{"id":2590,"date":"2009-10-01T01:10:28","date_gmt":"2009-10-01T06:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=2643"},"modified":"2009-09-24T21:38:59","modified_gmt":"2009-09-25T02:38:59","slug":"coming-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2009\/10\/01\/coming-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Coming Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some feel it physically.\u00a0 It\u2019s a tingle in the spine or a rush of blood all over the body.\u00a0 Some describe it as an overwhelming blast to the mind where open-eyed visions come and go so quickly you can\u2019t really recognize what they are.\u00a0 Nearly everyone says it\u2019s an intense feeling of \u2018rightness\u2019\u00a0 where you \u2018just know\u2019 you\u2019re where you should be in this universe.\u00a0 You\u2019ve come home<\/em>.\u00a0 That\u2019s the phrase Pagans have adopted to describe what is felt by many who discover us and who have a magical and spiritual awakening.\u00a0 It is an epiphany when they encounter our way of looking at things.<\/p>\n

Not everyone experiences it.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t just as inspired or committed as those who do, but for those who have experienced that \u2018ah hah!\u2019 moment, it will stick in their mind forever.\u00a0 Psychologists have lots of ways and words to describe the event but unless you\u2019ve experienced it yourself you can\u2019t understand the intensity of such a moment.\u00a0 The person will usually freeze in place and their eyes will dilate.\u00a0 They might quickly blush and then turn white, as if they\u2019re going into shock.\u00a0 In fact, they may do this several times within a very short time.\u00a0 It\u2019s possible they might shake or have small muscle spasms of the arms and legs.\u00a0 Almost without exception, they will begin to smile and it will grow bigger and bigger until it seems their face will break.\u00a0 More often than not, they\u2019ll giggle.\u00a0 Even big tough guys will giggle.\u00a0 Some might begin to cry because of the intensity of emotions they are feeling.<\/p>\n

\u2018Coming home\u2019 isn\u2019t exclusive to our faith.\u00a0 Other religions call it by different names but the reaction is just as intense for followers of those religions when a person finds their own perfect fit of ideas and ideals.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen several \u2018homecomings\u2019 in the last thirty years of being Pagan and I experienced my own.\u00a0 When I see it happening to somebody, I usually try to stay by them for a while to offer moral support and a kind word or two so they know that what they are experiencing isn\u2019t anything bad.\u00a0 I, like many others, will offer a, \u201cWelcome home,\u201d at some point to the person.\u00a0 It never fails to elicit a laugh of relief from the person undergoing the flood of emotions.\u00a0 The usual pattern is that the person will begin to calm down in less than a half hour but I have seen it take longer.<\/p>\n

After the initial episode, there will probably be \u2018aftershocks\u2019 that bring back the giggles or other symptoms over the next week or two.\u00a0 Though these will likely be less intense and shorter in duration, they can still make for some embarrassing moments.\u00a0 I will usually recommend to the subject that they have a supply of chocolate handy to help them ground when these \u2018aftershocks\u2019 occur.\u00a0 Most people find chocolate is a very good way of getting the body to pay attention to itself when they are overwhelmed by strong emotions.\u00a0 (Besides\u2026 it tastes so good!)<\/p>\n

After the newcomer has found some semblance of balance, then what?\u00a0 They\u2019ve been changed; their worldview has shifted and everything has taken on a new and often bizarre meaning.\u00a0 Though they usually don\u2019t consider this strangeness threatening, it can be confusing enough to cause them some problems.\u00a0 The most common of these problems is a sense that they are somehow disconnected from what their senses report is going on around them.\u00a0 Their mind is trying to make a new \u2018sense\u2019 of common events and sensations and hasn\u2019t had much practice yet.\u00a0 Consequently, the depth of meaning that has been collected for these events and sensations is not fully accessed and there is a kind of \u2018hollowness\u2019 to them.\u00a0 This can be quite disturbing and the newcomer should be reassured that the mind won\u2019t take long (a week or two at the most, usually) to rectify this condition.\u00a0 In fact, the less the person pays attention to the strangeness, the more quickly it disappears.\u00a0 It\u2019s caused by the mind\u2019s new ability to perceive in the added dimension we call magic that most often will produce this temporary weirdness.\u00a0 Most people get used to it quite quickly.\u00a0 From a psychological point of view, it is an added way to communicate with the unconscious.\u00a0 However you might explain it, the feeling of being slightly out of phase or disconnected from \u2018normal reality\u2019 usually begins to fade almost from the moment a person recognizes they are experiencing it.\u00a0 Once again, they will find a balance that suits them.<\/p>\n

