While down at the beach yesterday I did a spell with my family and afterwards we noticed a number of portents, signs that seemed to come right up to us and grab our attention. When you follow a pagan path the unusual (and sometimes downright bizarre) often seems to happen around you, but to others the very idea of looking for and interpreting ‘signs’ is very difficult to accept. You need an open mind, yes, but you need a healthy dose of common sense too.

Part of the problem is that paganism is not the united front it likes to pretend. It’s basically an umbrella term covering a huge variety of beliefs, ideas and practices. And in spite of the ‘an it harm none’ and ‘don’t interfere with free will’ maxims, they’re not all that tolerant of each other. What one group believes, another might ridicule. Pretty much like the rest of humanity, really.

In this blog I can only speak for myself and my own path. I look for signs around me as a matter of course, but can appreciate that not everyone does – nor wants to. And sometimes I feel that I walk a tightrope between two extremes – Those who see signs everywhere, and those who never see them at all, or constantly require more proof.

Both extremes have their problems. Those who see signs everywhere, all the time, may well have open minds, but sometimes I think they can be too gullible for their own good. I see signs – but I’ve never left behind my rather crusty nature which hesitates before rushing in to declare something a sign from the gods/nature/whatever. I always think the supernatural can benefit from a healthy dose of scepticism. Look for sensible explanations first, and only when they’ve all been exhausted will I even begin to consider a supernatural one. Indeed my journals are packed with various ‘spooky’ experiences, (some I wouldn’t even print here because the men in white coats might turn up at the door and carry me off! ) These accounts always include how I went about trying to recreate them and find a normal explanation. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. The important thing is that I don’t jump to conclusions – that way lies real paranoia.

At the other extreme are two groups which at first sight appear very similar but are in fact quite different. The first group just won’t accept anything. No matter what proofs you can find, they don’t want to know. Their minds are closed for a variety of reasons and I can accept that. Sometimes it’s simply due to lack of experience. If you haven’t experienced the supernatural for yourself, how can you be expected to accept it? It’s a fair point, I don’t have any problem with it. It’s certainly not up to me (or anyone else) to shove my beliefs (or lack of them) down anyone else’s throat.

The second group is probably the one I have the most trouble with. It’s the group that simply cannot get enough. No matter what proofs appear, they always want more. The problem I have with people like this is that they drain all the energy out of me. One more rune reading, one more sign, one more spell…

This is quite different from those who just don’t believe. This second group wants to be a permanent centre of attention, a legend in their own lunchtime, always demanding more, more, more until sometimes I wonder that the gods don’t deliver their own form of reprimand. And of course, sometimes that’s exactly what happens…

Seeking the Green by Tylluan Penry, published soon by Capall Bann. For more info - watch this space!