Gardner, photographer, philosopher, craftsperson, hiker, activist, and Queer AF. This is my personal blog that I will be using to document my wanderings through this life. I have many interests including: gardening, occultism, philosophy, textile crafting, woodworking, homesteading, blacksmithing, animals, nature, music (both listening to and playing), astronomy, cooking, photography, hiking, acti
vism, languages, folklore, mythology, history, learning new things in general. I identify as non-binary/agender and as a pan-demisexual. They/them pronouns. My name is not of particular importance. I am a Wanderer. I am really autistic too. I have been involved in Paganism as a religion since 2002, though I pretty much grew up being fascinated by the old gods and nature. I still identify as an Eclectic Pagan. My primary influences are very broad, but include Celtic Paganism, Hellenic Paganism, Germanic Paganism, Kemeticism, Thelema, Shinto, and Taoism. That said, with how culturally loaded the term Pagan is, it has never quite set right with me. Why do we define ourselves, by what we are not instead of by what we are? I am not Christian at all, and historically Pagan pretty much goes back to either civilian (in the sense of not being a Christian soldier) or being those people out in the countryside that practice a religion that is not Christianity. I have loved how Shinto is as a word. Japanese does not have gender with most terms (so 神 (shin/kami depending on the reading) can be used to describe a spirit/god or multiple spirits/gods/goddesses without clearly identifying the gender thereof. 道 (to/do/michi) can be used to describe a path (like a road) but also a way of being. 道 is also used for the concept of Tao in Taoism. Shinto in Japan is not considered a religion (宗教, literally a sect doctrine, or a received doctrine) because it has no founder. It is a way (道) of living. Also most words in Japan do not indicate a number of things involved/plurality so 道 can mean one way of multiple ways. I consider my personal way(s) of life to be a similar to the concept of (道). That is why I have called it Ways of the Spirits of Nature. My ideas can be summarized in the following:
1. Nature is holy in Itself.
2. Humanity is part of Nature, we are not above Nature.
3. Reconnect with Nature.
4. Do as you Will, and allow others to do the same.
5. Lessen suffering.
6. Be Mindful of your actions/inactions. I am a Wanderer on that path (道). Feel free to be a Wanderer too of 道. I love gardening/agriculture and hope to one day live on my own homestead (and/or community) with others of similar world views and try to create a more sustainable way of life.
