Finding Inner Peace in Pagan Contemplation

I’ve always been on a quest for finding inner peace. When I took my vows earlier this year (May 1st, to be exact), I understood the reason for wanting to live a contemplative lifestyle. One of the major reasons was that I wanted more peace in my life. Sure, in comparison to the lives of many others, my life would be considered ‘peaceful’. But still, there was an inner peace that I longed for.

I had experienced inner peace and stillness many times, but they were fleeting moments that seemed to disappear just as quickly as they arrived. So, at least for me, a big motivation to step into a more monastic and contemplative lifestyle was to find a more permanent form of inner peace. What I found out is that in the pursuit of this seemingly lofty goal, my primary personal responsibility was not only to cultivate a sanctuary of peace within myself, but also to extend that tranquility outward, thereby affecting those around me with the same serene influence.

Back To The Source

Before I dive in too deeply, I want to play with a notion that I feel holds the most weight when looking back into the past. That’s the notion that most (if not all) cultures probably began as shamanistic tribes of people. It seems to me that most of the various ancient cultures that have been discovered and studied have had shamanistic roots. Not only did the Celtic tribes exist as a shamanistic culture, so too did the Aborigines of Australia and the San of the African continent.

So, what does that mean exactly? Well, if you were to ask any lay person today why they meditate, they’ll likely give you one or two reasons and one of them will probably have something to do with ‘finding more inner peace’. This isn’t surprising, but it speaks to the idea that by ‘going inward’, we are searching for a peace that already exists within us. In many cultures, what some describe as ‘going inward’ might also manifest as ‘going outward,’ often equated to ‘worldwalking.

The Shamanic Path

As described by columnist Michelle Fondin:

“Meditation connects you to all that is. We often look at meditation as a chance to unplug from the world, but in reality, we are plugging into the entire universe. By getting in touch with your soul, you can more easily match the vibe of the universal soul.”

As a Druid, one of the core tenants of modern Druidry is meditation and oftentimes Shamanism. While I think we all touch on Shamanism in our own way most times, a full Shamanic practice is typically undertaken by someone who is naturally gifted in that area. Not to say that we can’t sharpen our skills and learn Shamanism — but most of us tend to stay within the lane of our natural spiritual strengths.

In ancient times, the Druid Shamans would commune with the Gods and travel to the otherworld to gain insight and understanding and bring it back to the tribes in which they served. This gave them a blueprint for their rituals, beliefs, and morals. To be a Druid was to be a person of wisdom. It’s clear where that wisdom came from, but what might not be clear to most is how this ties in to finding inner peace. Stick with me and we’ll find out.

Practices & Prayers

So, now we know that the Druids were sources of wisdom for the Celtic tribes. The Druids obtained that wisdom through continual prayers to the Gods, rituals, and meditation, including shamanistic worldwalking. It stands to reason that in the process of obtaining wisdom through these practices, they were (and still are) ultimately in pursuit of finding inner peace. Your tradition might refer to it as ‘inner knowing’ which is quite fitting.

But that’s not where we stop. The inner peace that we can obtain, just like the Druids, serves a much bigger purpose within our communities. Whether our communities encompass only our families or extend to larger circles within spiritual traditions and our local neighborhoods, we have something to offer from the inner peace we discover.

In the Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha Gautama, who would become the Buddha, attained enlightenment and then chose to share his profound wisdom with others, which formed the foundation of Buddhism. This emphasizes the importance of sharing enlightenment to alleviate suffering, but also sharing peace with those around you.

Radiating Peace

Here’s where I can tell you all about how your inner peace actually changes the world around you. While it’s true, our inner peace is quite a comfort to those we come in contact with, what about those we don’t come in contact with?

An Indian Guru named Maharishi Mahesh Yogi popularized a meditation technique known as Transcendental Meditation (TM). Researchers have conducted documented scientific studies and analyses on TM’s effects when large groups of people practice it in specific locations.

This article reports on two studies that investigate the impact of collective stress on public health indicators such as infant mortality rate and drug-related fatality rate. The studies also analyze the effects of group practice of the TM-Sidhi program, an advanced practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique, on societal consciousness and quality of life.

The results indicate that practicing the TM-Sidhi program in groups correlates with decreased stress levels, enhanced quality of life, and a reduction in negative behaviors like crime and violence. These findings support the idea that inner peace can radiate outward to those around us, contributing to a more positive and harmonious society.

So, it seems that there is quite a compelling case for how we can radiate peace to the world from our own personal practice.

Final Thoughts

Delving into history’s wisdom and the soul’s quest for peace, it’s clear our search for inner calm is interconnected with the wider human experience. It’s not just about personal serenity; it’s about influencing the world’s energy for the better.

Drawing from Druidic practices, Buddhist teachings, and methods like Transcendental Meditation, we find a dual purpose: to create inner sanctuaries of peace and to act as stewards of serenity in an often chaotic world. By cultivating tranquility within, we become unexpected sources of harmony, guiding others simply through our presence and actions.

So, let’s remain committed to our reflective practices, mindful that the peace we foster within doesn’t just benefit us—it ripples outward, touching lives and shaping a more peaceful, coherent society. Our aim isn’t just to seek peace but to live it and share it, affecting the collective human spirit in ways we may never fully see but will certainly be felt.