GreatDane Posted February 18, 2020 Author Posted February 18, 2020 😁 THANKS FOR MAKING MY DAY, ARANIA!
Symph Posted February 18, 2020 Posted February 18, 2020 3 hours ago, Arania said: I think I'd need a wise-ass button 😁 BWAHAHAHAHA..... I was gonna say "Or wise ass in training" but nobody trains for that, it just comes naturally lol
PathWalker Posted February 18, 2020 Posted February 18, 2020 I don't call myself anything, I just live in Glastonbury and folks can make whatever assumptions they like Labels are for people who feel the need to BE labelled and fit in somewhere. I fit in among the trees, and I don't worry about what other people think I am. Sorry, not much help there. PathWalker
xTheHermitx Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 On 2/17/2020 at 1:28 PM, Symph said: Lol, well I always start with music, gardening and eating a plant based diet, but from there THEY often will go "ohhhh that's deep, you seem spiritual, are you spiritual?" So yeah I mean... I don't really have interests that don't cause the conversation to go pretty deep pretty fast, and I have trouble relating to people in any other way. I do watch a little netflix from time to time, not too wild about it though I'd rather be learning something cool. You know... I DO adore Star Trek though... maybe I should just stick to Star Trek from now on lol When the conversation gets to it, I always tell people that I am spiritual, but not religious. If they press further, I tell them that I follow the Norse beliefs due to my ancestry, and my upbringing in my house as a kid, and that I study metaphysics, and the occult. I wear a chainmail necklace with Mjolnir, the Valknut, a piece of amber, and a Viking ship on it, so that elicits questions many times. What usually throws them is the word occult. But I sort of "feel out" the situation before I use that word. Smart ass people will ask "do you summon demons?" ...and I usually reply back "only after eating White Castles"....or I say "why no, i don't use Social Media"
Symph Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 22 minutes ago, xTheHermitx said: When the conversation gets to it, I always tell people that I am spiritual, but not religious. If they press further, I tell them that I follow the Norse beliefs due to my ancestry, and my upbringing in my house as a kid, and that I study metaphysics, and the occult. I wear a chainmail necklace with Mjolnir, the Valknut, a piece of amber, and a Viking ship on it, so that elicits questions many times. What usually throws them is the word occult. But I sort of "feel out" the situation before I use that word. Smart ass people will ask "do you summon demons?" ...and I usually reply back "only after eating White Castles"....or I say "why no, i don't use Social Media" I read that last part outloud to my wife and she laughed as hard as I did hahahaha You know thus far I haven't met one person that being open about this stuff with was really a problem.... until today. I may make a journal entry giving the full story but... 2 nights ago I gave readings at work and it got a lot more attention than I was expecting, I had a crowd of people around me very attentively listening to everything and whatnot, today at work I had a few people come up and say they needed readings too, I was going to say "sure maybe after work" (cause people just hang around the factory to get their hours when we finish early) but this guy approached me a little later and basically tried to um... well tell me I was opening portals to demons and walking a dark path and he was praying that God would block me from being able to do anymore readings and that I shouldn't lead all these people astray... He CLEARLY didn't know the bible as well as I do, and he seemed to think I was going to be completely ignorant of all his arguments when I'm just like "omg this is typical Christian fundamentalism I have heard these arguments 100's of times all my life I even used to believe them..." He told me a story of two friends he had who saw a fortune teller, and said that the fortune teller told one of them he'd die soon and the other he was going to become a drug addict and a few months later one was dead and the other was hooked on heroine.... I had a lot of trouble knowing how to respond but I just told him I could see his heart was in the right place, thanked him for his concern, and assured him I would be more discreet around the factory since I was clearly making people uncomfortable... Didn't exactly accuse me of being a witch but... saying I'm "in league with the devil" is basically the same thing..... so now I have a newfound appreciation for discretion. Certainly won't be giving anymore readings at work that's for sure!
