A pagan has addressed MSPs in what has been a historic day for druids and witches at Holyrood.
Reverend Linda Haggerstone delivered the Time for Reflection on Tuesday – the primary pagan deal with within the Scottish parliament’s 25-year historical past.
Rev Haggerstone, nationwide interfaith officer on the Scottish Pagan Federation, thanked the chamber for the invite.
She mentioned: “By the power of star and stone, by the power of the land within and without, by all that is fair and free, I welcome you today to this Time for Reflection.”
The reverend defined that paganism has developed over time from a “slur that still lingers in the world today and is often met with discrimination and scorn” to a “beautifully messy tapestry of spiritual paths”.
She mentioned: “Modern paganism’s greatest benefit, and its biggest challenge, is its diversity in both belief and practice.
“My chosen path is druidry. But a pagan might, for instance, establish as wiccan, heathen, or a witch.”
The reverend defined that pagans might have differing faiths, equivalent to humanist – the concept that folks don’t want a god or faith to fulfill their non secular and emotional wants; polytheistic – a perception or worship of a couple of god; or animist – a perception that each one dwelling issues have a soul.
Rev Haggerstone mentioned: “I view paganism as a tapestry woven with threads of many various lens, textures and hues.
“What these diverse threads have in common is generally fourfold – recognition of our interconnectedness with each other, with the earth, and with all existences seen and unseen.
“The perception that we’re right here to consciously honour, respect, and take care of the Earth – to which we’re inextricably related.
“Celebration of cycles, for example the seasons, each solstice and equinox, the phases of the moon or life transitions. Valuing creativity, individual accountability, and a balance of masculine and feminine energies.”
The reverend mentioned pagans are “continuously learning” to be extra inclusive of differing capacity, tradition, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, and different traits.
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Ending with a druid prayer, Rev Haggerstone mentioned: “Grant, O divine spirit, thy protection. And in protection, strength. And in strength, understanding. And in understanding, knowledge.
“And in information, the information of justice. And within the information of justice, the love of it. And within the love of it, the love of all existences. And within the love of all existences, the love of divine spirit and all goodness.
“To conclude, I share a prayer I offer in interfaith circles.
“Deep throughout the nonetheless centre of my being, might I discover peace. Silently, throughout the quiet of the grove, might I share peace. Gently, throughout the higher circles of humankind, might I radiate peace.”
Source: information.sky.com”