מה טבו Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 For those of you who have left Christianity for some other spiritual path - or even those who are not "spiritual", but have formed new traditions as a result of changed beliefs: What's one of your new traditions that you like? What does it involve? How does it benefit you? How is it a good thing? The tradition can be a holiday, a meal, or any ritual that is involved in your new, non-Christian life. Mead, meditation, medication, or a weekly bacon sandwich - May Day, Payday, or Gay Day - whatever you like. I'll start with one that's coming up - Yamim Noraim (ימים נוראים) - the Days of Awe. It's the 10-day period starting at Rosh Hoshanna (Jewish New Year) and ending at Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Basically, it's a lot of introspection. You look over your life for the past year, and search for any regrets. If you have a feud or have done wrong to anyone, you contact them and make amends. If you've done something that you're ashamed of, you evaluate it, and atone for it. It's not exactly a huge party, but it can be a time of healing and change. I'm reminded of the famous words, "The unexamined life is not worth living." When it's so easy to get lost in the motions of day to day life, Yamim Noraim is marking some of that examination on the calendar so you don't forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuaiDan Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I enjoy psychoactive substances on occasion, sort of a stand in for religious ecstasy, pun intended. Does that count? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
מה טבו Posted August 29, 2007 Author Share Posted August 29, 2007 I enjoy psychoactive substances on occasion, sort of a stand in for religious ecstasy, pun intended. Does that count? Yep. That'll work. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbobrob Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I have always been one of those who loves to write down days to be remembered and rituals to be performed....and then days after the day I remember that I wanted to focus some attention on the day. If it were not for family and friends, I don't think I'd focus on any special days, holy days, at all. But, maybe that is because I see everyday now as a holy day...divine simply because the universe is here to make it so, and I am here to enjoy it. Used to do a lot of pagan/wiccan/thelemic rituals, a few years ago. But I got bored of the emptiness I got out of it. I think the only one I focus on, if pressed is Easter....because in my family it is the one day a year we make homemade Polish food. That tradition is one I hope we never lose. The rest.....eh, whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurisaz Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 What's one of your new traditions that you like? What does it involve? How does it benefit you? How is it a good thing? Spontaneous thoughts: Mutual respect, and acceptance of one's own responsibility. Yes, the High Gods are much more powerful than we are... but Divine beings have Divine problems. Also, they do realize that we are the ones in charge of Midgard (our world in Asatru lore) just like they are the rulers of Asgard (their world). They may sometimes meddle with our affairs, but generally it's "your business, our business" on both sides. And as for responsibility: The High Gods, inasmuch as is generally accepted by all Asatruar I know, give advice, but no commands. Likewise they don't promise that they'll answer any prayer (let alone all prayers), though they may well do so if it suits them. Our world, and our lives, are our business. If we fuck it up, we have only ourselves to blame. If we do it right we have a right to be proud of our achievements. I've read a tripartite proverb somewhere about praying to the High Gods... along the line of: 1. Tyr will help you if your prayer is sincere. 2. Thor will help you if your cause is just. and about Odin, da boss in da house: 3. Odin will help you if... he feels like it. (for those not in the know about the Asatru deities, Tyr is generally considered the God of justice and honorable warfare, Thor is the defender of Midgard and its people in addition to his well-known task as God of thunder, and Odin, well... the first among equals, God of "poetry, sorcery... and death") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astreja Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 New traditions? Meadmaking and the best Jól party in town. Food and drink weighing down every table and countertop. 3. Odin will help you if... he feels like it. Yup, that sounds about right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LithaB Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 But, maybe that is because I see everyday now as a holy day...divine simply because the universe is here to make it so, and I am here to enjoy it. AMEN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycorth Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 The tradition I enjoy best is having no more traditions at all, or at least being bound to none Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.B. Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 My favorite tradition is watching my children grow up and learn about the world around them. The best part is that I can share all kinds of answers to their questions with them without feeling bound by the guilt/fear dynamic of Xtianity. In other words, I get to watch my kids grow into FULLY alive people as opposed to people who need dogmatic frameworks in order to get the world to make sense. The beauty of this 'tradition' of ours is that it is new and exciting each day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts