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 Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:34 pm
One of the problems I had when I identified as an eclectic was that of a religious "home" and sharing things in common with other eclectics.
What is it in your practice or belief system that you have in common with other eclectics? Maybe there's a huge amount, maybe very little? How do you find common ground and spiritual "fellowship" with other Pagans as an eclectic?
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 5:48 am
Well, as I am mostly solitary I don't really get to do much with others to share in this way and find out what we have in common. The only time I do get to meet with other eclectics is at the Sabbat gatherings I go to, and even then we usually talk about work, school and whatever's in the news.
I guess though there would be a lot of eclectics/seekers out there like me who are not sure where they fit in and are still testing the waters.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 5:05 pm
Not an eclectic myself but I work with an open circle that has pagans of all stripes, including many eclectics. I've found quite a lot of common ground with many of them actually, even if it's just in the fact that we feel similarly about the importance of our paths. There are some that's I'd rather avoid but that's more for personal stuff than anything having to do with their beliefs.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 8:10 pm
I haven't had too much opportunity to work with others recently. The one group that I met up with a couple years ago, was just a bit too eclectic for my tastes (a true "whatever you want to do" type group), which has seemed to be the norm when I've attempted to contact others in the area as well. So I tend to just keep to myself.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 8:56 pm
lol, why is everyone only answering in terms of groups they met/might meet with irl? I meant everywhere - chat rooms, message boards, blogs, the woman in the metaphysical supply store, etc.
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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 1:05 am
lol You don't want me to go on about the eclectics I've met in those metaphysical shops in my area. Well except one. I kinda miss her. She just kinda disappeared off the map. I mean while I was going to her about witch stuff she was nice to hang around and I was able to see what a witch does instead of relying on something I read. I don't really know if at the time we had any beliefs in common. That wasn't exactly something that was brought up the couple times I got to hang out with her for a bit. Though it became obvious that we leaned in different directions when it came to deities. I got to see her not long after my first run in with Djehuty. And I was telling her and her friend about it while they were putting together some necklaces. And I was all "Blah blah blah Thoth" (I forget what I said) and they stopped and looked at me and asked "Who? You mean Thor?" And the one starting talking about how hot Chris Hemsworth was in the movie.
And I'm not exactly helpful in trying to expand the conversation since I don't identify as an eclectic anymore and the only other eclectics I talk to are from here or is Zane. Which he has more of a Greek leaning. Oh if you wanted to see someone rage at a movie just mention Immortals around him. First 30 seconds of the movie and he was already giving me WTF looks. Had to turn it off about 10 minutes in. Oh and he's a soft poly. So its kinda like while its interesting to find out how the other practices we don't really bring it up often since he's not that interested in my pantheon and I don't think he really has much of an idea on the how for his yet.
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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 2:26 am
X-Yami-no-Ko-X And I was telling her and her friend about it while they were putting together some necklaces. And I was all "Blah blah blah Thoth" (I forget what I said) and they stopped and looked at me and asked "Who? You mean Thor?" And the one starting talking about how hot Chris Hemsworth was in the movie. Oh good LORD. xd When I identified as eclectic I always used to feel out of place, because I felt like "eclectic" sort of implied something specific, even though the word itself should imply otherwise. Other eclectics seemed to have things in common with each other, but not with me.... so while I was an eclectic, or felt like I was anyway, I didn't connect well with others who shared the terminology. And there's no particular reason why I should have, either. It's just one of those things I found difficult, not having stuff in common with others. I craved somewhere to set down roots. I'm glad I found it. smile So while I wasn't really happy as an eclectic, at least in that sense, I'm sure many people are, and I was wondering when they end up in contact in whatever way with other eclectics, what they have in common (if anything) and what they end up discussing, or maybe how their different paths connect. Maybe that's not really important for a lot of eclectics. And I suppose a lot of eclectics actually identify as Wiccans rather than eclectics, so that might affect things.
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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 6:18 am
Sanguina Cruenta And I suppose a lot of eclectics actually identify as Wiccans rather than eclectics, so that might affect things. Like one of my best friends unfortunately... As for finding similarities with eclectics online and in other places, I dunno, most of the tie they just seem quite different - like they're eclectic but somehow still quite set in their ways.
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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:01 am
Sanguina Cruenta When I identified as eclectic I always used to feel out of place, because I felt like "eclectic" sort of implied something specific, even though the word itself should imply otherwise. Other eclectics seemed to have things in common with each other, but not with me.... so while I was an eclectic, or felt like I was anyway, I didn't connect well with others who shared the terminology. And there's no particular reason why I should have, either. It's just one of those things I found difficult, not having stuff in common with others. I craved somewhere to set down roots. I'm glad I found it. smile That's kinda how I felt. Because I didn't agree with what was in those books but it seemed to me like all eclectics did.
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Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:16 am
learning more about religion in general has forced me to identify less with eclectics. However being so out of touch with my beliefs and practice right now I have a hard time relating to anyone. I do have a friend however who is sort of ex thelema, and she and I both admire much of Crowley's writings and we sometimes discuss spiritual things, so I have her to relate to, and another close friend who is very animistic like myself. Unfortunately all of my friends are just as lax about study and practice as I have become, so we're in the same boat.
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Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:27 am
When I started running into other pagans online and offline, I quickly disabused myself of the notion that we had much in common. I tried very hard not to assume that someone would understand what I did, or how I did things. Unfortunately, no-one seemed to return the courtesy. To this day it's my primary irritation with Paganism as a whole: the assumption that everyone's the same and ENP is the universal Pagan practice.
I still slip. Every so often you run into somebody practicing something that's so off my experience grid that I can't grasp it, and you end up making assumptions in the process of getting to terms with it. I feel bad when it happens - I apologize for it - but some people are totally crusty about it. I try really hard to make myself clear about my own practices, to avoid having the situation myself. But if it happens, I also try really hard not to be scathing about it. Tough work. gaia_nitemareleft sweatdrop gaia_nitemareright I swear my body runs on bile and not blood, sometimes.
Offline was perhaps more frustrating, if less frequent. Until I began working with the coven I'm a member of, I don't remember ever finding anyone I'd wanted to have worked with on a regular basis. I tried a few times, but unless a person was a blank slate newbie who'd never done their own rites, it was awkward as we tried to mesh styles and common ground. The one I remember the most was the individual who insisted she was an athiest Witch, but she wanted to celebrate Imbolg, and was very confused that my quarter calls weren't Angelic in nature. >_<
All of this is why covens and other groups like their Seekers to be blank slates. You're not trying to overwrite other things, which can get people confused. It's a lot easier to train people if they don't have competing information in their heads.
I still identify as eclectic. My path is, and always will be. But I don't believe that implies that I have anything in common with other eclectic people, other than we use varied source materials and methods for our practices. I feel no kinship with them.
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 3:27 am
Unless I chat with someone and find out otherwise, I tend to assume that "eclectics" have more differences than they do commonalities. Though to be sure it depends on exactly where I'm running across them at, as some sites cater more to ENP paths, and so they might have a bit more in common that in that sense.
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 12:57 pm
I don't think I have much in common with eclectics. If I think there is something in common I'll ask some specific questions, but that's about it.
To be honest I seem to fit in better with recons or those with specific traditions.
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