The Pageless Book

Photo Above by Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeg. Photo Below by Toni Lozano.

At the beginning of this week, I felt restless and discontent, but couldn’t put my finger on exactly what was bothering me. Although I am currently on vacation, I hadn’t been truly enjoying myself. What is it that was bothering me? For the life of me, I just couldn’t grasp it.

I discussed it over dinner with my wife, and she asked exactly what it was that I had planned to accomplish while I was off. My personal agenda included spending quality time with her, writing, hiking, and going down to the beach. Then she asked if there was something keeping me from doing those things. I explained that I just didn’t feel inspired to write and felt altogether disconnected. The problem was that I had not felt spiritually nurtured these past few days. Cathy then suggested that I write about the importance of daily spiritual nurturing - here I am doing exactly that.

You see, I’m not very good at taking the time for my spiritual pursuits. I go to church on Sundays, but sometimes that isn’t enough. Church is a social gathering place, and as such a few Sundays out of the year focus on that social aspect - last Sunday was just one of those Sundays. Couple that with my habit of staying up well past midnight, as well as not taking proper care of my anxiety, and Johnny-boy becomes a soulless twitching zombie. It’s important that I find the time to do *something* spiritual each day, and writing about spirituality is too cerebral to count.

Why is it so important that I do something spiritual each day? Because it provides clarity and inspiration. I love to create and my main outlet for creativity is writing. Without proper inspiration, my writing becomes noticeably flat. Spiritual practices allow my to step away from my fears and live a fuller life. As an introvert, I have a hard time connecting with others - but spirituality makes it possible for me to let down my guard and become more personable. Although I am naturally an optimist, I have also had bouts of depression in the past. Spirituality helps me maintain a positive outlook and is good therapy when I find this challenging.

If nothing else, I should at the very least find time to meditate every day. Optimally, I would like to meditate, read, pray, and perhaps engage in a little qabalistic ritual every day, but that might be a bit of a tall order for me, seeing as I’m such a slacker. Regardless of what I do, doing a little bit each day is what I personally need in my life. I don’t pretend to speak for everyone, but I find it necessary. Perhaps you might feel the same way?

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written by John \\ tags: Inspiration, Life, Nurturing, Ritual, Spirituality

Photo Above by ButterflySha. Photo Below by Steve Evans.

“If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”
- Meister Eckhart, 1260– 1328.

I don’t remember the exact time it first happened, but I do remember it was during a gathering with my in-laws. My wife was seated on my right, and her grandmother was on my left side. On one end of the table was my father-in-law, and on the other end was my mother-in-law. Across from us was my brother-in-law, his wife, and between them sat Samantha, my niece and god-child. Food, glorious sustenance, was set out before us. Before anyone could lay one hand on a roll, Samantha said, for the first time of what would become a tradition at such gatherings, “We need to say the words!” My wife and I looked at each other in mild displeasure.

Why displeasure, you may ask? What exactly was it that I have against saying grace? It is because I felt excluded. Many non-Christians feel singled out when called upon to pray in public. Think of the position we are placed in: we can either pretend to pray with everyone else, betraying our own beliefs while insulting the integrity of the beliefs of others, or we can stand there in awkward silence, feeling out of place and perhaps a little bit ostracized. That may not be the intention of the practice of public prayer, but it is often the effect.

Non-Christians often develop a negative attitude in regards to prayer in general, due to our Christian brethren’s insistence on public prayer. In all honesty, this negativity may be part of what fuels the debate on school prayer. It is this reluctance to pray that concerns me - not only my own resistance to prayer, but the lack of prayer among non-Christians in general. The problem is that prayer is so much apart of the Christian experience, than when a person leaves the Christian religion, they feel they must leave behind this deeply spiritual practice as well.

The truth is, prayer has always been a meaningful method of communing with the Divine and has existed since the dawn of civilization. No one group of people can lay claim to this practice as being exclusively their own. As people of alternative spiritual paths, we need to recognize that it is everyone’s inherited right to communicate with the Divine through prayer. We need to reclaim prayer as our own and find a meaningful way in which people of all faiths can pray together.

