So I meant to update on Tuesday, but completely forgot. I'm slacking.
Tuesday's payment was $60 for four articles.
Today's payment was $135 for nine articles. So I exceeded my goal by $45. I had a few articles queued up that JUST missed the cutoff, so those will be getting paid next today.
My progress for today is:
Three articles under review,
Five approved that will be getting paid on Tuesday.
If the three under review get approved by Sunday, they will also get paid on Tuesday, giving me a $120 payment, and only $30, or two articles, more til my goal. Sweet, huh?
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Demand Studios Progress, Week 1, Part 1
I'm going to start my DS weekly goals on Friday, since that was when I received my first payment. As I mentioned in my previous post, the payment schedule breaks down like this:
Articles approved by 11:59 PM PST (2:59 AM EST) Sunday will be paid on Tuesday.
Articles approved by 11:59 PM PST (2:59 AM EST) Wednesday will be paid on Friday.
Here is my progress so far:
Four $15 articles accepted = $60 - These will definitely get paid on Tuesday.
Five $15 articles under Copy Editor review = $75 - Pending rewrites and/or approval, these may or may not make the 2:59 EST cutoff, but will definitely get paid on Friday.
So I just need one more $15 article to make my $150 goal. That's in three days of writing!
Friday - Four articles
Saturday - Four articles (technically two were written after midnight Sunday, but I'm counting it as Saturday because I hadn't gone to sleep yet)
Sunday - One article (so far)
It's looking like four articles a day is good for me right now. It may get harder when I go back to school, but now it's pretty easy. I've been having some trouble finding good titles today, but I'm going to take a break and maybe give it another shot later. I think if I want to expand this goal to $300 a week, I will either have to write five or six a day, or write earlier on Wednesday to make the 2:59 AM cutoff.
And because I don't want people to think DS is a scam (and as motivation to keep writing), here are my earnings for the year so far (click on the picture to view it full-size):
So there you have it! This is how I will be funding my trip to L.A. and paying for my textbooks!
P.S. I know this is supposed to be a spiritual blog, but I think there is a link between spirituality and money, whether good or bad. I've been very stressed out about bills and not having a job that it has made it hard for me to focus on my spirituality and trust my insight like I would if I had no financial concerns. Who knows, maybe the money I save from these articles will help fund my trip to Sedona, AZ, one of the spiritual centers of the world!
Articles approved by 11:59 PM PST (2:59 AM EST) Sunday will be paid on Tuesday.
Articles approved by 11:59 PM PST (2:59 AM EST) Wednesday will be paid on Friday.
Here is my progress so far:
Four $15 articles accepted = $60 - These will definitely get paid on Tuesday.
Five $15 articles under Copy Editor review = $75 - Pending rewrites and/or approval, these may or may not make the 2:59 EST cutoff, but will definitely get paid on Friday.
So I just need one more $15 article to make my $150 goal. That's in three days of writing!
Friday - Four articles
Saturday - Four articles (technically two were written after midnight Sunday, but I'm counting it as Saturday because I hadn't gone to sleep yet)
Sunday - One article (so far)
It's looking like four articles a day is good for me right now. It may get harder when I go back to school, but now it's pretty easy. I've been having some trouble finding good titles today, but I'm going to take a break and maybe give it another shot later. I think if I want to expand this goal to $300 a week, I will either have to write five or six a day, or write earlier on Wednesday to make the 2:59 AM cutoff.
And because I don't want people to think DS is a scam (and as motivation to keep writing), here are my earnings for the year so far (click on the picture to view it full-size):
So there you have it! This is how I will be funding my trip to L.A. and paying for my textbooks!
P.S. I know this is supposed to be a spiritual blog, but I think there is a link between spirituality and money, whether good or bad. I've been very stressed out about bills and not having a job that it has made it hard for me to focus on my spirituality and trust my insight like I would if I had no financial concerns. Who knows, maybe the money I save from these articles will help fund my trip to Sedona, AZ, one of the spiritual centers of the world!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Setting Goals
I've learned the hard way that it is easier to achieve something by setting a goal instead of jumping in with no plan. When I decided earlier this week that I was going to start writing articles for Demand Studios again, my initial goal was to get $150-$200 by July 24, which is tomorrow. What I didn't take into account was 1) There is a cutoff for when to receive payments on either Tuesday or Friday and 2) I wasn't pushing myself hard enough to complete the 10-15 articles required to reach that goal.
