Category Archives: Memes

Memes, Religion

Interesting Religions

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Matt tagged me with a new meme he’s trying to start:

what religions do you find most interesting apart from your own? Would
you pick one of the major world religions? Say Islam, or Buddhism, or
Hinduism or Judaism? Or would you pick something more obscure, like
Wicca or Taosim or Rastafarianism or Gnosticism? Would you pick
irreligion, say Atheism or Agnosticism? Or if you’re not Christian,
would you say Christianity?

To participate, state your own religion (or irreligion) as your first
preference, state the other religions that interest you most as your
second and third preferences, then pass onto five others. If you’re
feeling brave, say why they interest you.

So here are my choices:

Orthodox Christianity (and to a lesser degree, Roman Catholocism and those Protestant denominations that still have strong “high church” elements in their worship/liturgy.  What can I say?  My friend Julio got me fascinated.  After he read my essay explaining the concept of mystery using baptism as an example, he pointed out just how close I came to the actual Orthodox teachings on Baptism.  (He also shared my essay with his priest, who purportedly commented that I’m “really Orthodox and just don’t know it yet.)  My exploration of my current path has given me a great appreciation for liturgy, and something I now feel was sorely missing and undervalued while growing up Baptist and during my stint in a Pentecostal church.

Wicca.  Now this may surprise some people (it’ll come as no shock to others).  Some might even think this isn’t entirely a fair answer.  But remember, I don’t consider myself Wiccan.  Also, bear in mind that I tend to use a rather narrow definition of the word Wicca on this blog.  The Wicca I’m talking about fascinates me because it has some strong similarities to the relatiosnship I have with Freyja.  Also, I love the interplay between traditionalism and creativity that can be found among many of its adherents, providing you take the time to actually get to know them.

Voudun, Santeria, and the other African Diasporic relgions.  I find their understanding of the Loa and Orishas to be fascinating and far more in line with my own beliefs about my gods than most other concepts of deity.  I also find the strong animistic, shamanistic, and even tribalistic elements of these faiths to be very invigorating.

In turn, I’d like to tag Yewtree, Lauren, Tina, Barbara, and Erin.

Memes

Six Word Memoir

3 Comments

Today I was tagged by Erin to participate in the Six Word Memoir meme.

The Rules
1. Write the title to your own memoir using 6 words.
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person that tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs.

My Title
Passions and Reflections from Sacred Groves

Tags
I hereby declare my intent to be a rulebreaker. I tag no one. If you read this and want to play, tag yourself on my behalf.

Memes

Page 123 Meme

3 Comments

Back when the whole trouble with my blog started, Adam G. tagged me with a meme.

The Rules
Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. No cheating!
Find Page 123.
Find the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.
Tag 5 people.

My Answers

We may be asked to swim in the shallow end of the pool at first.

Parents who need to establish firm boundaries can do so by implementing a system of choices. This, again, is exactly what Spirit has offered to us: choices, abundant choices, all of which have results and consequences, not punishment.

From Break Up or Break Through by Dina Bachelor Evan.

Tags
It’s been too long. I tag no one.

Family, Memes, Memories

One More Day

3 Comments

Earlier this week, Adam tagged me with a meme. I decided to spend the week thinking about it. But now I’m ready to give it a whirl.

The Rules
1. Answer the question, If you could spend one more day with someone who would it be? Why? What would you want to talk to this person about? This can be someone you know or someone from history.

2. Tag as many as you want or as little as you want. Participate even if your are not tagged!!

3. (Optional) Include a link back to the original post if you were tagged with the person who tagged you. Invite others to comment back to the original post.

I think I would choose to spend one more day with my father’s mother, Grandma Harris. She passed away when I was still quite young, and all of my memories are from after she started chemotherapy and the rest of her battle with cancer.

I would spend the day with her in the kitchen, helping her bake. One of the things I do know about Grandma Harris is that she loved to bake. While we worked to turn out delicious goodies, I’d just spend the time talking to her and finding out more about what her life was like before I knew her. I’d find out things like what it was like to raise six children. Most particularly, I’d like to find out more about what my own father was like growing up. And I’d find out what kinds of things concerned her before her life was consumed by cancer.

Also, I’d ask her about my grandfather, who survived well into my twenties. But I have to believe that he was a much different man when they were together. The grandfather I knew was something of a bastard. He was old, cranky, and very bitter. But when I think of my sweet, caring grandmother, I have to believe he wasn’t always that way. I figure there had to be something which drew them together. (I often think my younger cousin was right when she so thoughtfully opined that the best part of Grandpa Harris died with Grandma.) So I would love to find out what their relationship was like, as well of what kind of man he was before he had to endure the failing health and inevitable death of his beloved wife.

I’m not going to specifically tag anyone, given the intensely personal nature of this meme. But I would invite any reader who is willing to take us for a stroll down memory lane to partake.

Memes

My quirkiness has been challenged!

11 Comments

Questioning my quirkiness, Erin has tagged me with a meme:

Here’s the game:

– Link to the person that tagged you.
– Post the rules on your blog.
– Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
– Tag six people and at the end of your post, link to their blogs.
– Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I never make my bed. I figure that no one but me sees it right now, and I don’t care if it’s a mess. Besides, I’ll just climb back in it again tonight, so why make it?

2. My favorite car is a lavendar PT Cruiser. I actually hate PT Cruisers in general, though.

3. I occasionally read Christian fiction. Especially novels by Frank Peretti.

4. I can probably write my own device driver for any PCI card out there, but I’d still prefer to ask someone else to install said card in my computer for me. I’m that mechanically challenged.

5. I’ve been known to dance to the music playing in a grocery store before. I even have witnesses. Suprisingly, said witnesses still go to the grocery store with me.

6. I have a mild fear of germs.

I hereby tag:

Tina
Pisco
Lauren
Eileen
The Reverend Boy
Barbara

Memes, Paganism, Religion

Meme: Joys and Sorrows

10 Comments

Eirsinitiate created a fun little meme which I found interesting. I decided that rather than waiting to be tagged (and hoping it eventually happened), I’m going to be naughty and self-infect. (There’s probably some meme etiquette agaisnt it, but I’ve never claimed to have stellar social graces anyway.)

Rules

  1. You have to use your own belief system for the meme. No fair using someone else?s to make a joke or satire. Being humorous about your own religion is encouraged!
  2. You have to have at least one joy and one trial. More are encouraged. And no, they don?t have to be equal in length, but please be honest.
  3. You have to tag at least one other person. More are appreciated!
  4. Please post these rules!

Joys

  1. Knowing that every act of love and joy is a sacred act and being free to celebrate life religiously
  2. Having gods who not only care deeply about me, but wish to work in partnership with me for both our benefits.
  3. The knowledge that while I certainly can and should grow and improve as a person, this is possible due to my inherent worth and capacity to do so.

Trials

  1. Knowing there are no easy answers and no easy sources for answers.
  2. Dealing with friends and family who care deeply, but struggle with understanding my faith.
  3. Being the devotee of a goddess who is all about passion and being single.

Infecting Others

I’ve decided to spread this over various faith groups. It seemed appropriate, given the diverse nature of my readers.

Christian
Marisa
Lauren: Posted
Pisco: Posted

Pagan
Tracie: Posted
Cosette: Posted
Phoenix: Posted

Hindu
Artharaja: Posted