Even before this internal turmoil has settled, newcomers will often begin to go through two other phases, both of which can be a problem for them and others.\u00a0 I will label these the \u2018Gate-mouth\u2019 and the \u2018Bashing\u2019 phases.<\/p>\n

The Gate-mouth phase is where the person just can\u2019t shut up about their newfound religious conversion.\u00a0 They believe that their feeling of wonder and excitement should be shared by anyone and everyone close to them.\u00a0 They believe that if people only realized the feeling of \u2018rightness\u2019 that they have found, they\u2019d be flocking to this Pagan religion by the thousands!\u00a0 They want everyone to know just how lucky, how blessed<\/em> they\u2019ve been and believe they can explain it to others well enough that they will want it for themselves.\u00a0 They\u2019re wrong.<\/p>\n

In the first place, to \u2018explain\u2019\u00a0 a religion almost never causes another person suddenly to change their spiritual perceptions and religious affiliations.\u00a0 Secondly, it\u2019s almost impossible to \u2018explain\u2019 any <\/em>religion!\u00a0 Religions are much more than ideas or ways of doing things; they are conditions of the spirit<\/em> that must be developed and slowly built layer by layer of meaning.\u00a0 The newcomer\u2019s recent epiphany has led them to believe that their religious ideas have suddenly changed.\u00a0 What actually took place was the result of a longer process that culminated in their \u2018coming home\u2019 experience.\u00a0 But they are so focused on that one moment they think of it as the only thing that pertains to their new outlook.\u00a0 Third, sounding off about being a Pagan of any stripe is often dangerous.\u00a0 Despite the laws that protect us in this country against discriminating on the basis of religious creed, the fact is that it happens all the time.\u00a0 Declaring that you are a Pagan will usually result in some sort of prejudicial reactions from friends, neighbors, employers, and even the government itself.\u00a0 Not only that, but it will put others who associate with you in a less secure position as well.<\/p>\n

Last, the Gate-mouth phase is all too much like proselytizing. There are sound reasons why this practice is declared taboo by Pagans.\u00a0 The main reason is that it is wrong to attempt to mess with another person\u2019s most personal beliefs.\u00a0 No matter how wonderful you might think your religion is, to think that others should adopt it is to disregard or disrespect their own freedom of mind and heart.\u00a0 That in itself is a big violation of our code to harm none.\u00a0 At the heart of it, proselytizing is an ego trip from someone who is not yet comfortable with their own beliefs.\u00a0 The newcomer\u2019s desire to talk to everyone about their new way of seeing the world may be a natural reaction, but it isn\u2019t one that benefits them or others in any way.\u00a0 As difficult as it may seem at times, they must learn to sit quietly with their new way of being and interpret their experiences without attempting to explain them to others who will likely divert the person\u2019s attention away from what\u2019s important to learn.<\/p>\n

The other phase that I wish to cover is called Bashing.\u00a0 Usually the term is connected with the religion that the newcomer has recently rejected, as in \u2018Christian Bashing.\u2019\u00a0 There is a tendency to view one\u2019s old religious culture as being wrong, filled with hypocrisy, and based upon a flawed understanding of reality.\u00a0 The fact is: all <\/em>religions are flawed because they\u2019re created by human beings\u2026 our own religion included.\u00a0 And humans almost never escape being hypocritical about some part of them\u2026 once again: us included.\u00a0 All religions can be wrong for some people just as they can be right for others.\u00a0 Bad things happen in the name of religion because of bad actions and ideas from the people who populate them.\u00a0 Historically speaking, this has been the case as far back as time and it will continue to be so in the future.\u00a0 To believe that every idea, action, and person from one faith is better than those of another is, once again, disrespectful, arrogant, and harmful.\u00a0 When we bash another\u2019s religion, we are wasting time being focused on something we can\u2019t do anything about.\u00a0 The purpose of all religions is to form a connection between the believer and their god(s).\u00a0 Bashing doesn\u2019t do that.\u00a0 It should never be tolerated from any quarter.<\/p>\n

