Fate and Responsibility

Today, I did something which could prove to be either wonderful or disastrous: I quit my job.

After more than ten months of pushing bras and panties, I will be leaving the world of lingerie in exactly two weeks. To say the least, this is quite a relief. While I don’t believe in the actual existence of Hell, I can quite honestly say that, for myself, personally, the fitting room approached such conditions.

Though I may not seem it over the internet, in person I am relatively reserved. I like having my space and do not typically seek-out social interaction with large groups of people. For an introvert like myself, there are very few things quite so horrible as trying to help a veritable horde of women to find properly fitting undergarments when they are practically determined that nothing should work. Especially when your job security depends upon being as kind, courteous, and generally helpful as humanly possible.

Yessiree, turning in my letter of resignation today felt pretty damn good. There’s only one problem: I don’t have another job lined-up.

I can already feel the Experienced among you start to judge. It’s okay. I confess that I am doing it too.

Against my better judgment, I am going into business for myself while I re-double my efforts to find a better job. For a while now, it has been my dream to take a stab at making art for a living. I’m already a member of an artist cooperative and my membership has, sadly, been going to waste as I haven’t had time or space to do much of anything new in the past year. With the end of my current employment, I hope to change that.

There is something about these kinds of transitions that gives one a feeling of embracing one’s destiny. Of course, my destiny may actually be to wind-up homeless and die of malnutrition. While that may be slightly over the top, I am taking a clear risk in choosing to end my employment. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder if this is exactly what I’m supposed to do.

It’s pondering things like this that cause me to wonder just how much I am actually in control of my actions. How much of my life will happen no matter what I do? How much can I actually change?

Pagans represent a large range of perspectives on the role of Fate and the importance of the choices we make. Many of us take-up astrology, tarot, runes, and other forms of divination as a part of our regular spiritual practices and pursuits. All of these rely on the notion that, to a certain extent, the future is predictable and, in some instances, beyond our ability to influence. At the same time, many Neo Pagan religions also emphasize the importance of the individual’s responsibility for their own actions. Depending upon your chosen perspectives, this can cause a little conundrum.

The question is, if you are fated to do something, are you, in fact, responsible for the actions that you are destined to take?

I’d like to hear a little from the rest of you on this subject. What are your thoughts on the subject of Fate as it applies to personal responsibility? What is your particular way of getting those two ideas to coexist peacefully, if at all? Let me know what you think!

Bright Blessings!

~LitheWolf