xTheHermitx Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 5 minutes ago, Symph said: I read that last part outloud to my wife and she laughed as hard as I did hahahaha You know thus far I haven't met one person that being open about this stuff with was really a problem.... until today. I may make a journal entry giving the full story but... 2 nights ago I gave readings at work and it got a lot more attention than I was expecting, I had a crowd of people around me very attentively listening to everything and whatnot, today at work I had a few people come up and say they needed readings too, I was going to say "sure maybe after work" (cause people just hang around the factory to get their hours when we finish early) but this guy approached me a little later and basically tried to um... well tell me I was opening portals to demons and walking a dark path and he was praying that God would block me from being able to do anymore readings and that I shouldn't lead all these people astray... He CLEARLY didn't know the bible as well as I do, and he seemed to think I was going to be completely ignorant of all his arguments when I'm just like "omg this is typical Christian fundamentalism I have heard these arguments 100's of times all my life I even used to believe them..." He told me a story of two friends he had who saw a fortune teller, and said that the fortune teller told one of them he'd die soon and the other he was going to become a drug addict and a few months later one was dead and the other was hooked on heroine.... I had a lot of trouble knowing how to respond but I just told him I could see his heart was in the right place, thanked him for his concern, and assured him I would be more discreet around the factory since I was clearly making people uncomfortable... Didn't exactly accuse me of being a witch but... saying I'm "in league with the devil" is basically the same thing..... so now I have a newfound appreciation for discretion. Certainly won't be giving anymore readings at work that's for sure! yeah...it can get evil the next day after a Whiteys run!!! and I also have been asked by my students to do readings at school, but I teach at a Catholic school, so that is probably not the best idea...my students all know where I stand as far as my beliefs, but they also know to keep quiet about that around school. Most of them say that I am "the most Holy guy they know" because of my moral beliefs and my honesty, and they want me around, so it is a cool secret that we have... but again, since the general public is going to recoil in fear at something that is not the norm, it is a good choice to "pick and choose your battles" as far as doing readings etc. my aunt and I have been "the family witches" for 20+ years, and have only recently been able to bring it up around other family members, and it is certain family members since we have a big Mormon demographic on my dads side. In the past 10 years, we have managed to "sneak" in some Norse/old school Scandinavian celebrations to Christmas time. And it always seems like the people yelling the loudest about the Bible or dogmatic elements of a religion have the last amount of knowledge of the karmic elements of the same religion...in my youth, I would egg them along into dead end arguments...but I don't have time for that anymore, so now I just smile and nod if I get cornered, and move on. I think that in the end, if a label eventually drapes itself on you, then go with it, but I would not spend time looking for one...
Symph Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 35 minutes ago, xTheHermitx said: yeah...it can get evil the next day after a Whiteys run!!! and I also have been asked by my students to do readings at school, but I teach at a Catholic school, so that is probably not the best idea...my students all know where I stand as far as my beliefs, but they also know to keep quiet about that around school. Most of them say that I am "the most Holy guy they know" because of my moral beliefs and my honesty, and they want me around, so it is a cool secret that we have... but again, since the general public is going to recoil in fear at something that is not the norm, it is a good choice to "pick and choose your battles" as far as doing readings etc. my aunt and I have been "the family witches" for 20+ years, and have only recently been able to bring it up around other family members, and it is certain family members since we have a big Mormon demographic on my dads side. In the past 10 years, we have managed to "sneak" in some Norse/old school Scandinavian celebrations to Christmas time. And it always seems like the people yelling the loudest about the Bible or dogmatic elements of a religion have the last amount of knowledge of the karmic elements of the same religion...in my youth, I would egg them along into dead end arguments...but I don't have time for that anymore, so now I just smile and nod if I get cornered, and move on. I think that in the end, if a label eventually drapes itself on you, then go with it, but I would not spend time looking for one... That's good advice about the label. I totally agree with what you said at the end and it is sooo frustrating and just... to sit there and assume that I'm just some naive person playing with cards I don't understand and ignorant of the truth of the bible when you know nothing about me and in truth my life has been spent searching these things to depths that this person I am quite positive has never gone to is kind of infuriating... . he actually said he used to be an alcoholic and that finding Christ saved him and that's how he knows it's true and I just thought "well there's the reason for all this right there... it's always the ones who were saved from some terrible situation by finding a community or a church that now feel they have to save everybody else..." Oh well...
