I was reading a book the other day called "The Circle Within: Creating a Wiccan Spiritual Tradition." I liked it so much I read it in less than a day. It's not a "Wicca 101 how to" book, but more of a "why to" on the actual spirituality **behind** the religion rather than the mechanics of it. The author also goes into suggestions on little ways to incorporate a greater spiritual practice into a hectic modern life... something that would probably be beneficial to anyone of faith regardless of ideology. She gives a very practical overview of how to "walk the walk" in our modern daily lives without turning those lives upside down.

One of the most thought provoking things I think I read in the whole book is the following regarding one's responsibility when taking on the role of "priest/ess:"

Quote:

"Fulfilling our responsibility as sacred beings isn't as difficult as you may think. We need not be Mother Teresa to be a healing force in the world. We have to start with the innermost circle: the individual. There's no way to change the world that isn't one person at a time. People often overlook the self. On the outside we "do unto others,'" but on the inside there's a patchwork quilt of self-abnegation, societal stereotypes, the opinions of others and every mean thing anyone has ever said to us eating away at our spirits as we smile at the world.

"The gods do not judge us, but we manage to do quite well on our own, heaping self loathing on ourselves that we would never direct towards others. Sometimes we are kinder to our enemies. We are taught from an early age, and by example, to be casually cruel to ourselves: "I'm so fat," I'm such an idiot," "I must be the ugliest person on earth." When you find yourself cursing the mirror, stop and think: would you walk up to a total stranger and say "My god, man, who hit you with the ugly stick?" If you would, put this book down and seek help.

"If not, ask yourself why a compete stranger deserves compassion and you don't? You are the God and Goddess as much as any other person. Would you tell your Goddess She's got thunder thighs? If you would, duck!"

End Quote/

Reading that the first time really had a profound impact on me. When you actually "hear" someone say it, it seems so obvious:

***Why do others deserve to be treated better and with more respect from me than how I treat myself? Why do I say things to myself that I would never allow anyone to say to my child/sibling/parent/spouse?***

But it's something damn near every one of us does every day does probably every day to some extent. My husband, when he would spend X amount of time trying to figure something out, used to always say things to himself out loud like "You're so dim sometimes" when he finally caught what he had missed and it really bothered me to hear him put himself down like that. I finally jump his shit one day and told him that if I ever caught him talking like that about my husband I'd kick his ass.

But I never seemed to pay attention to the fact I was just a guilty of self insults... not REALLY... until after reading the above passage. After reading the above it finally dawned on me that saying it quietly in your own head or saying it out loud in front of others doesn't matter. It's still not a very nice way to treat someone. And if I would never be that hateful to some one else, why was I allowing myself to be that hateful TO myself? Better late than never, huh?

Now this doesn't mean we should all sit around and silently praise ourselves, nor neglect to work on ways to improve ourselves: physically, spiritually, and mentally. It just means we should be as respectful, encouraging, and supportive of ourselves as we are of others.

Like I said, a simple truth that seems rather obvious.... once you hear it... isn't it?