Okay, since I like all the memes going around, and I liked answering Pagan Questions, I’ve decided to create my own little religious meme. It’s open to all religions, faiths, belief systems, whatever you like to call it.

I really want to know what everyone loves about the religions they call their own, and what trials they face in adhereing to those beliefs. I think we might have more in common than we all think.

Here are the rules:

1. You have to use your own belief system for the meme. No fair using someone else’s to make a joke or satire. Being humorous about your own religion is encouraged!
2. You have to have at least one joy and one trial. More are encouraged. And no, they don’t have to be equal in length, but please be honest.
3. You have to tag at least one other person. More are appreciated!
4. Please post these rules!

Okay, now here’s my version:

The Joys and Trials of being a Solitary Pagan on a Northern Tradition path

Joys:

1. Being able to be proud of myself, my gender, my heritage, my ideals, and my chosen path. So in other words, having no regrets (so far) on my chosen path.

2. Not having to listen to a figure of religious authority unless I want to.

3.  Not having to do rituals I don’t like or call Gods I have no affinity with.

4. Being able to find magick in the mundane and use my favorite unconventional forms of worship: cooking, cleaning, long walks, lighting a candle in the darkness, and being an activist.

5. Not having to explain myself to anyone but my Gods.

6. Being able to figure out the universe on my own, and not being bound to one idea or another.

7. Knowing that Nature is magickal and powerful and sacred, and experiencing it that way.

8. Not having to go down on my knees or be subservient to anyone, not even the Gods.

9. Feeling the contentment of finally having found something you can believe in and knowing that even if you never figure it all out, having tried to and having attained some peace in doing so was definitely worth it.

Trials:

1. Having a complex belief system that is not easily conveyed by a single title or adjective, and is not easily explained to others.

2. Celebrating holy days and festivals gets a little lonely.

3. Knowing that others could (and will) dismiss your beliefs offhand, because people think that if thousands of others don’t share your beliefs, they can’t possibly have any validity.

4. Fearing to “come out of the broomcloset” so to speak, because I might lose my job, or be denied another, or be alienated from my family, be ridiculued or worse, feared by society at large.

Okay, nine and four, both sacred numbers in their own right. I’m sure I could come up with more if I really tried, but those are good enough for now.

So, who to tag now? I tag…

Anne Johnson at The Gods Are Bored

Terminally Cute

Hrafnkell at A Heathen’s Day

Brujo at Alone with the Gods

Angela-Eloise at Blogickal

Debbie at Debbie Does Duluth

Nettle at Druid’s Apprentice

Paul at Evoking the Goddess

Waverly Fitzgerald at Living in Season

Fey at On the Dark Side of Fey

S. Nichole at Pagan Sojourn

Mahud over at Between Old & New Moons

Ali at Meadowsweet & Myrrh

So basically, half of my blogroll, and then some! Some of you (like Anne) might not take this too seriously, but that’s okay! Like I said, humor gets a bad rap when it comes to religion. This meme is all about expressing yourself, your truest self, and letting me (and the world) in on your religious experiences.

If this meme seriously works and people actually use it, I will be so excited, I might have to do the “happy puppy dance” my dog does when I get home from work. *grin*