an observation

after reading posts on a number of forums i have come to the
conclusion that the human capacity for belief is astounding...

i myself like to keep things simple, both in my practices as
well as in my beliefs. but i have noticed in others a certain
propensity for extreme complexity. granted, i never did follow
traditional ideas, but do we need all the complications!?

my personal philosophy is that belief is the key to all systems
of magick and occultism. our beliefs shape our work and tend to
define our limitations.

it was said that "he who affirms the devil, creates and makes the devil".
not in the world external, but the world we hold within ourselves.

therefor, it is wise to be careful what you believe, especially
those things which tend to hinder and constrain, whether directly
or by proxy.

As some say: It is quite easy to see how people, and indeed entire cultures, are both enabled and disabled by their beliefs they hold..

From what I notice, most people believe what they have either been brought up with or in what fits their nature and the ability to adapt to the world around them.

I live in a society that is not very accepting of my nature so I adopted beliefs that help me strengthen my core sense of self, as well as to love and appreciate myself.

Others have a similar nature to myself but they may instead focus on something that instead helps them to better function within this society and ''hide'' as a ''sheep''. They might simply just not care. It is as Isabeau says, to each their own.

As to the complexity, some people are more complex (either negatively or positively) and thus need more complex systems to maintain sanity in their life-experience. I think it is good to try to find the core principles of magick in order to better perform magick instantaneously at Will. There is many, many theories as to why and how magick works. There is also many similarities and that is how you can tell what is garbage and what is not.

You have to also keep in mind that most belief systems answer questions such as why the universe exists, why certain things happen, they hold moralities that a person may or may not adopt. They have godforms that people can lean on when they feel hopeless/helpless. There are many psychological reasons why a person believes the way they do. There are also personal experiences that happen (e.g. a person might meet a hindu and then while in a state of altered consciousness - find that the deity that the hindu person worshiped is real).

my post was not intended as a judgement or criticism. i don't have
a problem with what others choose to believe, except maybe for the
christians. it was just an observation of the complex nature of
beliefs that i have noticed. i don;t know why you view it as a
criticism. this was not my intent. if anybody else has objections
to my post, just have it removed.

the point i was trying to make, is that sometimes complex
belief can hinder our ability. for instance - if we follow
a system to the letter we constrain what we can do, diminish
possible alternatives, and relinquish our full potential.
whereas, if we are open to creative resources not bound into
a set of complex rules, our potential is greater.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Isabeau

Belasko is our resident curmudgeon, so please have tolerance.

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I think he has SPIRIT. :D

Yes, the language..

Mostly i keep things simple aswell, just feel what is better for me and do what i will, but sometimes i make it more complicated, for me that is like art and sometimes i just want fulfill my soul with joy... ;)