I see your point and understand where your coming from. I never claimed to be apart of any tradition and I simply was talking about an item I purchased from an online vendor. I charged the item myself, adding things I wanted to it, and made it better. I don't see why changing the name of the original item would even be relevant when it's still essentially the same thing it was intended for? I think it's stupid to fight with someone about their possessions and what they do with it. I wasn't even trying to get into a debate over traditional uses for fetish items and I wasn't trying to change anything about whoever's traditions. I was just talking about myself. Either way this post isn't for that one occurrence in the chatter, it's my general opinion towards people. By the way The Spider and The Green Butterfly is a reliable source on the subject and if you want to debate that check out becomealivinggod.com. Koetting makes a fortune with his magick, what have you done with yours besides debating petty meaningless arguments about tradition.
Excellent post. To place anything in one strict path limits your potential to achieve the goals you want. All magick is personal and self exploration is mandatory! Finding yourself and your gifts is the whole point. That's why there are truly no teachers of the craft either. We are merely guides to help you on your path.
A very interesting topic for debate lostinspace. Personally I have no problem with anyone who wants to 'stick to the script' on the religion/ path of their choice. I do have a problem when practitioners try to superimpose their belief structure on others, the 3 fold law is consistently trotted out and proclaimed as 'a universal law' despite that fact that many of us choose not to adhere to/ recognise it's validity. Everyone must have the freedom to define their own ethical guidelines!
As an eclectic witch I will take what works from different paths and adapt, change, combine and substitute things where necessary in the spirit of experimentation. This is my personal choice and I enjoy the flexibility it offers me. Just because I sometimes choose to Internet ideas/ concepts in my own way doesn't make them wrong.
Agreed. I feel that an orthodox approach towards things will work for most people because it's simple and doesn't require to much thinking or exploration. You see this a lot in Christians. Whenever your in a debate with one of them and their ideas are being challenged they revert back to their book spewing out scripture without a conscious clue about what they're saying. Just because you say something is true it doesn't mean that it can't be challenged. For all we know we are all wrong and mislead. Science can debunk most of the phenomena that is experienced in any magical system and for that matter I haven't seen a witch including myself go out of their way to prove science wrong. The truth is all we can do is trust in ourselves and our own personal experiences. Nothing is right, until you go out and experience it for yourself.
Re: Your Path v.s. Orthodoxy By: GoodyProctor / Novice
Post # 11 Sep 13, 2013
Calling an item a gris gris is connecting it to tradition, mostly the Louisiana region. Also, you missed the part where I was agreeing that one can be eclectic, as long as you do not claim any part of the tradition. You're influenced, not apart.
The amount of money someone makes does not validate them. Also, you're leaning heavily toward bashing Christianity. "Careful Icarus." Also, the true meaning of this post is a rant for being called out.
Called out on what exactly? If I where to take a picture of my item more then likely everyone would say, hey that's a cool mojo bag or that's a cool ju ju fetish item. They wouldn't call it a gris ju or something dumb like that because your friend says it's so. They would give it the correct names. Also this is really pointless because both items represent what their intended for in the first place and it hasn't changed a darn thing about tradition. It's amazing to me how a little string holding two items together can cause an argument in the chatter.
Re: Your Path v.s. Orthodoxy By: GoodyProctor / Novice
Post # 13 Sep 14, 2013
And now you're leaning heavily toward bashing a tradition, and now you are trying to debase someone's character.
1) Step away from the computer.
2) Breathe.
3) Realize FOR YOURSELF that not being apart of a tradition is OKAY.
You do not have to be apart of any tradition. At all. But it is very insulting for those who do, and those who came before you, and those who will come after you, that are apart of the "set path" for someone to come in and try to suit it for their needs because their needs have not been met by the tradition. It is also arrogant to change something that has stood long before you. Even I am a GUEST in this tradition I am apart of and forever learning. Being an eclectic New Aged mess before hand, this is really hard.
Again, there is nothing wrong. NOTHING WRONG with not being apart of a tradition. Just like there is NOTHING WRONG with following a "set path."
It is about respect. Do you respect your fellow workers enough to leave the "set path" alone? Do you respect the people who will come after to leave it alone? Do you respect the suffering and the torture of the ancestors who fought for their traditions to be passed? If you respected them, you wouldn't try and change it.
There are many many "set paths" out there. Each should be treated with respect. Being eclectic is wonderful, but there needs to be respect given to these traditions.
I understand it is okay to be eclectic, and I have been there, but do you understand that it is okay to be outside of a tradition? Do you understand that it is okay to be eclectic? Do you feel in your heart that it is okay to form "your own path"?
If you do, then why are ranting about people who choose to keep the traditions pure for our ancestors, for our posterity, for ourselves.
Re: Your Path v.s. Orthodoxy By: GoodyProctor / Novice
Post # 14 Sep 14, 2013
Orion Foxwood is both a pagan and a conjure worker. Conjure work works heavily with The Holy Bible. Here is a link to a radio show he was in with Starr Casas and Mark (Dr. Luv Bug).
I'm sharing this as an example of how you can be apart of a tradition without changing it. As well as showing one does not have to be Christian and practice conjure. Also, Orion Foxwood is eclectic.