The enthusiasm of those who have \u2018come home\u2019 is infectious and a delight to experience.\u00a0 Nothing should be done to discourage it.\u00a0 Those who have more familiarity with our faith should do everything they can to help these people integrate their experiences and enjoy the wonders of this joyful time.\u00a0 They should also help them avoid the mistakes of Gate-mouth and Bashing, both of which put them and us at risk and deplete the magic available to all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some feel it physically.\u00a0 It\u2019s a tingle in the spine or a rush of blood all over the body.\u00a0 Some describe it as an overwhelming blast to the mind where open-eyed visions come and go so quickly you can\u2019t really recognize what they are.\u00a0 Nearly everyone says it\u2019s an intense feeling of \u2018rightness\u2019\u00a0 where you \u2018just know\u2019 you\u2019re where you should be in this universe.\u00a0 You\u2019ve come home.\u00a0 That\u2019s the phrase Pagans have adopted to describe what is felt by many who discover us and who have a magical and spiritual awakening.\u00a0 It is an epiphany when they encounter our way of looking at things. Not everyone experiences it.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t just as inspired or committed as those who do, but for those who have experienced that \u2018ah hah!\u2019 moment, it will stick in their mind forever.\u00a0 Psychologists have lots of ways and words to describe the event but unless you\u2019ve experienced it yourself you can\u2019t understand the intensity of such a moment.\u00a0 The person will usually freeze in place and their eyes will dilate.\u00a0 They might quickly blush and then turn white, as if they\u2019re going into shock.\u00a0 In fact, they may do this several times within a very short time.\u00a0 It\u2019s possible they might shake or have small muscle spasms of the arms and legs.\u00a0 Almost without exception, they will begin to smile and it will grow bigger and bigger until it seems their face will break.\u00a0 More often than not, they\u2019ll giggle.\u00a0 Even big tough guys will giggle.\u00a0 Some might begin to cry because of the intensity of emotions they are feeling. \u2018Coming home\u2019 isn\u2019t exclusive to our faith.\u00a0 Other religions call it by different names but the reaction is just as intense for followers of those religions when a person finds their own perfect fit of ideas and ideals.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen several \u2018homecomings\u2019 in the last thirty years of being Pagan and I experienced my own.\u00a0 When I see it happening to somebody, I usually try to stay by them for a while to offer moral support and a kind word or two so they know that what they are experiencing isn\u2019t anything bad.\u00a0 I, like many others, will offer a, \u201cWelcome home,\u201d at some point to the person.\u00a0 It never fails to elicit a laugh of relief from the person undergoing the flood of emotions.\u00a0 The usual pattern is that the person will begin to calm down in less than a half hour but I have seen it take longer. After the initial episode, there will probably be \u2018aftershocks\u2019 that bring back the giggles or other symptoms over the next week or two.\u00a0 Though these will likely be less intense and shorter in duration, they can still make for some embarrassing moments.\u00a0 I will usually recommend to the subject that they have a supply of chocolate handy to help them ground when these \u2018aftershocks\u2019 occur.\u00a0 Most people find chocolate is a very good way of getting the body to pay attention to itself when they are overwhelmed by strong emotions.\u00a0 (Besides\u2026 it tastes so good!) After the newcomer has found some semblance of balance, then what?\u00a0 They\u2019ve been changed; their worldview has shifted and everything has taken on a new and often bizarre meaning.\u00a0 Though they usually don\u2019t consider this strangeness threatening, it can be confusing enough to cause them some problems.\u00a0 The most common of these problems is a sense that they are somehow disconnected from what their senses report is going on around them.\u00a0 Their mind is trying to make a new \u2018sense\u2019 of common events and sensations and hasn\u2019t had much practice yet.\u00a0 Consequently, the depth of meaning that has been collected for these events and sensations is not fully accessed and there is a kind of \u2018hollowness\u2019 to them.\u00a0 This can be quite disturbing and the newcomer should be reassured that the mind won\u2019t take long (a week or two at the most, usually) to rectify this condition.\u00a0 In fact, the less the person pays attention to the strangeness, the more quickly it disappears.\u00a0 It\u2019s caused by the mind\u2019s new ability to perceive in the added dimension we call magic that most often will produce this temporary weirdness.\u00a0 Most people get used to it quite quickly.\u00a0 From a psychological point of view, it is an added way to communicate with the unconscious.\u00a0 However you might explain it, the feeling of being slightly out of phase or disconnected from \u2018normal reality\u2019 usually begins to fade almost from the moment a person recognizes they are experiencing it.