On Binding and the Rule of Three

Regarding “binding” the Troglodyte-in-Chief:

I’m not saying this is or isn’t a good idea, but I understand both sides and feel like I need to chime in as a – well, I don’t want to say “Devil’s Advocate”, because that’s the problem.

But forget who we’re talking about for a minute, I have a really hard time seeing his image or reading his name, it’s a visceral, gut reaction.

Just for a moment think about the binding itself. Most Wiccans and Lightworkers have the Rule of Three (or Ten) ingrained in them very deeply, so that they have the knee-jerk reaction of ‘no that’s BAD!’, and ‘just send light to the situation’. I’m not saying that’s wrong, I’m saying LOOK DEEPER.

I know that some believe that reflecting bad intentions back at the sender is bad for your own karma, that one should simply protect yourself and ground ill will, because it’s not up to you what happens to the sender. And that’s not wrong, if it’s right for them.

For myself, I reflect. If they sent it, they should expect it back. It’s *not* up to me, I didn’t make them send me shit. But as for the Rule of Three? I don’t know. In a funny way, I’m more of a ‘do unto others’ kinda Witch. I’m not into dispensing justice, but maybe a little just desserts.

And isn’t all that Rule of Three (or whatever number) just another kind of dogma? I know it’s trying to protect from unhappy consequences of unconsidered actions, but blind obedience and reflex reactions aren’t helping the personal evolution of the protected.

And if you did want to bind someone heinous from doing something horrible, or even curse them, isn’t that their karma anyway? Or is it worse to do nothing when you could have done something? It kinda comes back to that question, if you could go back in time and kill (whoever) and potentially save millions of lives, would you? Is it even up to you? If you had the power, would you feel a responsibility? Who gave you the omniscience to understand Karma?

But other Pagans and non-Wiccan Witches have a different take. Karma isn’t what most people think it is, a simple tit-for-tat, wherein if you do something ‘bad’ it comes right back at you. Karma is more personal than that, it’s a set of lessons written into your own story that you need to learn. An unlearned lesson is “bad” karma and you have to redo the lesson. A lesson learned is “good” karma and you can move in to the next, even if it’s an unpleasant lesson.

The “Devil” that most Wiccan’s and Pagans (that I know) don’t believe in anyway, is just being replaced by “Karma”, and responsibility for actions good and bad are placed firmly outside of the self. If it’s the “Devil” or Karma, or whatever, then you can pass off responsibility to an outside and uncontrollable force and never have to deal with your own shit!

“As goes personal responsibility, so goes personal freedom.” – Fireheart

Personal responsibility and personal power are not just related or entwined, they are different facets of the SAME THING.

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine, people who get into “alternative” religion (Wicca, Witchcraft, paganism in general) looking for a more powerful “god”.

Paganism isn’t about the power of the Gods and Goddesses, it’s about finding and activating the power in YOU. It’s not about trading one god for another, it’s about finding the God/Goddess INSIDE you!

It’s not somebody give me a spell, or give me a symbol or somebody heal me, it’s SELF EMPOWERMENT.

When learning, it’s not learning a “thing”, it’s learning HOW to do a thing.

When people leave one religion for a (pagan) one, the problem is that they have been programmed to learn/act in a certain way. They’re just trading one set of dogma for another. The thing is to learn HOW, not WHAT.

I am absolutely not advocating that one should do whatever they want because it’s their karma, there are certainly things that one should not do in civilized society. Sure, you have free will, but you don’t have freedom from consequences. I’m just saying, don’t swallow whole everything you’re fed. Know what you think, and why.

And I’m not saying the Rule of Three is wrong, not by any stretch, I’m just saying that if you are going to believe something that deeply, know why you believe it. Question everything, especially your own thoughts.

Cristine

X’s and O’s to 3MoonGoddess for the read

So hey, if it strikes you, I mean only if you want to, hit up my webbie, maybe get a reading: The Essence of Spirit

My Spiritual Practices

WOW! Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to my blog, what I thought was going to be a short across-town move ended up being 600 miles! Ain’t life grand?

Anyway, recently someone asked me about my spiritual practices. Shoot, I guess I never thought of it in that way, so after some deliberation I decided to write a quick blog post.

So, what are my Spiritual Practices?

Above all, I seek to honor the Earth, all of Nature, all of Creation.

I meditate, but that’s not necessarily a spiritual practice. In particular I do guided meditations, because my brain refuses to quiet sometimes and it’s easier for me to follow along, at least at first. More often than not, I go off on my own to take my own journey, or doze off, or occasionally go out of body.

Lightwork is another facet of meditation to me, at a certain time I make a point to send healing to the world in general or specific situations if I feel called.

Reiki is a method for reaching personal enlightenment, and an energetic healing technique. It’s not associated with any religion, anybody can learn and be attuned.

I practice Shamanic journeying. The drumming puts you into an altered state, so it’s a good idea to have a competent and practiced guide around in case you drift off and start to snore. Also, strange journeys are always possible and it’s good to have a journeying veteran around to talk about it with. The advantage that journeying has for me is that I stay present much more than when I meditate.

Druidry is another way of connecting with Nature, inner knowledge, and higher wisdom. It’s about connecting with both the Ancestors and honoring the Spirit that lives in all things.

The ceremony I do is Native American inspired, but to many it looks like spells in Witchcraft.

Sooooo… are you a witch?

I don’t identify myself as a witch. I do all kinds of stuff, to some that would make me an eclectic solitary witch, but to me, I’m just me. I do my thing, and when I can, I help you do yours.

Let me take a moment to mention the difference between being a witch and being Wiccan. Wicca is a religion, albeit informal. Witchcraft is about practice, not worship. It’s a fine and fuzzy line. One can be either, or both. I don’t necessarily feel like I’m either, though I have a little guided experience with both.

I do identify with what most view as Pagan Gods and Goddesses. To me they are all facets of Great Spirit, the Infinite Light, The God and Goddess.

How does divination fit in to all this?

Before I read or dowse or engage in healing of any kind, I ask for presence and guidance, whether it’s for me or someone else. I allow only beings in alignment with the Infinite Light. If it is necessary to communicate or work with lower vibrational entities it is only done through the Infinite Light.

By the way, I’m also a complete science nerd. Metaphysics is the flip side of quantum physics.

Don’t try to figure me out, it’ll just give you a headache.

Think you want to work with me? cristine@theessenceofspirit.com

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