euripides
So a bit of background: I've been on a long and winding spiritual journey. From cultural non practicing Christian, atheist, to studying myth and religion, to trying really, really, really hard to be Christian, to paganism, dipping the toe into witchcraft and wicca, to hardcore atheist-scientific-rationalist.
I had a shift in understanding when I recognized that myth wasn't a made-up story we applied to reality, but rather story that emerges from our shared human experience of the world. This is why so many myths have so much in common. And I've somehow come to this place where I find that my understanding of science and myth actually coexist quite comfortably. If you've listened to Alan Watts at all, I align most with his ideas. Let's not talk about Deepak Chopra - he appropriates scientific ideas into his imagery but doesn't understand them. I know many like his work, but it's not for me. Watts actually understands. Similarly Joseph Campbell.
So a lot of my impression of *practice* from Watts' thought and from my own is that it's very much
But at the same time I feel there's some value in ritual and I think ideas like grounding and cleansing are about pushing all that mental clutter out of your life and just getting back to just being, as well as recognizing the space around you and the need for that to let you just be, and world around you and your connection.
I wonder if there are others who might share my worldview somewhat, or if you've perhaps found your way into your practice from a similar worldview, and have suggestions about practice in terms of meditation, maybe use of herbs and smudging (I find this idea quite interesting as it's so widely practiced) or other things that might be ways of solidifying these ideas, from thought into action, as it were.
Dear moderator: is it possible to rename this thread? It's more of a request for thoughts. Maybe 'Suggestions for ritual/practice?' would be better?
I had a shift in understanding when I recognized that myth wasn't a made-up story we applied to reality, but rather story that emerges from our shared human experience of the world. This is why so many myths have so much in common. And I've somehow come to this place where I find that my understanding of science and myth actually coexist quite comfortably. If you've listened to Alan Watts at all, I align most with his ideas. Let's not talk about Deepak Chopra - he appropriates scientific ideas into his imagery but doesn't understand them. I know many like his work, but it's not for me. Watts actually understands. Similarly Joseph Campbell.
So a lot of my impression of *practice* from Watts' thought and from my own is that it's very much
before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water
after enlightenment: chop wood, carry water
after enlightenment: chop wood, carry water
But at the same time I feel there's some value in ritual and I think ideas like grounding and cleansing are about pushing all that mental clutter out of your life and just getting back to just being, as well as recognizing the space around you and the need for that to let you just be, and world around you and your connection.
I wonder if there are others who might share my worldview somewhat, or if you've perhaps found your way into your practice from a similar worldview, and have suggestions about practice in terms of meditation, maybe use of herbs and smudging (I find this idea quite interesting as it's so widely practiced) or other things that might be ways of solidifying these ideas, from thought into action, as it were.
Dear moderator: is it possible to rename this thread? It's more of a request for thoughts. Maybe 'Suggestions for ritual/practice?' would be better?