So how will I reintegrate prayer into my spiritual practices without alienating my Christian in-laws? By requesting a silent prayer when in public, and praying in earnest when alone. Ironically enough, that is exactly how Jesus recommended that his followers pray. In Matthew 6:5, Jesus instructs his followers saying, “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.”

This passage in the Bible leads me to believe that perhaps even the early Christians felt excluded because of the practice of public prayer in ancient Rome. It does no one harm to gently remind them of that possibility. Next time I am at a gathering with family, perhaps I will do just that.

Originally posted September 29th, 2007.

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written by John \\ tags: Christian, Faith, Family, Prayer, Religion, Ritual, Tradition

Above Photo by Conor Lawless. Photo Below by Hyperfinch. Goddess Image by Dave Gough. Last Photo Below by D.A.K. Photography.

Wicca is one religious path that remains near and dear to my heart. When I first began looking into other religions, Wicca was one of the first that piqued my interest. While I am far too monotheistic to fully embrace Wicca, what I have learned from that religion affects my spiritual journey even today.

I first learned of Wicca by reading the original printing of True Magick by Amber K. I was a teenager and, having officially declared myself a non-Christian to my rather open minded parents, felt like being a little bit rebellious. Getting involved in something like “witchcraft” seemed to more than qualify. However, my interests became less superficial the more I learned. Wicca opened my eyes to the divine within nature, within the feminine, and within myself.

Nature

Western Culture has this annoying habit of sanctifying concepts and secularizing the physical world. In no way is this more tangible than in the way we treat the natural world. We have this perception of land being a commodity and limitless resource, believing wrongly that it exists solely to support humanity and our interests. This attitude has taken a toll on the environment and its wildlife. Only now in our history are we beginning to seriously fear the repercussions of our actions and looking for ways in which we can repair the damage. Many people wonder if we are too late.

In Christianity and other mainstream religions, the innate Divinity within nature is down-played and sometimes even demonized. Being raised Christian, my connection to nature was muted, even though I had always been humbled by nature. When I finally tapped into nature as a source of spiritual sustenance, the Wiccan doctrine of embracing nature as Divine came easily, as if it was a part of my heritage. This truth had been at the foundation of humanity’s first spiritual experiences. Honoring nature instead of seeing it as yet another resource for plundering helped me touch another side of the Divine I had never considered, and showed me how the delicate web of life cradles us all.

The Feminine

Sexuality has a lot in common with spirituality; both speak to the very essence of who we are as individuals and both are rooted painfully deep within the psyche. Like most Americans, at some point I was indoctrinated into believing that sex is some dirty cheep thrill, meant only for the pretty and well-endowed. Our culture became saturated with this message that turns women into objects and men into animals. The root of the problem is the failure to accept sexuality as being an expression of the Divine. Wiccan celebration of sexuality and the personification of the Divine as female goes against the grain of our culture and, in part, helps to heal the damage this message has done.

I cannot honestly say that I am as enlightened to the spiritual nature of sexuality as I would like to be. As a man, I still have problems separating myself from the message of what our society says sex should be like and accept the spiritual significance of a female divinity. However, my experiences as a Wiccan have helped me accept and embrace the feminine aspect of myself, which helps in reaching the other two truths. Despite not seeing the Divine as being female or male, my understanding of the Divine has been greatly affected by the Wiccan Goddess and the truths she represents.

The Self

It may smack of egotism and hubris to some, however, recognizing the self as being divine is probably one of the most powerful ways in which to get in touch with the Divine. Western Culture frowns upon reveling in one’s own innate divinity, beauty, and truth, preferring instead that we accept the Christian doctrine of original sin. Wicca, however, encourages radical use of innate divinity by teaching that each individual has a direct affect upon the world in which we live through ritual. They call this witchcraft or simply magic. Say what you want about the plausibility of magic - it is still one of the central teachings of Wicca and does have a noticeably positive impact on spirituality.

