Adrienne's Take on Spirituality

Religion is one of those things that really gets people riled up. This entire page is just my take on things, and isn't meant to be taken as universal truth.

I should probably start by defining spirituality, or more appropriately, comparing my version of spirituality to religion. For me, spirituality is connecting to one's "higher self" or tapping into the deeper meaning of one's life. While religion is (stereotypically) about worship of a deity, spirituality is generically about honoring the sacred. What is defined as sacred is up to the devotee. By my definition, Buddhism is a spiritual path, while Christianity and Islam are religions. Is this a world-wide, agreed-upon distinction? Of course not! This is one person's view of the world (namely, mine).

I've done a lot of research into Wicca. Being born on Halloween, the idea of being a bona fide witch had a lot of appeal to it. In my humble opinion, Wicca sits somewhere between these two. Although honor of the sacred is definitely present, so is worship (rarely defined using that particular word) of deity(s). Again, I'm generalizing. It's almost impossible not to, especially when discussing a belief system as diverse as Wicca or Witchcraft or any of the other pagan paths. Check out magick-whispers.com, my favorite site on Wicca/Witchcraft. The author, "Tricket", has a much more elaborate definition of religions involving the Craft. (For those of you who may not be aware of this, Witchcraft has absolutely nothing to do with devil or demon worship. The whole concept of a devil figure comes originally from Christianity, and Witches generally don't even believe in it.)

Are you unsure of what faith you fit into? "Even if YOU don't know what faith you are, Belief-O-Matic knows." Take this amusing and enlightening test to determine what religion "fits" you best.

It is difficult to give myself an all-encompassing label. Clearly, in the eyes of the major western religions, I am an atheist. But I do believe that we can directly affect (is it effect or affect, I have never figured this out) our world through ritualized manipulation of energy. In case you didn't get that, I just implied that I believe that prayer works. Huh? But Adrienne, you just said you were an atheist? (I've got a great idea for a book on this topic.) I think the mind can do a lot more than we give it credit for. Numerous studies have shown that directed intention produces results. So whether you are praying faithfully in a group, standing around a pagan circle or doing solitary meditation, I believe we all have the ability to have a direct effect upon the world around us. For religious people, they credit the deity of their focus, but in the end, they have still used ritualistic manipulation of energy through intent.

Ok, back to labels. Steve, a friend and coworker of mine, is also an atheist. He's a much more traditional atheist than I am. He's of the philosophy that there is no God, and no New Age, esoteric "energy", and we live once, die, and that's it. He was brought up Jewish. Several years ago we were discussing religious philosophy (instead of working), and he coined the terms "Orthodox Atheist" for himself and "New Age Atheist" for me. I've always gotten a huge kick out of that distinction, and it's actually very descriptive of our varied atheistic beliefs. I'm definitely a deep-ecologist, or someone who finds the sacred in nature and the earth itself. I'm probably an eco-feminist, though I need to do a little more research on the subject. I'm clearly a pagan, even if that's an atheistic neo-pagan. And most strongly, I find myself currently very drawn to traditional Druidry. Druidry is similar to Wicca in ritual and earth-reverence, with less focus on deity and more on inspiration, personal involvement and responsibility. For a better definition of Druidry and a wonderful collection of information and writing, check out the Druid Network. One of the main focuses of the Sun and Moon tour will be to learn more about Druidry. Jeff and I felt a deep connection to the city of Glastonbury, England when we visited in 2002. So we are hoping to spend 2 or 3 months there to kick off the tour.

Who Am I? © Adrienne Catone-Huber, 1994-2004
Am I my job? The daily grind, The weekly paycheck, The occasional accomplishment? Am I my hobbies? Games with friends, Surfing the net, A round of racquetball? Am I my relationships? Wife, lover Sister, daughter, Friend, co-worker, stranger? Who am I? Who can I be? Infinite options, Who dare I risk being? I am my dreams. If I have the courage. Enlightened being, Environmental champion. I am the tree Whose leaves whisper in the breeze. I am the poisoned river Aching from the toxins. I am the endangered animal Seeking my home. I am the Earth Spirit Struggling to keep the balance. Look beyond this form, For it is only physical. See the me who yearns For the freedom of connection. Help me be This me.

Who Am I?

Am I my job?
The daily grind,
The weekly paycheck,
The occasional accomplishment?

Am I my hobbies?
Games with friends,
Surfing the net,
A round of racquetball?

Am I my relationships?
Wife, lover
Sister, daughter,
Friend, co-worker, stranger?

Who am I?
Who can I be?
Infinite options,
Who dare I risk being?

I am my dreams.
If I have the courage.
Enlightened being,
Environmental champion.

I am the tree
Whose leaves whisper in the breeze.
I am the poisoned river
Aching from the toxins.

I am the endangered animal
Seeking my home.
I am the Earth Spirit
Struggling to keep the balance.

Look beyond this form,
For it is only physical.
See the me who yearns
For the freedom of connection.

Help me be
This me.