Occult Religions

[nailit]

Anyone here had any experiences with occult based religious beliefs or personally knew anyone who was involved with such? (such as Wicca, Paganism, or various magickal practices).
Ive known a few people over the years...mostly Wiccans... who have been, and they have been some of the most down to Earth, lovely people that you could meet. A far cry from the horror stories perpetrated by Christians that getting involved in the occult leads to death, insanity etc.
Personally, I have no belief in the occult (though in the past its something that I have looked into).
Just curious,
Thanks ;-)

[douglas9401]

Nope.

[Old_Geezer]

Aren't all religions, occult ?
Been involved in Spitritualism in the past, as have a reasonable percentage of my family.

[Old_Geezer]

SPIRITUALISM
as typed !

[nailit]

//Aren't all religions, occult ? //
My own sentiments O-G.
Since the word 'occult' simply means hidden and the bible talks about how God hides himself from the unbeliever then by definition christianity is occult!

[nailit]

Didn't even notice the typo O-G ;-)

[Old_Geezer]

Often I don't until it's too late and making me look daft :-(

[237SJ]

Why do you ask - are you 'Looking for something'?

[nailit]

237, why do you think that Im looking for something?

[rowanwitch]

Pagan in my teens now best described as para- pagan, in that I use pagan symbolism and imagery to guide my focus without believing in the reality of Gods, goddesses or spirits. Using aspects and attributes of the sacred without belief in anything but the historically imagined power of that being to create clarity in things like visualisation and meditation. The spell used as a system to guide an exercise in changing self rather than the external world.

[237SJ]

nailit - because that's the impression that I get

[Tilly2]

Where did you last see it, Nails, this thing you are looking for?

Have you hidden it somewhere?

[nailit]

//nailit - because that's the impression that I get//
Fair enough 237. Its wrong but I can perhaps see where you are coming from :-)

Im just curious about things, doesn't make me a seeker tho.

[douglas9401]

Not hidden at all, it's out there on the land.

[nailit]

Tills, it was under my doormat the last time that I looked, cant find it anywhere now...

Rowan, I think I can identify with that :-)

[Theland]

Nailit - I don't think am alone in thinking thT you are searching for something, not merely as a casual interest, but as a spiritual itch you have to scratch.
It seems to me that nothing this side of the grave would ever give you peace.
For somebody who has read the bible cover to cover, I find it sad that you did not find comfort there.
But putting it in the bin does not comfort you either?
You puzzle me my friend.

[kvalidir]

I'm loosely Heathen, but incorporate all sorts of things from Judaism into my cultural identity as my mother is Jewish (but a Hedgewitch) and my father Roman Catholic (but a Kaos Magician).
Do I believe in deities? Hmm not really in the strictest sense of the word but I believe that we can focus ourselves to centre on them, and thus Man created God(s) (and Goddesses). I do generally observe the Sabbats, but then I also observe some Judaic tradition too.
Was there anything you wanted to know particularly Nailit, or I could ramble off on tangents for hours x

[nailit]

//Was there anything you wanted to know particularly Nailit//
More or less just curious as to how others viewed 'forbidden' beliefs kval.

//For somebody who has read the bible cover to cover, I find it sad that you did not find comfort there.//
Do you? I find it sad that you havnt read it cover to cover yourself.

//But putting it in the bin does not comfort you either? //
I don't do 'comfort'. I'd rather deal in facts no matter how uncomfortable.

[kvalidir]

I don't consider anything 'forbidden' I guess is the answer because some bloke who has been dead for thousands of years decided it was a good way of keeping lots of people in check. My father believes that there is nothing in the entire universe any stronger or weaker than himself under the right circumstances and acts on that ritually, he taught me the same thing, but I disagree somewhat so I am unsuited to Kaos Magick. I use sex magick a lot, and I meditate, observe the Sabbats to keep me in perspective, but also keep Shabbat now and again because I like the sense of ritual and that that has been passed down through my family for centuries, it brings me and my partner closer together too despite him not being Jewish because that's the line extending forwards, so for me heathen beliefs can encompass my heritage and move forward too perhaps to something else, so it's almost a form of immortality. I feel like a very small grain of sand on a very vast beach but in some form or another I will always be there. I've not explained that very well, because its slightly intangible even to me, but hope you get my drift x

[Theland]

Nailit - What at face value appears a valid criticism of me for never having read the bible cover to cove, consider that I have for years studied scripture, by listening to exponents of the bible, who can spend an hour explaining just a few passages.
Should I try to play catch up by making the Kings 1 & 2 my bedtime reading, or should I try to learn about the depth of scripture? You tell me what is most beneficial?
If you read the bible andunderstood it all, you are a far better man than I am Gungha Din!
Tell me honestly, having read all of the bible, did you really understand it all?
I still struggle with the parts I have read, and go back time and time again to try and convince myself I am on the right track.
But you use my different search for knowledge from yours as a stick to beat me with.
That is unfair.u

[Theland]

Kvaldir - What do you get out of your hotch potch of beliefs?