Although I didn’t practice much Wiccan magic, the concepts behind witchcraft later opened me to other occult theories and ideas. Together, these have been a boon to my self confidence, self respect, and self love. How many people today can say that they love themselves? I can. While I don’t stand behind witchcraft’s claim to manipulate reality, I do trust that ritual, whether Wiccan or otherwise, is a powerful psychological tool with which an individual can change themselves.

Perhaps Wicca no longer fulfills my spiritual needs, but it should be obvious that I still hold this religion in high esteem. Where other religions are several steps back from liberating the individual, this religion represents several steps forward. Because it has been such a large part of my personal spiritual journey, Wicca will always have a place in my heart.

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written by John \\ tags: God, Humanity, Occult, Religion, Ritual, Sexuality, Spirituality, Wicca

Above Photo by Francisco Antunes. Photo Below by Prakhar Amba.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been feeling out of touch with myself spiritually. I really needed to push everything aside and give myself some time to reconnect. If you haven’t guessed it by now, my recent absence is due to this reason. Despite writing about spirituality almost everyday, I’ve realized that alone doesn’t make me feel spiritual. I needed a time without distractions to focus on my spiritual well-being. It isn’t easy finding that time, but it is important that we each try to do so.

Although there are many important advantages to our culture becoming more secularized, there has been one important disadvantage - the loss of the Sabbath day. Whether you attend church or not, I think everybody can appreciate a full day of rest. Not only did this day serve as a time of spiritual reflection, but also served as a chance for family members to reconnect. We are an incredibly busy people; without a mutual day of rest we have the tendency to lose touch with the people we care about.

For me, that means losing touch with my wife. I didn’t have off this Valentine’s Day and I knew that lately we haven’t spent as much time together. This offered me another compelling reason to give this blog a rest for a few days. More importantly, my resistance to the idea of letting go of tending to my blog for a week signaled for me that I was becoming increasingly sucked in by the digital world, while neglecting the intrinsically human experience of spirituality.

And it isn’t just the on-line world that sucks away at our souls; television, video games, music, work, and even books or literature can serve to distance ourselves from our friends, our family, and the self. At times it is necessary to push all of this away, cut ourselves free from our preoccupation with entertainment or success and focus on each other. Too much of anything can have a negative impact on our lives and reliance on any one thing as an escape from reality can become an addiction.

All these reasons show why in the book of Genesis God rests on the seventh day of creation. The writers of Genesis were setting an example for humanity to follow. We humans, as a society or as individuals, make a thing holy or secular; the Sabbath day was once holy and can be again for those who choose to make it so. However, it would take the agreement between many different spiritual paths, including those who are not religious, to make a mutual day of rest a reality again. That isn’t likely to happen again for a long time; such is the marching beat of progress.

Can we, however, hold one day a week holy just for ourselves? We each only try for ourselves.

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written by John \\ tags: Family, God, Humanity, Prayer, Ritual, Spirituality

Image Above Heavily Modified Image From Photo by Stefan Kloo. Anime Image by Exiliados del Olimpo. Cereal Photo by Pam Beesley. Bottom Image by Stefan Kloo.

Now, I haven’t actually paid much attention to the rise and fall of cults in the recent years, if only because they all seem to be variations on similar themes. You know the qualities all cults have - charismatic leader, mind control substances, strange ritual, aliens, secrets, and tentacles. All religions should have tentacles, but that’s besides the point; it’s the same thing rehashed over and over again.

Well, I am just sick of the lack of imagination these people have. Where do these cult leaders get off claiming to be God incarnate if they can’t even come up with something original! If you have to be completely off your rocker, at least be creative about it - makes for better headlines.

As a free service to you, my impressionable would-be cult leaders, I am going to provide you with some great *original* ideas for your very own small secretive religious society. Keep in mind that milage may vary depending on the social demographic you might be targeting; there are no kangaroos in Ireland and most Americans fail to understand British humor. Also remember that this is not meant to be a definitive list, but rather the seeds of inspiration.

