Yup,
I'll go along with most of what you said there on the understanding that I have no real knowledge of the GO way of doing things (so I can't really comment). Well written.

One thing that I will pick up on though. Being what the PC brigade insist on calling a "Modern Pagan" (I give myself no such label), I should think that the point is that we don't "believe" in anything. We know that our focus of thoughts and meditation (call it prayer if it makes you feel better) exists because we are standing on it or watching it rise over the hills.

It would be like "believing" in chairs. You don't HAVE to believe because they actually exist.

This is an amazing facet of organised religion for me. It seems that it's only really any good if you can't prove your point. All of the great faith books are just that. They have to be read with faith as they can't be seen to actively work. However, if I plant an acorn, nine times out of ten I'll get an Oak...

A good place to start to read about the tenets of our beliefs is 'Living Druidry : Magical Spirituality for the Wild Soul' by Emma Restall Orr.

No, I don't dance around the spinney at dusk with antlers on my head. Nor do I sacrifice children.

I have no flame-thrower. I've no time for argument as I'm too busy looking at the trees.
(Audioduck So, can I haz fucking Cheezburgers or not?, Sun 22 Mar 2009, 11:00, 1 reply)

Thank you Mr Duck,
I will try to find this reference . . . after my damned exams :)

I suspect the pagans I've been exposed to were the just-out-of-high-school-I'm-going-to-be-really-different-and-change-my-religion. Perhaps they didn't/don't know what they are getting into . . . perhaps they need to grab a copy of that book too.
( Mrs Legless . . . belongs to, well, you know . . . :), Sun 22 Mar 2009, 11:53, closed)

Aye, I hear what you're saying about the just-out-of-high-school brigade.
I often get branded a "Treehugger" "Hippie" or "Devil Worshipper". I had a bit of a struggle trying to explain this to my (not very open-minded) family when I was younger.
(Audioduck So, can I haz fucking Cheezburgers or not?, Mon 23 Mar 2009, 9:03, closed)