I've been a steady follower of Wicca for about a year now, and as an eclectic witch (as opposed to being one of a coven), I have barely scratched the surface of the complex and grandiose tapestry of this religion, and I still have much, much more to learn.
However, the more I study the poetry and myths of the Norse, Celtic, Greek, and Egyptian pantheons, the less comfortable I feel with the deities, and the less I feel I can relate to them.
What does draw me in, however, is the Pantheon (set of deities and mythology pertaining to a specific religion or culture) of Japanese, or Shinto origins. Particularly that of Ameterasu (The Sun Goddess), Tsukuyomi (The Moon God; yes, moon and sun genders have been switched here), Susanoo (Storm God), Izanagi and Izanami (God/Goddess of creation), etc.
If there's anyone here who has satisfactory knowledge of both Shintoism and Wicca: My question is, Are the two of them compatible? What I mean to say is, if I use the Gods, Goddesses, and mythology of Shintoism, and bring them over to Wicca, incorporate my own prayers and rituals, and sort of start my own Wiccan pantheon, will I be sullying the nature of Wicca, or standing in the way of anything important?
I guess I'm too close to the situation to have a clear view of the whole thing, and I'd like a second opinion.
Wicca is a kind of Pagan revival, and I've never known it to frown upon a revival of any type of Asian shaman tradition.
It's good to see you taking an open-minded, multicultural approach; most Wiccans would probably appreciate that.
And as for what you said about Norse gods, that's understandable. You'll give Neopagan traditions a good name, unlike the embarrassing disasters like the Neo-Nazi Varg Vikernes.
Well there both gouty boogied nonsense, so you may as well merge your beliefs with Shintoism, and why dint you throw in some Freudian Psychology and Scientology for good measure. There you are, that's pretty much all the deities covered!
Ultimately, spirituality is a personal choice and a personal practice. Many people who practice outside of an established religious dogma do so because they are not comfortable with the available dogma.
All religions originally got their start because someone found that the existing structures didn't meet their personal needs. And, in the end, it will be your needs and choices that matter.
When you meditate or pray, you do so alone. You make moral and spiritual choices alone, and you alone are responsible for your choices. And, if you believe in a spiritual transition or life after death, then you will meet that and it's consequences and challenges alone.
It my opinion, it is both your right and your responsibility to choose a path and a method that makes sense to you. You must decide what is right for you. Following convention, merely to avoid social censure, is both a personal and social evil.
(The consequences are yours, also. While I was visiting his family on the opposite side of the continent once, my brother delivered a sermon in his fundamental Baptist church declaring my opinions to be heresy, and consigning me to burn in hell forever. It was the last time I went to church with him...)
many vicunas i know call upon Hindu deities. Kali and Shiva are particularly popular; also the Chinese Juan yin.
i don't know enough about Shinto to comment on whether those gods would consider it an affront, but most polytheistic traditions are extremely tolerant. Wicca doesn't have a specific god and goddess, so a wide variety of beliefs about the divine are possible, including eastern traditions.
I'm not specifically Wicca, but my patron has acknowledged that he is compatible with other gods. i believe that you should adopt the gods and ritual practice that work best for you. the gods aren't really concerned about the details, but about the sincerity of your efforts.
Wicca and Shinto Pantheon... Compatible?