Anime-Based Cults

I truly don’t understand why no one has thought of this before; the following of Japanese animation is so fanatical that they almost qualify as a cult even without a leader. Rituals usually involve school girls with improbable hair colors worshiping large mean-looking robots or being kidnaped by demons. The best mind control substances available for an Anime Based Cult is Japanese animation. If you hunt down the right type of Anime, tentacles come included!

Mascot-Based Cults

We have all heard of various snake or spider based cults. While these mascot-based cults have become all too common, I don’t think this means that a mascot is out of the question. There has never been a kangaroo based cult, a platypus based cult, or a giraffe based cult, to the best of my knowledge. If you have problems envisioning such a cult, do yourself a favor and watch Conan: The Barbarian; any time you see a snake, mentally replace it with a kangaroo. Still not convinced? Suggest the same thing to an Australian friend and watch them freak-out.

Breakfast Cereal Character Cults

Did you ever think that spiritual enlightenment might be as close as your pantry? With the likes of Toucan Sam, Tony the Tiger, and Captain Crunch serving as saints, your following could grow exponentially in just a short period of time. Of course, your new found underlings would have to be home before dark, but this is a small price to pay. Again, mind control substances are built into this cult in the form of the repetitive mindless commercials and sugary breakfast cereals.

50’s, 60’s and 70’s Sitcom Cults

Some things just get better with age, like wine, cheese, and Barbara Eden in a skimpy genie costume. Why not create a cult centered around wisdom and doctrine as taught by Dick Van Dyke or utilize the moral workings of the Brady Bunch. Scripts could serve as your holy texts and actors could serve as your saints! Who wouldn’t want to bow before a statue of Lucille Ball? You may even be so bold as to focus on one or two 80’s sitcoms, but I advise you not to try to incorporate Seinfeld into your cult; one already exists and they are more fanatical than the Soup Nazi.

Kitch Cults

If you ever worn spandex biker shorts, a leopard print shirt/blouse, with leg-warmers, you may be interested in starting a kitch cult. Your bad taste in fashion, art, music, and decor need not be silent any longer! Hot pink faux leather flamingos wearing cheep sun-glasses serve as your angels. Above your altar is the image of The King on black velvet under a black light. You and your followers can meditate to the lyrical musings of Devo and They Might Be Giants, while pondering the significance of the life, death, and rebirth of tie-dye t-shirts. Yes, it is grand to be a member of a kitch cult! Your rituals would involve sacrifices of plaid golfing pants, pastel suits, and ridiculously large gold earrings. Bowling night would be sacrosanct, and limericks should be sung in honor of used car salesmen.

As I had noted above, these are just a few ideas. In no way should this list be considered complete, and you are encouraged to come up with your own inspiration for your new cult. Do you think your cult is the most unique? Well, then tell me about it! If I like the snake oil you’re selling, I might even join. But remember - and do take this seriously - to include tentacles in the design of your cult, lest you want to become ambrosia for the Great Old Ones when they finally awaken.

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written by John \\ tags: Art, Humor, Religion, Ritual, Worship

Whether it is a corner of your bedroom or a whole room in your home, setting aside an area for personal spiritual practice is one of the most nurturing things you can do for yourself. However, knowing where you should have your sacred space, how to furnish that space, and what to do while in that space is often a challenge. Seeing as there is no one way to set up a sacred space, it would be easy to assume that just about any space would work. Throw furnishing and tools into the space for meditation or worship, and the sacred space is complete and ready to use, right?

Wrong. A sacred space is an area in which you commune with the Divine. Haphazardly cobbling a space together does not make it sacred. Spending some time and giving some thought to what your space will contain, where your space will be located, and when your space will be used helps sanctify the area. Meditation and worship are acts of mindfulness - it makes sense that we are mindful of the space we set aside for those activities.