So now I have to wonder if it's easier to set daily, weekly, or monthly goals. Do I set general goals (i.e. I want to make $500 by the time I go back to school) or specific goals (i.e. I want to make enough money to be able to pay my phone bill for the next two months)? Obviously if I set a daily goal of at least $100, my weekly goal would be $500-$700 (if I write on the weekends), which would make my monthly goal $2,000-$2,800. That's practically a full-time job, and if I could pull that off, I wouldn't worry so much about finding a real job! But I think setting a weekly goal of $500 or more is more realistic than setting a daily goal of $100, for the simple fact that I go out during the day and come back late at night, and probably won't want to bang out 6 articles after waking up or before I go to sleep.
I just received $60 for four articles, the first two which were written on Tuesday, and the second which were written on Wednesday. So I was $90 short of my goal, unless I want to get technical and say, "Well, I didn't mean it had to be in my account by the 24th, I just want the articles approved for payment by then." This would allow me to make up that $90 by tomorrow, but it would mean getting six articles approved by then! This is actually entirely doable, as I have two under review right now, and could easily knock out four more if I gave myself a late deadline.
In light of everything that I need to do (pay bills, buy textbooks, and save money to go to L.A.), I think I am better off setting weekly goals. But it gets a little tricky, since the payments are twice a week. Anything I write between Thursday and Sunday at 11:59 PST will get paid out on Tuesday. Anything I write between Monday and Wednesday at 11:59 PST will get paid out on Friday. I think the best thing for me to do is set a cumulative goal, instead of a biweekly goal, which I think will put a lot more pressure on me. That way if I don't reach my goal for Tuesday's payment, I have a few days to make up for it.
Taking into account the two articles that I have pending right now, I'd say 10-20 $15 articles is pretty reasonable. That would net me $150 on the low end, $300 on the high end by next Friday, with the potential for more if I can push myself to knock out more than 20 articles. I think it's possible. No, I know it's possible! Hopefully, I'll remember to update as the week progresses. Wish me luck!
For tips on setting your own writing goals, check out these sites:
Setting Effective Writing Goals
Setting Your Writing Goals
Here's some shameless self-promotion to one of my articles about goal setting:
Achieve Your Goals with a Wish Jar: Setting and Achieving Goals, Wishes Creatively
So now I have to wonder if it's easier to set daily, weekly, or monthly goals. Do I set general goals (i.e. I want to make $500 by the time I go back to school) or specific goals (i.e. I want to make enough money to be able to pay my phone bill for the next two months)? Obviously if I set a daily goal of at least $100, my weekly goal would be $500-$700 (if I write on the weekends), which would make my monthly goal $2,000-$2,800. That's practically a full-time job, and if I could pull that off, I wouldn't worry so much about finding a real job! But I think setting a weekly goal of $500 or more is more realistic than setting a daily goal of $100, for the simple fact that I go out during the day and come back late at night, and probably won't want to bang out 6 articles after waking up or before I go to sleep.
I just received $60 for four articles, the first two which were written on Tuesday, and the second which were written on Wednesday. So I was $90 short of my goal, unless I want to get technical and say, "Well, I didn't mean it had to be in my account by the 24th, I just want the articles approved for payment by then." This would allow me to make up that $90 by tomorrow, but it would mean getting six articles approved by then! This is actually entirely doable, as I have two under review right now, and could easily knock out four more if I gave myself a late deadline.
In light of everything that I need to do (pay bills, buy textbooks, and save money to go to L.A.), I think I am better off setting weekly goals. But it gets a little tricky, since the payments are twice a week. Anything I write between Thursday and Sunday at 11:59 PST will get paid out on Tuesday. Anything I write between Monday and Wednesday at 11:59 PST will get paid out on Friday. I think the best thing for me to do is set a cumulative goal, instead of a biweekly goal, which I think will put a lot more pressure on me. That way if I don't reach my goal for Tuesday's payment, I have a few days to make up for it.
Taking into account the two articles that I have pending right now, I'd say 10-20 $15 articles is pretty reasonable. That would net me $150 on the low end, $300 on the high end by next Friday, with the potential for more if I can push myself to knock out more than 20 articles. I think it's possible. No, I know it's possible! Hopefully, I'll remember to update as the week progresses. Wish me luck!
