Living the Path of Mist

It occurred to me after reading Finn’s most recent post (The Living Tree) that while I did codify the core beliefs of the Path of Mist, they haven’t been on this blog since I took down the FAQ, which was a considerable amount of time ago. I’m pleased to find that even with my new multi-cultural take on things, I need no revising- always a good sign. So, without further ado:

The Song of the Mist: The Core Beliefs of the Path of Mist

1. All is sacred. There is nothing in this world or any other that is more or less sacred or holy than anything else, as everything contains the spark of the divine. Impure does not mean unholy.

2. Impurity is natural. While purity is a state to strive for, impurity will always exist. We create impurity with our words and actions, as well as our silence and inaction. Impurity can make the connection to the divine more difficult, but as we contain the spark of the divine, it is never impossible.

3. The gods are many. They are distinct and real individuals; they may or may not be immortal, moral, positively inclined towards the well being of humanity, particularly powerful or knowledgeable. However, they contain more of the divine spark than does humanity, and have a greater view of the whole than we do.

4. We are fallible. As humans our perspective is limited: incomplete cannot be infallible. Therefore we accept that if there is any One True Way or Absolute Truth, we cannot know it in its entirety, and do not claim to follow it.

5. Destiny is what we make. Destiny, fate and karma are human constructs to help humanity deal with perceived unfairness or inability to change. This world is ruled by natural law, which does not answer to human morals or desires. Though the gods may lay a path for us or choose a goal, ultimately the choice is ours, and we are responsible for our choices, words and actions.

6. Truth is a matter of perspective. Truth and fact are not the same thing; while contradicting facts means one is wrong and one is right, contradicting truths are capable of both being right. That this world is made up by Land, Sea and Sky, as is the Celtic worldview, does not mean that the universe cannot be comprised of Earth, Air, Fire and Water as is the Greek belief. It’s all in how you look.

7. The soul is indestructible but not stagnant. The soul is an interesting thing. It is the thing that makes us ourselves, a distinct and unique individual that will never walk the earth again. The soul is one whole, but after death it is rendered in two. One half will go on to the afterlife, where it is sustained by our memory; the other half will merge with other soul halves and be reshaped and reincarnated. As a flame between candles, the reincarnated soul is the same but changed- this life we live is both the only one we will ever have, and one amongst many.

8. We should strive to live honorable lives. An honorable life is simple but not necessarily easy: one should honor and serve their gods; remember and honor their beloved dead; honor and respect their local spirits; strive for physical fitness and health as well as improvement of the mind; be generous, hospitable, empathetic, just, honest, responsible, open-minded and creative in all aspects of life; and work to leave the Earth and their community a better place than it was left to them.

Tags: beliefs

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 at 1:51 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.