New Article: The Ritual of Smoking a Pipe

[locopony]

I think the fallacy is to say that we either consider our smoking a sacred or profane thing. That it means everything or nothing at all. That there are lots of middle grounds here. That smoking is either ritual or habit. I think to many here it is very much both and or somewhere in between. Like myself I dont have any truely expensive pipes the most I have paid is $75.00 for one. I clean them but not every smoke, but I take my smoke times and pipes as a time for deep thought and heavy reflection. Even though I often break out the pipe for a smoke while chit chatting with others. I take a pipe with me most everywhere at risk of it being damaged, and some of mine have scuffs but they are not knock around to be abused. I conside the incidental scuffs and damage as scars of life. But I dont place them in harms way I am careful as to where and how they are handled and stored for transport even on my bike. So sa red or profane dont really fit, because its both.

 

[cortezattic]

Doc Garr said, "the distinction between sacred and profane is still with us but in less dramatic fashion than we find in religion."

When I ease into my smoking chair and engage a bowl of tobacco there is an ineffable sense of the ceremonial.

For me, it's not a spiritual event; but I notice that when my packing and lighting "ritual" is disturbed I vaguely resent having

the sanctity of the moment violated. ::

 

[philip]

I think it is a fallacy to make any distinction between sacred and profane.
Can you elaborate and help me see the fallacy?

Everything in existence, no matter how common or vulgar it may seem, is created by God. Every breath we take, and therefore every puff of every pipe is a gift from above, and should be done in thankfulness.
I try to always keep that in mind, and when I am able to, there is no such thing as profane.
I could elaborate more fully, but I think I would get way too religious for most members of this forum. Cortez, if you would like a more complete answer, PM me your email address and I'll see what I can do.