Decan Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 (edited) Yesterday morning I received an email/advertisement to join a class/training to "become the witch I always wanted to be"! That's true, it's not a joke, lol! And at the end you receive a certification!! Actually I found this funny because I never dreamed to become a witch but there are trainings about everything presently. Edited February 19, 2020 by Decan
Symph Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 5 minutes ago, Decan said: Yesterday morning I received an email/advertisement to join a class/training to "become the witch I always wanted to be"! That's true, it's not a joke, lol! And at the end you receive a certification!! Actually I found this funny because I never dreamed to become a witch but there are trainings about everything presently. Cause the tiiiiiimes they are a chaaaaanginnnnn'
Arania Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 Pfttt hahahaha... How would anyone know which witch I would wanna be? So tired of all the scammers preventing a honest witch to do any good haha.
Symph Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 28 minutes ago, Arania said: Pfttt hahahaha... How would anyone know which witch I would wanna be? So tired of all the scammers preventing a honest witch to do any good haha. Yep. It applies to so many things too... I have found that The Law of Attraction seems to have a lot of truth to it when it is understood correctly and utilized in the right way, but when you try to search it it has been overrun by all these "HOW TO MANIFEST 10,000 DOLLARS OVERNIGHT LAW OF ATTRACTION MONEY MAKING SECRETSSS!!!!!" And it almost makes ME forget that "no no no... those people are idiots... it's still real..." It is what it is I suppose...
53rdspirit Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 (edited) On 2/17/2020 at 1:24 PM, katrinka said: I generally just tell them I'm into cooking, dogs, old movies, whatever. Same. "Oh, I like to garden, collect antiques, curiosities and old books, into many creative endeavors" --that's all totally true. Since I come into contact with all walks of life when I read publicly, people will ask me about myself --and when anyone says they'll say a prayer for me, I always sincerely thank them, figuring I can use all the help I can get. 😄 I have been asked on occasion, and not much, actually, if I was opening portals to demon possession, etc., with my cards and I'll say something like, "They're just cards. Would you like a reading?" and that ends it right there. They either walk away or sit down for a reading. I cannot recall ever having a heated argument with anyone over reading cards. Years ago, when I was in the hospital, I took my tarot cards with me --not to read for anyone, just for myself, I only took them out when I was alone in my room. Somehow, though, the nursing staff found out I had them and they took them away and locked them up until I was discharged. I could not believe it --in this day and age? No worries, however, as it was then that I taught myself to read regular playing cards. It was a veterans hospital and playing cards were handed out for free to anyone who wanted. them. I still have that deck I got at the hospital. Thus, my love of cartomancy was born (I was also taught how to play solitaire by another patient). Take away my tarot cards! How dare they! Edited February 19, 2020 by 53rdspirit
Guest Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 20 hours ago, PathWalker said: I don't call myself anything, I just live in Glastonbury and folks can make whatever assumptions they like Labels are for people who feel the need to BE labelled and fit in somewhere. I fit in among the trees, and I don't worry about what other people think I am. Sorry, not much help there. PathWalker I wish there was a like button for posts like that.
Guest Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 9 hours ago, Decan said: Yesterday morning I received an email/advertisement to join a class/training to "become the witch I always wanted to be"! That's true, it's not a joke, lol! And at the end you receive a certification!! Actually I found this funny because I never dreamed to become a witch but there are trainings about everything presently. It's a sad state of affairs. I was quite shocked by how many students ask me to provide them with certificates. Obviously there is a demand and I don't want to offend anyone who offers them. But certifications, endorsements and awards… no.
Symph Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 2 minutes ago, leroidetrèfle said: It's a sad state of affairs. I was quite shocked by how many students ask me to provide them with certificates. Obviously there is a demand and I don't want to offend anyone who offers them. But certifications, endorsements and awards… no. Well you could at least give em a coffee mug, "World's Greatest Witch."....
Arania Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 39 minutes ago, 53rdspirit said: Years ago, when I was in the hospital, I took my tarot cards with me --not to read for anyone, just for myself, I only took them out when I was alone in my room. Somehow, though, the nursing staff found out I had them and they took them away and locked them up until I was discharged. I'd have called the police on them for stealing! No one is allowed to take your stuff.
