Matt8800

I did, sorry The two books I wish I would have started with are the Sorcerers Secrets by Jason Miller and Six Ways by Aiden Watcher. I would prioritize meditation and offererings to build relationships with spirits that you can call on later. My experience is that they start to watch over you and help when asked.

@John Iverson The strangest thing that has happened, that I would share on this forum, is my experience with Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft. I tell the story on my "ask an occultist" thread. I cant share any more about that than what is already written but if you want a crazy story, I would look up that thread.

@tenta I dont claim to know what happened but the only times she has said she receives messages is when I send spirits to give a message to her. We spend a lot of time together and that is something that rarely happens. Coincidence? Maybe. Ive had many WTF?!?! moments since getting into the occult. Its like flipping a coin and getting it to come up heads 1000 times in a row. Its possible it was just chance but really fucking weird. Im a skeptic by nature. Before getting into the occult I would have said my claims where full of shit. I dont know what to think about it but my position is to act as if there is something real to it, practice the occult and keep observing what happens. One thing I can tell you is that, whatever is happening, it keeps getting more intense and more weird the longer I engage in occult practices. Eventually I have to consider something real is happening that I dont understand. I think people saying they dont believe me is a reasonable response.

@student I found it buried in some old Theosophy books and I think I stumbled across it somewhere else. I instantly saw the truth in it though. @tenta There are some things that are too crazy (itll just make me sound nuts) or too personal to share. I can share one recent thing that happened though: Ive had sleeping issues at night and energy issues during the day for as long as I can remember. Ive tried everything over the years but thought I would try a different approach. I gave some offerings to healing spirits, called them in and asked them to disclose to me what my problem was so that I could try to fix it. Im not able to see and hear spirits much but my significant other is a very gifted clairvoyant. When I ask spirits questions, I tell them that if I cant hear them, to go tell my significant other and she will tell me. I dont tell her that a message might be coming her way because I dont want to prompt her. She was totally unaware that I had contacted the healing spirits. The next day, I simply mentioned that I need to figure out my sleeping issues. She suddenly said that she was receiving a message that there was a problem with my hypothalamus and that I needed to research it. When I looked it up, I found that it is a part of the brain that is responsible for telling our bodies to sleep at night and produce energy during the day. I found that Western medicine is ineffective with treating hypothalamic dysfunction but there is strong evidence that traditional Chinese medicine is extremely effective. I started going to the Chinese doctor this week and am very optimistic about it.

@John Iverson There are somethings that are too crazy (itll just make me sound nuts) or too personal to share. I can share one recent thing that happened though: Ive had sleeping issues at night and energy issues during the day for as long as I can remember. Ive tried everything over the years but thought I would try a different approach. I gave some offerings to healing spirits, called them in and asked them to disclose to me what my problem was so that I could try to fix it. Im not able to see and hear spirits much but my significant other is a very gifted clairvoyant. When I ask spirits questions, I tell them that if I cant hear them, to go tell my significant other and she will tell me. I dont tell her that a message might be coming her way because I dont want to prompt her. She was totally unaware that I had contacted the healing spirits. The next day, I simply mentioned that I need to figure out my sleeping issues. She suddenly said that she was receiving a message that there was a problem with my hypothalamus and that I needed to research it. When I looked it up, I found that it is a part of the brain that is responsible for telling our bodies to sleep at night and produce energy during the day. I found that Western medicine is ineffective with treating hypothalamic dysfunction but there is strong evidence that traditional Chinese medicine is extremely effective. I started going to the Chinese doctor this week and am very optimistic about it.

@Water Indoctrination is powerful. As social creatures, we want to obey the unconscious collective. Its important to break free so that one can determine their own path without influence from attempts at societal control and manipulation. Explore: why does it feel weird? why is it "bad"? Why would anyone believe the stories that something bad will happen if they disobey another's rules?

