Spirituality and Mysticism Booshee

I view spirituality and religion as the layman's psychology. It's a way of ordering and defining character and personality traits into systems that are easily understandable. Images and names are defined in the religion or belief system and experiences and growth can be expressed to others using a common frame set.

Take the Zodiac for instance. You don't have to believe that just because someone is born on a certain day that they are the perfect reflection of the traits represented by their sign. It's merely a system of categorization of personality types. Using the sign's as an adjective is a perfect example. To say that someone is acting Tauren in a matter is to say that they might be reflecting the stubborn traits of that sign.

There's nothing bizarre or evil or strange about where these idea's came from or how they are expressed. If anything, they are a part of the culture that developed them. It's knowledge of what the system is and how to use it that brings understanding and hopefully some wisdom from the exploration of ones self using whatever tools are laying around.

Divination is another great example. It's tools are varied and diverse, but they all do the same thing, help our conscious and unconscious minds communicate details to each other. Think of an example similar to this, as we've all had one. You are cleaning out a closet and find an old plush toy. Instantly, you recall memories and details of who and how you got this plush toy. You didn't Will or force yourself to remember these things, they just popped into your conscious mind when this object triggered those memories. The information is always there, it just wasn't readily accessible because it wasn't needed for everyday activities. In the same way, most esoteric systems are filled with inspiration that triggers latent information tucked away in the subconscious. A little turn of tea leaves and someone's mind forms a pattern or an image relating to what they believe needs be done. The feelings someone has when picking up an object or looking at a person that tells them something bad has happened and they pick up details of that history.

When it's all said and done though, there is still a lot of belief that has to be given to a system for it to work effectively. Hypnosis, Tarot, Psychiatry, Gemetria, etc. All of these things can stand on their own based on faith. Even with facts and findings to back them up, they would have no value without understanding and believing in their power. Are they all what they claim to be? Maybe. Could they all just be placebo's? Maybe. When it comes down to it. Does it matter if these tools achieve their end?

While writing this, I asked a friend a couple of interesting questions through IM. Here they come.

Does their actually have to be god's and goddess' for us to believe in or is it just that fact that we believe and have faith that fills the need in our life?

What if god's and goddess' are just a natural as we are, but are just not understandable from our point of view and limited knowledge of them.


And for me, the whole thing has come down to believing in the practical powers of spirituality in whatever form it comes, and giving up my superstitious belief in the supernatural.