For tips on setting your own writing goals, check out these sites:
Setting Effective Writing Goals
Setting Your Writing Goals
Here's some shameless self-promotion to one of my articles about goal setting:
Achieve Your Goals with a Wish Jar: Setting and Achieving Goals, Wishes Creatively
A Lesson in Gratitude, Part 1
I need to start writing more. For real.
My summer is a little more than halfway gone, and there is about a month until I go back to school. Compared to last summer, minus still being unemployed, I'd have to say that it has been a good couple of months so far. Why? Well:
I've been hanging out with good friends on a semi-regular basis. Last summer, I saw my high school friends maybe five or six times the whole three months I was home. This summer, I hang out with one of my good friends almost every Wednesday. I have dinner dates with another friend at her place at least once a month, sometimes twice. Yesterday I had dinner with two of the girls from my usual circle, and I'm sure another dinner will be planned soon.
I've been to a lounge in Cambridge for open mics and poetry slams three times, went to the MFA once, went to the beach twice (albeit I didn't swim, but whatever), and I'm going to a cocktail party next week. I went to a wedding in Connecticut with my sister last month, I'm (hopefully) going to a Maroon 5 concert next month, and might even have my roommate come visit me for a couple of days. So yeah, this summer is so much better than last summer.
But of course, I'm still unhappy.
I never realized how much I hate not working. This is the second summer I haven't had a job, and it's a little frustrating. It's not that I haven't been looking, because I have been. I was looking for internships and jobs in both fields I am studying (journalism and English) and had zero luck. That was a huge disappointment. I still have NNL (if you follow me on Twitter, you've probably heard me mention them more times than you care to count), but I don't get paid for that! I've recently started writing for Demand Studios again, and since I have so much free time, I really could make a decent amount of money with them. Enough to pay my phone bill, save some money to go to L.A. for my cousin's wedding in September, and pay for textbooks.
The funny thing is, I can't see myself having a traditional job. I guess growing up in this digital age, I just can't see myself doing office work or working in a corporate setting for the rest of my life. It's so contrary to who I am. Even though I haven't done much traveling, I know that I would love to visit other countries, or even the other side of THIS country. I love all things technology related, for the most part, I'm fascinated by complementary and alternative medicine, and I am a full supporter of tattoos and tattoo acceptance in the workplace. I know full well that my decision to get one on my wrist could possibly kill a lot of job prospects, but I was fortunate enough to work in a restaurant that was incredibly supportive of body art. I guess that spoiled me a little bit.
The point of this post - I keep getting depressed about what I don't have (a job, money) that I rarely stop to be grateful for the things I do have (great friends, the ability to work on my own schedule, and express myself for spoken word.) Yes, things could be better, but they could be worse. And that's just fine with me.
My summer is a little more than halfway gone, and there is about a month until I go back to school. Compared to last summer, minus still being unemployed, I'd have to say that it has been a good couple of months so far. Why? Well:
I've been hanging out with good friends on a semi-regular basis. Last summer, I saw my high school friends maybe five or six times the whole three months I was home. This summer, I hang out with one of my good friends almost every Wednesday. I have dinner dates with another friend at her place at least once a month, sometimes twice. Yesterday I had dinner with two of the girls from my usual circle, and I'm sure another dinner will be planned soon.
I've been to a lounge in Cambridge for open mics and poetry slams three times, went to the MFA once, went to the beach twice (albeit I didn't swim, but whatever), and I'm going to a cocktail party next week. I went to a wedding in Connecticut with my sister last month, I'm (hopefully) going to a Maroon 5 concert next month, and might even have my roommate come visit me for a couple of days. So yeah, this summer is so much better than last summer.
But of course, I'm still unhappy.
I never realized how much I hate not working. This is the second summer I haven't had a job, and it's a little frustrating. It's not that I haven't been looking, because I have been. I was looking for internships and jobs in both fields I am studying (journalism and English) and had zero luck. That was a huge disappointment. I still have NNL (if you follow me on Twitter, you've probably heard me mention them more times than you care to count), but I don't get paid for that! I've recently started writing for Demand Studios again, and since I have so much free time, I really could make a decent amount of money with them. Enough to pay my phone bill, save some money to go to L.A. for my cousin's wedding in September, and pay for textbooks.
