Deism and Prayer

Deists have varying thoughts on prayer. Some believe that Deity does not interfere in human affairs and thus prayer is a waste of time. Others like myself believe that prayer connects to the Higher Self which can be view as the God/dess within.

I remember hearing a sermon that mentioned 4 types of prayer. I'm guessing this refers to Christian prayer but I'll go over each type and why it may or may not fit into my practice.

• Praise/Adoration/Love/Awe: When you tell Deity how great She and Her Works are. Chances are, She already knows but it doesn't hurt to be reminded every now and then. Deism is based in science so praising the beauty of the sunset or being in awe of the human birthing process would fit in with this belief system. In my Pagan rituals there are invocations that could be likened to prayers of adoration although I'm not really one for flowery speech.

• Thanks: Not sure if this form has a place in deism. The creative side of my brain whispers a quick Thank you to the Universe when things go my way unexpectedly. The rational side realizes that there is no proof that a Deity exists so who am I thanking? Does Deity even intervene? In case She does, no harm and saying Good looking out!

• Petition/Intercession: This is the I need, I want, or somebody else needs/wants prayer. I feel torn about this form. For example, I lost my job a few years back. Along with prayer and ritual, I looked for employment and asked friend for leads. Currently employed so was that me or Goddess? On the other hand, there's poverty, war, lack of drinking water, animal cruelty, crime, disease, and other bad things going on in the world. These things rarely make it into my prayers. Why? Because we humans caused them and it's not Goddess' responsibility to get rid of them. We have everything we need to get rid of man-made conditions.

• Confession: No such type in Paganism or deism. You would have to believe in some type of sin. Sin implies a wrongdoing again Deity. Many Pagans follow the rule of do what you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. Although broad, this edict carries common sense. If some sort of wrongdoing took place, the only confession necessary would be to the person wronged and/or to law enforcement.

UU Adult RE: Spirit in Practice #3

What have your experiences been with meditation and prayer? What forms have you tried? What forms of meditation and prayer have been personally meaningful for you? How have your prayer and/or meditation practices affected you? 

My views on prayer have changed drastically from when I was a kid. First I needed to define who or what I was praying to and for what. It's more meaningful to visualize a loving Creatrix not a patriarchal dictator. Deity resides within and without. Prayer accesses and connects the two forms. Prayer as a conversation between you and Deity should remain that way although interfaith group prayers embrace community. 

I suppose prayer can be a form of meditation. When I chanted daily, I was able to concentrate better, to sit still without fidgeting. One needs to still the monkey / kitten mind. In the stillness comes realizations and solutions to problems. 

Where would you like to go with a personal spiritual practice?
I would like to get into a daily routine of some kind of spiritual practice. Right now, it's hit or miss but it's better than nothing. So far, I'm enjoying my trip through the tarot. Maybe I'll delve into yoga.

Daily Meditation 1/24/15

Lunar month - Rehk Wer 5
Solar month - Aqu 5
Metonic - Year 1, Lunation 2

Tzolk'in - 1 Kan
Dreamspell - Blue Solar Monkey

Lunar phase --
Tarot - 0 Fool - Uranus. Change, new beginnings, carefree. Leave the past behind. 

I-Ching - 4 Inexperience (Water below Mountain): You don't have all the facts at your fingertips or your are lacking in experience to deal with this situation. Seek advice and further knowledge before proceeding but don't lose your enthusiasm.

UU Adult RE: Spirit in Practice #2

Write about the prospect or the experience of discussing spirituality with someone else. If spirituality isn't a meaningful term for you, write about discussing your participation in a congregation or revealing something else about yourself related to your search for meaning.

I have no problem discussing spirituality with others. It's a way to get to know others and opens the way to acceptance, not just tolerance. People should connect by finding common points instead of distancing by focusing on differences. Problems occur when the objective is to convert. No one likes being told they are wrong. If at the end of the discussion parties "agree to disagree," fine. But hopefully everyone will come out of it with a better understanding of the others.

Eight Spheres of Spiritual Practice
#5 Body Practices

I know, I know, I need to exercise more. I've been walking around my building on my 15 min break at work. When it gets warmer, I'll walk outside. Maybe I'll get a human walking partner by then. Weight Watchers program helps a bit with how to eat. Denying oneself food is a recipe for disaster, unless you are allergic to said foodstuffs. All things in moderation including eating. Therefore, no more carb-less meals for me. Ever. 

