I would love to believe in something beyond this world as we know it, but being of sound and scientific mind I simply cannot make the leap of "faith" required. I have considered myself a somewhat agnostic, ecclectic, evolutionary pagan for some time now... but in all honesty I am actually athiestic, think nature is divine, mythology is fantastic fiction, and obsess over the world's cultural art and artifacts.

I have studied many different religions of the world. And if you strip them down to the core, in the middle they are all pretty much the same. Be good to yourself and to each other. On my path of personal discovery, I found that above all, I am "pagan" or a "witch" more than any other description of a religion. What that means to ME is...

I take history, mythology and religion and mix and match to create my own spirituality and worship and practice in my own way. Spells are really just prayers with props, and rituals are just ceremonies. The essence of power is within our own minds.

You do not need any tools or temples to honor or seek guidance from something that IS everything. It surrounds us, courses through us, IS us. Most of us do not use enough of our brains to really focus without some kind of inspiration. Symbols aid in visualization and directing energy. Whether it be to celebrate a season, honor elders and deities, heal a sick friend, or hopes for personal prosperity.

I don't believe there are "gods" up in the heavens playing chess with our lives. But I believe if you call an entity by name there are energies affiliated with it. And I believe that if you concentrate and focus, you can tap into the natural rhythm and energies of the Universe. You can direct your desires, and empower them, and make things happen. But you still have to do work in the "real world" to obtain any goal.

Spirituality is how you see it... The higher powers and elements know when you speak to them, by any name. Opening your mind you can learn to go with the natural flow of life and make your dreams come true.

I stay strictly in the pale end of the spectrum, keeping my karma clean. I practice what I preach. I help when I can. I never hurt intentionally. I am not greedy. I am thankful. If you are a good person, it comes back to you. Regardless of what your religion is called, or what symbols and deities you use. Respect, and you will be respected. Ask for what you want, nurture what you need. Do the WORK to get where you want to be, both spiritually and physically.

But like your grandmother told you when you were very little...

"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."

Often what we ask for is exactly what we get, but very different from what we imagined. Often what we think we want is not what we need. Timing can be everything. The Universe can have a wicked a sense of humor, and dreams and desires can be hard to define! ;-)