The Way I See It Wednesday

I've been reading quite a bit online about the whole "Eclectic Witch" debate.  There's a lot of name-calling and other less-than-mature behavior around this topic.  Quite frankly, I'm tired of the whole thing, but I like to get my head wrapped around issues and then come to my own conclusions.  I believe that, in general, Paganism is by its very nature, eclectic.  Sure there are many branches of Paganism, but even within those the practices are greatly affected by location, time and the most eclectic of all the elements - people.  Faith/belief is the very core of humanity whether it's in a deity, a religion, science, nature or ourselves.
Even the term "witch" can be applied differently, depending on its context and to whom you are talking. It's possible that many witches define themselves that way simply because their beliefs do not fit into any other tradition, the same way some will simply refer to themselves as Pagan. Witches, if you use the definition of "sorcerer" or "practitioner of magic" are found in many cultures and belief systems, whether they are out in the open about it or not.  So the idea that eclecticism is somehow wrong, makes no sense whatsoever, and I wish we could just get over this - or better yet, get to the real root of the issue, which is power.

Power has either been at the root of almost every religion, or has crept in slowly over time.  Throughout time, people were held hostage by religions.  People were/are tortured and put to death in the name of God. Today, individuals strive to gain power over others who share the same path, each person claiming to be better or righter than others, the keeper of some arcane knowledge or a long line of pagan ancestors or gifted in some supernatural way.  Discrediting the practices of others is one way to gain this power.  Proving oneself right has become a favorite Pagan pastime.

But it has worked to make no one right.  And it caused a lot of confusion for those new and not so new to the Pagan path.  Instead of practicing and growing within a belief system they truly believe in, no matter how eclectic, mixed up, scattered and joyous, today's Pagan is constantly told he/she is "doing it wrong."  This causes some to strive to do it "right" and usually ends in frustration and disillusionment.

Who is really ever wrong in this scenario?  And if, in the end we find out that someone was righter and someone was wronger, will it matter?  And will a god called Buddha, Thor, Isis, Mother Earth or God, if he/she be the  deity we believe him/her to be care either?   Perhaps each of us relates to a mere aspect  of a greater whole, anyway.  How, in all honesty, can we even imagine to perceive the greatness, the vastness of a god in the way most people believe in/understand this entity?  Perhaps a small spec of the enormous power is all we could possibly know.

If this is so, we are all on the same page.  If this is not so, then we all are at least reading the same book.     And if some of us read it page by page, while others skim, re-read and write in the margins, and still others choose to edit and rewrite, does this change the book itself, or merely reflect on the personal habits and choices of the reader?

I, for one, am finished even reading about this topic.  It's a pointless, waste of time that proves no one right and gives powerless people a chance to pretend they are powerful.  In my opinion, we are all better off being true to our sacred selves and finding an outlet for it in any way that feels right to us, embracing others who want to join in, and wishing well to those who find it another way. 

 So please, people who seem to believe that power comes from discrediting/discouraging others, stop.  Live your life, practice your faith and use your true power for the greater good. In other words, as they say in writing class "Show, don't tell."


© Aine O’Brien - Please do not use without permission.  All sources highlighted with a link.

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