Silent
Silent provides the tools for seekers to recognize their path and enables self-reliance for spiritual and magickal growth.
Seekers gain insight from his work and find their inner calm from his ability to listen and help others reflect.
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Be a Conscious Consumer
Silent • Nov 20, 2023
Make it a lifestyle versus an excursion.
Over the coming weeks, you will be bombarded with many shopping requests. I invite you to join me in a thoughtful approach to consumption.
You will be asked to buy nothing or recycle. We live in a heavily consumeristic society where purchases more often rule us than not. Multiple sources sites (National Retail Federation, eCommerce News), Retailers make 30%+ of their annual revenue over the next six weeks.
Consumer spending is 69% of the staggering $23.2 trillion U.S. economy. If you commit to conscious choice, thank you. However, your intentions and righteous action… make no difference. Those choices are not a rounding error of spending in the local economy, let alone the national one. It's essential to recognize that while individual choices matter, they are but a fraction in the grand scheme of the economy. Despite this, it's not about the scale of impact but the intention behind our choices.
I'm not saying you shouldn’t make conscious choices but know that a single purchase or drive to a pick-it-yourself farm will not make the difference you hope.
We can start by lowering the barriers to sustainable living. This includes supporting local businesses and choosing not to impose our beliefs on others, despite our personal commitments to sustainable practices like vegetarianism. Local shopping not only reduces environmental impact but also strengthens community ties.
Embracing local markets, dining at restaurants that source locally, and visiting regional stores and fairs can transform conscious shopping from an occasional activity into a lifestyle. Online, consider platforms that support small businesses. This shift in shopping habits not only benefits the environment but also nourishes local economies.
In the end it is a numbers game.
What can you do? More importantly, what should we all be working towards?
Disagree, but don't be disagreeable.
The first step is to lower the social barrier to sustainability and support local shopping. For example, refusing to eat with friends who do not purchase 100% sustainable groceries makes you insufferable over time. As a vegetarian, I often face the inevitable eye rolls, "but you eat fish…" or "Hey, there are left-over leaves at the bottom of my calamari" comments. I don't compromise, but I do not force my choices on others. Local shops and stores have a lower environmental impact. See "Sustainable Connections."
Routinely support your farmer's markets, dine at restaurants that work with local farms, and shop at regional stores and fairs.
Make it a lifestyle versus an excursion.
If you consciously commit to shopping, please consider using #ShopLocal and #ShopSmall. If you shop online, consider marketplaces that enable small businesses.
Finally, remember the human element in your choices. Deciding not to patronize large retailers or online giants affects the livelihoods of many who may be in your community. Each choice we make sets into motion a series of events, some within our understanding and others beyond it. Let's strive to make choices that we can look back on with pride, knowing they were made with awareness and a sense of responsibility towards our community and planet
Choice sets in motion events known and unknown. I want you to know that you have the satisfaction of knowing that you were aware of the intentions you set forward.
Make ones you are proud to have as memories.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
In the modern tapestry of spirituality, being a Pagan involves a deep connection to ancient practices and the rhythms of the natural world, integrated with the realities of contemporary society. As a Pagan man, my journey is both a personal exploration and a public declaration of a faith that is often misunderstood in the mainstream. For Pagans, our practice is not merely about following the cycles of the Earth or celebrating the solstices. Still, it embodies a broader worldview that values respect for nature, the importance of ritual, and the interconnectedness of all life. Whether one identifies with the divine masculine, feminine, or beyond, these tenets are vital, reflecting a spectrum of spiritual expression that honors individual and communal experiences. Technology and urbanization have dramatically reshaped our environments, sometimes creating a sense of disconnection from the natural world. Yet, they also offer new platforms for Pagans to share knowledge, connect across distances, and build supportive communities. Digital spaces serve as contemporary forums for ritual sharing, wisdom exchange, and spiritual support, helping bridge the ancient with the digital. Navigating modernity as a Pagan also brings unique challenges, including confronting misconceptions and stereotypes that can lead to social stigma or misunderstanding., The path requires profound courage to live authentically, and we often need to educate others about our diverse beliefs and practices. This journey is a testament to our strength and resilience. Ethically, Paganism prompts us to act with integrity and responsibility, guiding us in making choices that respect our spirits, the well-being of our communities, and interconnectedness with Nature and the Divine. This ethical stance underpins our interactions, ensuring they are marked by honesty and respect. In essence, being a Pagan today is about finding balance—integrating the wisdom of ancient traditions with the pressures and possibilities of modern life, holding space for the sacred in the mundane, and fostering profound insights into both the self and the universe. It is a path of continuous growth and reflection, a journey that challenges and enriches us, inspiring us to constantly evolve and deepen our understanding.
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