts of the human being function well in both areas of its existence...and that if one part or the other were misunderstood by the disciple, their religion would end up being a farce, yeilding only minor results. Once harmony is reached between the two parts of the individual, then the greater search can begin, seeing how the person is able to walk in both realms comfortably. But that's just my opinion...I'm not any scholar or theologian or anything, just another guy out there somewhere trying to make sense of things.

Re: Clarification

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

I was hoping you'd show up in here :)

This does make more sense in some ways, though I still tend to go with the idea that we are purely Spiritual Beings. I will grant that the human body does bring with it a *ton* of baggage, however. It's because of this that so many things get lost in translation- our wants come first instead of our needs, our comfort comes first in the stead of our growth, etc.

Personally, I find no need for religion in my own life. While I understand that having structure, rules and guides to live by works for some people, I prefer to tread my own path and stick to my own morals and principles along the way. I have also seen far too many people use religion to suit their own purposes or act as a spiritual crutch; instead of truly delving into what they profess to believe, they simply go to their services, place their offerings in the basket and believe themselves to be good examples of their organized religion.

...It's just one of my pet peeves I guess. I don't have a problem with someone who professes to believe in a faith and honestly works their hardest to get to know just what it is they're saying they believe in. To me, that's awesome. It's the blundering idiots that talk the talk yet can't get up off their damn asses to walk that tick me off.

Walking in two worlds sucks, to be quite honest. It's hard to keep a balanced foothold in both as the human body is more conditioned to immediate gratification and the physical, I'll give you that. But having tried to walk away from the Spiritual (long story), I can honestly say that I need it in my life. I am nothing without my spiritual connection as there's nothing but death inside without.

::giggles:: I find it funny that after having put out a good bit of fairly philosophical and intellectual thoughts and opinions, you turn about and end with that.

Don't sell yourself short. You may not know everything, but you don't have to downplay what you do know ^_~

Thanks for heading on over here, btw. I really do enjoy hearing your take on things :)

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

damn, I just had a huge post that exceeded the character limit to describe my thoughts on religion and spirituality,but my internet which isn't exactly mine, but what I can pick up, just ate it. Grrrrr. I will try again and I am interested, just a little slow on checking things when I am not at work.

[5251962.livejournal.com]

*points and laughs*

;)

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

yeah turns out it tried to eat the one I just posted too, but I am smarter than it and copied it before I hit the post button. It then had an error and it turns out that the ad blocker that travis put on my computer was interfering with something on lj, so once I turned it off, it posted perfectly. So the first post didn't have to die, but I hit the refresh button to see if I could get back to it and it ate it. so yeah I guess it is a matter of being smarter than the machine and not finicky connection.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Copy/Paste is sooooo my friend.

And ad blockers can sometimes be more trouble than they're worth. I tend to just go with Mozilla's settings. For the most part, it catches the majority of the ads and the rest are few enough for me to handle without getting a migraine and taking a sledgehammer to my PC, lol.

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

It is called noScript and so far I don't like it. Travis put it on the computer as he uses it during the day when I am at work as the new one gets a better internet connection. I am thinking of making him take it off, it seems to be a pain in the ass. I do however like the basic ad block from firefox as it gets most of the side ads from facebook and lj so I am no longer annoyed by ads.

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

Okay I started the last one speaking of Descartes. I really like the theory of I am because I think I am. I went on to babble a bit about that, but the gist of it all was that it explains that it isn't the body, but the mind that makes you, you. I think we are all unique in a special way that has nothing to do with genetics and the physicality of the world. This to me is the Spirt/Soul.

My post in a nutshell beyond that...I see this world as a testing ground or if you think in video game you are hear to learn a lesson, we don not consciously know this lesson or goal, and we are hear to teach others the lessons we have learned. If we learn this lesson, we pass on to the next level of the "Game\existence" in essence die. The physical form no longer houses the spirit and therefore is now waste material. Hell for me is having to repeat the same level over and over and over again as I have not learned the key to the level or the lesson.

