The other day I was reading some articles on Indian spirituality and discovered that this year, 2005, is a year of Spiritual Awakening. This intrigued me as the theme I had chosen for this month's column was "awakening spirituality". To me, the term referred to the act of casting aside the distractions of modern life and spending some quality time reaquainting myself with my soul, my connection to the divine and thus to the universe. And that was what I had intended to write about. But now, my interest caught, I delved into Hindu astrology to decipher what "a year of Spiritual Awakening" means.
Apparently, we live in the era of Kaliyug, or darkness, caught up in a cycle of destruction and regression. However, with the astrological changes brought by the new year, there is hope for our greedly, materialistic, blind selves as the time of Moksha Karak begins to exert itself. Moksha Karak refers to the freeing of humanity from the repeated cycles of life and death - in other words, a step upwards on the reincarnation ladder, and one step closer to Nirvana. Nirvana becomes open to us when we shed our worldly and fleshly desires and attain true spiritual awakening.
Considering that 2006 is meant to be a year of Karmic return, this idea of becoming more aware has significant appeal. Within Eastern thought, Karma is not necessarily played out in the next life - that is a very simplistic view. We have the option and the power to address our debts in this lifetime, and by doing so in an honest fashion, we move closer to true awareness, and thus closer to Nirvana.
Now, I am not a follower of the Eastern paths. I am a Druid. So Karma is not a part of my belief system...or is it? The Druidic principle of balance is very similar to Karma in many ways, and when I read these words of wisdom concerning Kaliyug and Moksha Karak, I can see the relationship between that system of belief and my own. I may not be headed for Nirvana (or maybe I am), but I do believe that I will continue being reborn until I have finished learning all I came here to learn. And to achieve that means moving towards a state of true awareness. Two sides of the same coin.
Why do I want this? Well, if I am right, and there is more to life than just this one time, then I desire to experience what comes next - and if I stay unaware, then I learn nothing and need to repeat this life's lesson all over. Somewhat of a waste of a lifetime. If I am wrong, and this life is it, then what better way to live this life than with as much awareness and enjoyment and appreciation of it as I can?
To become aware is to experience a "spiritual awakening", where the epiphany of my life's meaning unfolds further and I see myself more clearly, more honestly and with greater acceptance. I become more comfortable within my skin regardless of the situation, which is always an appealing concept.
I can choose to walk through existence insensate to the relationship between my soul and the universe. Or I can choose to unfetter my eyes, unstop my ears and experience all that comes my way with the entirety of my being. Don't get me wrong - I'm not advocating running wild and carefree like the Bacchae. Such manic hysteria does not truely expose one to life. Instead it shields us behind a facade of mad gaity and we never really experience anything deep within our souls. Or know who we are. But there are times when I really do live within the moment, not caught up on past mistakes or worried about future outcomes. No. I simply experience what is happening as it happens and nothing more. And in that simple act is everything.
Young children and animals live in that state of the "now". Unconcerned by potential evils to be faced tomorrow, and untroubled by the mishaps of yesterday, they enjoy their lives minute by minute. Thinking back to my own childhood - or even now, when I succeed in living in the moment - time slows, and the moment takes longer to pass. Or is it that time speeds up abnormally when we live outside the moment? Which makes me wonder if the yogis and Buddhists live longer lives because they live slower?
For me, the awakening of my spirit is a life long work of love as I strive to achieve in the here-and-now what I knew before I was born. I catch glimpses of it in my dreams, and sometimes, with my children, I feel it swell up within me.
For a timeless moment I live again.
In what is seen, there should be just the seen;
In what is heard, there should be just the heard;
In what is sensed, there should be just the sensed;
In what is thought, there should be just the thought.
~ Sutta Nipata II.
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The Spiral Path
By Rebecca SerVoss
For me, February has always seemed to be more about new beguinnings than January. Maybe it's Imbolg's influence, or maybe it's the fact that January sees all the promises while February sees all the follow-throughs. I'm happy to report I've called my mother several times, and have lost 3 pounds. So I guess I'm doing ok on the follow-through. More importantly, I have discovered several things about myself and my path.
First, I am not Wiccan. Or at least, I'm not Gardinerian, Alexanderian, or Dianic. It's a fine path for some, even many, but I have a few fundamental difficulties with it. The Three-fold law poses particular issues for me. There doesn't seem to be any historical data to support it. All of my research has suggested it is simply an idea of Gardiner, that was presented as a rule by Buckland, and just seems to have stuck. My research also indicates an attempt by the founders of Wicca to simplify Hinduism's Karma and mold it into a more readily acceptable concept for Westerners unfamiliar with Reincarnation and the rules surrounding it. The Three-times return might be linked to the G initiation practice of flogging the candidate and then allowing the floggee to return the favor Three-fold. Still, I cannot comprehend why we would have different rules from non-Pagans. The precepts governing Karma as set forth in Hinduism just seem to make more sense. Working out all of one's energy exchanges here and now seems contradictory to the idea of Reincarnation, a value held deeply by much of the Pagan community, including myself. So while Wicca is not my home, I owe it respect for getting me started in a direction. Even though it wasn't my ultimate destination.
Which brings me to the second thing I have learned about myself this month. I am an Urban Pagan. And that's ok. I used to feel like I wasn't really a Pagan because I loved cities so much. But for me they are not dead lifeless places. Each city I have been in has had its own energy, its own flavor. And, yes, despair and isolation occur with frequency, but so to does compassion. And for me, being Pagan is ultimately more about connecting with people. I am connected with nature and the earth simply by existing. The simple act of breathing connects me to Mother Earth and Father Sky, so long as I remain mindful of that fact. But connecting with people requires balance and work. Two things Paganism seems to value most highly.
Ok, bye now.
Beca
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