GreatDane Posted February 19, 2020 Author Posted February 19, 2020 I see comments remarking on things I have wondered about, what DOES the word WITCH mean to people here? I get a really good idea from the media, posts, just talking to people or seeing people who like the IDEA of the word Witch because it yanks some people's chains and/or sounds cool and Goth. But for those in our community here, it's interesting reading all your comments because it's a pretty open place. I don't care for labels either, as it puts people in boxes, HOWEVER, I know some of the things I am into, I do, while I don't call it witchcraft or think of it that way, others OUTSIDE our community would. Let's face it, most of the mainstream get their ideas from movies, organized religion or just things they see on YouTube especially involving things outside the norm (tarot, working with energy, liking runes or crystals, or working with plants). ALL of your posts have been really eye-opening regarding what you have experienced and how you view what you do.
katrinka Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 7 hours ago, 53rdspirit said: Years ago, when I was in the hospital, I took my tarot cards with me --not to read for anyone, just for myself, I only took them out when I was alone in my room. Somehow, though, the nursing staff found out I had them and they took them away and locked them up until I was discharged. I could not believe it --in this day and age? No worries, however, as it was then that I taught myself to read regular playing cards. It was a veterans hospital A veterans hospital. A VETERANS HOSPITAL. Combat was OK but those cards are dangerous? Or they might scare people? Who, the USMC? I can't even. If Joseph Heller had heard about that one, he'd have USED it.
xTheHermitx Posted February 20, 2020 Posted February 20, 2020 20 hours ago, Symph said: That's good advice about the label. I totally agree with what you said at the end and it is sooo frustrating and just... to sit there and assume that I'm just some naive person playing with cards I don't understand and ignorant of the truth of the bible when you know nothing about me and in truth my life has been spent searching these things to depths that this person I am quite positive has never gone to is kind of infuriating... . he actually said he used to be an alcoholic and that finding Christ saved him and that's how he knows it's true and I just thought "well there's the reason for all this right there... it's always the ones who were saved from some terrible situation by finding a community or a church that now feel they have to save everybody else..." Oh well... yeah...a few of my relatives on my mom's side are evangelical types...Southern Baptist and some other religion that speaks in tongues but that is not 7th day Adventist...they are like a "tent revival" kind of religion. It is weird to talk to them - when they allow themselves to be near us. Lots of racism...old school views on women, and work...I reeeaaalllly have to keep my mouth shut at those gatherings...and I still sometimes wear an Iron Maiden or Slayer shirt sometimes just to be the thorn in their side...I have always felt the most sorry for their kids
katrinka Posted February 20, 2020 Posted February 20, 2020 1 hour ago, xTheHermitx said: yeah...a few of my relatives on my mom's side are evangelical types...Southern Baptist and some other religion that speaks in tongues but that is not 7th day Adventist...they are like a "tent revival" kind of religion. It is weird to talk to them - when they allow themselves to be near us. Lots of racism...old school views on women, and work...I reeeaaalllly have to keep my mouth shut at those gatherings...and I still sometimes wear an Iron Maiden or Slayer shirt sometimes just to be the thorn in their side...I have always felt the most sorry for their kids Yep. The irony here is that the people in those bands are generally much more pleasant family members than the churchy types. Tom Araya especially seems like a good dad. 😁http://www.brooklynvegan.com/slayer-frontman/
xTheHermitx Posted February 20, 2020 Posted February 20, 2020 37 minutes ago, katrinka said: Yep. The irony here is that the people in those bands are generally much more pleasant family members than the churchy types. Tom Araya especially seems like a good dad. 😁http://www.brooklynvegan.com/slayer-frontman/ oh absolutely...I may be biased because I am one, but I feel like most of the metalheads I know are way more "moral" than the mainstream people I know. And way more honest. Same with punx . A lot of the mainstreamers I deal with are scheming, selfish, uninformed, shallow and super judgmental...
Symph Posted February 23, 2020 Posted February 23, 2020 On 2/19/2020 at 10:11 PM, xTheHermitx said: oh absolutely...I may be biased because I am one, but I feel like most of the metalheads I know are way more "moral" than the mainstream people I know. And way more honest. Same with punx . A lot of the mainstreamers I deal with are scheming, selfish, uninformed, shallow and super judgmental... I've always had trouble with bands like slayer like... why must the lyrics be so purposefully violent, grotesque and downright satanistic? Finding out that they are good people is fascinating to me, but I've never understood the reason for lyrics like that. Any insight?