I like how you put that you are a spiritual Being having a human experience as that describes my theory in a nutshell. I see myself as a spirt moving though the larger world. We are all on levels of existence and this one in particular at this moment, however our lessons are all tailored to our individual unique spirit. Some of us learned other lessons in other lifetimes that some in this lifetime or existence/experience need to learn in this fashion (everyone learns differently as we are all unique) It is part of the lesson to teach what you have learned to one of the others thus passing on the knowledge. Only once your lesson has been learned and you have taught the lesson that you were placed here to teach, can you pass on (die). This is why to me death should be a celebration. What spirits pass on to? I don't know. I have faith that we do move on though and not always to this world/existence and therefore we do not always have the human learning experience and that is how I can be a spiritual being having a human experience.

I do not see these things as being at odds with one another. The experience is there for the soul so that it can grow and move on. I see the experience as limiting to the essence of the soul and therefor the human experience is at odds with spiritual being and at times stiffing and is part of the lesson for each of us, however it is necessary for proper growth. I feel like a very powerful child that doesn't know my own strength or that the fire will burn and being in this form is part of the control so that I can learn to reach my full potential without destroying myself or others. There is a lot more to it, but that is more or less my belief in a nutshell.

Religion to me, although I have been immersed in catholic school from 1st to 8th grade and went though four years at a private christian college has never been important to me. I have faith in my beliefs and let others have faith in their own. I believe there are many paths to the same goal and organized religion is very stifling and limiting. I also see religion as somewhat of a crutch. It is a soothing comfort as it explains the unknown and quells the fear of nothingness and being all alone in existence. Organized religion is our way of making the world understandable, such is science for many as well. The two theories in many peoples view oppose one another, so people fight over it, but both ways are ways to understand our existence. I see organized religion as a crutch as well due to the congregation being there to prop you up and calm your fear as there is solace in the masses and also because it tells you how the world works and that is the only way in many religions and thus it causes strife as well and war among opposing religions. Now I feel like I am babbling and it is somewhat late so I am going to stop, but that is how I see the two. I am open to suggestion and tend to view myself as spiritual, but not very religious. I never took to the church experience or felt the need for it. I understand wanting it, but it is never anything I have wanted.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Okay, hitting your reply point by point here...

I honestly never thought of it in the video game analogy. Surprisingly, however, it does make a good bit of sense.

Not sure if I believe in an End Game type of deal though, to be honest. I recall many of my past lives, and while I'm definitely not the Oldest Soul in existence, I'm not by far the youngest, either.

I think we have the ability to create and change our own futures or lifetimes. I think that when our bodies die, we get shipped back, if you will, to the Hall of Records to see our own entries and figure out just what else we have to work on. I also believe that once there, we can choose to take a break from it all and simply exist as Spirit until we're ready to reincarnate again, or, depending on our own beliefs we condemn ourselves to a state of either a living hell- as you put it, having to repeat something over and over and over and... again, or a place of enlightenment with other spiritual beings of like mind (for lack of better terms).

Regardless, it's not exactly something that can be proved through mere Science or Faith, so we'll see just how on or off the mark I was when I leave this life. Until then, I'm content to wait for the answer and try my best to live a decent life...

Death is bittersweet, really. While I agree that it should be celebrated as the moment in time when someone passes on and leaves this world for (hopefully) bigger and better things, the fact that they are no longer here physically to joke around with, share intimacy with, discuss things with, etc., can be really hard to deal with sometimes.

So that part? I get. But. I also believe that if it's meant to be, we'll see our loved ones again. Perhaps not in the same situation, not in the same capacity, but we will meet again somewhere down the road.

I do not see these things as being at odds with one another. The experience is there for the soul so that it can grow and move on. I see the experience as limiting to the essence of the soul and therefor the human experience is at odds with spiritual being and at times stiffing and is part of the lesson for each of us, however it is necessary for proper growth.

Ha! And now *you* have put into words the very train of thought I was so horribly derailing when trying to explain my feel on the subject myself. Lol. Thanks. I do believe that the physical can exist with the spiritual without a problem. I think that, at times, the spiritual can be at odds with the physical simply because of the ignorance and intolerance of the people surrounding us nowadays. The whole, "you're crazy because you believe _______," deal. Well, duh! How can you *not* be stifled by something so shallow? But yeah. Thanks for putting it in better terms than I could have done...