The funny thing is, I can't see myself having a traditional job. I guess growing up in this digital age, I just can't see myself doing office work or working in a corporate setting for the rest of my life. It's so contrary to who I am. Even though I haven't done much traveling, I know that I would love to visit other countries, or even the other side of THIS country. I love all things technology related, for the most part, I'm fascinated by complementary and alternative medicine, and I am a full supporter of tattoos and tattoo acceptance in the workplace. I know full well that my decision to get one on my wrist could possibly kill a lot of job prospects, but I was fortunate enough to work in a restaurant that was incredibly supportive of body art. I guess that spoiled me a little bit.
The point of this post - I keep getting depressed about what I don't have (a job, money) that I rarely stop to be grateful for the things I do have (great friends, the ability to work on my own schedule, and express myself for spoken word.) Yes, things could be better, but they could be worse. And that's just fine with me.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
It's been a long time/Realizations
I can't believe I haven't posted anything in almost 5 months. But I guess it's understandable considering my last submission was right before classes started for the spring semester. Everything after that has been so crazy. But I'm back with a new post, although I'm not sure there's any value in it, other than me realizing that I am in serious need of self-discovery.
One of the things that I've been noticing lately is that I really, really want to either practice or teach Reiki regularly. I want to write my own manual, but I'm not sure I have any knowledge or techniques that I can add that haven't been seen elsewhere. But I do realize that whenever I start feeling... useless, I guess, I remember how much I love Reiki, and how I wish I had either a clientele or some students. I think I definitely need more experience - and confidence - before I can take on the role of Reiki Teacher. Of course, in order to get that confidence and experience, I need clients! Talk about a vicious cycle. I think now would be a good time to reread my manuals and books and practice some of the techniques and maybe even make my own. Let's see how that turns out.
Another thing I'm realizing is that there have been a lot of little occurrences that seem to be speaking directly to my taking control of my life and having more faith that the Universe will provide for me. Case in point - a couple of weeks ago, I went into the bathroom and took a look at a soap bottle that had been there for awhile, but that I had never really paid attention to. I noticed something interesting - that the bottle had 444 mL. I knew the number had to mean something - especially since I had told my boyfriend that I needed a miracle. So what is the meaning for 444?
"Thousands of angels surround you at this moment, loving and supporting you. You have a very strong and clear connection with the angelic realm, and are an Earth angel yourself. You have nothing to fear—all is well."
Also:
"The angels are surrounding you now, reassuring you of their love and help. Don’t worry because the angels’ help is nearby."
That made me very happy, but I feel like I have since forgotten that message - until now. Everything happens for a reason... Today was a day of despair and desperation - I think my writing this post after so many months away is the Universe's way of reminding me that I have Divine help.
The other occurrence that happened that same day was a tweet by Gail Goodwin (@inspiremetoday). The tweet was:
"Dream incessantly-Believe completely-Act daily-Risk intuitively-Celebrate continually-Live gratefully"
It was just what I needed to hear at that particular moment in time but, again, I feel like I forgot about it until now. OK, so what does all this mean? Well...
1) I've been reevaluating my faith. A long time ago, when I first started this blog, I had taken a quiz on BeliefNet that said I most identified with Neo-Paganism. Totally true, so I think it's time to start putting some of those beliefs into practice. I think I need a connection with the God and Goddess now more than ever.
2) I need to stop playing the victim role. I've been getting so depressed about not finding a job/internship, thinking that maybe there's something wrong with me that the companies don't like, or that I don't have enough experience. Bull. I know that I know my stuff, and I know that I would be a huge asset to the company that is right for ME. I just haven't found it yet. I know that even though I do need the money, if I settle for something just because I have to pay the bills, I am going to be miserable. So I'll keep holding out until I find something that clicks. If it does end up being unpaid, I'll deal with it.
3) I need to utilize my support system. I have wonderful Twitter friends, Krystal (@whitelotus01), Alice (@ReikiAwakening) and Jay (@PsychicJay), among others that can help me figure out my Reiki thing (if they're not busy and don't mind, of course!) I think they might be part of my karass, a term from Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle that means "a group of people who, often unknowingly, are working together to do God's will," if such a thing exists beyond the fictional religion of Bokononism. I also have a supportive boyfriend and friends that are amazing for giving me that push when I wander from my path. I keep worrying about being a burden to them, but I know (or at least hope) that it's not true.
