Religion & Faith

Enlightened Your Country :

discuss any topics on religion and your different faths here, help us not to become ignorant of your faith by sharing your beliefs and views on your religion or religion in general with us xxx

Believer Your Country :

shaman, witchdoctor, medicine man etc are all
derived from the same basic belief system, but with cultural
differences even the basis of voodoo is similar in its believes.
as
always it is not the path but the person that walks it that makes it
what it is the energy is neutral, always is until it is focused for a
purpose
no correct that
the energy is always neutral
but the purpose is not
there is no such thing as good and evil, good and evil are human concepts and are flawed
there is just energy, all things are made of energy on its most basic level, hence our connection with all things
when
we meditate we are trying to alter our perceptions of the energy that
is us, and around us, and our ability to interact with this energy.

since
we are human our perceptions of this energy are flawed, so we need to
refine our perceptions, until we can see the true essence of who we are
we are not but energy.
our guides are higher versions of the same energy vibrating on a different frequency
so
to communicate with then we must attune our perceptions to this energy
as our greatest downfall as humans is our own self. We believe only
what we can see taste touch, hear and smell. But there is so much more
than that basic perception.

Perception is also very important,
the ability to see the truth of the universe, how energy reacts, and
interacts with everything else makes us far more functional and
effective.

Perception is perhaps our greatest weapon in our
mystical arsenal, without proper perception, we are defenseless, as we
can not see the energy around us and now it effects us, nor can we see
how our energy interacts with the energy around us.

So without perception we are blind.
Perception
needs to start with self, for if one does not know and understand self,
then how can one understand how oneself is linked to everything else.
This I call the journey of inner cosmos.

As children our
perceptions are not governed by things like this is not real, or do not
imagine. But as we get older we are told repeatedly that this does not
exist and that is not real, and we are trained not to imagine. So we
loose our ability to perceive, the reality of everything.

Imagination is very important to a person following the mystical paths, as it is the seed of creation.

We
as humans are flawed, yet at the same time we are perfection. Our
mortal shell is flawed, and imperfect yet at the same time our soul
which is housed within this shell is perfect energy.

How can we be flawed and perfect at the same time?

When
we are born an imperfect mortal shell is created to house our energy
self or soul if you will, this shell is given limitations but what ever
overpowers that be so we can learn different things we need so our soul
can become more attuned with the higher energies of the universe.

This
is repeated many times, until finally after our last incarnation into
an imperfect shell, our soul has learned all it can on this plain of
existence and transcends into the higher planes. Where the process
begins anew.

When one realizes that no mater the person that crosses our path or for how long,

they are both teacher and student to us, then the true journey of life begins.

Once
again perception is very important, for you need to “see” each person
for who they are and there purpose within your life. This is also a
very difficult lesson to learn.

Believer Your Country :

This creation story was shown to me by my spirit
guide. Why it was shown to me was because one night i was having
problems. With myself and my path as a shaman. and i asked my guide,
"Who am I?" and i was taken to witness the story below with my guide
narrating as it happened. It took me a few days of thinking about it
and what the story showed me, to understand. I am a Shaman, i am of all
things. And they of me. The Creator spirit is within me, and all around
me. I am of creation, and i am creation. For i am a part of the Creator.

Now
with that realization, i have embarked on my path with a renewed vigor,
and much deeper understanding of creation and my place in it.

In the beginning

In
the beginning there was a swirling maelstrom of energy. All of the
energies of creation were there. Earth, wind, water, fire, and spirit.
All of them separate and unique. All with a will to create. But alone
they could create very little.

Spirit being the calmest of the
5, saw that the elements were at conflict with each other, in their
creation process, and suggested that the elements combine to create.
After many failed attempts, the elements finally learned to combine and
created the universe, the stars, planets and the space in between.

Spirit
looked at this creation and felt a great emptiness. Even though it was
beautiful beyond compare, it was empty and barren. So spirit talked to
the elements again, and asked “May I take a small portion of your
energies and divest them into myself?”

the other 4 energies
contemplated for a long time, during this time the universe settled
into what it is now, eventually the energies agreed. And they divested
a small portion of their energies to spirit. Spirit then set about its
creation. It created life, trees, grass, everything, using the combined
energy of all. In doing it this way all things are connected to all
energy. Next to make sure that life did not forget, it gave of itself
to create the spirits of memory. And divested all things with a small
portion of spirit. So now the spirits of memory, could communicate with
all things. And all things could communicate with spirit.

