So, I was looking through some sites, in search for some information against nihilism and nourishing your spirit (I heard the expression “Spiritual Anorexia” and looked the word up through Google) and all I got were results about “Christians suffering spiritual anorexia” or “in need of spiritual nurturing. And goodness knows, with all the violence, genocide, prejudice, and hate crimes in that manual book of theirs — they certainly can’t turn to it for moral support — (irony?) so search engines must be PLAGUED with such resources and websites catering to their specific path, I suppose.
However, as a former atheist recovering from over-analyzing the physical world through intellect and ego… the only other option ISN’T just “Judeo-Christian/Muslim” paths.
Sorry Jesus, it’s been nice having you when I was a little kid who didn’t know any better (or had any other options)… but now, our paths must divide. For I am no longer a sheep, but a person, and therefore in no need of any Shepard. 🙂
So, what happens when a PAGAN needs some spiritual nourishing? Well, considering the diversity, it all depends on the type of pagan you are.
Without a doubt, reading has to be the number one choice for me. And if you can do it whilst connecting with the esoteric wisdom of trees and nature surrounding you, all the better!
And of course, it should be very important to know where you stand on your level of need. Did you just remove the shackles of other “hardcore religions”? Are you an adept who’s fallen out of practice? Recovering from a traumatic event? etc
Knowing where you stand can help you know where you need to go once you figure out where you’d like to be. What calls out to your soul? What rings true to your unique inner being? Which deity do you support or represent? What drives and motivates you? These are very sacred fragments to piece up.
Spiritual temples.
A lot of Pagans would probably decide that the Earth is already a sacred temple. And this may be true… however, there will always be certain spots that call out to us specifically. A grove, a tree haven, a simple stone resting on the ground that you can sit on to reflect and connect, or even just a patch of grass that you feel is unique for “looking out of place.” Anything that clicks with you can be a perfect place to collect your sacred energy to preserve (like a time capsule) and forever restore whenever you need a recharge. It’ll be like your altar, only more natural.
Personal Altar
Personal altars. If you are the type of pagan who is without any deity, you can create an altar to reflect your own personality, standards, world-views, or sacred musings/collections. Your Higher Self, or natural connection to the mysterious can still prove to be a good guide to nourish. If you’re a pagan who follows specific deities, then the first thing to do is to honor them and create an altar in their honor. I find gathering the energy for worship, meditation, reflection and restoration helps to really preserve your energy and create a responsive source to turn to for strength.
Your own inner Altar.
Internal power should be one of those things you must never neglect. So many people will turn to a source (church, temple, gathering, etc) for temporary boost of motivation and then later rely on it to continuously to stimulate their spirit. However, when you look in the mirror, when you do your favorite hobby/activity, you should always feel recharged and nourished on what sustains your spirit. I feel the ideal of altars/temples are for the recharging and continuous growth of the spirit… and not the total dependence of a person who “needs” to go every week on a tedious schedule. But this may be a personal preference.
Artwork/Statues
Another classic when it comes to nourishing the spirit. Artwork or statues bring a natural state of awe in the human spirit.
Norse Goddess Freya: “Associated with love, beauty, and fertility as well as war, death, magic and prophecy, she stands here in an alluring pose.”
“Pan is a god of creativity, music, poetry, sensuality and sexuality, or panic and nightmares, who haunts forests, caverns, mountains, brooks and streams.”
Poetry
Another form of art and human expression. Poetry can be a great holder and release of your essence and spiritual nourishment. It can be obscure, or obvious. With many hidden symbolic doors, if you’re still in the broom closet, or juicy with obvious details and visuals. Presently, I am in the middle of putting these suggestions into practice, so I will probably update with more ideas and tactics as I go along. I look forward to updating more information for future spiritual nourishment.
Most importantly, plant your seed and start off small. Take little steps until your faith grows like a powerful oak tree. Every oak tree started off as a tiny seed. Every great lion started off chasing butterflies.
Such a doting day! I receive the Nightwish album from the “Dark Passion Play” as yet another gift. I feel spoiled. 🙂
Sidhe Rocks! 