\u00a0 Once again, they will find a balance that suits them. Even before this internal turmoil has settled, newcomers will often begin to go through two other phases, both of which can be a problem for them and others.\u00a0 I will label these the \u2018Gate-mouth\u2019 and the \u2018Bashing\u2019 phases. The Gate-mouth phase is where the person just can\u2019t shut up about their newfound religious conversion.\u00a0 They believe that their feeling of wonder and excitement should be shared by anyone and everyone close to them.\u00a0 They believe that if people only realized the feeling of \u2018rightness\u2019 that they have found, they\u2019d be flocking to this Pagan religion by the thousands!\u00a0 They want everyone to know just how lucky, how blessed they\u2019ve been and believe they can explain it to others well enough that they will want it for themselves.\u00a0 They\u2019re wrong. In the first place, to \u2018explain\u2019\u00a0 a religion almost never causes another person suddenly to change their spiritual perceptions and religious affiliations.\u00a0 Secondly, it\u2019s almost impossible to \u2018explain\u2019 any religion!\u00a0 Religions are much more than ideas or ways of doing things; they are conditions of the spirit that must be developed and slowly built layer by layer of meaning.\u00a0 The newcomer\u2019s recent epiphany has led them to believe that their religious ideas have suddenly changed.\u00a0 What actually took place was the result of a longer process that culminated in their \u2018coming home\u2019 experience.\u00a0 But they are so focused on that one moment they think of it as the only thing that pertains to their new outlook.\u00a0 Third, sounding off about being a Pagan of any stripe is often dangerous.\u00a0 Despite the laws that protect us in this country against discriminating on the basis of religious creed, the fact is that it happens all the time.\u00a0 Declaring that you are a Pagan will usually result in some sort of prejudicial reactions from friends, neighbors, employers, and even the government itself.\u00a0 Not only that, but it will put others who associate with you in a less secure position as well. Last, the Gate-mouth phase is all too much like proselytizing. There are sound reasons why this practice is declared taboo by Pagans.\u00a0 The main reason is that it is wrong to attempt to mess with another person\u2019s most personal beliefs.\u00a0 No matter how wonderful you might think your religion is, to think that others should adopt it is to disregard or disrespect their own freedom of mind and heart.\u00a0 That in itself is a big violation of our code to harm none.\u00a0 At the heart of it, proselytizing is an ego trip from someone who is not yet comfortable with their own beliefs.\u00a0 The newcomer\u2019s desire to talk to everyone about their new way of seeing the world may be a natural reaction, but it isn\u2019t one that benefits them or others in any way.\u00a0 As difficult as it may seem at times, they must learn to sit quietly with their new way of being and interpret their experiences without attempting to explain them to others who will likely divert the person\u2019s attention away from what\u2019s important to learn. The other phase that I wish to cover is called Bashing.\u00a0 Usually the term is connected with the religion that the newcomer has recently rejected, as in \u2018Christian Bashing.\u2019\u00a0 There is a tendency to view one\u2019s old religious culture as being wrong, filled with hypocrisy, and based upon a flawed understanding of reality.\u00a0 The fact is: all religions are flawed because they\u2019re created by human beings\u2026 our own religion included.\u00a0 And humans almost never escape being hypocritical about some part of them\u2026 once again: us included.\u00a0 All religions can be wrong for some people just as they can be right for others.\u00a0 Bad things happen in the name of religion because of bad actions and ideas from the people who populate them.\u00a0 Historically speaking, this has been the case as far back as time and it will continue to be so in the future.\u00a0 To believe that every idea, action, and person from one faith is better than those of another is, once again, disrespectful, arrogant, and harmful.\u00a0 When we bash another\u2019s religion, we are wasting time being focused on something we can\u2019t do anything about.\u00a0 The purpose of all religions is to form a connection between the believer and their god(s).\u00a0 Bashing doesn\u2019t do that.\u00a0 It should never be tolerated from any quarter. The enthusiasm of those who have \u2018come home\u2019 is infectious and a delight to experience.\u00a0 Nothing should be done to discourage it.\u00a0 Those who have more familiarity with our faith should do everything they can to help these people integrate their experiences and enjoy the wonders of this joyful time.\u00a0 They should also help them avoid the mistakes of Gate-mouth and Bashing, both of which put them and us at risk and deplete the magic available to all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2590"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2590\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}