In one of your recent publications, you wrote something along the lines of being angry with the idea of divinity. Well, that was my story for a good decade. After my near death experience with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, I hated everything spiritual. I was born into a Christian family and found neopaganism in my teens, but I abandoned all of it for a long time. I don't regret it because I spent that time deep diving into science, something I never took too seriously before that. I found my way back to my spiritual path via Mary Magdalene. And, believe it or not, Jesus. Mostly ala Sophie Strand. But I'm definitely no Christian. If any label applied, it'd probably be Omnist, as I fill my spiritual well from all the springs available, but I am mostly focused on the Celtic and Norse paganism of my ancestors and the Gnostic idea of Jesus and Mary. When I was really sick last year, I became well-acquainted with Saint Gemma. All of this to say that I love this discussion and I hope I can join the class. Thank you! 🩷💚
As an Episcopalian who holds “orthodoxy” lightly, I’ve felt that St. Brigid is trying to get in touch with me. Most recently, dreams about locked doorways and home intruders. I got a tattoo in honor of my recent VBAC and asked for a cauldron, which I figured is a good representation of the uterus without being too on the nose lol; the artist proposed I get a St. Brigid’s cross with it and the more I googled it the more I was struck by synchronicities. Jesus’ midwife. Saint of poets and hearths. And, Celtic goddess. She’s a bridge-builder.
I don’t think the saints care about labels, actually. There’s the dog saint Guinefort for heaven’s sake. They are there for us when we need them. Our ancestors of path, not only of bone. Generations of people who did not read scripture or worry about dogma and just prayed to the saints, Jesus, Mary, and lived their lives. Saint don’t belong to pagans or Christians, they belong to the people, they have no time for such meaningless divisions and they give aid to those who call.
I was fortunate to have been raised by Puerto Rican pentecostals who have absolutely no issue syncretizing the world of demons, spirits, angels with Christianity; who really do heal, who really do bring down power from the heavens. While I’m not in that path myself, it’s formed my understanding of spirituality and I am grateful. You may be interested in a bit of exploration outside the particular path (shaped by whiteness) you’ve described; you may be surprised what you find.
Your class sounds fascinating! I would say that saints never “belonged” to Christians but to Christ, and in fact that’s what the definition of canonical sainthood is, total devotion to Christ and to those in need (aka Christ :-). I also imagine no saint ever thought of themselves as particularly saintly while alive, that’s sort of the point - so I’m sure many of them would be delighted at the idea that their lives became something meaningful for people of all nations and religions. It is certainly an interesting exercise to explore who Christ is in light of the saints, in contrast with how lightly his name is invoked by ostensibly Christian authorities who then turn around and commit social, political, and spiritual atrocities.
In one of your recent publications, you wrote something along the lines of being angry with the idea of divinity. Well, that was my story for a good decade. After my near death experience with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, I hated everything spiritual. I was born into a Christian family and found neopaganism in my teens, but I abandoned all of it for a long time. I don't regret it because I spent that time deep diving into science, something I never took too seriously before that. I found my way back to my spiritual path via Mary Magdalene. And, believe it or not, Jesus. Mostly ala Sophie Strand. But I'm definitely no Christian. If any label applied, it'd probably be Omnist, as I fill my spiritual well from all the springs available, but I am mostly focused on the Celtic and Norse paganism of my ancestors and the Gnostic idea of Jesus and Mary. When I was really sick last year, I became well-acquainted with Saint Gemma. All of this to say that I love this discussion and I hope I can join the class. Thank you! 🩷💚
Thank you, Jennifer! That's a beautiful story of belief, and I hope you can join too, if you like.
As an Episcopalian who holds “orthodoxy” lightly, I’ve felt that St. Brigid is trying to get in touch with me. Most recently, dreams about locked doorways and home intruders. I got a tattoo in honor of my recent VBAC and asked for a cauldron, which I figured is a good representation of the uterus without being too on the nose lol; the artist proposed I get a St. Brigid’s cross with it and the more I googled it the more I was struck by synchronicities. Jesus’ midwife. Saint of poets and hearths. And, Celtic goddess. She’s a bridge-builder.
I don’t think the saints care about labels, actually. There’s the dog saint Guinefort for heaven’s sake. They are there for us when we need them. Our ancestors of path, not only of bone. Generations of people who did not read scripture or worry about dogma and just prayed to the saints, Jesus, Mary, and lived their lives. Saint don’t belong to pagans or Christians, they belong to the people, they have no time for such meaningless divisions and they give aid to those who call.
I was fortunate to have been raised by Puerto Rican pentecostals who have absolutely no issue syncretizing the world of demons, spirits, angels with Christianity; who really do heal, who really do bring down power from the heavens. While I’m not in that path myself, it’s formed my understanding of spirituality and I am grateful. You may be interested in a bit of exploration outside the particular path (shaped by whiteness) you’ve described; you may be surprised what you find.
Agreed, I would love more experience in sycretic cultures outside those of Europe! Thank you for this personal account; I love to hear such things.
Your class sounds fascinating! I would say that saints never “belonged” to Christians but to Christ, and in fact that’s what the definition of canonical sainthood is, total devotion to Christ and to those in need (aka Christ :-). I also imagine no saint ever thought of themselves as particularly saintly while alive, that’s sort of the point - so I’m sure many of them would be delighted at the idea that their lives became something meaningful for people of all nations and religions. It is certainly an interesting exercise to explore who Christ is in light of the saints, in contrast with how lightly his name is invoked by ostensibly Christian authorities who then turn around and commit social, political, and spiritual atrocities.
I absolutely love this. So much hidden in plain sight if we can take off the dogmatic lens of the church.
I heartily agree!