Pagan post--Feri, classes, and traditions

[danaeris]

This started as a response to a post in digitalsidhe's lj, which can be found here.


(1) Feri is NOT Wiccan. It is not descended from Gardner. Some of the branches of Feri have been influenced by Gardner (unfortunately in many people's opinions) and become very regimented. But the original conception of Feri was not like that at all
(2) Feri does not necessarily take 7 years to learn. I may have said that but have since received a clarification. Apparently, originally, Victor and Cora Anderson, the founders of the tradition, initiated first and taught second. Presumably, they taught SOME stuff so that people knew what they were getting themselves into and knew it was something they could believe in.
In later years, many branches, perhaps too influenced by Gardner, have started this nonsense of having to study for 7 years before being initiated. It is in part a result of the fact that Feri is a rare tradition, and so attracts some people who are drawn to exclusivity like moths to flames.
(3) Orthodoxy or Orthopraxy
Most of the traditions I know anything about, including Feri, don't tell you that their way is the right way, nor do they tell you that you must believe certain things. Feri and other traditions, Wiccan or not, are a paradigm, a way to view the world. It's like when you're talking about something and you have to define your terms. Some sets of definitions are useful for different things. Some sets of definitions click more with Sally than with Bobby.
As far as being able to explore other things... many traditions do ask you to not study with other traditions during your training. There are actually some good reasons for this. If you try to learn Spanish, Portuguese, Esperanto, and French all at the same time, you will get confused. It is inadvisable to learn any two or more of these languages at the same time because they are very similar yet not the same. Some people could keep it straight; most couldn't. Similarly, a lot of pagan traditions are similar enough that learning the two systems at the same time will only lead to confusion. Do not assume though that all traditions or even all covens within a tradition will ask you to not study other stuff.
(4) No one can tell me what my spirituality should be
The point of receiving training is two-fold. First, the tradition you are learning may be a useful skill set---useful perhaps in ways that your own personal system isn't useful. Second, no matter how connected with The Universe, etc. you are, someone who has been practicing for years will probably be able to show you a thing or two. My use of energy is uncontrolled, for instance. Learning to control it better is one of my goals in receiving training.
(5)The whole secrecy thing is obnoxious/bad for some reason
A lot of people get hung up on exclusivity and abuse the Mystery system, or make things Mysteries that should not be. But there are cases where it is worthwhile to preserve a Mystery. If I know a truth about the universe, when I realized it, it was probably an incredible experience, a beautiful epiphany. If I walk up to someone and tell them, "Hey, did you know blablablah?" they will forever be deprived of that moment.
There are also some things that are easily misunderstood without a thorough context. I can't just tell someone that I'm sleeping with two people (or more) and leave it at that, or they will think that I am mistreating every one of my partners. It is too soon for that information. However, if I first explain to them what polyamory is, and lead them to realize that cheating is just breaking the rules you have with your partner (s), and that I am polyamorous, they are ready for the information about how many partners I have. Some Mysteries are kind of like that, apparently.
(6)Tradition vs. Ecclectic
Some people get hung up on the brand name of a Tradition. And yes, that is silly. But there are advantages. First, if you figure out that you kinda like tradition X, then you can look for teachers in tradition X. It's a filter for traditions etc. that really aren't you, or a way of knowing that you should check out a teacher even if you don't end up taking from him or her. Second, having a Tradition is kinda nice. It's nice to have a group of people, spread out all over the country, with whom you can practice, and who think about things kinda the same way.


I like Feri a lot because it isn't fluffy---its kinda the badass tradition of the pagan community---and it is very open to personal interpretation. Although specific gods or names are used, really, a Feri god is any god a Feri person chooses to worship or talk with or whatever.

That's all for now! :)

Comments

[coffeekitty.livejournal.com]

badass? whatever happened to all of that ax-waving norse paganism?

[soleiluna.livejournal.com]

i like the way you think. i like the academic side of the Craft. though i've not practiced in a while, i am the perpetual student. i'm adding you as a friend.

(and i note that we have a friend in common, the veryfun dragon_spirit.

ta,

d.