Hello all. I've been resurrected from a 'defunct' Eliza and come back as a member - Senoufou!

I've been to a local Norfolk shrine at Walsingham, and found it very tacky and contrived. Not just the plastic tat on sale, but the whole place was a bit 'Disney Does Jesus'. Not my thing I'm afraid. I felt much closer to God sitting on a straw bale beside a newly-ploughed field, with my feet on the good earth and a lark singing overhead. (we still have many of those here, although they're getting scarce elsewhere) The peace was so moving I found tears in my eyes. But then, I've always felt at home in the quiet countryside. (That place is called Stratton Strawless, which is a lie as they seem to have plenty of straw!)

Animism in W Africa is alive and well, and consists of a belief in magic and wichcraft (which I don't subscribe to) but they also see the supernatural in nature (sacred trees, birds with extra powers, a small much-revered stream which can heal etc) I've often wondered if way back in prehistoric times there's a link somewhere with the Celtic peoples. I've always felt at home there too.

What I find most fascinating is that adherents to the major religions also often have underlying, more primitive beliefs in magical events and beings.The Irish (I'm half Irish) have leprechauns and the fairies, people cross their fingers for luck, even my husband (a Muslim) has an abject terror of marabous (witchdoctors). There's more to our religious psyche than meets the eye!