I'm sure there's more, but I feel like this post has gone on too long; however, it's my first in awhile, so I think I have a pass. If anything, I will write more as things come up which, considering the way things have been going lately, is more than likely to happen by the end of the day.
One of the things that I've been noticing lately is that I really, really want to either practice or teach Reiki regularly. I want to write my own manual, but I'm not sure I have any knowledge or techniques that I can add that haven't been seen elsewhere. But I do realize that whenever I start feeling... useless, I guess, I remember how much I love Reiki, and how I wish I had either a clientele or some students. I think I definitely need more experience - and confidence - before I can take on the role of Reiki Teacher. Of course, in order to get that confidence and experience, I need clients! Talk about a vicious cycle. I think now would be a good time to reread my manuals and books and practice some of the techniques and maybe even make my own. Let's see how that turns out.
Another thing I'm realizing is that there have been a lot of little occurrences that seem to be speaking directly to my taking control of my life and having more faith that the Universe will provide for me. Case in point - a couple of weeks ago, I went into the bathroom and took a look at a soap bottle that had been there for awhile, but that I had never really paid attention to. I noticed something interesting - that the bottle had 444 mL. I knew the number had to mean something - especially since I had told my boyfriend that I needed a miracle. So what is the meaning for 444?
"Thousands of angels surround you at this moment, loving and supporting you. You have a very strong and clear connection with the angelic realm, and are an Earth angel yourself. You have nothing to fear—all is well."
Also:
"The angels are surrounding you now, reassuring you of their love and help. Don’t worry because the angels’ help is nearby."
That made me very happy, but I feel like I have since forgotten that message - until now. Everything happens for a reason... Today was a day of despair and desperation - I think my writing this post after so many months away is the Universe's way of reminding me that I have Divine help.
The other occurrence that happened that same day was a tweet by Gail Goodwin (@inspiremetoday). The tweet was:
"Dream incessantly-Believe completely-Act daily-Risk intuitively-Celebrate continually-Live gratefully"
It was just what I needed to hear at that particular moment in time but, again, I feel like I forgot about it until now. OK, so what does all this mean? Well...
1) I've been reevaluating my faith. A long time ago, when I first started this blog, I had taken a quiz on BeliefNet that said I most identified with Neo-Paganism. Totally true, so I think it's time to start putting some of those beliefs into practice. I think I need a connection with the God and Goddess now more than ever.
2) I need to stop playing the victim role. I've been getting so depressed about not finding a job/internship, thinking that maybe there's something wrong with me that the companies don't like, or that I don't have enough experience. Bull. I know that I know my stuff, and I know that I would be a huge asset to the company that is right for ME. I just haven't found it yet. I know that even though I do need the money, if I settle for something just because I have to pay the bills, I am going to be miserable. So I'll keep holding out until I find something that clicks. If it does end up being unpaid, I'll deal with it.
3) I need to utilize my support system. I have wonderful Twitter friends, Krystal (@whitelotus01), Alice (@ReikiAwakening) and Jay (@PsychicJay), among others that can help me figure out my Reiki thing (if they're not busy and don't mind, of course!) I think they might be part of my karass, a term from Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle that means "a group of people who, often unknowingly, are working together to do God's will," if such a thing exists beyond the fictional religion of Bokononism. I also have a supportive boyfriend and friends that are amazing for giving me that push when I wander from my path. I keep worrying about being a burden to them, but I know (or at least hope) that it's not true.
I'm sure there's more, but I feel like this post has gone on too long; however, it's my first in awhile, so I think I have a pass. If anything, I will write more as things come up which, considering the way things have been going lately, is more than likely to happen by the end of the day.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
An Exploration of Faith
So I took a quiz on beliefnet.com, called "Belief-O-Matic" (which can be found here, just out of curiosity. I think I've mentioned before my whole struggle with faith, whether or not I had it, and what it would be if I did. Well, I took the quiz, and my result came up as Neo-Pagan (100%), closely followed by New Age (97%), and Unitarian Universalism (82%). I can't say I'm really surprised at the results (even though I can't say that I've ever heard of Unitarian Universalism), but it's interesting to have my suspicion "confirmed" by this quiz.
So, what exactly does this mean for me? Well, I'll go through each of the central tenets (as far as the questions in the quiz) and give my thoughts. Writing something like this is very rare for me, as I am usually hesitant to discuss the matters of my faith, or lack thereof, but now is as good a time as any to get my thoughts out.