• Find a Space - The first step, while being the most obvious, is also the most crucial. You need to know that you will not be disturbed when you are in your sacred space and that you will be comfortable with you spiritual practice in that space. If you want to chant, you need to know either that no one else will hear you, or that no one will mind. There needs to be enough space available for your worship. If the area is part of a common area, you should also think of how this space will look when not in use.

• Find a Time - While not as obvious as the first step, it is important to consider the time of day in which you will worship. Evening worship may create lighting issues. Early morning worship may disturb the sleep of your family. Some times of day are going to afford you more privacy than others or you might find yourself more in the mood to make that spiritual connection during a particular day of the week. The exact time and duration could be over looked if you live alone in a single family home in the middle of nowhere, but few people have such luxury.

• Comfort & Furnishings - You will needs to consider your personal comfort while within this space, as well as storage for any items you set aside for your sacred space. For most people, this might consist of a small cabinet, a floor pillow to sit on, and perhaps a blanket in case you find yourself cold. Of course, if you have more space and are willing to go through the expense, you could always set up an elaborate altar, complete with statuettes of spiritual teachers and elaborate embroidered tapestry. Anything more than the bare essentials I would find distracting, but this is your space and you should make it for your comfort, not mine.

• Choosing Artwork - Although this isn’t a necessity, a little bit of artwork can go a long way to setting the tone for your sacred space. Again, this need not be anything elaborate or large; a simple painting or small inspirational photo is sufficient enough. You will want something soothing and neutral that expresses your particular spiritual understanding or world view. The main purpose is for it to serve as a reminder of the reason this space is set aside, and to put you in the mood for worship or meditation.

• Choosing Accessories - Finally, you will want to consider accessories for your space. These should be items that serve the singular purpose to which your space is dedicated and are stored in this space for that purpose. A few suggestions would be candles, incense, holy books, soothing music, or a note book for thoughts and reflection. If other items appeal to you, feel free to include them in your area. Personally, I would be inclined to include a deck of Tarot cards, but I know that doesn’t appeal to everybody. Incense gives my wife headaches, so I know in her sacred space she would forgo that particular element. I must again stress the importance of setting aside the items for use in worship or mediation only. Doing so creates a strong association with the sacred for that particular space, allowing you to separate this space from the rest of your every day life. With enough time, entering that space may become a psychological trigger that prepares your mind for mediation or worship, and you want to strengthen that trigger if possible.

With these considerations in mind, creating a sacred space for worship can become a rewarding experience. While there are no hard and fast rules, a little structure to your space can go a long way to creating the atmosphere, comfort level, and attitude needed for worship. The Divine, by what ever name you may call it, becomes more approachable and tangible in the right environment. Making an environment for just that purpose is a powerful way to make the Divine a regular part of your life.
Top Photo by Joi Ito. Middle Photo by The Wandering Angel. Bottom Photo by Kelly Cookson.

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written by John \\ tags: Art, Inspiration, Meditation, Ritual, Worship

Photo above by Sarah Cartwright. Pentagram Photo by Epimetheus. Witch Photo by Helena.

Back when Christianity was first forming, most cultures had their own religions or Gods, and no single religion was considered “universal.” Although the Romans attempted to equate the Gods of other cultures with their religion and enforced a state sponsored religion, these efforts were far from being uniform in application or success. For the most part, folks worshiped the Gods their parents worshiped, and gave the religions of conquering cultures as little attention as they could get away with. The alternative was to join a mystery religion - cults whose membership remained secret and whose worship was not always acceptable by the rest of society.

Christianity was lumped together with the mystery religions, as an off-shoot of Judaism. However, this religion, was different than the other mystery religions. The fledgling religion was forced into secrecy instead of choosing it, did not allow their adherents to worship other Gods as most mystery religions did, and appealed to all people, regardless of race or culture. With it’s message of salvation regardless of heritage, Christianity represented the first truly universal religion. As the religion grew and became more centralized, the spiritual leaders emphasized the universal appeal of Christianity by calling their church “Catholic” - which means “universal” in Latin.