The
elements saw spirits creations, and were pleased. “For as long as your
creations remember us, we shall be their guardians, and teachers.” they
said. “We do this because we are all now part of you, and yet separate,
within you is the power of creation and destruction over all things so
we will call you the creator, you are one, a universal energy”
So at that time the 6th type of energy was named.

Mage Your Country :

I like that very much, thank you for sharing!!! Please keep sharing with us...
Love and Light

Believer Your Country :

One of the most basic beliefs of shamanism is the belief in the web of
power that runs through all things. Shamans believe that everything is
alive and is connected in a mutually supportive way to everything else
in the world. It is this web of power that brings sense to the world.
The web has an unlimited amount of potential and power to send to the
physical world. Understanding this web of power, this spirit world, is
necessary to understanding and learning shamanism.

All objects in the physical world have "spirit." It is the
spirit that is the source of power. Shamans communicate with the spirit
of both living and (what most would consider) non-living things.
Through this communication they gain an understanding of the world
around them and the more you learn the more power you have to draw from.

As a general rule, shamans believe that unlike natural
objects, plants and animals, each human has his or her own unique
spirit body. (I believe all things do, but that's my twist on it.) This
spirit body can be see surrounding people like brightly colored flames
or heat waves. The spirit body normally extends around people anywhere
from eighteen inches to about three feet and responds to how people
feel and what they are thinking. Brighter colors have higher vibrations
and darker, duller ones have lower vibrations. Some believe that the
size of a spirit body equates to how much power a person has. Basically
it is aura by another name.

Since shamans deal so closely with the spirit world it is easy
to become "lost" between the real and the spirit worlds. People who are
always daydreaming or are said to have their heads in the clouds are
such unattached people. Shamanic presence is the ability to live with a
foot in the real world and a foot in the spirit world and not forget
who and where you are. This is done by keeping balanced, grounded and
'present,' or mentally aware of your physical presence. Shamans must
know where they are at all times. This is one of the reasons shamans
seem powerful to others, they always know where they are. People very
familiar with Shamanic techniques and very aware of their presence can
do a quick inner journey while walking down the street.

One way shamans stay organized and focused as to where they
are is through use of certain images. One is the Tree of Life. Its
roots are in the Lower World, also known as the underworld or world of
the dead, where shamans go to talk with ancestors, to find lost
information, or to find information about diseases and other things to
do with the physical body. Travel to the land of the dead should not be
attempted without a guide. The trunk of the tree is known as the Middle
World. Often the trunk is seen as square, one side for each of the four
directions and their corresponding season. It is the magickal version
of our reality and shamans visit it to solve everyday problems. The
branches of the tree are in the Upper World. It is a place of the
future, creativity and flight. No one world is viewed as better or more
important than any other and most shamans from around the world have
used similar guides.

Another such image is the medicine wheel, also known as a
mandala. It is a circle that is divided into four sections (or
sometimes subdivided down to eight) that symbolize the four directions.
The circle of the wheel symbolizes the Middle World, the sky above it,
the Upper World, and the earth below it the Lower World. the center of
the circle is the center of the universe and the entire circle,
including the Upper and Lower worlds are spiraling to the center. Every
person has a place on this wheel which symbolizes where they are in
relationship to their spirit center at the center of the circle. The
better you know your center the more power you will have.

Here is a simple exercise to help you find out where you are on the medicine wheel.

Center yourself and relax. Close your eyes. Create a medicine
wheel in your mind. Divide it into the four quarters with two lines
intersecting in the middle. Decide which line stands for which
direction. Make a dot in the center and then color the quadrants
however you wish. Let a spirit animal come to symbolize each quadrant.
Don't think about it, they'll come if you should be doing this. If not
stop and try again at another time. Ask your spirit animal to show you
where you are in the wheel. Remember the quadrant, the color, the
spirit animal for that section, and how close you are to the center.
Feel free to ask your spirit guide what this means for you at this
time. Thank the spirits for their help and come back to where you are
(in other words, feel your body and what you are sitting on etc...)
Then open your eyes. Write and/or draw what you saw. You should do this
every so often to see where you are in relation to your center.

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wyldkat/pwrspirit.htm

Elder Your Country :

Thank you so much for sharing with us shadowfox, I am really enjoying your energy and posts!!

Mage Your Country :

Me too!!

