This blog entry will be answering questions from the book I'm working through right now.
Paganism: An Introduction to Earth Centered Religions
by Joyce & River Higginbotham
ISBN 978-0-7387-0222-3
Questions to Discuss on Pagan Holidays page 24, Chapter 1
1. Which season of the year is your favorite? What do you remember from your childhood about this season that has special meaning for you? How do you celebrate this season now?
My favorite seasons have always been Spring and Summer. In my childhood summertime meant time to play outside, go swimming, climb trees, swing on grape vines, go hiking, go fishing, chase lightning bugs, chase dragonflies, dig worms, and a lot of other fun stuff. As I grew older I became more aware of the beauty and new life of Spring. I remember when I was about eleven saying that a rosebud tree was the most beautiful tree on Earth and I wanted to get married under it's branches. In recent years I've been inside during the Spring because of my allergies. This year my allergies are only a minor problem, in fact, they aren't any worse than they usually are. I've been able to sit outside some and enjoy the outdoors. This Beltane, May 1st, will be my first Pagan holiday. I am excited about that. I have also been planting this spring, which I haven't done in a long time.
2. Have you ever been to a Pagan holiday ritual? If so, what did you think? Describe what occurred in the ritual and what you liked about it.
No, I haven't been to one yet.
3. What do you think about Paganism including celebrations of fertility into its sacred year? Do you think that the Pagan celebration of fertility offers something positive to the culture? If so, what, and if not, why not?
I think celebrating fertility is a great thing. Fertility is on my mind a lot lately anyway, and celebrating the fertile Earth connects all life on a basic level. Life wouldn't go on without fertility. Beltane is a fertility festival.
4. What do you think about Paganism including the processing of death into its sacred year? Do you think that the Pagan celebration of aging and dying offers something positive to the culture? If so, what, and if not, why not?
All life will at some time die. Celebrating aging and dying gives someone a different way to look at growing older and I think it is a much more positive way. Until I met my DH I was never afraid of death, but I know that most people are. When you look at death as an action preceding burning for eternity, then death is pretty scary. I think that not having that "OMG I'm going to hell!" hanging over your head all the time opens you up to be able to celebrate things that were not possible to celebrate before.
Paganism: An Introduction to Earth Centered Religions
by Joyce & River Higginbotham
ISBN 978-0-7387-0222-3
Questions to Discuss on Pagan Holidays page 24, Chapter 1
1. Which season of the year is your favorite? What do you remember from your childhood about this season that has special meaning for you? How do you celebrate this season now?
My favorite seasons have always been Spring and Summer. In my childhood summertime meant time to play outside, go swimming, climb trees, swing on grape vines, go hiking, go fishing, chase lightning bugs, chase dragonflies, dig worms, and a lot of other fun stuff. As I grew older I became more aware of the beauty and new life of Spring. I remember when I was about eleven saying that a rosebud tree was the most beautiful tree on Earth and I wanted to get married under it's branches. In recent years I've been inside during the Spring because of my allergies. This year my allergies are only a minor problem, in fact, they aren't any worse than they usually are. I've been able to sit outside some and enjoy the outdoors. This Beltane, May 1st, will be my first Pagan holiday. I am excited about that. I have also been planting this spring, which I haven't done in a long time.
2. Have you ever been to a Pagan holiday ritual? If so, what did you think? Describe what occurred in the ritual and what you liked about it.
No, I haven't been to one yet.
3. What do you think about Paganism including celebrations of fertility into its sacred year? Do you think that the Pagan celebration of fertility offers something positive to the culture? If so, what, and if not, why not?
I think celebrating fertility is a great thing. Fertility is on my mind a lot lately anyway, and celebrating the fertile Earth connects all life on a basic level. Life wouldn't go on without fertility. Beltane is a fertility festival.
4. What do you think about Paganism including the processing of death into its sacred year? Do you think that the Pagan celebration of aging and dying offers something positive to the culture? If so, what, and if not, why not?
All life will at some time die. Celebrating aging and dying gives someone a different way to look at growing older and I think it is a much more positive way. Until I met my DH I was never afraid of death, but I know that most people are. When you look at death as an action preceding burning for eternity, then death is pretty scary. I think that not having that "OMG I'm going to hell!" hanging over your head all the time opens you up to be able to celebrate things that were not possible to celebrate before.
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