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Post by potia on Feb 2, 2013 13:38:55 GMT -1
The aim of Brython is given as:
“To research, recover and redistribute to the best of our knowledge and wisdom the native British pre-Christian Spirituality, as evidenced by historical sources and personal experiences, to trace its influence and expression into later times and to explore its application and relevance to life in the modern world”
Much discussion has taken place here on various topics, much of it citing evidence from various sources. Some of it talking about personal experiences but probably less of that than of evidence from other sources. Maybe it's time for more of our experiences, more of how our knowledge and experience is relevant to the ways we live in the modern world.
In the past we have talked about reconnection rather than reconstruction. I think we accept that our experiences are going to be different from each other because of where and how we live as much as how we have come to be here. Sometimes I wonder if we have spent too much time in the past seeking for threads that we share and not enough time learning from our differences.
It is hard to put such things into words though, hard to share personal experiences, hard to fill a white space with meaningful symbols.
I don't know what of my experiences might be of interest to those reading these words. I'm not sure what to ask to encourage you to share your experiences, what things that have been hinted at in the past that you might be willing to tell more about.
So many thoughts chase their way round and round in my mind. I'm not sure how to start but I want to. I want to know what has been happening in your lives beyond Brython and computer screens since last we spoke. I want to talk of joys and sorrows, of lessons learnt and of how what we have shared in the past has affected our lives or not as the case may be.
So what are you willing to share? Are there things you have been musing on that you might like to talk about there? Are there things you want to know about me or my experiences?
I miss discussions here and I miss getting to know you all better here.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2013 21:32:50 GMT -1
I'd like to be able to respond to this post properly, but unfortunately, I've never had any notable experiences to share. In second thought, maybe that is something worth mentioning. For 12 years now I've considered myself a 'pagan', to some degree or another (and I'm only 21 so 12 years is a good chunk of my life), for the majority of the time however, I was more drawn to the Wicca/Witchcraft related traditions and it has only been since this past summer that I stumbled upon Brython and other related groups . But in my 12 years, I've never experienced anything really notable. Nowt. Pagans often say that they don't need to believe in their Gods, spirits or what have you, because they've actually experienced them. Well, I've never been so lucky as to be able to claim that for myself, and I have been increasingly concerned about what such a lack of experience means. Perhaps it's because for the majority of the time, I followed Witchcraft related traditions, and maybe those weren't actually right for me? I don't know. Maybe now that I'm beginning to turn my mind more to Brythonic polytheism, and that I am actually living in Britain, I'll enjoy one of these 'experiences' so often discussed amongst pagans. All I can say is that I hope so. Anyway, Potia, I'm really pleased by your attempts to keep discussion happening on here, as I've said before, it's a vital resource for me and I'd hate to see things die down completely.  |
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Post by potia on Feb 8, 2013 9:50:12 GMT -1
Hi Corey and thanks for replying and for sharing your perspective on experiences with deity. I know exactly what you mean when you mention hearing other pagans talking about experiencing deities. Some people sound as if they have regular interactions that are just as strong as if they were talking face to face to a friend. I can honestly say I have not had any experiences with deity that have been that clear. I get feelings about stuff and I've learnt to listen to them. Sometimes I can put those feelings down to my subconcious alerting me to things going on around me but sometimes I can't. I have odd coincidences happen in my life that feel too meaningful to be random. And sometimes, very rarely, and I've been a practising pagan for about 16 years now, I get flashes of vision and emotion so intense and profound I find it hard to put into words. Many of my experiences are ones that are subtle and not the sort of thing that sound all that impressive. For example, walking in a local park one morning a deer crossed the path in front of me, paused, turned his head and seemed to look right into me for a moment. For me that was a magical moment of connection but it has to be said that there are deer living in the park and lots of people walk there often with dogs so the deer will have learnt to judge who is safe to walk past and who to be wary of. That deer may not have been looking at me as such but it felt like he was. And to me at that time that was a sign of connection