Paganistan: Notes from the Secret Commonwealth

In Which One Midwest Man-in-Black Confers, Converses & Otherwise Hob-Nobs with his Fellow Hob-Men (& -Women) Concerning the Sundry Ways of the Famed but Ill-Starred Tribe of Witches.

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Blessed Are the Doubters

If, as they say, belief is a gift, I didn't get much.

Fortunately, I'm a pagan, so it doesn't matter.

Of course, there are believing pagans out there. Well, better an honest believer than a dishonest unbeliever.

But I suspect that most of us straddle that hedge, with one foot in belief and the other in doubt. And that I can respect.

I reached the crisis of faith early on in my pagan career. I loved the Old Gods passionately, but I realized that I couldn't be intellectually honest with myself and say that I actually believed in them.

I was working as a night watchman that summer, so I had many opportunities for dark nights of the soul. Finally, one night, the hag came down and we wrestled.

All night we wrestled.

In the morning, the Sun came up. Out of that struggle, I had won myself a realization.

Belief is moot.

Believe, don't believe: in the end, it doesn't matter.

I could be pagan, I could walk the Old Ways, I could love the Old Gods, all without belief.

Pagan isn't what you Believe.

Pagan is who your People is.

Pagan is what you Do.

Pagan is who you Are.

Blessed are those that doubt, for they shall be called, the wise.

 

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Tagged in: belief beliefs unbelief
Poet, scholar and storyteller Steven Posch was raised in the hardwood forests of western Pennsylvania by white-tailed deer. (That's the story, anyway.) He emigrated to Paganistan in 1979 and by sheer dint of personality has become one of Lake Country's foremost men-in-black. He is current keeper of the Minnesota Ooser.

Comments

  • Mark Green
    Mark Green Thursday, 16 August 2018

    YES!

  • Kile Martz
    Kile Martz Thursday, 16 August 2018

    Brother speaks my mind. And this: Sun, Moon, Earth do not require belief to make them real, or, for that matter, mythical and divine.

  • Steven Posch
    Steven Posch Friday, 17 August 2018

    Blessed be They.

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