Other things that may fall under body practices:

• Body is a temple. Decorate it as you see fit. I usually don't wear makeup but I love gold jewelry (I have multiple piercings). Looking to get another tattoo.
• Smoking can be a ritualistic practice. Smoking what, you say? *wink*
• Limiting unnecessary medications. Instead of reaching for aspirin to clear a headache, I try to calm myself to see if will go away on its own. USA dispenses way too much medication each with its own side effects. So then we take more medication to combat the side effects.
• Safe, sane, consensual sex. Again - Safe. Sane. Consensual.
• Learning to love your body even through the changes. This is a struggle I deal with which is why you will hardly see any full length pictures of me. Here is a body meditation that you may find useful. It is not my own but I forgot where I read it. Stand in front of a mirror au naturel. Look at yourself from all angles. Study yourself as if you were a piece of artwork. You are Art and the mirror is a frame. Look at your "flaws" and how they make you, you. Look at them without judgement. Do not be afraid to see You. 

Daily Meditation 1/8/15

Lunar month - Shef Bedet 19
Solar month - Cap 19
Metonic - Year 1, Lunation 1

Tzolk'in - 11 Lamat
Dreamspell - Blue Rhythmic Eagle

Lunar phase --
Tarot --
I-Ching - 29 The Deep (Water below Water): You must take care; there is much danger about. Watch your step as you teeter on the edge of a deep pit. You must remove yourself from this situation but proceed with extreme caution.

Daily Meditation 1/7/15

Lunar month - Shef Bedet 18
Solar month - Cap 18
Metonic - Year 1, Lunation 1

Tzolk'in - 10 Manik 
Dreamspell - White Overtone Wizard

Lunar phase --
Tarot --
I-Ching - 3 Initial Difficulty (Thunder below Water): You must plan ahead. If you embark without seeing the difficulties you will fail. Look ahead and progress can be made. Birth is always painful but essential - enjoy the power.

UU Adult RE: Spirit in Practice #1

Reflect on your lifelong spiritual journey.

Well, that's what this blog kinda sorta started out as. I needed somewhere to put my thoughts down about finally breaking free of being Jehovah's Witness. Many things that I've said before will probably be repeated here but this is an assignment so...whatever.

What did you learn about practicing spirituality as a child?
Not a damn thing! JW is not a study in spirituality. To me, spirituality is a private thing; one has to find the beginnings of it from within. As a JW, you are told what to believe and if you disagree, you get kick out if you don't conform or get badgered (read: brainwashed) until you do agree.

JW is a Christian sect. Lots of doctrines to remember and points of the Bible to argue with other Christian sects. I suppose I should be grateful that I know something about America's majority belief system. I missed out on everything that normal childhoods consist of since I was a "born-in": birthdays, ALL holidays, extracurricular activities, picking my own friends --JW only, everyone else is "worldly", Saturday morning cartoons, going to college, dating. We were told that only JW is "The Truth" and everyone else will get destroyed at Armageddon. Sounds elitist, right?


I was baptized at 17, a year after I had my daughter. I felt forced because I was made to feel like a failure for having a child out of wedlock. People in the congregation would not even look at me when I was pregnant and would console my mother as if someone just died. I felt no different when I came up out of the water. No connection to Jehovah, no ray of sun from the ceiling, just an awful feeling that I just made a huge mistake. At age 21, I was shunned for being pregnant out of wedlock.

How have your spiritual needs changed?
Where do I begin? After trying through the years trying to go back to JW, my mother who doesn't speak to me was the one who made me see that that religion was no longer for me. She said to me in an email, "I love you but I love Jehovah more." I cannot imaging telling either of my children something like that. From that point on, I started doing research for a spiritual home. I was non-denominational Christian but I didn't understand why a Savior or Mediator was needed to get to God. A co-worker introduced me to Nichiren Buddhism and from there I found my way to Paganism.

I wanted to find somewhere to practice and to meet people. The Buddhist sangha was too far and honestly turned out to be somewhat similar to my old religion. Wiccan covens required an invitation from a current member. I can't remember what led me to Unitarian Universalist, maybe a Beliefnet quiz? A Google search turned up a congregation close to me and the rest as they say is history.

My spirituality needs to be on my own terms. I'm an agnostic deist - I cannot say for sure there is a God but I choose to believe there is one. My belief is based in science and logic, not a holy book. I'm an eclectic Pagan, a solitary witch.

What practices have you engaged in at different points in your life? What practices might speak to your ideas and needs as they are today?
As a child, I went door-to-door trying to convince people that they are wrong and we are right. Meetings were 3x a week. Family study night was another night. And we were suppose to study on our own for all of the meetings. A minimum of 10 hrs door-to-door was strongly suggested.

Now, I follow the natural cycles of the sun and moon (and realize the Gregorian calendar lacks any connection to nature). Chanting was a part of my practice; I could return to that. Other items of spiritual interest are sidereal astrology, tarot, I-Ching, the Divine Feminine / Triple Goddess, and the Egyptian pantheon.

