Honesty

[kokopelle]

Honesty is a big part of the pagan life. "What happens in circle, stays in circle" is a mantra for many covens. Indeed, a commitment to a coven requires a large amount of fidelity - faithfulness to obligations, duties, or observances.

In a coven, or any serious teaching situation, both student and teacher must be honest to the obligations of the teaching contract. In this context, honesty takes on the flavors of integrity and devotion. The student must put aside their prior beliefs and embrace, with honest fervor, the instruction of the teacher. Honesty also has a shadow side as it pursues integrity and devotion. The shadow is one of dogmatism. "Being honest to one's beliefs" can lead to a dogmatic embrace of those beliefs and the rejection of others' beliefs.

These expressions of honesty and fidelity are contrasted with the openness of paganism. "Do what you will, so long as it harms NONE" is another craft mantra. Can honesty exist in a place of people doing what they want? What is the function of honesty when differences of opinion ('doing what you will') occur?

How important is honesty to you in your path? Does your path ask people to embrace honesty more than the 'norm'? Is there diversity in your life that asks you to put aside personal honesty and instead embrace non-dogmatic acceptance of contrary beliefs? Your opinions please!

Comments

[lupini.livejournal.com]

"Do what you will, so long as it harms"

Errrmmm...I think you left out a word. >;-}

I may respond to this later...I've been reading "The Four Agreements" lately, and that seems to mesh with this essay. Have to meditate on things a bit.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Ooops... kinda changes the meaning, from self-empowering to just plain mean. My bad.

The Four Agreements is a wonderful presentation of honesty in all it's forms. In order, the agreements are:

Be Impeccable With Your Words
Don't Take Anything Personally
Don't Make Assumptions
Always Do Your Best

The details on the impeccability (honesty) part are (from the cover):

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

I keep hearing people recommend that book, but I've been hesitant to purchase it. Just from those 4 little things you posted though, I think I'm convinced it should go on my wishlist (future purchase) list. :)

[lupini.livejournal.com]

A decent little read, different perspectives. Depending on where you are on your path of evolution, there may or may not be new lessons. However, even if not, it's sort of like watching someone else make soup--they add ingredients that I wouldn't have thought of and give a whole new "flavor". :-)

I've been told by a few folks (and through online reviews) that the books where Miguel Ruiz is a co-author are much less useful--to stick to his books.

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the review and the advisory. :)

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to say hello.
saw you friended me.
i figured we have friends in common...

also...
which layout is this that you are using ?
I love it !

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Hello!

We do have friends in common. Three or four I believe. It's also nice to make new ones.

The layout is "Unearthed" with the theme of "Unvieled Metal".

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

Thanks !!!!

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

I think honesty is very important.

What I learned from my grandma about Cathlolic apologetics, though, is that it is sometimes better to just stay quiet, rather than saying anything (normally, if it so happens it will hurt the other person very badly). This is not a lie, but keeping it to yourself.

Of course, keeping quiet about things can actually hurt more than help sometimes. :P

I enjoy conversations with people I disagree with, as you've probably noticed. I can disagree and have a conversation without getting angry most of the time. I start having a problem when both me and the person I disagree with have reached the point of full circle, and then when I say were done discussing and we should stop talking about it that they throw a fit. :/ I love hearing other points of view, even if I disagree with them. It's even worse though, when you agree with them and even say so, but they don't see it.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

I am reminded of my own rantings about preferring to have honest villains over dishonest heroes. I think this is coming up in my life right now because I cannot claim to have been totally honest in the past. For much of my life I was on the straight-and-narrow. Very honest and very "good". I rebelled and overcompensated the other way. It is only in the past few years that I've found what I would consider to be a "zero-point" of honesty.

Oh... big news. During my recent (10/21) shaman weekend I received a new name. I now walk my path with the name Sun Fox. You get credit for (indirectly) challenging me to look at my own tale. Some amount of introspection later (there's a sweat lodge in that story) I have a new name.

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

It's hard to define such things, as it's not always clear. Everybody has their point of view when things happen. What they say may seem honest to them, but...it may not be to the perception of others.

Tale/tail...I used to have my LJ set up, so it said for my friends page "Others tail(e)s". :) I am glad to have been of help.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Ooops... spelling correction. You challenged me to look at my own TAIL. Still, a neat freudian slop.

[lupini.livejournal.com]

"Can honesty exist in a place of people doing what they want?"

Perhaps. In those situations, I would say that part of being honest is being aware that what they want may not be what they or others *need* and the willingness to adjust.

"What is the function of honesty when differences of opinion ('doing what you will') occur?"

Very important. I've found that the differences are generally much less than anticipated IF people are honest. Honest not only with others, but themselves. Too often, however, in an effort to try and get most of what they *think* they want/need or to project their POV as "true," people will embellish their opinion and then the problems compound.

"How important is honesty to you in your path?"

Very. When I'm honest, things flow and grow. Being less than honest ends up contaminating and blocking. Besides, because my Otherworld Posse, Ancestors and Guides know when I'm not being honest, I prefer to not get the virtual kick in the pants or spiritual clue x 4.

"Does your path ask people to embrace honesty more than the 'norm'?"

Hmmm. Not sure what the norm is, all I know is the level I'm held accountable.

"Is there diversity in your life that asks you to put aside personal honesty and instead embrace non-dogmatic acceptance of contrary beliefs?"

Would you say more about this question...I'm not clear on what you are asking. Off the top of my head, it would seem to me that if one gives up their personal honesty, then the following actions would be futile. In my life, personal honesty has been the driver behind the acknowledgement or acceptance of diverse and contrary beliefs. But again, maybe I'm not understanding the question.