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As the topic name suggests, I'm curious to read a little about what it is you believe, and which path you follow.

I don't personally follow the Threefold rule of the Wiccan path. That was, in fact, one of the many things that turned me off about Wicca. Though I won't go into those. I mean, there is Karma. But I don't think it hits quite that hard, personally.

Being of both Discordian and Thelemic under-views, I find revenge acceptable. I just don't use magic to do it. Its much easier, and more effective, for me to do it on my own. And I generally never need, or really want to get revenge, anyways. I'm generally a forgiving person, depending on the situation. Most of the time, I simply stop talking to the offender.
Also, lately I've been studying Qaballah, and have found quite a few things therein which I am incorporating into my own belief system, as well.

I follow the Goddess Eris, and the God Eros. Though, previously my patron, and only God, was Dionysus. I primarily follow the Greek pantheon of Gods.
Dionysus is my Father God, I should say. Hence my surname being changed to Dionysus. He was with me through my whole childhood, in my dreams, under his Roman name, Bacchus. I prefer the Greek name, however.

A friend of mine suggested Eris might be my Mother God... And that perhaps Eros is, so to speak, the husband figure in my life. This was based on how and when they came into my life.

Eris was usually there, but she generally took the back-burner, simply observing my life. It wasn't until I called to her, asking her to please keep me from actually being pregnant (I wasn't, and for that I thank her eternally), because there was an accident, and I needed her protection.
The fact that she stopped merely observing at that point suggests that, being there for me in a time of great need, she see's me, perhaps, as her own child. She's around a lot more, now. And I think she's taking care of me.

Eros showed up around two months before my 18th birthday, as my strong connection with my Father, Dionysus, was beginning to wane. That is, he was letting me go, because I was going to be an adult now. Eros showed up, and I think Dionysus decided that Eros had much to teach me in adulthood. Things Dionysus couldn't show me, or didn't feel he had the right to show me. My friend suggested that this was "stepping back to let his daughter marry".
In fact, I held a dedication ceremony that June, a month or so before my 18th birthday occurred. It was the 2nd, and I will never forget it.
But, because I wanted to honor my Father, I took his name as my surname that night. And ever since, I've referred to myself as Candice Niko Dionysus. My middle name originally being Nicole.

Now, I do work with other Gods in the Greek pantheon. When I need their help, like good friends, they will oblige. But I have also been known to occasionally dabble with the Norse Gods and Goddesses. Not always, but once in a while.
This is because a lot of my beliefs on how the world was created, how it will end, and my mannerisms, and most of how I live my life, is all based on Asatru (or, if you like, Norse Reconstructionalism) beliefs and moral structures. Things like Ragnarok, and the Nine Noble Virtues, and honoring your ancestors... And I plan on putting my final request, in my will, as having a Viking Funeral.

A Viking Funeral, in case you aren't familiar with the term, is when you are placed in a small boat, with your most personal of belongings, back then that would include your sword/ax/bow/ect., and then set afire, and sent to drift, burning, at sea. The ultimate of cremations. You body burns, and you are returned to the most primordial of Elements, the Water. This was mainly because the Vikings were a Water-faring people.
The reason I wish for a funeral of this type is split into three reasons. The first reason is that the literal translation of the word Hell is "in the ground". Therefore, I don't wish to be buried, as it would mean being put in 'hell'.
The second reason is that I love the water, more than anything on the planet. I love to swim in it, I love to drink it, and I love to watch its waves, gentle or harsh, crash upon the sand or rock.
The third is a more scientific reason. It is because we are made up mostly of water. And so it would be the ultimate return to where we had come from.
And, hopefully I will have lived a noble and virtuous life... Perhaps a hero's life... And I will go to Valhalla.

I mentioned my Qaballistic views above. This would be my views of what the other side might possibly be. It kind of fits in with my Yggdrasil idea, in that most of what is in the Qaballah's own "life tree" could, technically, correspond with realms of the Yggdrasil. The biggest difference, I see, is that there's one more world in the Qaballah tree than there is on the Yggdrasil, but because this extra realm is actually supposed to be the primordial ether (God himself, actually), it is safe to assume that this would be, by anyone's standards, a "hidden realm" in which all life was created, and to which all life will return.

If you've ever read In The Night Room by Peter Straub, there's a lot of mention in that book about things I actually believe. Some of it is exaggerated, but a lot of it made me look up from the book and say "yeah, wow, that makes sense with some of my own beliefs." Heh.

So, tell me: What do you believe in? What is it that makes up your own myth system and belief structure?

I don't suggest dabbling with the Northern gods... If you follow through with all things known about them, you will learn that they are very specific, a bit racist, and very demanding in what you will offer them for their help. Offering too little, isn't a good idea at all and offering too much is pretty much on the same level. Odin didn't bring the Runes to the Norse like Prometheus brought Fire. Odin gave up his eye for a drink from the well, and hung for nine whole days and night, head down, pierced with a spear to get the runes. That should give you a slight impression on just how much some gifts are worth.