My goal this year is to get through the tarot (by solar month) and I-Ching (by lunar month). Ugh, I'm already behind. Thank Goddess for backdating!

Daily Meditation 1/6/15

Lunar month - Shef Bedet 17
Solar month - Cap 17
Metonic - Year 1, Lunation 1

Tzolk'in - 9 Cimi
Dreamspell - Red Self-Existing Skywalker

Lunar phase --
Tarot --
I-Ching - 8 Union (Earth below Water): In perfect harmony and accord you can proceed but you do need your partner's agreement. Together you can accomplish much. Going it alone will be a disaster but you know that already.

So you want a pet?

DO

• check your local shelters and humane societies FIRST. There are so many unwanted pets. Government-run facilities are likely to be kill shelters because space and funding is limited. Small dogs don't stay long so you may need to visit frequently if that is your preference. 

• check breed-specific rescues if you are looking for a particular dog. 

• as a last resort, go to a reputable breeder. I'm not talking about "hey let my dog mate with your dog and we can sell the puppies" breeders. As a starting point, search for breed clubs. Research, research, research.

• get permission from your landlord if you are a renter. All too often animals are return because the adopter didn't follow terms of the lease.

• realize that a pet is a long term commitment. Cats and dogs can live 10-15 on the average depending on breed, size, and health.

• find out where the vet and emergency pet hospital is. 

• follow your local laws on number of pets. In my area, 6 is the limit. 

• give locally if you can't adopt. I personally tire of the sad kitty and puppy faces on those tv ads. You know the ones. I'm a proud mom of 4 furbabies so I'm giving already. Instead of running those ads, wouldn't that money be better spent on the animals that the ad is asking money for?

• treat your pet especially dogs as a part of the family. Dogs are pack members. To a dog, pack = family. Dogs aren't meant to be outside unattended and chained to a tree. Cats on the other hand can survive outside since they are not fully domesticated but use your good judgement in deciding to let your cat roam. 

• microchip and collar / name tag your pet. If Princess gets away from home, this increases the chance that if found, she will be returned.

DON'T

• buy from a pet store. First, they are overpriced. Second, most likely they come from puppy mills. Those dogs are treated horribly and when they can't breed anymore, they are thrown out like trash. Fortunately, some end up at shelters where they are adopted into loving homes

• give a pet as a gift to a child. A pet is a living being, not a toy. 

• leave your furry family member if you have to move. Yes, things happen. There are child-free rental apartments. Would you leave your kids at Social Services because you want to move there? Of course not. I know, extreme example but you get my point. Find a place that is pet-friendly. Yes, you may have to pay an extra deposit but that's way better than for Sparky to be put back in a shelter.

Daily Meditation 1/3/15

Lunar month - Shef Bedet 14
Solar month - Cap 14
Metonic - Year 1, Lunation 1

Tzolk'in - 6 Akb'al
Dreamspell - White Magnetic Dog

Lunar phase --
Tarot --
I-Ching - 55 Prosperity (Fire below Thunder): Enjoy the fruits of your labors. This is a time of great wealth and prosperity. Remember - it won't last, so put something aside for a rainy day. 

The wild card game with the Ravens @ Steelers is tonight. We won the Super Bowl in 2000 from a wild card spot and we can do it again. CAW!!!

Daily Meditation 1/2/15

Lunar month - Shef Bedet 13
Solar month - Cap 13
Metonic - Year 1, Lunation 1

Tzolk'in - 5 Ik'
Dreamspell - Red Cosmic Moon

Lunar phase --
Tarot --
I-Ching - 62 Detail (Mountain below Thunder): Only by paying attention to detail can you achieve success. Have you checked everything? If not, check now. You may have overlooked the obvious. Proceed in small steps.

I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting of the year. Up 4 lbs. Can't seem to break past the the barrier to get to my 10% goal. But honestly I have been eating more. 1 step forward, 5 steps back. The details would be to really stick to the point allotment and find time to actually plan my meals.

Daily Meditation 1/1/15

Lunar month - Shef Bedet 12
Solar month - Cap 12
Metonic - Year 1, Lunation 1

Tzolk'in - 4 Imix
Dreamspell - White Magnetic Dog

Yule Day 13
Kwanzaa Day 7: Habari gani? Imani / Faith

Gregorian New Year's Day

Lunar phase -- waxing gibbous in sidereal Taurus. During the Farmer's Moon, we learn about being part of a balanced system that includes Nature and yet makes room for our own efforts. We learn about taking full responsibility for what we own, and all the work that taking care of it entails. 

Tarot --
I-Ching - 54 Relationships (Lake below Thunder): Sometimes we need a partner to achieve our dreams. Seek out your soul-mate and join forces - together you can conquer the world. You need to be a part of a team.