Showing posts with label namaste. Show all posts

Pagan Blog Project 2013 - V is for Views

Everyone one has a different point of view.  Over the past few weeks I've noticed that when people express those views inevitably someone is called a bully.

When one person takes a stand and questions why others are not in the same physical shape, she’s labeled as fat shaming.  When a fat-activist responds to her post with a similar post she’s tagged with thin shaming.  When someone shares a photo of a grocery cart full of garbage food she’s tagged as food shaming.

Pagans are notoriously known as being accepting people.  A quick search on Google finds that generally speaking most Pagans are pretty accepting of most people.  Gays, lesbians, male, female, most follow perfect love and perfect trust motto.  They live and let live.  For the most part.

That’s not to say there are not folks with their questionable views.  There are pagans who are racist.  There are pagans who are sexist.  Just as there are Christians, Muslims and all religions for that matter, who fall into these categories.  Each having their own view and believing they are correct.

Earlier this week a car pulled into our driveway here at the farm and two ladies stepped out.  I was standing at the door and hubby walked over to the fence where our dogs were doing mad.  The lady reached out towards my hubby and started to talk about Jesus.

As I watched my hubby shake his head side to side to indicate that we’re not really interested in what she’s selling.  I felt angry.  I felt attacked.  How dare this woman come into my driveway, on my property and automatically assume that I needed her to tell me about her God.

I agreed with his statement by shaking my head in the negative and they both got back in the car and left.  After they drove away hubby and I chatted a bit about the situation.  I asked him how he felt about them coming to our house.
 
From his view, an atheist, he felt they were arrogant and rude.  They didn't know who we were.  They didn't know what we believed and yet they felt that they had to come to our property and push their views on us.
Then I thought about their view.  What was their view exactly?  What did they think they were doing?  I’m sure neither of these ladies thought they were trespassing.  I’m sure neither of them thought that they were offending us.  Does that make them bullies? 

I try to treat others how I want to be treated. I try to be honest, work hard and do the right thing.  I don’t steal, or take credit for other people’s work.  I try to make quality products in my shop and charge a fair price.  I try to help other earthlings, be they two legged or more.

I believe that we should take the time to remember that even though I felt angry because they were on my property.  I have to remember the intent.  I have to remember that they were not really trying to attack me.  In their minds they were trying to save my soul.  We have people in this world that do intend to do harm.  They do intend to be hateful nasty people.  I don’t think that posting a photo of yourself online and challenging others to work out, or answering that challenge with a rebuttal of your own is in anyway hateful. 
People need to learn to agree to disagree.  Understand that not everyone has your views.  Some of those views will be different from your own, be it Pagan view or a Christian view.  We need to understand that no matter what our views are, inside of us we are all the same people.  We bleed the same.  We breathe the same. 

I’m reminded of Namaste.  Namaste is a greeting, it is like saying good day, or I bow to you.  There is the belief that there is a divine spark located within each of us.  That spark is said to dwell in the hear chakra. 

Gandhi defined it as the following:
"I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you of light, love, truth, peace and wisdom. I honor the place in you where, when you are in that place, and I am in that place, there is only one of us."

Blessings
Sosanna

)O(

Pagan Blog Project 2012 – V is for Values



Values are something that we are hearing a great deal about during this election year.  Generally when you hear the term you can pretty much believe that what the speaker is trying to explain is how the feel about a particular subject.  You can also get a sense of their belief in other things such as fairness, equality and personal responsibility just by the use of the word values.

For example, one of the most redundant words in my opinion is “Family Values”.  We've all heard this phase uttered by hundreds of politicians’ preachers and even fast food chains.  A quick search on Google shows us that “Family Values” are something embraced by the Conservatives and often refers to the “nuclear family” and the times associated with it.  A Mother staying at home, 3.2 children and the suburbs.

In some of the LGBT communities the term “family” means something different entirely.  Often used as slang the term “Family” here indicates someone who is in the “LGBT” family.  Usually used to maintain a since of privacy about his or her closet status.  The term is also used here in the same context as a term of endurance.  Meaning he/she is as close to me as family.  Some LGBT are disowned by their family so replacing this missing element with a Family of choice is in itself a Value.

Other type of Family value is that old adage “Blood is thicker than water.”   I've heard this term used many many times.  I've heard it from my own family and from strangers.  To me, I’m not sure I really understand this particular use.  In reading the statement and understanding the meaning of the words it seems to propose that no matter the treatment you get from your “Family” they will always be family and therefore should be free of any judgment or personal responsibility for their actions.  To me… this makes no sense at all. 

Why should my mother, brother or sister be able to get away with treating me like crap but a stranger?  Well that’s a whole different story… UMMM yeah, in my opinion you don’t get a free pass just because we shared a vagina.  Just saying.

So now I have to look at myself.  What are my values?

I value friendship and love over blood lines. 
I value actions more than words.  You can speak all day long but “SHOW ME” what you’re about. 
I value a sense of community and belonging. 
I value honesty and sincerity.
I value saying what you mean, not what you think others WANT to hear, or WANT you to say. 
I value equality; rights are not granted, but endowed.  As we live and breathe we have the right to enjoy life and pursue our dreams without being told we are not worthy by those in power positions.
I value freedom.  We are all free to be just as big a jackass as we want; we are also free to be loving compassionate people, which the world needs more of.



I believe the statement that sums up what I value best would be the following:
"I honor the place within you where the entire Universe resides; I honor the place within you of love, of light, of truth, of peace; I honor the place within you, where, when you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us."


So what are your values?  What do you hold dear?



Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(





Weight Wait.

So over the last few years, well actually over my lifetime, I've struggled with weight. I've been a yo-yo dieter, a gastric bypass survivor and a binge eater.

Last month I started a new workout and decided to take part in the "Get Off Your Broom Fitness Challenge". I've been taking my measurements and working out every other day to try to "stay in shape". I'm really questioning my motives here.

I've lost over 110 lbs. I've gone from a size 24W to a size 10M. I've gone from eating at McDonald's twice a day to NEVER. I've gone from having 3 42oz Sweet Teas a day to 48oz of water. I've changed everything about my life that made me unhealthy. I've stopped smoking, drinking and eating crap foods. Something to be amazingly proud of. But instead, I hop on the bandwagon to drop more weight and constantly beat myself up for failing to make the weigh in. Or not losing enough.

Why do I do that? Why can't I just put the bat down and stop beating the hell out of myself? I came to the realization a few nights ago after reading a comment left on my blog that said simply this. "How much do you want to lose?" Simple question, common question for those on a weigh loss challenge. The answer escaped me. I don't want to lose any more weight really. I'm good at this weight. I'm happy here. I don't have to drop another pound. I'd like to be toner, but weight loss, isn't really my goal. So then WHY WHY am I so obsessed with it? I'm sure it can be related to my childhood or lack of self esteem. I'm sure that there's a huge diagnosis out there waiting to have my name attached to it. Hell if nothing else the bipolar bit will certainly explain me grabbing something and running to each extreme with it.

I've decided that I'm not going to drop out of the fitness challenge. I'm not going to change my diet back to my old habits or quit working out completely. I am however going to try to start being a little nicer to myself. I'm going to acknowledge that I've done a flapping awesome job dropping this weight and I don't have to wait to be proud of it. I'm awesome right now. I'm awesome today and tomorrow. My weight doesn't define me. I define it.

And for today, I will give thanks to my many blessings. I will not worry. I will not be angry. I will do my work honestly and I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing.


Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(