manifest
NeoNote — Mostly
Saturday, 20Apr2019
❝Science as it is taught relies heavily on IS and IS NOT and IF, THEN. There is nothing wrong with these ideas until you assume that they are universal. I prefer MOSTLY to IS and IS NOT. It means I watch for the exceptions where neither IS nor IS NOT applies. It means our understanding is limited by our perception and assumptions at the moment.
When Robert Goddard first took his work to the public, he was ridiculed. "Everyone" knew that Newton's work said that rockets couldn't work in a vacuum. Of course, Newton's work didn't say anything of the kind, but that didn't change what everyone knew. They didn't allow for the exception that opened the possibilities.
MOSTLY works. It just means that looking for the occasional exception. It means not closing your mind to the possibilities. It means that there are things that we don't understand. And that means there is reason to reach beyond what we know.
That's why I objected to absolute truth.❞
NeoNotes are the selected comments that I made on other boards, in email, or in response to articles where I could not respond directly.
Comments
NeoNote — the American compromise
Tuesday, 16Apr2019
Their compromise gave other faiths a wedge into the American religious landscape.
Read More...NeoNote — This tragedy does not reflect on Heathens.
Sunday, 24Mar2019
❝I don't understand why any group should change their language, practices, customs or actions when the shooter was not part of the group or the community.❞Read More...
Polarities
Sunday, 27Jan2019
“The Judeo-Christian heritage has left us with the view of a universe composed of warring opposites, which are valued as either good or evil. They cannot coexist. A valuable insight of Witchcraft, shared by many earth-based religions, is that polarities are in balance, not at war.”
Microdose
Wednesday, 26Dec2018
“Study: People Who ‘Microdose’ LSD and Magic Mushrooms Are Wiser and More Creative”
Read More...Philosphy foundation
Sunday, 23Dec2018
NeoNote — Protected
Saturday, 22Dec2018
❝The popular American Christian concept of Satan isn't what it started as. Originally the Hebrew Adversary was a tester of faith, not a nearly all powerful god of evil. In short, that Satan can't tempt you unless the temptation is there to begin with.
I disagree. I realize it's a cornerstone of your faith, but tain't mine.
That's closer to the original. It also fits a number of folktales and mythologies.
There's a sort of protection that derives from the collective belief of your culture and faith. As long as you are a "member in good standing" and your culture is true to itself, you can't be touched without permission by spirits. Break the rules and you're fair game.
Which incidentally is the plot to almost every supernatural horror film ever made.❞
NeoNotes are the selected comments that I made on other boards, in email, or in response to articles where I could not respond directly.
❝Nothing exists except atoms and empty space…❞
Thursday, 20Dec2018
“Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is just opinion.”
Short version, yes, magick works.
Wednesday, 12Dec2018
❝OK, this is a more complex topic than I want to handle here. Short version, yes, magick works. Most religions recognize it including Christianity (intercessory prayer among other things). Most of the time, it's not necessary or practical. If you're a "good" person by the standards of your culture, you're protected from almost all baneful magick as long as your culture is true to itself.❞
NeoNote — First lesson
Sunday, 09Dec2018
Of course, you could stop trying to preach and actually pay attention to what people are willing to share. You might even learn something.
Read More...Good vibrations
Sunday, 09Dec2018
Ro3 № 17
Tuesday, 20Nov2018
❝It’s not a real party unless it lasts three days.❞— NeoWayland, Rules of Three
The flip side of placebo
Wednesday, 14Nov2018
Technopagan retreat
Wednesday, 14Nov2018
Doing something positive in the world
Thursday, 01Nov2018
“Several years ago, I heard what I think was best advice ever about improving the image of Paganism. Unfortunately I can’t remember who said it, but the gist of it was this:) Rather than coming out as Pagans and then trying to convince people we deserve to be on the school board or city council or whatever, we should join the school board or city council, show them we are good citizens and good people, and then come out as Pagans. It’s not about hiding our Paganism, so much as taking our focus off of ourselves and refocus it on doing something positive in the world (other than making the world more comfortable for Pagans). Changing the image people have of Pagans will then happen naturally, without us trying.”— John Halstead, Why Contemporary Paganism Deserves to Die
How does it make the World better?
Tuesday, 30Oct2018
Us versus them
Thursday, 25Oct2018
“Anyway, my point was that seeing the world solely through an us vs them lens only increases the conflict and division in the world, and dehumanizes the people we think are Them. It's the root cause of why these Christian folks in the article think that the Druids are Satanists out to do terrible evil. Their specific religious justifications are only the surface level. At it's root it is the poison of dualistic thinking, the idea that the world and it's people can be divided into good and evil. And the poison of dualism can infect anyone, or any religion.”— Shawn Herles, comments from Wayist Druid public Samhain ritual draws threats
The pedestal problem
Tuesday, 23Oct2018
Read More..."The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."— Lewis Carrol,
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There
NeoNote — People cherish their passions
Monday, 22Oct2018
❝Whatever has brought you the most passion, that is what you will seek out. If it is pain from abuse or being attacked, that is what you want. If it is exhilaration from skydiving, that is what you want. If it's the love and acceptance from a loving partner, that is what you want. Whatever has pegged your emotional meter, that is your longing.❞Read More...
