Religion: And How it Has Changed My Life Essay

After thinking rough it, I thought Wicca hasnt really convinced my intent history that frequently, at least not in concrete ways. Ive always raged the Earth and thought of it as creation beautiful and precious. Ive always been fascinated at the beauty and closed book of the Moon and the starry sky. Ive always found Nature to be healing in an all inclusive way that encompasses the physical, mental and sacred realms. Ive always believed that our minds give way the power to accomplish amazing things. Ive always thought that there is much more than to this Universe than what we underside see with our eyes and grasp with our minds.I rejected my familys religion, Christianity, because patronage many claims of it being filled with peace and love, I found their set a rive book to be filled with persecution and cruelty. I was certain that no genius culture had a direct-line to the Divine, that there was no One Truth. I became interested in natural remedies. I celebrated the sea sons in my accept simple manner. In many ways, I am as I always was, and yet discovering Paganism has brought major changes to my life.When I recognize that there was an actual religion whose beliefs so closely matched my accept, I was filled with delight and enthusiasm. I literally spent to the highest degree a year and a half utterly consumed in learning all I could lead my hands on the lore, mythology, witching(prenominal)k and ritual. It was fascinating, and all my spare time was devoted to convention make loveledge and attempting to incorporate what come alonged true into my life. I know that I depart always be learning and growing in my chosen philosophy, solely it is more subtle now. I know the basics at a basic level. I am branching out, studying mythology to an even great depth, using meditation and divination to know myself with ever greater understanding.I am certain that each individuals trail pass on be unique, exactly I consider Wicca to be a path more c oncerned with who I truly am and how I marry with this Universe. These are wonderful concepts to ponder, but how has Wicca actually affected my perfunctory life? As I thought approximately the question I recognize that it has affected me in subtle but myriad ways. It has receive a deeply intertwined part of my life. I think it affects every aspect of my mean solar day to day existence.The small rituals, that are such a part of my daily routine now, enhance mylife and make it more more purposeful and fulfilling. When I wake in the morning I step impertinent and greet the Sun. I feel a moment of thanks for its heating plant and life-giving rays. I read a poem or a meditation about a graven imagedess/God. My evening routine is similar. I go out and welcome the Night, the Moon and the Stars. I acknowledge the mystery and magic that I find intrinsic in their beauty. I try to knock off as much time as possible out in Nature because I establish that such time is necessary for me. I light candles and whisper heartfelt thanks and love to my Goddess and God. But these actions, sequence important and purposeful to me, are things Ive added to my life as a form of worship. How has Paganism changed my everyday, mundane existence?As I mentioned earlier, I did not waste much respect for Christianity when I was younger. Learning about many different religions has helped me to realize that Christianity can be a upstanding and fulfilling path for many heap. It is only in the hands of extremists that it can decease a path of hatredjust as with any oppositewise religion. Wicca has helped me to be tolerant of another(prenominal) peoples spirituality as long as they arent spewing prejudice and hatred for any other religion besides their own. This didnt happen overnight. At first I was indignant about Christianitys attempt to destroy Paganism, the cruelty of the destroy Times and the intolerance that some modern day Christians show toward other spiritual paths . As I read and learned and pondered the issues, I realized that even Christianity, with its horrible history and its modern day fanatics, is a sensible and rewarding path for most of its adherents. For most it is a path of love and peace.I never was too concerned about keeping my mode spotless. Im a bit of a compact rat, and things tend to pile up. Im alike a procrastinator, its easy for me to put things off until Im in the witticism to do them. immediately I try to keep it less cluttered and more organized. This is a direct result of Wicca, because I jadet want negativity to gain a foothold in my home. I realize that messiness can affect the feeling of my home if only in subtle ways. Im far from perfect, but much better than I used to be and improving with time.I a great deal had a terrible time making decisions, especially important ones,sometimes agonizing for days or even weeks over which choice to make. Now Ive learned several different types of divination. These help me to know my own mind and make the best decision I can without hour guessing myself or wondering if I should have chosen a different route.I hardly ever prayed before becoming Wiccan. I connected it with Christianity. Now prayer has decease an important part of my life. This was something I didnt plan. It just developed naturally. Prayer gives me peace of mind at times, gives me an instantaneous response to stressors and lets me have a spontaneous and intimate human relationship with Divinity.I have always written poetry. I have become more prolific. Even if my words are only beautiful and meaningful to me, poetry adds a glorious dimension to my life. It is an amazing experience to put down writing and have the words flow onto the paper without any struggle, to realize that, in some very special moments, it is as if you are a conduit to Divinity and the words are a direct connection with God/Goddess.While I dont believe anyone can know for certain what happens after death, I ha ve accepted reincarnation as my personal philosophy. It just makes smell to me, and it gives me comfort and peace when I am faced with the death of others or my own mortality.I have become more calm and serene. I dont let things some(prenominal)er me as much as I used to. I recognise more in the moment now than in worrying about the old or the future. I feel an even greater sense of gratitude for my life, the blessings that I have and the beauty and wonder of this amazing Universe. Meditation has accustomed me much benefit, but the integral philosophy of life, that Ive embraced in the past few years, gives my existence a deeper meaning and makes sense of things that I couldnt understand before.I have learned spellcraft and use it to improve my life. I believe that much, of the changes that magick makes, is indoors ones self. It gives me a confidence and a surety that affects my whole life. I believe that to make outward changes, a person must first change their inner self. That is whatmagick is to me, the ability to change myself for the better, to live in harmony with those that I love and the natural world around me. It also lets me communicate my desires to the Universe, and if it be for the greater good, I know my wishes will be granted. Perhaps in a way I hadnt anticipated, but granted nonetheless. Of course I realize I must do the mundane work, and I never ask for more than I truly need.I am not as shy as I used to be. I love writing, but just about 5 years ago, I would have been too reticent to submit my thoughts in this essay or any other something that other eyes king see. Im in the process of created my own website, I have been for about 2 years. This was a gigantic step for me, but I felt an almost overwhelming urge to honor my Goddess and God in this way. I joined a Pagan message board about two years ago. That was another huge step for me. It took me several months of lurking to run low up enough courage to join, but I wanted to be a pa rt of a community of like minded people and join in on those discussions that I found so interesting. This would have been impossible for me without all the small steps Ive taken in the last few years.You could say that most of these things would have developed besides as I gain the experience and wisdom that comes from living more than seventeen years. That may be true, but then again it king not. I know others my age who are torn by angst, whose lives seem filled with a steady stream of problems, who are anxious and joyless and ever searching for what will bring them contentment and fulfillment. Perhaps its a matter of personality or temperament. I really dont know, but I do know that Wicca has been a gas for changes that have greatly improved my personal life.My spirituality gives me a contentment that I searched for and couldnt find for a long time. Wicca is an intrinsic part of me now. It affects my every waking moment perhaps not consciously, but at a deeper, more profoun d level.Wicca answers an abiding need deep within the very core of my being. Because I have accepted and embraced its philosophy, my entire life has been affected. I am a totally different person than I was 7 or 8 years ago, yet Iam the same in many ways. I know thats a contradiction, but I know that its true also. We all change subtly with the passing of time. Hopefully we change for the better. Wicca has changed my life in both great and small ways. I believe I am a better person for it.