When elders study newer generations, they are silent. They are watching from the shadows, completely hidden within the darkness. They are studying with every single one of the senses. They hear words being spoken. They watch body language. They smell aromas of perfumes and colognes. They can taste the differences of condensation within the surrounding air. They feel the vibrations all around them of not only the presence of another human, but of everything that is alive, and moving, around them. One of the main things elders will tell you is that no matter who you are....no matter what you believe....no matter what you think, every single person is correct. At least, to some extent or another. My gods are not bigger, badder, stronger and wiser than your gods. Why? They're the exact same gods. Elders know this. Elders also have one major ace in the hole (per se) when it comes to settling arguments, discussions and/or disagreements on the 'religious' home front. Knowledge.
Just as a priest, minister, rabbi or zen master knows a more extensive history of their belief systems, so too do Pagan elders. What people would consider 'witch craft' in today's society, were common practices not even a century ago. What people used as 'evidence' of someone being a witch centuries ago, would be met head on, with head strong, intellectuals, who would have absolutely no part in such 'excuses'. Crafters also do not believe in 'creationism', to the same degree that many other belief systems do. While we fully appreciate, and understand (really, we do) other belief systems, we understand 'creation' to be something that was formed from Mother Gaia (a.k.a.: Mother Earth). Creation, to us, is not something that mysteriously took place as a result of an invisible being's whim. We also do not say things like: "God bless America". We find that not only biased, but also to be the epitome of arrogance. We ask questions, such as: "Why America and not say, Georgia?", and, "Why a blessing, instead of a hope, or a wish?". In other words, we do not say "God bless"....anything. We say: "Bless you" or "Blessings to you". We do so for several reasons. First, and foremost, we are hyper-aware of the fact that most people on this planet are not Crafters. Therefore, we do not wish to impose our particular belief systems on any other person. Ever.
Furthermore, we do not believe that only a few animals are 'sacred', or 'blessed'. We believe that ALL living entities are sacred, or blessed. We do not believe that we need to belong to any particular group, organization, congregation or fellowship. In fact, if we were to enter into one of your congregations, you'd never know the difference between us....and anyone else in that congregation. For all you would know, we'd simply be new to the area, or the congregation. We too study your religious texts, doctrines and regulations. We have read the Christian Bible (more often than not - cover to cover, which is more than I can say for the bulk of Christians on the face of this planet). We have studied the Qur'an. We have read the Tibetan Book of the Dead. We have studied the ancient Tipitaka books (the holy books of the Buddhists - which, when translated into English can amass upwards of approximately 40 volumes). Most Crafters, however, are more than willing to study things that most other people are quite literally scared to. For instance, the bulk of us have read The Book of Satan - cover to cover. We understand the differences between Satanism and Lucifer-ism. We delve into the 'unaccepted' books of the Christian Bible. The ones that were intentionally voted out of the Bible (as we know it today) by the Council of Nicea.
Elders, however, are educated in many other religious belief systems for a reason. They not only hold respect for people who do not believe as they do, but they are also quite interested in what many people have to say about what, exactly, they believe in. More importantly, they are also interested in what many people have to say about what, exactly, they do NOT believe in. Remember, Elders also pay attention to things that are not immediately evident. What is not spoken. What are they not hearing. What they do not feel, see or smell. These bits of information hold equal importance to an Elder. The sad part is the fact that we are also intensely aware of the fact that not too many people are going to be genuinely interested in our beliefs, and, if they are, the interest is rarely for more than passing judgement against us. That is something we have grown to expect from the general population.
We are the ones who have stood up and fought by your side, when no one else had the strength to. We are the ones who were kind enough to help you when you fell....wiped your tears when you wept...and gave you that pat on the back, when no one else would. We are the ones who are praying for you, when it seems as if all hope and faith has been lost within your soul. We are the soldiers who pulled you from the wreckage of your life, when everyone else wanted to see you die. We are the ones that stood silently in the distance, and moved stones out of your way, so that you could continue on your path to success. We do not just practice our belief system on a certain day. It is not something we have to practice at all. It is what our entire lives consist of. We heal the sick. We give strength to the weak. We feed the hungry. He house the impoverished. We educate the cast outs of society. The ones that people think have no 'real purpose' in life. Ones that some education 'specialists' will label as "marginally exceptional" (that's politically correct jargon for - 'stupid'). We will care for your elderly, all while walking our own solitary paths each day.....and no one will ever know it.
We believe in magik, not magic. We believe that this is present in all life forms, not just humans. We understand that there is a real science behind the power of our thoughts, as well as our actions. We understand the reasoning behind the 'power of prayer'. We simply use different terminology than people who follow other religions. What is 'prayer' to a Christian, is an 'incantation' to an Elder. What is 'holy' to one person, is 'sacred' to us. What is 'evil' to another person, is 'demonic' to us. We do not believe in the traditional heaven and hell, much less any 'masters' that may, or may not, preside over such places. Instead, we, as humans, are the creators of our own mortal heaven, or hell. What many people feel as being a 'near death experience', is what we understand to be a particular condition that the brain endures during times of extreme trauma, or, during the final throes of death itself. We believe that death is both an end, and a beginning - but not in the same manner that people from other belief systems may. We see our own deaths as an end to our mortality. To us, it is final. Game over. No coming back. Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust. However, we also believe that upon our deaths, we have now left a space that is to be taken up by those who have also chosen to walk our paths. In other words, our end, allows for someone else's beginning. And that...that, is our legacy that we pass on to our future generations.
The natural disasters humanity has endured over the past 200 thousand years of walking on this planet is not seen by us as 'god's will'. Rather, we see it as "Gaia's life force" or "Mother Nature". We study all areas of life, not just what a large group of people tell us to study. We are interested in everything from atoms to galaxies....and everything in between. We have no particular creed. We have no particular doctrine, nor do we have any particular set of 'cardinal rules' that we live by. In the same turn, we also do not condemn anyone for having such things present in their lives. What we do hope, and have hoped throughout the man thousands of years humans have walked on this earth, that at some point, we too will be understood. Our beliefs will be studied with the same curiosity, and wisdom, that we have studied other beliefs that are not our own. We hope that, at some point, humanity will be able to truly co-exist. Until then, we shall continue to hide in plain sight, and study everything we possibly can about humanity, and the world we call 'home'. Just keep in mind that one of the philosophies we DO live by is: Never conjur up more demons than you can lay to rest on your own....for it can end your life, as you know it...or worse.
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