Two thousand years after the birth of Jesus Christ, one could hardly call the Catholic Church universal anymore. Not only have the several schisms with Christendom given rise to the Protestant religions, but Christianity as a whole is shrinking as a result of religious freedom in Western culture. While it is still the most popular religion in the world, Islam is quickly closing the gap between itself and Christianity. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but does tend to give rise to the question of whether Christianity was as universal as it purported to be in the first place.

The loss of the universal appeal of Christianity could only be attributed to one important truth of the modern world: the desire for creativity. Modern conveniences and ample leisure time has given rise to a greater focus on individual creativity. Traditional forms of worship and social structure within Christianity seems stifling in comparison to the new egalitarian social structure and mutual artistic evolution of the internet. The only religion that I know of which shares these egalitarian and creative elements in Wicca.

Only having emerged in the last fifty years, Wicca is the newest of the world religions. It is a particular blend of European folk lore which focuses on the rhythms of nature and cycles of life instead of theology. Drawing heavily from the ancient Pagan beliefs, Wicca takes the Roman attempt to consolidate deities of different cultures to a new extreme by reducing all Gods into one God with two aspects (God of Darkness and of Light), and all Goddesses into one Goddess with three aspects (Maiden, Mother, and Crone). They also practice ritual, which they call witchcraft, with the intent of influencing reality in a manner that mirrors modern occultism.

Wicca’s greatest strength; however, is in its structure and liturgy. Wiccans usually worship in small groups of 3-13 individuals, called a coven. Even though one man or woman serves as the head priest, all of the individuals in a coven are considered priests in their own right. This puts each individual on equal footing - there are no “followers,” only leaders who allow someone else to lead for a time. The social structure is more akin to family than in Christianity; no one person is more important than another.

This is reflected in the way in which Wiccans worship. Although one member of a coven serves as the lead, the actual rituals, prayers, and practices need the input of each member. Even those rites which are considered “tradition” are up for reinterpretation by an individual coven. Theology, preaching, and passive participation are absent from Wiccan worship. For those looking for worship to be a creative outlet, this religion seems custom made.

These qualities, found in Wicca, make this religion potentially more “Catholic” than Catholicism. Everyone can identify with family, with nature, and with the cycles of life. Any individual can look at the God or Goddess and see a deity that looks like themselves and represents humanity as a whole. More importantly, there is no authority to appease or to declare you heretical simply because you choose to do things a different way. Is it truly any wonder this is the fastest growing religion in the world?

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written by John \\ tags: Catholic, Christian, God, Humanity, Individuality, Occult, Occultism, Religion, Ritual, Tradition, Wicca

About a month ago, I had an idea to write a post regarding art and spirituality. I knew one of my frequent visitors was an artist, and had asked her for some input, and perhaps if I could use some of her art in my post. Her response was enthusiastic, but due to the Christmas season, she was unable to give the issue her attention. Earlier this week, she e-mailed me with an entire post’s worth of content! Well, I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I would like to introduce to you Kelly Naylor. She is a true artist and I’m proud to have her as my first guest blogger here on The Pageless Book. The following article is written by Ms. Naylor, and each art piece used is her original art work. The above work is titled “Dragon Rising.”

In most of the places around the internet where I display my art, I mention that I create art because I can’t not create art. This compulsion, by the way, extends to my writing and singing as well. I do it all because I must. While reading a line in Autobiography of a Yogi about 15 years ago where Paramhansa Yogananda equates song to prayer, I realized the absolute Truth of that statement. It has always been true, and always will be true, that when I say “I will pray for you,” what I mean is “when next I finding myself singing, I will be holding you in my heart and mind and sending a request to Spirit to do the same.” (By the way, any song can be a prayer… from Shubert’s Ave Maria to The Beatles Lady Madonna to kd lang’s Crying.) So singing is my half of a conversation with Spirit.