"Belief in Deity -
Some believe in a Supreme Being. Many believe in God and Goddess--a duality. Many believe there are countless spirit beings, gods and goddesses, in the cosmos and within all of nature--God is all and within all; all are one God. The Great Mother Earth, or Mother Nature, is highly worshipped. Divinity is immanent and may become manifest within anyone at any time through various methods."
For a long time, I subscribed to the notion of multiple gods and goddesses, and I can't say that I don't anymore. I've always been fascinated by different world gods and goddesses (particularly goddesses). But then again, I often say that I believe in a Higher Power, but I can't necessarily call it "God," primarily because of some of the connotations I've associated with the term over the years - i.e. that "God" is all-powerful, all-seeing, merciful but vengeful, loving but jealous. I feel like many of the concepts of "God" I've been exposed to have been very contradictory - hence my reluctance to place in Him/Her. But for now, I will confess to believing in Higher Power, or Supreme Being, or - my personal favorite - the Universe.
"Incarnations -
No human incarnations are worshipped in particular, as all of nature and the universe are considered embodiments of God and Goddess, or of gods and goddesses, worthy of respect, reverence, or worship."
I can best sum up my feelings about this tenet by saying I believe we are all Divine, that we are, as it goes, "spirits having a human experience" and not the other way around. To that extent, if Jesus did exist, I don't believe in his existence in the Biblical sense of the Immaculate Conception and him being God's only son. Just as there have been multiple Buddhas, I believe there could have been multiple Jesuses, and do not believe that what is written in the Bible should be taken as a literal, historical account of his life. In fact, who says we don't all have the potential to be a Buddha or a Jesus?
"Origin of Universe and Life -
Generally, there is no conflict between observations revealed through science and Neo-Pagan beliefs on origins of the physical universe and of man. Many believe in a supreme intelligence that created a duality of God/Goddess who then created a spirit world of gods and goddesses as well as all of the universe and nature."
I don't have much to say about this one. I definitely believe in the Big Bang Theory and evolution. But I have no idea where the Higher Power factors in as far as the creation of the Universe. Maybe it just was. I don't know.
"After Death -
Many believe in reincarnation after some rest and recovery in the "Otherworld." There is generally no concept of hell as a place of punishment, but some believe wrongdoing can trap the soul in state of suffering after death. Some (Wicca) believe the soul joins their dead ancestors who watch over and protect their family. Some believe that life energy continues in some, if unknown, form. Some believe in various spiritual resting places. Many say we don't or can't know what happens after death."
As someone who has had encounters with the "Other Side," I most definitely believe in life after death, and in reincarnation. I know I have had past lives, I've seen glimpses of them, and no, they were not my imagination. I have felt connections and attractions to places I've never been to, which I feel is a result of me having been there in a past life. I don't believe in heaven and hell as actual places, more as states of mind. I believe we create our own heavens and hells here on Earth.
"Why Evil? -
'Evil' is imbalance. Most believe there is no evil but rather that people sometimes make mistakes. Wrongdoing results when we forget we are one with the universal spirit."
Since I don't believe in hell, I don't believe in the devil, or some demon tempting people to do evil things. I think we are all, at our very core, good, and the deviants of society have forgotten their divinity. As I was saying to my roommate the other night, I cannot except anyone being inherently evil - even a serial killer at some point depended on someone, loved someone, lost someone. That is not to say that everyone who has lost someone will turn into a deviant, but I guess my beliefs as far as this is concerned are more psychological than spiritual.
"Salvation -
The concept of 'salvation' is essentially irrelevant; rather the belief that people can attain spiritual balance and harmony with each other and nature. The path includes group ceremonies, dances, songs/chants, prayers, meditation, trance, altered states of consciousness, the metaphysical, magic, invoking or evoking deities or spirits, Tantric practices. Intercessors are commonly used: psychics, seers, shamans, tarot, Oui-Ja board. Ethical choices are influenced by a belief that one is rewarded or punished within this or after this lifetime for one's choices and an ethical code to do no harm."
I think the first line says it all, the concept of salvation is pretty irrelevant for me. But I do believe that we should all lead good lives to the best of our ability, and seek to (re)connect with the Divine/Universe/Higher Power, etc., throughout whatever means we so choose.