Religion is pointless to my own self. I simply don't need it. I've always done better off by myself and in the case of organized religion, I'd rather just walk my own path. Now, doesn't mean I think it's crap all the way around, I simply think that it is flawed, but I do know others who benefit from it. Simply ain't my thing. ::shrugs:: Believe me, I could go places with this one, but if I start, you won't shut me up short of strapping a ball-gag into my mouth and then it just gets all kinky... or... well...

Yeah. Anywho >.>

Cookies? XD

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

See that is my thing I don't know about end game either or if it is all just a huge learning experience just to learn and then to teach... I don't know and I don't think in this life I am meant to know.

The theory of having a sort of pergatory (although a much brighter one than many seem to see exist) Is s a good idea and I would probably agree with it. There is a time between existences a pause if you will to get some chips and think of strategy for the next level.

I agree with the thought of I will find out when I die. If I am right cool, if I am wrong, I hope the Whatever is a truly forgiving understanding being. Although why give free will if you are going to punish those that tread a different path?

I agree that death for those left behind is very hard to deal with. I beleive it is hard to deal with for those going on as well. We form attatchments to the other souls we meet along the way. This is how I work kindred spirits or soul mates into my equation. Theses are the souls we have tread a similar path with in our existences. They are also souls we choose to wait for and try the new experiences with on the next level. That is why I think there can be a waiting time. As I said a testing ground and as children learning and testing we go at our own pace and our own choice when to leave the nest.

Glad to have the words for someone once. I am generally really bad at putting my thoughts into words. I think more in picture form or in audio, writing stuff down and getting it to be cohesive is hard for me. That and I totally suck at spelling and grammar which gets on people's nerves.

mmmm I like cookies, but with the previous comment it makes me wonder if you are trying to lure me into something.... *grins*

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I let it sit when I first read this as I wasn't in the right frame of mind to answer. Some days English feels like my fourth or fifth language, I swear.

I believe that purgatory, in a sense, is this life as we know it. It's a chance to look at your life, see what needs changing and then to do so. Because really, the whole "waiting room outside of heaven" bit? Never made sense to me. I get reflection back on one's life. I also get fully Knowing and Understanding what you've done wrong just as I get contrition and remorse for the wrong you've caused.

What I don't get is a Get Out of Purgatory Free card. Okay, so I know what I've done was wrong. I'm sorry for it, won't do it again, etc. Still doesn't change the fact that you haven't made amends for it, y'know? Every action has a consequence. To simply say "I'm sorry," and not have to truly make amends? It doesn't jive with me. Because if you believe in a Just and Understanding Creator, then chances are you should believe in having to make up for the things you've screwed up. It's not punishment, it's simply justice. Or Karma. Or pick something else that would fit in it's place.

From what I've read of your entries/replies here and in Tori's journal, your spelling and grammar aren't bad. Trust, if they were, I'd be the OCD chic that's over there correcting it all the time. It drives me batty, lol.

I find visuals much easier to work with than words nowadays. It may just be I'm getting lazy, but even when writing poetry I tend to paint the words with pictures. Or picture the words in paintings... perhaps both.

Chocolate chip cookies. Warm, melty, gooey dark chocolate chunks straight from the oven... ::licks her chops:: Okay, now after that one I'm seriously wanting some Very-Bad-for-Wynnie's-Health type food. Heh.

Lure? Me? ::bats her eyes all innocently:: Whatever do you mean?

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

seee what I meant with using Purgatory was not the exact traditional thought of it, but more the waiting room sort of thing, but not due to being bad, but more of a break room. I am here after finishing this job, but the whole isn't finished so I will take a break, sort out what just happened in that life before I move on to the next challenge or try again sort of thing. So not a waiting room, like punishment, but more or a take a breather, relax and try again or meet the new situation/life head on.