My visual art, on the other hand, is what Spirit says to me. Very little of my art comes from my head (and the stuff that does isn’t really as interesting… to me, anyway). Most of my art comes from my heart. In fact, a lot of times I’ll put a DVD in the player and let my mind play “over there” while my heart and hands are playing “over here.” Half the time I’m not even sure what the paintings mean after I’ve created them. Perhaps the messages aren’t meant for me. I create abstract art because abstracts allow the viewer to see what they think is in the painting. On a mundane level, I could (and do) say it allows the viewer to become part of the art, part of the story. But more than that, it allows each individual to interpret the message of Spirit in their own way. Some of the pieces I create are profound, while others just flat out make me laugh. There are messages of hope, peace, love and joy… and yes, even a few about sorrow and mourning.

I think it’s important to note that I only started on this artistic path after my daughter Mackenzie died. She was born on Christmas Eve in 2000, and lived for four days. I sang (prayed) a lot, I wrote a lot, and I began dabbling with various artistic media. I went through all the stages of grief, some of them many times over. During the course of several years, I listened to Spirit. For Mackenzie’s fifth birthday, I was able to declare: I am an artist. My art honors and celebrates Mackenzie’s life.

I’d like to share one particular painting that has a powerful message for me; it’s one of those profound paintings. I was going through some employment-related difficulties at the time I painted it. Touchstone, shown right, emerged during an episode of The X-Files (where I had sent my mind to play). I was finishing up the painting just about the time Mulder tells Scully she is his touchstone (hence the name of the painting).

Looking at the painting later, I had a very clear, concise and powerful message from Spirit: You are not alone. You are loved. I am here. I love you. What is Spirit saying to you? I invite you to visit my galleries to see if Spirit has left any messages for you in other paintings.

Blessed be. Namasté.

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written by John \\ tags: Art, Inspiration, Prayer, Ritual, Spirituality

Photo above by Britt Selvitelle.
Cross Tattoo Photo by Josh Parrish.
Tattooed Man Photo by Fabrice Koch.

I have this particular image of myself as a minister - clean shaved, short hair, confident in my own quiet way, and smiling. I’m wearing a short sleeved shirt with the ministerial collar all done up, a chalice embroidered on the left breast… and tattoos from the cuff of my short sleeved shirt to my elbow on both arms. Something about the juxtaposition of tattoos and ministerial-wear speaks volumes about the type of person I am.

To be honest, I do not yet have tattoos that covers the area between my elbow and shoulder (also referred to as a half-sleeve by tattoo artists); this is something I want to do in the future. So, how do I know I want this done to my body? Because I already have one tattoo…

My Tattoo

I know what I would be thinking if someone else had said that they wanted huge tattoos based upon one tattoo experience;“This guy thinks he’s tough as nails and probably only has a square inch worth of some poorly done tribal art. He’s just a foolish poser.” That doesn’t really apply to me, though. I have no delusions of being a macho manly-man; it’s just not in my personality. Further more, my first tattoo is 16 inches by 8 inches and is in the center of upper my back. It took two three-hour sessions to finish; I know the type and the intensity of pain involved.

It’s a tattoo of an abstract raven in flight, viewed from above. The raven, which is done in black and blue, has a red snake on its back biting it own tail. The snakes body forms an infinity symbol. I chose this tattoo because ravens are my totem animal - they symbolize me as a spiritual person. The snake symbolizes the fragment of the Divine within me.

Unprofessional Inclinations

Why would someone looking to get into a religious profession want tattoos? That’s a better question to ask. As usual, I have a surprising answer… Tattoos are spiritual. More ministers and preachers should have tattoos. They fuse into your flesh the story of your life in a way that serves as a constant reminder.

Not all tattoos are spiritual - but I would argue that tattoos without special meaning are the exception, not the rule. If you ask someone with a tattoo why they chose to have an image permanently etched into their flesh, most often they’ll tell you a story about an important event in their life or a belief that they hold dear. In my case, I wanted to memorialize my faith in something bigger than myself and my willingness to allow that to guide my life. For others, a tattoo may symbolize the emotional scars left from abusive relationships, an oath made to be the best parent possible, or the sorrow of the losing a spouse to disease.