xTheHermitx Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 8 hours ago, Symph said: I've always had trouble with bands like slayer like... why must the lyrics be so purposefully violent, grotesque and downright satanistic? Finding out that they are good people is fascinating to me, but I've never understood the reason for lyrics like that. Any insight? that is reality....reality is good and evil. Reality is pleasant and violent. I think the bigger issue is ignoring one element b/c it is uncomfortable. If you ignore evil, then your life will be out of balance, and to me, Balance is the supreme power. When things are out of balance, then bad things happen. Also, some of Slayer's lyrics were just schtick..like Kiss, or 50 Cent or anyone who is looking for something to add to the musical experience. But a lot of them are how they feel/felt about current events at the time. Believe it or not, they are super anti war....probably more than half of their songs are about calling out the govt for exploiting and promoting war; about the govt suppressing people... I am a HUGE Slayer fan, and honestly, their lyrics are less grotesque, violent, and Satanic than most mainstream pop media. I personally am more offended by the litany of negative content in Disney channel movies/ tv shows, country music, and network tv programming, Super Bowl halftimes, Social Media etc... I have never understood why most mainstream music (country, hip hop, rap, alternative, pop) blatantly promote misogyny, drug use, drinking, absolute disrespect for everything, selfishness, "woe-is-me" kind of blithering; racism, materialism, classism.... and are completely acceptable ...I personally think metal and punk are the least offensive genres for the most part because they are honest...there is nothing to hide. And yes, there are genres that also promote the same things as above, but they don't lie about it either...you know what you are getting when you listen to Goregrind music; or Powerviolence...even Neo-Nazi Skinhead punk openly advertises what it is about... And don't get me started with religion/churches...at least Slayer (and like bands) is not trying to hide one message in another. I guess I was never "shocked" by any of the imagery in metal and punk b/c I grew up in it. And dad was (unknowingly) Pagan, mom was moderately Lutheran, but was also into some metaphysical stuff in the 60's, so religion in my house was a pretty wide open box. I did not grow up with a small world view of "Christian dogmatic goodness", meaning that mom would teach us about the churches view on stuff, but also allow us to ask questions and "explore"
Symph Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Could not imagine a better response Hermit. You've given me a lot to think about, and a license to check out Slayer, I really do get it. I don't know if I agree that one HAS to be balanced by embodying good and evil, I'm not exactly a relativist though I've listened to lots of relativist lectures and ideas about polarity and the necessary nature of light/dark good/evil and I get where it's coming from. I just think like... while the negative must exist, perhaps it could exist somewhere else that isn't earth and we're here to transcend it somehow, I believe that if I put out good vibes and share them they will grow and just... we all certainly know that light FEELS better than dark to a degree, I mean even I love the Macabre... Yeah not much to add really, great post, changed my perspective somewhat, I'm still all positivity and light but I get where your coming from and even agree just can't quite pinpoint some other things I see here.
xTheHermitx Posted February 25, 2020 Posted February 25, 2020 12 hours ago, Symph said: Could not imagine a better response Hermit. You've given me a lot to think about, and a license to check out Slayer, I really do get it. I don't know if I agree that one HAS to be balanced by embodying good and evil, I'm not exactly a relativist though I've listened to lots of relativist lectures and ideas about polarity and the necessary nature of light/dark good/evil and I get where it's coming from. I just think like... while the negative must exist, perhaps it could exist somewhere else that isn't earth and we're here to transcend it somehow, I believe that if I put out good vibes and share them they will grow and just... we all certainly know that light FEELS better than dark to a degree, I mean even I love the Macabre... Yeah not much to add really, great post, changed my perspective somewhat, I'm still all positivity and light but I get where your coming from and even agree just can't quite pinpoint some other things I see here. to further expand on my thoughts, I think we have to have negativity to be a reality check...a barometer. You can't have positivity with out negativity...it just doesn't work that way. For me, preparing for negative times/events keeps me proactive, nimble and educated. I have negative failures every day of my life...sometimes they are not outwardly noticeable, and sometimes they are, but the fact that I am not afraid of them, and use them to adjust my course and go on is actually a positive in itself. It keeps me from being complacent and apathetic. I find comfort and fascination and comfort in both the light and the dark...not deviance, but in mysterious, shrouded or unknown "Dark". I remember when I was afraid of "witchcraft", and the occult, and Satanism....but then I started digging deeper, and found out that much of those worlds are the same as the "normal" world...almost disappointingly so...just with different imagery, history etc... I still truly think that true negativity comes from ignorance and acceptance of being ignorant in the real world. Acceptance of fear. Acceptance of apathy... anywho...more to think about
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