NeoNote — He would deny it
Friday, 19Oct2018
NeoNote — Political hexing
Thursday, 18Oct2018
❝As I said before, apparently the motivation for hexing Kavanaugh has moved from justice to attack.Read More...
This will have consequences, regardless of who did what where and when.❞
Sexuality without politics
Tuesday, 09Oct2018
On-line biding ritual
Thursday, 04Oct2018
Me, I compare an on-the-fly online ritual to building one custom motorcycle in twenty different places with 459 mechanics and parts from thirteen manufacturers.
Read More...NeoNote — Religion & responsiblity
Monday, 01Oct2018
❝Religions are not created by the Divine.Read More...
Religions are created by people claiming to speak for the Divine.❞
Paganism isn't a movement
Monday, 17Sep2018
Condemnation of memory
Tuesday, 21Aug2018
Anti-Christian
Friday, 03Aug2018
❝There was a time, a little more than a year, when I was very anti-Christian. Some of my relatives didn't help. But I didn't like the person that I was becoming.
There's an old idea, like calls to like. In the New Age vernacular, if you put positive energy out into the universe you get positive energy back.
But it's simpler than that. People cherish their passions. If you wrap yourself in hate and envy and despite, that will color your thoughts. That will be what rules you. That is what you will hold tightest in your secret heart. And that is what you will be. You won't have passion or power for anything else.❞
A book fell on my head
Friday, 15Jun2018
NeoNotes – Government should not be trusted
Sunday, 22Apr2018
I do not believe that a government agency should be trusted with caring for the environment.
Read More...Difference between the Story and the Journey
Thursday, 08Mar2018
❝It is the difference between the Story and the Journey. One is told while the other is lived. The only two purposes of the story are to honor the memory of those who have gone before and to teach you to recognize where the path begins for your own journey. The rituals are not the faith. The map is not the territory. The words are not the thing. You can only be responsible for your journey alone because it is your journey and no one else's.❞— NeoWayland, Some thoughts from my WebTree path
Tainted frisson
Tuesday, 27Feb2018
Politics has tainted paganism in my mind and I am working to re-establish the separation.
Read More...NeoNotes — Perception and symbols
Tuesday, 06Feb2018
I wonder. If a symbol can be "tainted" no matter what it was used for previously, what does it take to "purify" the symbol?
Read More...Walk away
Tuesday, 02Jan2018
“Speak To The Sky” (pagan version)
Thursday, 02Nov2017
I call myself pagan
Thursday, 27Jul2017
❝I call myself pagan because I don't have a better term. I'm polytheistic and pantheistic. On alternate Thursdays and every third Tuesday I might admit to an animism bent as well. On the 13th of the month, I'll tell you (truthfully) that the label isn't really all that important, only the manifestation.❞
— NeoWayland
Magick everyday
Wednesday, 19Jul2017
The air is still humid from last night's never-storm. No rain, but plenty of lightning and thunder around midnight.
Read More...Special harvest
Tuesday, 11Jul2017
There's something very renewing about greeting the sun at dawn dressed in nothing but a pendant.
Read More...Beyond patriotism
Tuesday, 04Jul2017
I was coming off a long time of being militantly solitary and I relished the fellowship I finally allowed myself.
Read More...Pure
Tuesday, 27Jun2017
Today's really twenty-nine
Friday, 28Apr2017
NeoNotes — What witch?
Tuesday, 21Jun2016
❝The "Witch Winter Solstice Ritual" in Nylon is populist pap. It's a lot like having Easter using only Cadbury eggs and never once mentioning a resurrection or what it might mean.❞
Read More...
Intuition & Inspiration
Tuesday, 03May2016
Act of Change
Thursday, 24Mar2016
According to popular culture, magick is about breaking the rules and molding reality.
Nope.
Read More...Faith Triad
Tuesday, 08Mar2016
No matter what the inspiration, you still have to come down off the mountain. Living in the Here & Now helps make you human.
Read More...Earth centered
Tuesday, 01Dec2015
More and more I think I was wise to separate my pagan blogging from my political blogging.
Read More...The grand cause
Tuesday, 09Jun2015
You take a plot of land. Now you can grow flowers or vegetables or both. You choose.
Read More...Gaia
Tuesday, 28Apr2015
Better
Tuesday, 10Feb2015
“My friends have always been the best of me.”Read More...— Doctor Who, “The Wedding of River Song”
On commitment
Tuesday, 28Sep2010
Witchy stuff in the pockets
Thursday, 02Sep2010
Future
Tuesday, 01Jun2010
In Which NeoWayland combines Geekary and Technopaganism to Peer Dimly at Humanity's Potiential
Read More...Pagans against sexual abuse
Tuesday, 18May2010
Blessings and ethics
Tuesday, 08Aug2006
When things are messy, actions and answers aren't clear cut. That is when you need faith in yourself.
Read More...Basking in the moonlight
Tuesday, 23Aug2005