@Bridge to Infinity Its hard to break through to the momentary dissolution of the ego with concentration while on stimulants. This is what is needed. Maybe try slowly lowering your dose and upping your intensity of daily concentration meditation (staring at a dot) for at least 15 minutes a day. Get the intensity way up as an act of your will. I have ADD also and regular concentration meditation will help you master what your brain focuses on.

@John Iverson There are two areas of study in the occult: occult abilities to affect the "objective" world and occult methods and general philosophy regarding enlightenment in the Occult tradition. To learn how to develop abilities, I would suggest starting with Jason Miller's Strategic Sorcery and Aiden Wachter's Six Ways. As a tip, I have received a lot of direct help and communication from spirits that I have developed very positive relationships with utilizing daily, simple offerings. Regarding enlightenment, it is a non-dual tradition that teaches one must master the ego but then can use the ego as a tool to enjoy and master the physical realm (similar to Tantra). The essence of the True Self (Atman) evolves eternally, in many realms. I have had many crazy, beautiful and mind-blowing occult experiences

@Seeker_87 Yes, there are many ways to reach awakening BUT the "flavor" or experience of that awakening can differ greatly between the traditions. Ken Wilber co-wrote a book called Transformations of Consciousness in which they studied enlightened masters from multiple traditions and found the way they experience their life and awakening can be very different. The moral is: choose your tradition(s) wisely

@Fede83 Meditation allows one to look past assumptions and illusions. You have discovered that the universe doesnt give meaning or purpose. Its for you to decide. You must decide and create yourself according to your will and self chosen values.

@Loving Radiance I started getting the same thing a couple years ago when I lock myself into the present moment. I take it as a sign that Im doing something right. Ignore all fears. Fears are irrelevant to anything and everything.

@AlphaAbundance Who wouldnt like the idea of enlightenment without the work? With that said, placebos have a real effect so if you believe RASA works, it might work. But then again, you use that technique to further your awakening with a sugar pill.

The implication of the anti-cultural appropriation movement basically says that if you are asian, you must act asian, look asian and like asian things. If you are Indian, you must act and look Indian, African - act and look African, etc. How is telling someone that they must stick to a particular culture due to the ethnicity of their birth not racism and bigotry? The only caveat I see in this is that sacred things should always be treated as sacred, in my subjective opinion. For example, I think there is a difference in a Chinese factory making Native American moccasins as opposed to making sacred Native American dream catchers however I think it would be perfectly fine for a Native American to make sacred dream catchers to sell to non-Native Americans, should they choose to do so. Am I missing something?

@JustThinkingAloud I agree

@Serotoninluv I think the disconnect is that we are different paths. I am on the Tantric path. A Tantrika does not consider social rules, shoulds or shouldnts when choosing their conduct. For example, a Tantrika would NEVER show kindness because he/she is supposed to be kind. A Tantrika will be kind because THEY, and only they, choose to act with mindful kindness. It is their choice and only their choice. Essentially, it is all "about" them because it is only their choice that they consider but they know exactly why they chose. We have different philosophical viewpoints, therefore we disagree on who says what it is "about". Tantra is as far away from herd mentality, morality and ethics as it could possibly be. And, yes, I am content where I am at because i see no need to be discontent

@Serotoninluv see previous response

@Serotoninluv Again, in my subjective universe, I decide. I have thought about it and I will do what I will do according to my subjective values. There are no "rules" to break and unless you can tell me who exactly suffered from my actions, and how, I dont care about your imaginary rules. They dont apply to me.

@Key Elements Ive always had a lot of affection for Indian people and Indian culture. It is my goal to someday go there.