"Undeserved Suffering -
Most do not believe in Satan or any spirit being as the cause of suffering. Some believe in a karma-like principle, that choosing to live a life of wrongdoing and pain will naturally result in suffering in this or later lifetimes. Many view suffering as a result of spiritual imbalance in one's life or on the planet or in the universe. The focus is generally on healing suffering rather than answering definitively why it exists."
I pretty much responded to this one under some of the other tenets, but I'll expand here. If we don't lead good lives now, we'll pay for it somewhere down the line. I disagree a bit as far as suffering being a result of spiritual imbalance on the planet or in the Universe though. I think that we humans impose a spiritual imbalance on the planet/Universe when we ourselves are imbalanced. I believe the saying "pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" holds true here. We can eliminate suffering, at least for ourselves, by living spiritually balanced lives.
"Contemporary Issues -
Abortion is not condemned, as there is no official doctrine; beliefs about abortion range the full spectrum. Views on divorce, homosexuality, and gender equality are generally very supportive of human differences, equality, and personal choice. Many believe that involvement in community action, especially regarding environmental concerns, is integral to the belief in human interdependence and worship of the Earth Mother."
I'm pro-choice (a woman has the right to govern her own reproductive system), pro-gay marriage (homosexuals are people just like heterosexuals, if they love each other, by all means, let them marry), pro-divorce (no sense staying with someone who makes your life miserable, if you're unhappy, leave), and pro-gender equality (we are ALL equal). The only thing I'm on the fence about is the death penalty, but I'm more on the side of being against it than for it.
Back to my original question - what does this all mean for me? Well, I guess I've had faith all along, I just didn't know in what. I'm not going to go running through the streets "LOOK AT ME, I'M NEO-PAGAN," nor will I change my lifestyle, but at least I have an idea of where I stand.
So, what exactly does this mean for me? Well, I'll go through each of the central tenets (as far as the questions in the quiz) and give my thoughts. Writing something like this is very rare for me, as I am usually hesitant to discuss the matters of my faith, or lack thereof, but now is as good a time as any to get my thoughts out.
"Belief in Deity -
Some believe in a Supreme Being. Many believe in God and Goddess--a duality. Many believe there are countless spirit beings, gods and goddesses, in the cosmos and within all of nature--God is all and within all; all are one God. The Great Mother Earth, or Mother Nature, is highly worshipped. Divinity is immanent and may become manifest within anyone at any time through various methods."
For a long time, I subscribed to the notion of multiple gods and goddesses, and I can't say that I don't anymore. I've always been fascinated by different world gods and goddesses (particularly goddesses). But then again, I often say that I believe in a Higher Power, but I can't necessarily call it "God," primarily because of some of the connotations I've associated with the term over the years - i.e. that "God" is all-powerful, all-seeing, merciful but vengeful, loving but jealous. I feel like many of the concepts of "God" I've been exposed to have been very contradictory - hence my reluctance to place in Him/Her. But for now, I will confess to believing in Higher Power, or Supreme Being, or - my personal favorite - the Universe.
"Incarnations -
No human incarnations are worshipped in particular, as all of nature and the universe are considered embodiments of God and Goddess, or of gods and goddesses, worthy of respect, reverence, or worship."
I can best sum up my feelings about this tenet by saying I believe we are all Divine, that we are, as it goes, "spirits having a human experience" and not the other way around. To that extent, if Jesus did exist, I don't believe in his existence in the Biblical sense of the Immaculate Conception and him being God's only son. Just as there have been multiple Buddhas, I believe there could have been multiple Jesuses, and do not believe that what is written in the Bible should be taken as a literal, historical account of his life. In fact, who says we don't all have the potential to be a Buddha or a Jesus?
"Origin of Universe and Life -
Generally, there is no conflict between observations revealed through science and Neo-Pagan beliefs on origins of the physical universe and of man. Many believe in a supreme intelligence that created a duality of God/Goddess who then created a spirit world of gods and goddesses as well as all of the universe and nature."
I don't have much to say about this one. I definitely believe in the Big Bang Theory and evolution. But I have no idea where the Higher Power factors in as far as the creation of the Universe. Maybe it just was. I don't know.
