Sunday, May 10, 2015

The Pagan Experience - May Week 2

Time

Time is a funny thing. It is ever constant, and yet ever changing. Have you ever noticed how time speeds up when you are in the moment? When you are lost in pure bliss and joy, time races past us, and before you know it the day is gone. But then again, when you're caught in a painful or awkward moment, time seems to creep by. When you'd rather be doing something else and be somewhere else, time slows to a crawl.

Time is free and priceless. You can use it, but you can't own it. You can spend it, but you can't keep it. You can lose it, and you can never get it back. 

Often times, we take time for granted. We think that we'll have time later to spend it on the little things. We tell our children that will play later. We tell our spouse that we'll have one on one time later. Or when we miss an event we tell ourselves "maybe next time." What we don't realize is that time waits for no one. We are only given a certain amount of time; it's called our life time. And when time's up, it's up. It's a morbid thought to think that every second that ticks by is a second closer to our death. But that is the reality.

We hear people say to us all the time "live like you're dying" or "live like today is your last day alive." But do we ever actually listen? Do we ever actually process the idea that, that is the reality? That we really could die tomorrow, or even in an hour, or even...right now. 

We could be skirting on the edge of death right now, and not know it. Our time could be up. And if it is, would we feel our time on earth was fulfilled? Was it wasted?

You can lose time. But you can find time too. Find time for your family, for your friends, for the little things in life. Stop pushing them off for some future time that may never come.

Time is precious.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Pagan Experience - May Week 1

Fire

Fire is a funny thing. You have the elemental fire, which is associated with South, red, heat, strength, rage, anger, love, lust, romance, destruction, and more. It is almost a contradiction in what it represents. 

There is also spiritual fire. The fire inside each of us that burns red hot when certain emotions are invoked. Our spiritual fire ignites when things we are passionate about arise. This spiritual fire fuels us to keep going through life. It fuels us to stand for our beliefs, and to take charge when the situation calls for it.


There is a fire that burns inside me, and it frequently flares up. It flares up when touchy and controversial topics are brought up; topics I have very strong feelings and opinions on. The fire rages when topics of violence, sexual violence, religious bigotry, oppression of human rights, and sexuality phobias come up in conversation. These are topics that I have very strong opinions on, and although I can acknowledge, and even validate other's opinions on these topics, my opinions and feelings will not be swayed.


There is also a fire that burns inside of me that is related to passion. Romantic passion. And although the details of that fire and it's triggers are probably too spicy for public sharing.


My internal fire has also cauterized many wounds for me. Wounds from break ups, wounds from heart ache and ending friendship, wounds from reality checks and dark pasts of long ago.


I embrace my fire. My fire is my fuel to keep going even in the darkest parts of my life. I cherish my fire. And I honor it by being strong and by continuing to fight when all I want to do is give up.