This meaning - these life changing moments - are what spirituality and religion are about. If religion is about wisdom, tattoos are about remembering the our lessons. If religion is about growing as a person, tattoos are about declaring your individuality. Finally, if religion is about living our lives to the fullest, then we can say that tattoos are the stories that prove us religious.

Bad Ink

The last thing I want you to think is that I believe tattooing is for everybody. There are several religions that frown upon permanent alteration of the human body - I respect those traditions. Some people are more sensitive to pain than others and there are people who just don’t see the need. Most importantly, there are medical conditions that can make tattooing hazardous. This isn’t for everyone.

What I am questioning is the negative stigma we give tattooing in this society - particularly in regards to liberal religions. The judgment we place upon someone with multiple tattoos is that they are dangerous, lived a hard life, cannot be taken seriously, or some combination of the three. It is those types of judgments that are dangerous, that make life harder to live, and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Tattoos are nothing less than outward signs of an inner truth. If you want proof, all you have to do is spend a day at the tattoo parlor and ask the artists or patrons.

Click on one link below.

written by John \\ tags: Art, Career, Faith, Individuality, Ministry, Religion, Ritual, Spirituality

Photo by Sharon Mollerus

Is this yet another regular feature on The Pageless Book? Oh, yes it is. “Friday Vibes” is commentary on three or four blog posts that I feel my readers may be interested in. For this first edition of “Friday Vibes,” I have decided to get into the holiday spirit. I do not know what it is, but I no longer feel as grinch-ish. I am sure it’s just a temporary condition and I’ll be back to my old self soon - heart size and all. Until then, I’d like to point out three excellent articles concerning Christmas that fellow bloggers published this week.

The Holiday Season… How to make it Authentic

If you are like me, and despise the materialistic or commercial elements of the holiday season, then perhaps you would like to look at the article “The Holiday Season…. How to Make it Authentic.” Jennifer, from Goodness Gracious, confronts the inherent problems with Old Saint Nick and gift giving. By suggesting alternative solutions and asking her readers to think about what is truly important to their Christmas, she provides us with tools with which we can rewrite our holiday traditions.

I like this article not only because it appeals to adult sensibilities, but also to my inner child as well. Jennifer shows that Christmas does not need to be all about the gifts, yet shows how we can keep the childlike spirit of Christmas alive. All you have to do is ask what it is about Christmas that is important and down play elements that are not as important. It just takes a little imagination.

Coming Home for Christmas (after de-conversion)

Richard, from De-Conversion, wrote an excellent essay about what Christmas means from an Atheist’s point of view. “Coming Home for Christmas (after de-conversion)” evokes images and impressions of childhood, drawing a sharp comparison between the understanding of the world as an adult with the beliefs we hold as a child. His musings on the subject of Christmas are bitter-sweet, deeply personal, and not exactly what some religious folks might expect from an Atheist.

I have to admit to identifying strongly with this article. Feeling regularly at odds with this holiday myself, I appreciate how hard it is to participate in Christmas without accepting it’s full meaning. Reading this article gave me some perspective and insight into my own feelings regarding Christmas.

A Yule Ritual

Finally, I want to offer something a little bit *different* concerning the holiday season. Posted over at The Sacred Paths is a Wiccan Yule Ritual, and I urge you to take a moment to read it. I really enjoy the Wiccan take on the holidays; something about the rituals and the symbols they associate with the Solstices and Equinoxes speaks to me in a way that the Christian celebrations never have. I might even have to suggest incorporating some Wiccan elements into my own holiday celebration. If you are looking into new traditions for your family, this is a great place to start.

Click on one link below.

written by John \\ tags: Blogging, Christian, Christmas, Family, Holidays, Ritual, Tradition, Websites