"After Death -
Many believe in reincarnation after some rest and recovery in the "Otherworld." There is generally no concept of hell as a place of punishment, but some believe wrongdoing can trap the soul in state of suffering after death. Some (Wicca) believe the soul joins their dead ancestors who watch over and protect their family. Some believe that life energy continues in some, if unknown, form. Some believe in various spiritual resting places. Many say we don't or can't know what happens after death."
As someone who has had encounters with the "Other Side," I most definitely believe in life after death, and in reincarnation. I know I have had past lives, I've seen glimpses of them, and no, they were not my imagination. I have felt connections and attractions to places I've never been to, which I feel is a result of me having been there in a past life. I don't believe in heaven and hell as actual places, more as states of mind. I believe we create our own heavens and hells here on Earth.
"Why Evil? -
'Evil' is imbalance. Most believe there is no evil but rather that people sometimes make mistakes. Wrongdoing results when we forget we are one with the universal spirit."
Since I don't believe in hell, I don't believe in the devil, or some demon tempting people to do evil things. I think we are all, at our very core, good, and the deviants of society have forgotten their divinity. As I was saying to my roommate the other night, I cannot except anyone being inherently evil - even a serial killer at some point depended on someone, loved someone, lost someone. That is not to say that everyone who has lost someone will turn into a deviant, but I guess my beliefs as far as this is concerned are more psychological than spiritual.
"Salvation -
The concept of 'salvation' is essentially irrelevant; rather the belief that people can attain spiritual balance and harmony with each other and nature. The path includes group ceremonies, dances, songs/chants, prayers, meditation, trance, altered states of consciousness, the metaphysical, magic, invoking or evoking deities or spirits, Tantric practices. Intercessors are commonly used: psychics, seers, shamans, tarot, Oui-Ja board. Ethical choices are influenced by a belief that one is rewarded or punished within this or after this lifetime for one's choices and an ethical code to do no harm."
I think the first line says it all, the concept of salvation is pretty irrelevant for me. But I do believe that we should all lead good lives to the best of our ability, and seek to (re)connect with the Divine/Universe/Higher Power, etc., throughout whatever means we so choose.
"Undeserved Suffering -
Most do not believe in Satan or any spirit being as the cause of suffering. Some believe in a karma-like principle, that choosing to live a life of wrongdoing and pain will naturally result in suffering in this or later lifetimes. Many view suffering as a result of spiritual imbalance in one's life or on the planet or in the universe. The focus is generally on healing suffering rather than answering definitively why it exists."
I pretty much responded to this one under some of the other tenets, but I'll expand here. If we don't lead good lives now, we'll pay for it somewhere down the line. I disagree a bit as far as suffering being a result of spiritual imbalance on the planet or in the Universe though. I think that we humans impose a spiritual imbalance on the planet/Universe when we ourselves are imbalanced. I believe the saying "pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" holds true here. We can eliminate suffering, at least for ourselves, by living spiritually balanced lives.
"Contemporary Issues -
Abortion is not condemned, as there is no official doctrine; beliefs about abortion range the full spectrum. Views on divorce, homosexuality, and gender equality are generally very supportive of human differences, equality, and personal choice. Many believe that involvement in community action, especially regarding environmental concerns, is integral to the belief in human interdependence and worship of the Earth Mother."
I'm pro-choice (a woman has the right to govern her own reproductive system), pro-gay marriage (homosexuals are people just like heterosexuals, if they love each other, by all means, let them marry), pro-divorce (no sense staying with someone who makes your life miserable, if you're unhappy, leave), and pro-gender equality (we are ALL equal). The only thing I'm on the fence about is the death penalty, but I'm more on the side of being against it than for it.
Back to my original question - what does this all mean for me? Well, I guess I've had faith all along, I just didn't know in what. I'm not going to go running through the streets "LOOK AT ME, I'M NEO-PAGAN," nor will I change my lifestyle, but at least I have an idea of where I stand.
Friday, January 29, 2010
A Week Later...
I'm a little upset with myself for not finishing the Reiki Challenge the way I wanted to. I know I probably should have finished it anyway, but after missing days, i felt like it would have been cheating. The point was to take five consecutive days of meditating on and consciously thinking about the principles, which I failed to do. I picked a bad time to do it, since I was in the process of getting ready to go back to school, so my mind and attention were focused on other things. I don't know if I can even make that excuse - I still could have done them, but it wouldn't have been the way I originally intended. I think that I will have to try it again when I know for sure that I can actually commit to it, because trying to force myself won't end well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)