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.
Do the Dead Still Speak to Us?
Do the dead still speak to us?
Of course they do.
I, Steven, who do not believe in life after death, I tell you so.
They speak to us in memories. Have you ever heard your grandmother's voice in your head, counseling one course of action or another?
They speak to us through their deeds. Through stories, through their remembered actions, the ancestors tell us today how to behave or how not to behave.
They speak to us through their words and songs. We live by the Lore, and through the Lore their words and ways come down to us. In oral cultures, memory is passed down in songs. Many covens have a Book of Shadows; we have a songbook.
They speak to us through their artifacts. Although here in North America, relations between First Nations communities and archaeologists have (and understandably so) been contentious, the Mapuche of Bolivia love the archaeologists. “Through them, the ancestors speak to us,” they say.
Do the dead still speak to us?
Of course they do.
I, Steven, polyatheist, bear witness that they do.
Above: Male and female figurines
Tripolye Culture (Ukraine)
ca. 5500 BCE
Comments
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Monday, 30 October 2017
When it comes to belief, I'm very much of the "Value Added" school of thought: let's go with what we know for sure. Then if there's more, so much the better.
The Grand Sabbat of the Atoms: that, at least, is sure.
But, hey, surprises are fine with me. Good Samhain, Tasha. -
Monday, 30 October 2017I like your philosophy, and agree! Blessed Be and a Good Samhain to you also. Tasha
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ty!
I must respectfully disagree. While I honor your belief I hav so much evidence of "the dead" speaking in the past umpteen years to me that I can't possibly feel there is no life after death and you are most likely in for a big surprise. Be that as it may, I thought your piece was also very relevant. Blessed be, Tasha