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qosThis holiday season has brought home to me -- again -- how much I miss having a spiritual community. Whatever the depth of my personal, individual connection to the gods, there is something lacking without having a community with which to share ritual, holidays, fellowship. . .
Those of you who have known me for a while are aware, however, that community membership has long been problematic for me. It is part of my spiritual nature to be a journeyer, to live outside the box. The Grail Quest draws me out from behind the defining walls of church, circle, and city into the Lands Adventurous. If I find a place in a community, it usually only lasts a couple of years before my awareness of how much more is outside their boundaries draws me out beyond them as well. This isn't to say that any given community has been objectionably narrow. But commnunity, by definition, has an "inside" and an "outside," what is "us" and what is "not-us." That's part of how community works.
A few minutes ago, I sent an email to the local steward of the Heathen organization The Troth, asking if there were any upcoming events or activities a newcomer/inquirer could attend.
How does this fit with my Underwold path and my devotion to Ereshkigal? It's part of the greater whole. Tiwaz/Tyr is my household guardian, and LM's patron. Freyja is the primary patron of my hierodule path. I resonate less with the lore of the Heathen path than with the overall flavor of their worship and values. They have a strong emphasis on honor, self-reliance, courage, hospitality, and generosity -- areas which I value, but certainly could use some assistance in reinforcing.
Will it be a good fit? I have no idea. But it's time I reached out again and tried to connect face-to-face with others who share at least some aspects of my path.
Those of you who have known me for a while are aware, however, that community membership has long been problematic for me. It is part of my spiritual nature to be a journeyer, to live outside the box. The Grail Quest draws me out from behind the defining walls of church, circle, and city into the Lands Adventurous. If I find a place in a community, it usually only lasts a couple of years before my awareness of how much more is outside their boundaries draws me out beyond them as well. This isn't to say that any given community has been objectionably narrow. But commnunity, by definition, has an "inside" and an "outside," what is "us" and what is "not-us." That's part of how community works.
A few minutes ago, I sent an email to the local steward of the Heathen organization The Troth, asking if there were any upcoming events or activities a newcomer/inquirer could attend.
How does this fit with my Underwold path and my devotion to Ereshkigal? It's part of the greater whole. Tiwaz/Tyr is my household guardian, and LM's patron. Freyja is the primary patron of my hierodule path. I resonate less with the lore of the Heathen path than with the overall flavor of their worship and values. They have a strong emphasis on honor, self-reliance, courage, hospitality, and generosity -- areas which I value, but certainly could use some assistance in reinforcing.
Will it be a good fit? I have no idea. But it's time I reached out again and tried to connect face-to-face with others who share at least some aspects of my path.
