My View from the Shallow End
Considering my general lack of faith in any organized religion, including Wicca and Pagan faiths, I've begun to wonder just how deeply I'll delve into the more esoteric side of tarot reading. My personal term for it up to this point has been the rather disrespectful term "woo-woo", but I'm too conscientious to allow myself to use that term any more (I'm writing this in the wee hours of New Year's Eve Day).
The reason for this is my fluctuating belief in such things. I don't really believe in Magick, at least not outside of the magic in my fantasy writing, and I don't like relying on things outside myself for direction and support. Even with tarot, I've always used it as a method for understanding what's going on inside my head and immediately around me, situation-wise, instead of as a predictor of the future. It tells me what's possible if I handle myself in a certain way, provides insight on my own thought processes, and acts as a tool for me to better myself—one of a number of such tools, every other one of which is grounded in some sort of societally accepted science.
If I seem to disparage the occult with the above, I don't mean to. One thing I've always been certain of is that faith—whether it be in the guise of Christianity or Paganism or another way of expressing it—has a part in our lives. Just because I'm agnostic doesn't mean I don't notice how coincidence and serendipity play large roles in peoples' lives. It's happened for me probably as much as it has for anyone else, and I believe those who choose to ignore how sometimes things just seem to pull or fit together for a person's benefit or detriment are being willfully ignorant. Even my "Christian" mother recognizes how appropriate things seem to happen—whether for good or ill—to certain people, including herself. One of her favorite things to do is to pray to God about things she needs. Big needs, little needs. And much of the time, the Universe gives her what she needs.
And that's why I'm not going to call the more esoteric aspects of tarot and reading "woo-woo" any more. It just doesn't fit with my respect for the Universe and all it has to offer. It also doesn't fit with my active learning of and use of tarot to help me understand myself either. I've learned that I don't need to ascribe to the more esoteric aspects of tarot reading and the occult in order to practice tarot reading, believe in reincarnation, or ask the Fairies to please kindly return the item they've hidden from me before I find it in the same place I've looked for it three or four times already.
Besides, I may one day decide to try some of the things suggested by that esoteric side of the occult. I don't at present put much stock in crystal work, but I can agree it helps some people to use crystals in their daily lives. Right now, I don't see much reason for lighting candles beyond illumination and pleasant scents from the scented ones, but I can't discount that I may one day try to cast a spell using them. And I have had enough experience with Magick to suspect I carry some ability with it, even if I choose not to practice it right now.
The fact is, there are some aspects of the occult and esoterica that I find attractive. I just prefer not to rush into things. True, in some cases (as with the Fairies), I require some sort of proof that such belief or practice is worthwhile. But in most cases, I just prefer to put much thought into just how deeply I want to pursue such activities. And I'm learning that this is okay, that most true believers in any aspect of the occult are happy to allow me to take my time. They want sincere believers and practitioners in their community and understand that forcing or rushing someone into things produces bad results for all involved, especially the person who's been pushed into it.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I'm comfortable with my level practice of the occult. Currently, I'm challenged enough with learning to read the tarot that I don't feel any particular need to delve deeper into more esoteric things. That will eventually change, and then I'll go looking for something else to learn. Until then, this is enough.
The reason for this is my fluctuating belief in such things. I don't really believe in Magick, at least not outside of the magic in my fantasy writing, and I don't like relying on things outside myself for direction and support. Even with tarot, I've always used it as a method for understanding what's going on inside my head and immediately around me, situation-wise, instead of as a predictor of the future. It tells me what's possible if I handle myself in a certain way, provides insight on my own thought processes, and acts as a tool for me to better myself—one of a number of such tools, every other one of which is grounded in some sort of societally accepted science.
If I seem to disparage the occult with the above, I don't mean to. One thing I've always been certain of is that faith—whether it be in the guise of Christianity or Paganism or another way of expressing it—has a part in our lives. Just because I'm agnostic doesn't mean I don't notice how coincidence and serendipity play large roles in peoples' lives. It's happened for me probably as much as it has for anyone else, and I believe those who choose to ignore how sometimes things just seem to pull or fit together for a person's benefit or detriment are being willfully ignorant. Even my "Christian" mother recognizes how appropriate things seem to happen—whether for good or ill—to certain people, including herself. One of her favorite things to do is to pray to God about things she needs. Big needs, little needs. And much of the time, the Universe gives her what she needs.
And that's why I'm not going to call the more esoteric aspects of tarot and reading "woo-woo" any more. It just doesn't fit with my respect for the Universe and all it has to offer. It also doesn't fit with my active learning of and use of tarot to help me understand myself either. I've learned that I don't need to ascribe to the more esoteric aspects of tarot reading and the occult in order to practice tarot reading, believe in reincarnation, or ask the Fairies to please kindly return the item they've hidden from me before I find it in the same place I've looked for it three or four times already.
Besides, I may one day decide to try some of the things suggested by that esoteric side of the occult. I don't at present put much stock in crystal work, but I can agree it helps some people to use crystals in their daily lives. Right now, I don't see much reason for lighting candles beyond illumination and pleasant scents from the scented ones, but I can't discount that I may one day try to cast a spell using them. And I have had enough experience with Magick to suspect I carry some ability with it, even if I choose not to practice it right now.
The fact is, there are some aspects of the occult and esoterica that I find attractive. I just prefer not to rush into things. True, in some cases (as with the Fairies), I require some sort of proof that such belief or practice is worthwhile. But in most cases, I just prefer to put much thought into just how deeply I want to pursue such activities. And I'm learning that this is okay, that most true believers in any aspect of the occult are happy to allow me to take my time. They want sincere believers and practitioners in their community and understand that forcing or rushing someone into things produces bad results for all involved, especially the person who's been pushed into it.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I'm comfortable with my level practice of the occult. Currently, I'm challenged enough with learning to read the tarot that I don't feel any particular need to delve deeper into more esoteric things. That will eventually change, and then I'll go looking for something else to learn. Until then, this is enough.
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