Ok, several questions.

How do you intend on getting around the burrial regulations? You know you're supposed to get permission from whoever owns the land you're scattering your ashes over and all that jazz. Who does the sea belong to? Do you have to get permission from the City Office, the State (if you're American), or the government?



Translation from which language? As far as I know, the English word "Hell" comes from the Norse Goddess of the Underworld (Niflheim), where she watched over the evil dead. *points at her name* - Hel. You're applying a Christian concept to pagan beliefs. Which is all fine and dandy, as long as you know that is what you want. Most old "pagan" mythologies have that dualism present, a concept of heaven and hell. With the Greeks, as I'm sure you know, Tartarus, The Elysean Ilands, Hades and the Elysean feilds are all located in the underworld. Down isn't necessarily bad.



Join the military. Valhalla isn't for those who lived a noble and virtuous lives. Valhalla is for those who died bravely and gloriously in battle. Good people, who are of a more pacifistic persuasion, end up with Hel. Sorry to burst your bubble, but if I was in the market for a pantheon to die in, I'd skip the Norse one, if I were you. Shouldn't be a problem, since you're so open to inter-cultural realities, skipping from one to the other.


What I believe in... Well, I'm very interested in Northern and Slavic Mythology. I used to believe, to a point. I don't anymore, but I still enjoy in the stories and history. I believe in Education, Laveyan idea of a sin (Stupidity, Lack of Aesthetics, Forgetting your past, Conformity), Intelligence, Talent, Imagination, Aryuvedic medication, Yoga and Meditation, because it suits me. I believe in religious, racial, sexual etc. tolerance... And so back and so forth.

Am I really worth...

@ [Helmorana]: Tommy can belive in whatever she likes, without your consent, thank you.

I'm sorry, but that post pissed me off. Like... a lot...




Hm... Beliefs...

To be honest, I don't really belive in putting [a] name to whatever the Greater Force is/are that created this universe...
I'm very interested in Norse mythology, as well as Greek, but not so much the latter. But I don't neccicarily follow either as of now.
I don't know... I can't really describe what I belive in without going through an insanely long list of my pet peeves.
So I won't.

Haha... Okay...

Well, that's basically it...


...as little as you say I am?

Am I really worth...

Ah, my bad. I don't look at everyone's signatures... Too lazy... XD

...as little as you say I am?

Mind argumenting your point of view a bit? Specifically what and why something in my post pissed you off? If it was the manner of speaking, I apologise, I get irritated when people do 10 things at the same time, and none of them well. I don't even mind that so much, when they don't try to teach the half of everything and most of nothing, to people who swallow it without question. If it was what I actually said, I don't apologise, and I have an extremely good reason not to: History books and museums.

I wasn't telling him/her what to believe, I was telling him how things used to be, how they are. You can't just twist something to your liking because it didn't suit you in the original form. The world doesn't work that way. Create something of your own, but don't use historical reference to delude people into taking it as an objective truth.

If you'll re-read my post, you'll notice that it wasn't his/her beliefs that annoyed me, it was how they were presented. What they should have been presented as is a subjective, individual's point of view, instead there is a long explanation on the Norse and Viking's culture which is full of half-truths and fiction to fill the missing bits.

People can believe in big red mushrooms taking the over the world, for all I care, just don't try to say it was a fact that they were the crew on Pinta in 1492.

I apologise if facts annoy you, but I won't have one of my favourite mythological systems butchered, without speaking up. If you were misinformed, you wouldn't want someone to correct you? The truth isn't always pleasant and the Vikings were a fantastic culture, without all the edits to make things sound more pleasant.

She's expressing her opinion... that doesn't make her mean-spirited... that makes her honest. Which is a thing that most people lack these days for fear of being mean or for fear of hurting someone's feelings or for whatever other stupid reason they can come up with.

There are certain things that you can do as properly and as decently as you want and it will still be taken as mean-spirited. Have you ever heard the saying "The truth hurts"?

I don't really believe in that whole "breaking it someone easy" thing. If it's going to hurt or upset them, then it's going to hurt/upset them regardless of how nice you are about it. Of course, they may not admit it if you're nice about it, but that doesn't change the fact that it hurt them.

It's like asking someone if they think a pair of pants makes them look fat. Is there an easy way to tell them it does make them look fat? No, because in most cases the person who's asking wants you to lie to them and tell them they look fine. So when you tell them your opinion, if they don't like it, they get upset by it.

If you don't want other people to express their honest opinions, then don't give them anything that they can respond to. And if don't want to hear their opinions, then just don't listen. Like my brother often tells me, "I don't want to hear your opinion" or "I didn't ask for your opinion". And I always respond with, "Well that's great! But if I have something to say, I'm going to say it whether you like it or not. Whether or not you actually listen to me and actually hear what I'm saying is completely up to you. But I have the right to freedom of speech and I'm going to use it as I please."

I see where you're coming from though. But let us check back in to reality, please.