@Serotoninluv In my subjective universe, I decide. Who else would decide? My spiritual path is a massive cultural appropriation of many, many traditions. I take the best of those traditions and I choose to utilize it by integrating it into my being, for my own benefit (and the benefit of those I impact). I do it because I decided that I would. I treat the sacred as sacred, with gratitude, because I choose to for my own reasons. Is there someone specific that I should explain myself to? By the way, this is not about racism. My other comments, that you referenced, were regarding racist nonsense. I agree that cultural appropriation is nuanced but my subjective interpretation is such that it doesnt conflict with my personal decisions about my cultural appropriation. If there is a problem with someone else's appropriation, then that is about their lack of respect and profanity and the problem is being mislabeled. If you try to object to my non-green values, I would ask you who exactly suffered because of my cultural appropriation? The most you could say is that it is "nuanced". The reason that you cant say more than that is because I caused suffering to nobody! There were no negative consequences. Its all in your head, including all the non-specific alleged nuances. Also, its quite possible you projected your values onto the villager that you thought looked "sad" because you were wearing the wrong t-shirt. Its possible that she didnt think your choice of shirt was quite as horrendous as you are imagining....or thinking about your shirt at all.

@Serotoninluv Fair enough, I agree that it is nuanced to some degree. I also agree that there are some instances where cultural appropriation is disrespectful, as I have stated. In my opinion, my claim that one should show respect for the sacred in another culture covers all the reasonable nuances. I think what I was trying to suss out in the conversation was defining exactly what appropriate cultural appropriation is versus inappropriate. I dont think we can have a meaningful conversation about the issue until we can determine when and where to draw that line. We cannot ask others to not cross the line if we cant describe what the line is or where its at. Until someone can come up with a more reasonable definition, I like my definition that deals with respect for the sacred. Furthermore, the line needs to be drawn correctly or it will not survive scrutiny - similar to trying to give the message that all drugs should be avoided equally at all times. For example, saying that heroin is as bad as cannabis discredits the entire message.

@avilo Regardless of those percentages, emphasizing those facts denies the sovereignty and dignity of the individual. It does not matter whether a group shows different tendencies overall because every individual has the right to be judged individually. It should also be acknowledged that data regarding certain groups is impacted to some degree by the stereotypes already in place, resulting in skewed and incomplete data. With that said, I acknowledge that it might be difficult to apply the sanctity of the individual because when importing groups of people from a certain region because it also imports the average crime rates and crimes that may be particular to that region, which can vary greatly. I dont claim to have an answer to this but truth should never be denied in the debate IF it is true (data shows it is true). If a society is going to agree to an relatively open immigration policy simply out of respect to the concepts of freedom and dignity of the individual, that is fine but group dynamics should at least be acknowledged and accepted in the final decision. It is a more nuanced situation than you are presenting and the dignity of the individual should not be ignored in the debate.

@Key Elements My mistake, I meant to tag @Keyhole It was in response to: "Even if you don't feel that it is a problem, a lot of people feel that they are effected by it and having an understanding of this subject can be helpful if you end up in a situation where you need to communicate with someone who feels hurt, or if you are learning a spiritual skill from a traditional teacher, researching this subject can help you to not make mistakes." My point was simply that, if one researches it from the perspective of someone in the "affected" community, it usually reveals that cultural appropriation is not an issue unless there is disrespect to what they consider sacred, which I earlier stated I agree with.

