the relationship of love to our souls and Pagan identities.
This reminded me of a program I had presented at a local festival a couple years ago.
I've long been interested in this dimension of our spiritual journeys and the various
consequences of the crossing of our paths, both in the potentials realized and
the losses we suffer every time we allow Opportunity to pass us by...
Here's the workshop outline;
I look forward to developing it further and presenting it again sometime soon:
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LOVE and NEOPAGAN SPIRITUALITY
This program will examine the role of spiritual love, compassion and
fearlessness as applied to Neopagan living and religion. We’ll work toward building a dialogue, charting how our tendencies to limit the natural flow of love in our interpersonal relationships robs us and our community of our future and ultimate potential...
The Nature of Love
What were not discussing today
Sensation and emotion
Reciprocity
Must we love?
Must we be-loved?
Recognition and acknowledgement
Natural love
Compassion & seeing ourselves in the experiences of
others; the importance of expression and connection.
Being supportive vs. being intrusive
The propriety of emotive and magickal meddling…
The Pity Trap & Super-Natural love (Spiritual Love)
Black & White Generic Love? -is love always relational?
A reservoir of potential Magickal dynamics
The Challenge of Objectivity
The blind men and the elephant.
Gaining perspective
Sacred or Saccharine?
Love and Risk - fear and security
Real risks: loss and consequences
The greatest loss
Fearlessness and the invincibility of the Open Heart…
Giving and Receiving Blessings
See: Blessing - the Art and the Practice by David Spangler
Love and Heart in Community - the fullness of heart (in a group)
Conventional models for consideration:
Christmas, graduations, leaving home, weddings, childbirth, funerals…
Related Challenges in the Neopagan Community
Effective liturgies
Safe ritual space; self awareness and boundaries
Me-me meemies
Love junkies and co-dependency
Hugs: the pros and cons (and pros) of physicality
Hospitality
Fielding inquiries from newcomers.
Feeling welcome: having a plan for new members*
Cliques: The challenge of keeping your group an “open” group…
Staying connected to your community
Inter-group relations
Us vs. Them - Understanding Newbies and the Next Wave
Listening for the common song
Our community and the future...
© 2003-2012, Earrach of Pittsburgh, ADF
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IMAGE CREDIT: detail from "Ornament"
- Sulamith Wulfing, 1975
