Fostering a strong sense of identity by doing the inner work necessary to heal past traumas and become connected with our authentic selves is one of our most powerful tools against the predator class.
In our current political landscape we often hear talk of resistance, and in the minds of many this takes the form of rebellion against the powers that shouldn’t be, fighting the system, dismantling institutions, as well as creating new ones and working to build a better world.
While these things are certainly valid and worth working towards, there’s another form of resistance that is just as — if not even more vital — and it comes in the form of a personal journey that requires introspection and personal growth.
Human development is deeply impacted by our environment. As adaptive animals people often instinctively conform to the ecosystem around them because subconsciously fitting in means survival, and developmentally the circumstances of one’s upbringing typically dictates the overall outcome, for good or for bad.
Microcosmically we see this everywhere from different subcultures, classes, political leanings, and so forth. But in the macrocosm the area that we see this most prevalent is statism in general as well as the institutions that act as mechanisms of control for the parasite class; conformity to the systems of hierarchy and coercion.
The powers that should not be put in a lot of effort not only to separate us from our fellow human beings, but from ourselves as well.
Almost every piece of propaganda, nearly every psyop, serves the dual purpose of not only promoting whatever the intended narrative is, but also serving as a means of demoralization to disconnect us from ourselves.
Human beings are not born hateful, angry, anxious, depressed, etc. These states of low vibrational consciousness are inculcated later, as a byproduct of environment and the external stimuli we are exposed to in our development.
Therefore in a time when the system is determined to separate us from self, rediscovering one’s own internal spiritual power is by far one of the most revolutionary things a person can do.
Of course when discussing the nature of human spirituality there will always be those who cling so deeply to their own preferred belief that they will dismiss any other concepts as heretical. This in and of itself is a form of brainwashing that has been utilized by the ruling class as a thought terminating cliche to use systemized religious institutions as a tool of subservience preventing the people from exploring deeper spiritual truths and getting in touch with the true nature of themselves.
However, regardless of what faith one follows, whether they are a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist, or any number of polytheistic paths, an individual who finds value in seeking truth and attaining wisdom ought to be willing to question everything even if it is a core belief as strong as religious conviction, for the Creator endowed all of us with the senses of logic and reason to use critically.
If one’s belief is rooted in irrefutable truth, then objective investigation will not harm it. And if it is not so, investigation will only bring one closer to the truth.
It is this author’s perspective that regardless of one’s beliefs each person should take great care to study other spiritual paths for the insight and differing perspectives they can provide — for wisdom can be found in all beliefs. Even if one remains firmly and unquestionably rooted in their own faith, understanding the beliefs of others goes a long way to establishing a sense of connection and empathy for others.
Whatever spiritual path one may find, establishing a strong connection with such a tradition and culture brings a person closer to alignment with their true selves. Even for the atheist who rejects concepts of a spiritual or metaphysical nature, they can still develop a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world around them.
Finding such an inner power through realizing one’s true identity, whatever that may be, is a powerful tool of resistance itself.
To paraphrase our friend Gavin Nascimento, from a conversation the two of us once had about this very subject —
“Once you’ve established your own sense of identity and truly understand who you want to be you’ve already taken a huge chunk of your power back. When you’re firmly rooted in your sense of self no one can ever take that power from you. And that’s the kind of power the so-called ruling class fear the most.”
Finding oneself is an act of sacred resistance because becoming more in tune with your authentic self prioritizes self-love. It opens the door for healing past traumas, intellectual growth, and emotional maturity. It creates a deep compassion not just for other human beings but for the world around us, the land, the water, the air, the trees, and all of the creatures that reside within it, human and animal alike.
Being secure in one’s individual sense of self facilitates the desire to seek out the same in others, and not only fosters deep community bonds within one’s own tradition that are essential for withstanding encroachments from the powers that shouldn’t be, but also establishes an essential overlap between varying communities for the same that can find unity in shared similarities despite the differences between specific belief sets.
The best example of this can be found in Native faiths, where despite the differences between the mythology and traditions of different First Nations peoples, they all share an overarching belief that the Earth is sacred and ought to be protected.
This is true for most indigenous beliefs, including those from Europe from a time before the imposition of Christianity separated European peoples from their indigenous traditions and cultures that connected them not only to their ancestral heritage but a belief that we are one with the land.
Speaking from my own perspective as a Germanic polytheist, a reconstructionist belief that adheres to the traditions of the various pre-christian Germanic peoples that worship ancient Gods like Odin, Thor, Freyr, and Freyja, among many others; our belief emphasizes living a life of honor that includes staying true to one’s word and offering hospitality to friends and strangers alike.
It heavily emphasizes the veneration of our ancestors, not only to celebrate their great deeds once they’ve passed but to remember where we come from and as such what we ourselves are capable of accomplishing.
There exists in Heathenry (a contemporary term for Germanic polytheism) a concept called Hamingja similar to that of Hindu Karma — since both faiths derive from the earlier proto-indo-european peoples. In short, Hamingja, like Karma, is a sort of consequences for one’s action, good or bad, passed down and inherited through familial lines impacted by the actions of each individual.
The idea behind this is that our actions do not simply impact ourselves, but our family as well in present and future. And so, when contextualized with the various other Heathen ethics taught in texts like The Poetic Edda, it incentivizes a culture of consideration for others and accountability for oneself.
Our faith also reinforces a connectedness with the land, as illustrated in our creation myth which describes a scene wherein Odin and his two brothers, after creating the physical world, shape the first man and woman from pieces of driftwood, with Odin giving them the breath of life and his brothers providing them intellect and emotion.
Our culture, much like that of other polytheists, interpret our myths as symbolic allegory, not as literal accounts. And this tale is meant to represent that we as human beings are inherently connected to nature, the trees, the land, the water. And various other myths within our faith reinforce this idea.
Such a deep-rooted philosophy, so central to the core of everything we believe, is why not only heathens but multiple pagan faiths who generally share a similar outlook care so deeply for the land. We recognize it not only as our home, but as a part of ourselves.
And scientifically this is true. Our bodies are made up of over 70% water. Through photosynthesis plant life produces the oxygen that we need to breathe, we exhale the carbon dioxide that they need to grow. Everything is one gigantic ecosystem working in tandem with each other.
Stepping outside of artificially created social constructs and really questioning who you are, what it is you actually believe, and most importantly the kind of person you want to be is an essential aspect of self-discovery.
Discovering your true authenticity is a kind of self liberation. It connects you to something bigger than yourself. In a way, almost ironically, it strips away egotistical individuality replacing it with a kind of holistic individuality that also recognizes itself as a component of a greater ecosystem and acts as such. It removes blinders, it demands responsibility, builds fortitude, encourages us to seek the truth and do what’s right.
This is power. Power to be secure in yourself, resolute in your convictions, unshakable and unable to be uprooted. And when that kind of inner power is realized we all become a force to be reckoned with to change the world for the better.