Spiritually, I identify myself as a pagan or, technically, as a neo-pagan. As with my sexuality, I adhere to this particular label not because it perfectly captures what I'm on about (no label ever does) but because it gives a commonly-understood starting point. I rejected organised religion long ago, but I also recognise that you need some ethical principles to guide your conduct. My beliefs have therefore developed organically and without conscious direction, to the point where at the moment I think this label best categorises me¹. It may be that in the future my beliefs develop further/regress/shift sideways, and I decide that a different term better explains what I am on about at that time; if that occurs, I will describe myself differently.

I am a solitary pagan; I do not subscribe to any particular pagan tradition (such as Wicca), and nor have I yet felt the need to involve myself in spiritual activities with other pagans, although I may in the future. I certainly do not subscribe to some of the beliefs held by some pagans, such as magick or any of the really supernatural stuff. Although I find some of these ideas passively unconvincing, and some I actively disagree with, I am more in agreement with neo-pagan thinking as I understand it than in dispute. The majority of my beliefs can also be understood within modern science and ecology, albeit with some additional meaning about 'why?' tacked on instead of just asking 'how?' .

So, what so I believe? I know it's inappropriate to reduce one's spirituality to a Powerpoint slide, but I'm going to anyway. I believe that:
- the universe is an interconnected system; what I do here and now will influence what happens here and now but also what happens in other places and at future times. An obvious example of this is that my use of timber from old-growth forests to build a house affects the opportunity for a forest animal in East Gippsland to have a home, and also that species' collective ability to survive into the future.
- I do not see why my choices in life should be restricted, provided they are not harmful to anyone or anything else. An obvious example here is that if I wish to dress as a woman, I will.
- we are born with certain inherent characteristics, such as being introverted, having red hair, or being bisexual; these cannot easily be changed, if at all. Beyond that, most things are open to free will. However, the flipside of having the right to do things is that you also need to take responsibility for them.

To conclude, as someone said on their Yahoo profile, may the wombat of happiness snuffle through your undergrowth.