Paganism, Intuition, and Instincts
By Leca
@lecanis (16647)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
February 7, 2008 2:14pm CST
My thoughts of the past few weeks have been very strange, tied up in both some very worldly matters (my family's health, money situations, etc) and some very otherworldly matters. A few weeks ago I felt a sudden compulsion to take this week off work, and tonight wound up being marked to do a new moon ritual. The details of the ritual and the preparations for it have been randomly coming to me over the past few weeks, and a couple of days ago I spent enough time in meditation to scare my husband.
These types of things were normal for me 10-15 years ago, when I always let my intuition rule me and my spiritual life was my focus above all else. To be honest, though, over the past few years, while still very spiritual and religious, I've had less of this type of experience. I've done my healing rituals very often, done rituals on holidays or when something major was happening in my life, and acted largely based off of both study and my family tradition. So having an entire ritual that was big enough I felt I needed a week off work to prepare for it just come to me like this was surprising, a little overwhelming, and very welcome to remind me of my priorities in life.
Has anyone else got anything to say on the ideas of intuition and instinct as opposed to study and tradition in your personal spiritual practice?
5 people like this
7 responses
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
7 Feb 08
No I can honestly tell you that I hve not had that type of expeirence. I have had felt that I needed time off for Mental health days but not for religious days. I think you are lucky that you know when you need the time off for the religious things.
I wonder if you can afford to take the time off. I hope you have the vacation time on the books so you can still be paid.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
11 Feb 08
Mental health days are important too. I've been there, done that. ;P
I shouldn't really have taken so much time off this month, because I'll have less for later in the year, but I am getting paid for last week, as well as next week when I take off to take my son to the doc.
1 person likes this
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
12 Feb 08
Wow I'm glad that you get paid for your time off.I just started a new job so I don't get vacation time yet. It accrues every paycheck and then we book it off. We usually get it when we want it , but have to ask ahead of time and it depends on business needs.
I'm only part-time so I don't get paid sick time.
How's the fundraising going for dusty's trip?
1 person likes this
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
8 Feb 08
I definately take mental health days as well. Or lack of mental health days I guess they would be. I wondered too how lecanis can afford the time off work. I wish I could just do that. I work in retail so I think I would have trouble getting the time off. Pretty much I would probably be fired unless I faked that I was sick with a docters note. I could do that, but it hurts me spirtiually to lie.
I can't really be spiritual right now because of my insomnia and mental health condition. My docter put me on new medication and its making my brain fuzzy. I can't sleep. I also just started a new job which is shift work. its really screwing with my system.
1 person likes this
@RosieS57 (889)
• United States
7 Feb 08
Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year! It is the year of the Earth Rat, and it is auspicious in a Rat year to make dedicated new beginnings and see them through to success by our own diligence this year.
So are you sure you're not acting on this subliminally? It has been on the news about how difficult the weather has made it to get home for some Chinese workers in order to be in time for today.
Anyway, you picked a good time to act on your intuitions/subliminal urges. (smile)
2 people like this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
7 Feb 08
Haha, I had wondered if perhaps the Chinese New Year was affecting me, even though it's not something I would normally celebrate. There are a lot of Chinese people around me because quite a few of them come to Michigan Tech to study, so I might even be picking up spiritual energies from them or something. :P
I actually haven't managed to make any posts in the past hour or so, other than this discussion, so I'm just hoping my comment works!
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
7 Feb 08
I've always been an instinct/intuition kind of person really....even as a child when I didnt know WHY or HOW I knew certain things (speaking spiritually here) and so on....Of course once I started on my first path with Paganism back in my 20s I definately relied on "study" and "tradition" (though obviously not family trad for me)....I think thats was partly the reason why I left that first path....being a "go with your gut" person all my life, following sets ways felt off...When I branched off down "part 2" in my late 20s I was slowly going back to instinct etc...Then of course with all that has gone on in my life the past 4-5 yrs instinct came to the forefront and thats 'how I roll now' LOL...
crap phone more later
2 people like this
@RosieS57 (889)
• United States
7 Feb 08
Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year! It is the year of the Earth Rat, and it is auspicious in a Rat year to make dedicated new beginnings and see them through to success by our own diligence this year.
So are you sure you're not acting on this subliminally? It has been on the news about how difficult the weather has made it to get home for some Chinese workers in order to be in time for today.
Anyway, you picked a good time to act on your intuitions/subliminal urges. (smile)
2 people like this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
8 Feb 08
That's really deep lecanis! I have to say that my form of meditation is outside sitting straight down in the grass with the sun shining down on me while I stare at my pond and meditate about the good things in life. I love being outside because of all of the wonderful sounds you can hear out here in the woods when you are very quite and concentrate on your surroundings. I do this for thirty minutes every day weather permitting of course.
1 person likes this
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
8 Feb 08
Well 10- 15 years ago you were a teenager. I'm going to assume that you didn't have as many worries as you do now. YOu have a lot more responsibility. I find that responsibility weighs me down and I find it hard to find the time to focus on spirituality.
For me having a hot bath or lighting candles and listening to sarah mclachlan is spirtitual. I also find dancing spiritual. These are things that get me in touch with my inner self. They relax me and draw me inward.
I've never been much for ritual so I can't say much about that.
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
12 Feb 08
I'm really sorry to hear that you had to go through those hardships as a child. If the world were the way it should be no child would have to go through that. Perhaps the reason why you seem older than you are is because you have been through so much and were forced to grow up quickly.
You seem to be very centered and balanced now. Its wonderful to hear that you go through hardships. Its also wonderful that you're not repeating the same pattern with your own child. It takes a lot of strength and courage to do that. Dusty is very lucky to have a mom like you.
lol sorry this is a little off topic
1 person likes this
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
8 Feb 08
Whew! That is one deep question. I think some people are more geared toward intuition than others and do better with it. Some also do better with meditation that others. I don't think it is a question of either/or between study and tradition/intuition and instinct. Rather I would consider them each as blades on scissors--both sides are needed for thing to work right.
Study and tradition are more left brain activities and intuition and instince more right brain. While everyone has and needs both sides of the brain, some are more comfortable and/or developed on one side.
1 person likes this