with the god Maponos because of what I had been thinking about at the time and how unusual an event it was to me. I could say it was simply a random happening, not that unlikely given the location and circumstances but to me it was much more than a random happening. Most of my experiences with deity are like that. I have been fortunate enough to have a couple of much more intense and profound experiences but these are the exceptions and not the norm. I believe it is honestly unusual to have very clear, deep and profond expereinces of deity even though when you are around some pagans it may sound as if you are the odd one out for not having such experiences. I think there are many who frankly mislead others and maybe even themselves about their experiences for a wide range of reasons including not wanting to be seen to be the odd one out |
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Post by nellie on Feb 10, 2013 10:23:00 GMT -1
Ha! I remembered my password! I logged in yesterday to see that you've all been coming back at the same Since Potia is asking here about differences and what people have been upto it seems a good time to say where I'm at. This seems a bit self-involved, but I'm not sure how well I fit in with where Brython is at now, so if I tell you then you can all decide if you want to send me on my way... Since I last posted on here I've been to a few Heathen Kindred meetings and enjoyed learning what I could about the Anglo-Saxons and modern Heathenry, and there was a whole lot there that I loved. But it wasn't quite right. I spent a long time thinking about what actually makes sense to me from a rational 21st century perspective. Anyway, to cut it short, it makes sense that the universe is alive (to me! I don't presume to tell anybody else what makes sense.). It makes sense to me that there are systems within systems that are all alive, all integrated and yet with their own awareness and aliveness that is separate from its parts. Sorry I was trying to keep this short but it's not really happening that way... I see the Gods as part of the Earth primarily, integral to the smooth functioning of the Earth. If that makes any sense? But my logic leads me to think that there are other spirits, other Gods, and that ultimately the universe itself is, well, the ultimate presence. I'm in the odd position of finding myself a polytheist and also sort of a monotheist and not finding it incongruous... I've been to a few Quaker meetings, and find I fit in quite well. I've been to the Universalist Chapel and find I like it a whole lot there and appreciate their openess of thought. So, that's where I am. I hope we still have some common ground to share ideas, but I appreciate that I might be coming from a different direction to most of you. Anyway, hi again! How are you all? |
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Post by redraven on Feb 10, 2013 18:21:12 GMT -1
Since Potia is asking here about differences and what people have been upto it seems a good time to say where I'm at. This seems a bit self-involved, but I'm not sure how well I fit in with where Brython is at now, so if I tell you then you can all decide if you want to send me on my way... As far as I can remember, Brython always welcomed members back, it was always upto the member to decide if Brython was still the place for them. Since I last posted on here I've been to a few Heathen Kindred meetings and enjoyed learning what I could about the Anglo-Saxons and modern Heathenry, and there was a whole lot there that I loved. But it wasn't quite right. I spent a long time thinking about what actually makes sense to me from a rational 21st century perspective. Anyway, to cut it short, it makes sense that the universe is alive (to me! I don't presume to tell anybody else what makes sense.). It makes sense to me that there are systems within systems that are all alive, all integrated and yet with their own awareness and aliveness that is separate from its parts. That's pretty much how I've viewed it for quite a while now. Sorry I was trying to keep this short but it's not really happening that way... I see the Gods as part of the Earth primarily, integral to the smooth functioning of the Earth. If that makes any sense? But my logic leads me to think that there are other spirits, other Gods, and that ultimately the universe itself is, well, the ultimate presence. I'm in the odd position of finding myself a polytheist and also sort of a monotheist and not finding it incongruous... I've been to a few Quaker meetings, and find I fit in quite well. I've been to the Universalist Chapel and find I like it a whole lot there and appreciate their openess of thought. So, that's where I am. I hope we still have some common ground to share ideas, but I appreciate that I might be coming from a different direction to most of you. I'm going to be indulging in this sort of subject on my blog in the near future, so I'll keep my comments to this at this time. |
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Post by nellie on Feb 11, 2013 8:44:23 GMT -1
Hi RR,
I see you have a new blog! I'll look out for those blog posts, I'm really interested in what you have to say.
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