Thread:WorshipperOfTheOldReligion/@comment-4814726-20120613015556/@comment-5191335-20120613062519

No problem, new friend! I, too, practically live on my laptop (that is, when I'm not communing with nature).

Most of my faith are not very public about our beliefs, as we are often predjudiced against for our beliefs (I was once beaten with a Bible, splashed with Holy Water, and had people try to "pray the Devil out" of me), so you may have a difficult time finding information about it on the internet. We tend to feel safer in the shadows and on the fringe of society, worshipping privately and keeping our faith to ourselves (I'm somewhat different from my fellow Transcendentalists, I was never content hiding who I am). Mostly, what you will find is information on literary transcendentalists, like Emerson and Thoreau. There is much wisdom in their writing and many of our philosophies are similar. They basically believed that one found God, and oneself, through communing with nature, which we agree whole-heartedly with.

Worry not about the skepticism! I was a skeptic too, once. I was raised in a conservative Christian home. When my dreams began to come true, I freaked out! Then, I met my Preistest. I had told noone of my dreams, but she saw me in the library and she just knew. She asked me if I had died. I said yes. She asked if I remembered it. I did. She asked if I'd heard the voice. I did and it had told me two things: 1) I was not through with my purpose of earth and 2) I must listen to my dreams. She told me that I had been given a gift and the Great One had awakened it. I wasn't skeptical any longer, though I can honestly say that many of my closest friends are extremely skeptical! In fact, most of my friends outside of my Circle are atheists. This does not hinder our friendship. I believe differing beliefs shouldn't keep people from enjoying eachother. My life experiences led me to believe as I do. Others haven't experienced what I have and have found their own personal truths, which differ from mine just as their experiences do. Let me very clear, however, that those of my faith do not believe in "magic." Rather, we believe in power. We believe in prayer. We believe in a Being more powerful than any could comprehend, a Creator who breathed his power to all of His Creation. In many ways, it is a lot like other religions based in prayer. Only, we use natural items to either strengthen or focus our prayer.

And, I too am frightened by the spirits of darkness! I do not know why that one attacked me, but I have never been more terrified in my entire life. Afterward, I spent nearly 9 days hovering on the brink of death, unconscious. Only prayers from across the world kept me alive and protected, prayers of friends I have in all the corners of the world, prayers said by people of multiple faiths. Of this, I am certian. As soon as I could after recovering, I prayed my thanks, burnt lavendar to cleanse myself and asked for protection from evil (the Cherokee Tribe, from whom I am descended, believe lavendar dispels dark spirits and invites good spirits in), and wrote a prayer and placed it in a talisman to carry as a protection charm. So far, no more dark spirits have found me, nor has anyone else harmed me. Worry not about having the "gift" of the Great One. His/Her power is within us all, though some are gifted more strongly, have practiced more, or are just more connected to the earth or to the Spirit World. My Priestest said I was more connected to the earth based on my Cherokee roots and more connected to the Spirit World by my return from the brink of death. All you must do is ask for the power to be unlocked and then study and practice. Unlocking the gift doesn't have to be tramatic, as it was with me.

Yes, I did notice all of those things! The details made me quite happy! And, Samhain is my favorite holiday! And, worry not about sounding like a fangirl! I, too, am a huge fan of the show, all of the details they incorporate, and, especially, of Colin Morgan! So, we share that. :D

You do not make me uncomfortable! It takes a lot to make me uncomfortable. I am an open book!

"Blessed be" is a form of saying "goodbye." In Ancient Rome, they bade eachother farewell by saying "Valet" (pronounced wal-ay), which meet "be healthy." Other terms are similar. "Goodbye" originated sometime between 1565 and 1575 and was a contraction for "God be with you." "Farewell" originated sometime between 1325 and 1375 and was a shortening of "may you fare well." "Blessed be" just means "may you be blessed." It is a way of wishing somebody well as you part. Other phrases used a lot by Wiccans and Transcendentalists are "Merry meet," which basically means "nice to meet you" or "I'm happy to see you," and "Merry part," which basically means "let us part on good terms" or "I wish you joy as we go our seperate ways." "Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again" is a more formal goodbye, meaning "it was good to see you and I wish you well until we see eachother again." I'm not entirely sure why Wiccans and Transcendentalists use these greetings and goodbyes instead of more conventional ones. Perhaps merely because they are less conventional? Many of us tend to like being a bit eccentric, a tad disconnected from the modern world, despite trying to fit in by being private about our religion. I am the opposite - I am unapollogetic of my faith and fit in with the modren world in other ways. I am revel in being normal and in being strong in my faith.

Merry part, my dear friend,

Sybil