September 29, 2020 – Temple of Why

Jesus, Moses, Allah and Buddha are walking in the world right now, who is happy with their legacy?

Questions from the Temple of Why

I have spent a fair amount of my lifetime contemplating the religions of the sand, those great Abraham religions that have been the underpinning of society since they could be forced onto these same societies then I moved to the Eastern religions. Are they the source of truth or have the become programmed into our DNA over centuries of repeated use? Does anyone think, really think about what they believe? Is belief sincere or programmed and habitual? Have these religions hurt or helped society more? Do they help or hurt society more or less now?

We have to think, those of us in the Western world have the opportunity, perhaps even the obligation, to do so. Are the laws of the sand religions truly immutable or should they be questioned, would they withstand 21st century scrutiny or would they be called out once and for all with the questioners exclaiming “the emperor has no clothes”?

I am not claiming to have the answers, just the questions. Is belief in Jesus the “Jesus Cult”, belief in Moses the “Jewish Cult” and belief in Allah the “Islam Cult” even belief in Buddha the Buddha Cult” ? Can we be dispassionate outsiders looking in with no attachment to the answer?

I offer each orthodox version legalizes some sort of behavior not accepted in most societies today: discrimination against women, homosexuality and underage marriage. Is that ok under the guise of protected religion? Can we separate out one belief from the body of belief without losing the integrity of the whole of that belief? Is a version of “cafeteria” Catholics or Jews or Muslims or Buddhists ok?

Can we call each other out for our beliefs and ask “why do you believe?” At the same time can we ask what benefit does belief brings to society (and I think there is a benefit), but how to we separate the good from the well, not so good.

Jesus, Moses, Allah and Buddha are walking in the world today, who is happy with their legacy?

Temple of Why

I started this blog and temple as a place to question spirituality. A place to dig deep and root out why I believe what I believe and continue to explore why others believe what they believe. I decided it was a “Druid” temple because I realized I have been a practicing Druid long before I even knew what a Druid was. There is not a lot out there about Druidry and what Druids did, theirs was an oral tradition and they too were killed off by the Romans. It begs the question then how do I know I am a Druid? Why would anyone want to be a Druid?

I think it is important to be connected to spirit, to source, to the between that connects everything in this world – there is something there. I don’t think the something wants or needs to be worshiped or to have sacrifices made to it, I think it just is. It is what keeps a banana alive versus a banana peel that disintegrates, keeps a person alive or lets there body disintegrate after this life force leaves the body. It is the mystery that captivates the mystics and the subtlety that creates awe.

I call her Unee. She is the universal force. When I remember to live according to Unee, I am living in union with the universal force that underpins our world. I work with the moon to help guide the direction of my life and focus on moon phases to cadence my life. I find the more I do that, setting intentions during the new moon, moving to action and checking in on the full moon and following through until the next new moon helps me be in rhythm with the universe. I follow the wheel of the year for the same reason. I am not a farmer so I can’t plow, plant and harvest, but I can direct my life that way. I can be restful during the winter months and recharge, I can start waking to action in the spring, I can follow through on projects in the summer and I can reap the rewards of my work during the Autumn Harvest. I can feel in step this way and pace my life. I also love the opportunity to be “holiday festive” and decorate and have fun with the changing seasons.

Maybe you want to join me in the Temple of Why and find your source. I am going to launch a Temple of Why school to help people along their path, I think it is my mission and how I can help the world.

My barn. Future home of the Temple of Why Druid School.

What is your “Mission”?

What is your mission? What is my mission? Does it matter or is life more destiny based with a few routes to choose from that get us to the same destination?

I think we have a purpose or mission in life, I get confused about what it is for me probably because it is right in front of me staring back at me. I have thought about this a lot over the past lots of years and gone back and forth with myself and others also trying to figure out what they are supposed to be “doing”. I think we all want to be impactful, some people would say important, but I think impactful is a better way to look at it. What impact does my life have in this world? Do I matter at all?

I am focusing in on what I like to do and how that can impact the world. I have spent a lot of time working in my life as many of us have and wondering what the point of it all was. Money, yeah, paying the mortgage of course, taking care of my kids and husband, sure, is that all? Should I expect more? Do you expect more? I feel like there is something else there, deep inside, that drives me to keeping thinking – why am I here?

I like writing this blog, but why bother? Does anyone read it? or is it kind of an online journal? Maybe. I guess I hope for connection, that someone else who is seeking reads something and they are inspired and a connection is made.

What’s my mission? Spirituality, writing, communicating, connecting, letting others know there are others out there….