https://pagansong.com/the-bardic-path-elevating-the-mundane/
I often get frustrated with what I see as a false dichotomy between the sacred and the profane, between magical and mundane, between ordinary or so called normal life and spiritual life.
As the author in this blog so beautifully explains – the two are intertwined.
“.. it is all part and parcel of my path, and every bit of it is sacred.”
I was challenged by a very dear friend about a year ago on what had become my habit at the time of separating my body and my self, which is something that is common in people who experience illness, pain, and disability.
It’s something I am continuing to work on and unpack, and some similarities have definitely popped up around other narratives that place concepts that are collaborative into competition or polar opposites.
I love that this blog piece also addresses self-care as part of religious practice.
Over a decade ago, I used to present regularly at various pagan gatherings and festivals.
This idea of returning to ordinary life after ritual or after a festival started to frustrate me then.
An ordinary life can be beautiful, it can be devout, and as a spiritual or religious practitioner, I think all aspects of life can be humble offerings to the Mysterious Ones.
I think there is a genuine disconnect between Sabbath Pagans that echoes the disconnect with the often criticised Sunday Christians.
How can you walk your spiritual or religious path and develop a daily devotional practice if you leave the wonder, awe, magic, reverence in the Church or in the Circle?
Now, perhaps that brief moment of worship is all that is desired, and that, too, is valid.
I want to make it clear that the separation I am confronted by is the one that involves people living at odds to the values they hold in esteem within their religious or spiritual life.
Not everyone wants to live a religious life, and that’s ok, more than ok – it’s not something that should be forced or enforced.
I will continue to have issue with people preaching kindness, devotion, hospitality, etc and then behaving contrary to those values because they are operating in “real life”.
Part of this is the expression of ‘returning to normal life’ after a holiday – like the life that is your daily life is something to escape – that’s always troubled me a bit too.
I enjoy people sharing their daily devotional practice and how their religious life informs and shapes their daily actions.
May we embrace beauty.
May we embrace wonder.
May we embrace joy.
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
Beautifully written, false dichotomies indeed!
Thank you – credit to Mama Gina @ Bardic Song.
I think a period of extended illness with cancer treatment, recovery, convalescence, and then a very slow return to work with a number of stumbling points whilst people seek reassurance from me around the fact that I am ‘back to normal’ and ‘returning to normal life’ really made me think about this more deeply than acknowledging it as a vague irritant and something that struck me as incongruous.
Thanks for reading!
You’re welcome.