@Key Elements @Serotoninluv @Scholar see below excerpt from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/05/02/white-performer-hindu-chants-creates-controversy-brown Note: the social justice warriors referenced below were white, just like the social justice warriors on this thread. I bet they also would claim whites have no right to comment on cultural appropriation......as they are protesting cultural appropriation "The usual right-leaning voices decried the protesters for overreaching on what they suggest is a nonissue. “Brown University Students Flip Out After White Person Sings Hindu Chants,” reads one headline from The Daily Caller. “White graduate performs Hindu music, Brown University [social justice warriors] get huffy,” reads another. That’s more or less as expected, but a number of Hindu practitioners, on campus and off, have also objected to the protest on the grounds that the religion is open to all, regardless of race. “Color of the person should not matter in devotional singing, and anybody should be able pay respectful homage to Hindu deities through kirtan [a call-and-response Hindu chant] or other forms,” said Rajan Zed Kirtan, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, over the weekend. “Kirtan offered means to connect to the heart, to the divinity that lies within.” A Hindu student at Brown published an op-ed in the student newspaper arguing a similar point. “Grossman’s whiteness should not, and cannot, be the single factor that precludes her from expressing genuine artistic and scholarly interest in Hinduism,” writes Anuj Krishnamurthy. “My brownness does not make me a better Hindu -- that’s a self-evidently absurd proposition. By the same token, Grossman’s white skin does not automatically make her a worse, or less deserving, practitioner of Hindu chanting … The visceral association of whiteness with cultural appropriation is both a grave injustice against the welcoming foundations of Hinduism and a significant impediment to intercultural exchange more broadly.” (Although Krishnamurthy does note that cultural appropriation of Hinduism in other forms is “unacceptable.”) Sohum Chokshi, one of the protest organizers, said critics had misconstrued their objection to the event. The fact that Grossman is white isn’t the problem, he said, it’s that she lacked the authority to demonstrate and educate others about Hinduism. “Our issues with Carrie Grossman’s event were not about free speech or with the fact that she was white and chanting kirtan,” Chokshi, who is himself Hindu, said. “Our issues were centered on her grossly inaccurate, offensive, racist and misinformed portrayal of Hinduism.” Chokshi said Grossman offered a shallow, simplified and voyeuristic representation of Hinduism. He pointed to statements on her website where she says she enjoys “pretending to be a Vedic priestess” and that she composes sacred music “spontaneously” as examples and noted that she “presented traditional Hindu practices as traditions that require little rigorous understanding and thus, something she could teach and convey to others, which is also a privileged and inaccurate thing to say.” Note 2: When Krishnamurthy states some forms of appropriation are unacceptable, he is referring to the same situations I outlined as being inappropriate.

@Keyhole Yes, it is a good thing to be mindful of where certain groups of people might be hurt. With that said, almost all of the people that are doing the complaining on this issue are exactly the people that people on this thread claim have no right to an opinion - white people (ironic). If you try to look up instances where the party whose non-white culture was appropriated, and they are complaining about it, you can hardly find anything. Its white people doing all the complaining for them. The only exceptions you will find is when something is sacred, which I said previously was the only issue to consider here. For example, an Indian may get offended when a non-hindu celebrity (or non-celebrity) wears a bindi if they are not Hindu. In the case where Gwen Stafani wore a bindi, she was doing so without full Hindu integration into her life. The bindi is sacred symbolism in the Hindu culture. If they have not fully embraced, integrated and converted to Hinduism, then the wearing of a bindi is being used in a profane way because wearing it outside of the full context of Hinduism. If a white person has fully converted to Hinduism, most Hindus would agree that it would be appropriate for all Hindus to wear a bindi if they choose. There might be an occasional Hindu that thinks that non-whites cannot be Hindu, regardless of their devotion, which is the exact definition of racism. Racism exists in ALL colors. Even so, if 95% of all Hindus believe that other racial groups can convert to Hinduism and 5% what to exclude all other racial groups, then the majority wins imo. I dont think its necessary to ensure that we please all the people all the time (impossible). The message is this: If you are going to treat the sacred as sacred within the full context of that culture, appropriate away. If you disagree with this, please provide a specific example to illustrate your point. So far, @Serotoninluv and @Scholar have not been able to come up with ONE specific example to make their point that cultural appropriation is "bad" even when it is treated as sacred. When I asked them to please finish the sentence "If I buy a Buddha statue, _______ will happen to __________", they refuse to answer the sentence rather than admitting that there is nothing wrong with appropriation in that way. If that doesnt ring the bullshit alarm, I dont know what would.

@Brian KWJ My parents split when I was three and I rarely saw my dad while my mom worked full time as a waitress. I raised myself. In many ways, loved it and it was perfect for my path. I didnt want anyone telling me what to do and I needed to choose my own path. I have a touch of Asbergers so that might explain my unique perspective. Raising myself taught me tremendous inner strength and to rely on myself.