Thanks about the grammar thing. I admit I am not as bad as I could be, and I thank whatever is out there for spell check as I use it a lot. I know my grammar has definitely decreased though since beginging in school and not really having to care about it. Also it feels like the longer I am down here the dumber I get and I start using phrases such as ya'll, although I have never stated I ain't got no e-mail! when looking for a receptionist job. *Shakes head*

I have always found visuals easier, I just think that way for some reason.

Mmmmmm now I have to go home and make something horrible for me like brownies.

Also don't worry about disappearing on subjects. I would much rather have someone actually mull something over before they replied than just to reply and not really know what they think.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

I think your view of Purgatory is more like my view of The Hall of Records. To me, that's the place one goes to after this life is finished. There you can find your own record in the Book, take a look at where you stand and figure out where you go from there. Purgatory, in my mind, is the state of fixing the things you've done wrong in the past; ie, this life as you try to make up for karmic debts in those past.

If that makes sense...

Sometimes I've found that my way of thinking is far different from those of the general masses. And even in the pagan community come to that.

Believe me, When I was on Witch's Home there was a manager who was sooooooo bad with his grammar that everyone gave him flack about it. It didn't help that he was dyslexic, but he refused to use a spell-checker.

Drove me absolutely bonkers, that one. Since then, he's figured out how to use spell-check it seems.

Normally, if I shelf a subject it's generally not permanently. It's simply for the moment until I can figure out a way to express it in the right words. Because nowadays? The right words are generally hard to find...

[arualanne.livejournal.com]

it does seem that your hall of records would be what I would call purgatory. A place in between and yet connected.

I don't know what I would call that introspective head space where you would got to figure out life and how to fix it all, I have never given that much thought. I see it I guess as a part of my inner voice.

I don't really have any other place that I go to think about or like any sort of deeper meditative place in my mind boxed off from the rest of my mind, a sanctuary in my head? Although I could see where some people might have that. I don't know my brain and inner monologue don't pause long enough to know. Think, think, think think, ooo look a kitty. That is sort of how my brain goes. I sense that I am something more than just this flesh and blood and the inner voice/thinking is something I associate with that. I feel like I am blocked from some sort of greater knowledge that is just on the tip of my mind frequently. I don't know how to reach it and I think maybe I am not supposed to as part of the challenge for me in this life is the limitation, but I don't know.

The hall of records/my purgatory is more or less the place where I would know all that I have been though and all that I can do and perhaps have a good idea of what I can do? I think of it as a place where these things are revealed although there are no books in mine, just knowledge that you already really have, but have limited access to in this existence. I feel like there my soul will feel whole and not constricted as it sometimes does in this existence.

Okay now I think I am babbling and just working though this as I talk. Perhaps I should do some mulling over of my own.

[drachenfang.livejournal.com]

Yeah I tend to see it that way myself. I say I'm Asatru but inreality that's just a name. I don't acknowledge any hierarchs in my faith as they're just self proclaimed and even if every other Northern worshipper vanished tomorrow I would still hold on to my faith. There is no religion to subscribe to and the 'rules' so to speak are more in the nature of guidelines. Religion often tries to set in stone where spirituality is dynamic, changing, and alive.

[shadows-wolf06.livejournal.com]

Well, like with me... I say I'm Pagan simply because it's the closest thing that fits. I'm not really into any particular group or belief system so much as I recognize the existence of the different gods/many facets of the Creator. I look at the gods the way one might describe a diamond...

Though many-faceted and beautiful, each side (god/goddess) is unique and has their own thoughts or perspectives on existence. However, though the diamond is multi-faceted, it is still only one diamond. Thus each and every facet makes up the existence of The Creator.

I myself tend to think rules suck. Because while most might be good for the general population, they're not tailored for individual use, simply for control over the masses.

That's why I consider myself Spiritual rather than Religious; because Spirituality is tailored to the individual soul rather than something that's simply there to try and explain (and usually fairly poorly at that) Why We're Here and attempts to answer the Meaning of Life. When in reality, the meaning is simply to Exist and Grow and Experience... most people just don't understand that fact.