Spiritual Your Country :

I think your statement is a golden nugget. " Help us not to be ignorant". I have a had tremendously rewarding experience in fellowship with people of wide ranging faiths and belief systems. In my view, the people I related best to where the people that were less interested in confirming their own faith to me and rather more interested in understanding others through their faith. I struggle to understand why the faiths often war with each other. When I wonder about it I often consider the obviousness of human nature. I think that regardless of your faith; if you have faith, then you have no fear which to me; is a prime achievement toward a better relationship with God and your experience to come. As long as everyone understands that each of our rights end where another persons begin; we shouldn't have the problems we are having in establishing that ideal society that enures to the benefit of all, equally. I believe the potential exists to render it now. That's me.

I believe whether we are discussing or accepting of religious systems, belief systems or natural systems we are each of us seeking answers within unique and somewhat distinct contexts to achieve similar understanding. I feel blessed and highly favoured to have found some understanding of the system I experience in the wisdom of others experiences. I have been thanked for reciprocating. Sharing is learning. Learning is growing. Peace be in our hearts.

Love and Light

Sim

For the record; I'm barely here.

wendy wrote:: discuss any topics on religion and your different faths here, help us not to become ignorant of your faith by sharing your beliefs and views on your religion or religion in general with us xxx

Mage Your Country :

Hello

Here are some of me thoughts on Religion and Faith.....

Religion is used to describe one’s faith or belief systems. It can break down into cultural or traditions, at times even rituals.

Most times when one thinks on religion one thinks to an organized belief system and that it is open to everyone that follows this faith. It is head in a building and is done at set times. There is most times a “Head” figure that leads such a place.

It can be a place of study, what comes to mind is Sunday School for children. It too can be a place or practice. A place where a set text is often studied or embraced.

The belief in God or gods and goddesses ect.

Faith is about where the journey takes one. It can be said that faith is about turning off the brain from speaking and hearing things from the heart. Faith is trust and embraces the hopes and the dreams. Faith can come down to having no set beliefs but the acceptance in self and in other’s.

We too can have faith in our God or our path in Religion in that knowledge and lesson’s that be there. We too can be lead down the paths of “blind faith” were we do not take the time to really feel and understand what is right for ye’s own path in life. This is often shaped from Family upbringing.

Faith is the conviction that something “is” and the determinations to accomplish in one’s goals.

Lynn

Apprentice Your Country :

While visiting my stonch catholic family I am learning things about catholicism that I had never heard before. For example, my family now believes that animals have souls, they dont go to heaven per say but non the less they have them. WOW is all I can say. My uncle was talking about his minds eye and so many other things that I tend to believe in. I feel I have learned that Catholcism is not so different then I once thought. I'm glad I got the chance to hear this. It has slowly reduced my resistance to religion. They even believe that you can go to heaven even if your not catholic. Wow.

Spiritual Your Country :

"I put no stock in religion. By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will of God. I've seen too much religion in the eyes of too many murderers. Holiness is in right action, and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves, and goodness. What God desires is here [points to Balian's head] and here [points to Balian's heart] and what you decide to do every day you will be a good man...or not." Kingdom of Heaven

Apprentice Your Country :

I wouldn't say I am a religion follower either I am right with you on your above statement. However I do see religion in a better light what I learned was that its all in the eye of the beholder, my parents are radicals thats for sure and I think radicals ruin the teaching of any religion. Still not for me but I have a "softer" take on it now.

Mage Your Country :

Hello

I attend a place I call "Church" as it fits easy to where one goes on a Sunday AM morning and really its a Metaphysicl Society same to me really. Its a house were we talk on faiths and enlightenment ext ext. Just that what we hear is not all about ONE God or Devine one.

I had the door knockers here the other day and they left me a flyer, I tokd them I was into Metaphysics and that I embraced all Religions as all had something to ofer to me. She said to me then I am well on me way to understaning more tham maybe most would. Said she would be back next week when I had time to read their words so we could discuss it....I was please do.

We can take something from all Relgions if we are NOT preached to or forced to listen and embrace what does not fit to us.....

Lynn

Apprentice Your Country :

When talking to one of my professors at college a few years ago and I was telling her my little secret that i felt so lost in College and she looked at me with a twinkle in her and said "oh good for you" " your the lucky one" I couldn't fathom why she felt so excited over my issue so I asked her why she felt that way thats when she said, " well only the searching find something" I feel like this is applicable to religion as well. I do feel lost and so confused when it comes to religion, do I believe or not? To believe would mean I am surely loosing my "soul" based on some religion and others I may be okay as long as I repent although I live pretty darn morally I just dont go to church or pray everyday. I can tell you Im in the searching mode for "the truth"

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