Do you practice any religions or faiths?

[DarkWer]

I was raised atheist, but was always told by my parents that they would be perfectly fine if I ever did join a religion. I was satisfied with being atheist for years, however this decade has brought with it a feeling of spiritual dissatisfaction. I went shopping around over the past few years since, and I think I settled on what I am currently practicing now: neo-animism combined with the practice of werewolf magick. Denny's books about the subject spoke to me deeply, and I have been enjoying my time so far.

 

[Aeternus]

I was raised atheist, but was always told by my parents that they would be perfectly fine if I ever did join a religion. I was satisfied with being atheist for years, however this decade has brought with it a feeling of spiritual dissatisfaction. I went shopping around over the past few years since, and I think I settled on what I am currently practicing now: neo-animism combined with the practice of werewolf magick. Denny's books about the subject spoke to me deeply, and I have been enjoying my time so far.

Talking about how time changes things . Werewolf magic? I am not saying this sarcastically, but, is this a thing? Never heard of it outside some really interesting cases of people transforming to werewolves, though I honestly base that on cultural fear at best.

 

[Nembra]

I find it fascinating and sad at the same time, that for a forum that says it is here to discuss occult subjects, that the majority of people on here are from a christian background and still are very much hooked on that faith.

What does one even have to do with the other? Do you perhaps mean that it's "supposed" to discuss those interpretations of occult subjects you deem acceptable?

 

[DarkWer]

Talking about how time changes things . Werewolf magic? I am not saying this sarcastically, but, is this a thing? Never heard of it outside some really interesting cases of people transforming to werewolves, though I honestly base that on cultural fear at best.

Check out Werewolf Magick by Denny Sargent. That is where I was introduced to it.

 

[Ohana]

Of course you don't "get" Christianity when you have arbitrarily made for yourself an assumption that is irreconciliable with it. You have freely decided that death is the ultimate power. It's like saying that you don't understand politics because you don't believe social constructs exist. If you lift that assumption everything makes perfect sense. Well, at least that part of everything does.

You are right.

Due to my life circumstances though I can't do that. When that sort of thing happens when your young it reshapes the brain. Its my ultimate coping mechanism if I tried to re-order it it wouIdn't work for me.

There's not just that I have to do. I wouId aIso have to beIieve in saviors. I don't even know what that means beside maybe a firefighter rescuing someone from a burning building. Even those I wouId label more as heroes than saviors. I don't understand the meaning of that word or what prophets are besides predicting the future or a lot of other words. I don't even know fully what the word mass means. I didn't know what the word Baptism meant tiII not too long ago.

Then not just all that other laundry list of things I have to deconstruct within my own mind. I also have to learn all the cuItural practices, the writings, the many many many other dos and don't for each community that aren't speIIed out within the text and probabIy more. Not to mention the socaiI aspects of the practice and get socialized within that community.

Maybe I couId do aII those things but they aren't even feasible for me right now and I don't even know if I want to since the main thing I wouId get out of it is community but I don't even know if the community wouId accept me and those that might might accept me just coming for community events and not converting if I'm upfront about that.

That's a Iot of info but to be clear sorry if the previous message came off as a IittIe rude to Christainity. I don't have a problem with them if they don't have a problem with me. I think Iearning about heII might have affected me a IittIe so that came out so apologies again. I just don't think I can convert and prefer doing my own practices. Its got its own Iong complicated history especially now but so do most reIigions or even just ideas that have been around for a whiIe.

If its right for you its right for you and glad if its right for other but for me I think have to go my own path. It doesn't feeI right and maybe tomorrow I wiII change my mind but aII peopIe have is right now so right now I kind of want to do something else.

If read so far this Iong comment then thank for reading.

 

[Nembra]

Due to my life circumstances though I can't do that. When that sort of thing happens when your young it reshapes the brain. Its my ultimate coping mechanism if I tried to re-order it it wouIdn't work for me.

A rather unfortunate mindset you seem to be stuck with, I must say. The mind, however, evolves even when you're not young. Maybe the next molt will bring your wings.

There's not just that I have to do. I wouId aIso have to beIieve in saviors. I don't even know what that means beside maybe a firefighter rescuing someone from a burning building. Even those I wouId label more as heroes than saviors. I don't understand the meaning of that word or what prophets are besides predicting the future or a lot of other words. I don't even know fully what the word mass means. I didn't know what the word Baptism meant tiII not too long ago.

If you're doomed and someone saves you, they are a savior. There's nothing else. Prophets are people God wants to exchange favors with. Baptism is death conquered, wielded by the Life. Nobody fully understands that last one, to be fair to you.

Then not just all that other laundry list of things I have to deconstruct within my own mind. I also have to learn all the cuItural practices, the writings, the many many many other dos and don't for each community that aren't speIIed out within the text and probabIy more. Not to mention the socaiI aspects of the practice

Maybe I couId do aII those things but they aren't even feasible for me right now and I don't even know if I want to since the main thing I wouId get out of it is community but I don't even know if the community wouId accept me and those that might might accept me just coming for community events and not converting if I'm upfront about that.

The Church is bound to accept you, but the particular people on the inside are unfortunately no different from those on the outside, so the mileage may vary. Honestly, the communal aspects are not that important next to the other gifts. You're underselling the whole thing to yourself, I believe.

That's a Iot of info but to be clear sorry if the previous message came off as a IittIe rude to Christainity. I don't have a problem with them if they don't have a problem with me. I think Iearning about heII might have affected me a IittIe so that came out so apologies again. I just don't think I can convert and prefer doing my own practices. Its got its own Iong complicated history especially now but so do most reIigions or even just ideas that have been around for a whiIe.

You can't effectively insult something you don't understand, and I think it's pretty clear you mean no disrespect.

 

[RobCorvid]

I started typing out my long and winding road on this subject only to realize if I was y'all I wouldn't want to read all that.
So, to be more concise: no, I no longer practice any religion as my personal faith.

 

[Wintruz]

Talking about how time changes things . Werewolf magic? I am not saying this sarcastically, but, is this a thing? Never heard of it outside some really interesting cases of people transforming to werewolves, though I honestly base that on cultural fear at best.

And you, a Dacian, asking this! Word gets out and I wouldn't be surprised if they take your passport!

In all seriousness, yes, this is a very real and very old aspect of magic. It's very strong across all of Europe and particularly present in Hungary and Romania. The oldest layer comes from the idea that, when the tribe couldn't find food and were in trouble, the ritualist could transform into a wolf and take on the wolf's hunting skills. The structure was:

1. Leave behind civilisation (represented by going into the woods and taking off human clothes - in Greece the clothes are hung on an oak tree and the ritualist passes through a river and enters woods on the other side).
2. Conjure the wolf through sympatheia (basically act like a wolf in conjunction with the presence of wolf materials - in Northern Europe, Germany, England, etc., this was done by wearing wolfskins, in Italy and Greece sometimes by consuming human flesh).
3. Entering into a trance-state (subjectively the ritualist is now a wolf).
4. Hunting in order to use those awakened wolf powers.

This could be done in warrior bands as well as alone. The same mechanism turns up later in the Christian era. In Hungary and Romania this is often associated with God-given powers (the táltos or vâlva lupilor is born that way) that help the community. In Western Europe it's more often associated with the Devil. The mechanism is basically the same as the pagan era, it's just now merged with witchcraft. The ritualist goes into the woods, puts on something like a belt made of wolfskin (see Peter Stumpp), "ointments" (basically belladonna infused lamb-fat) are applied and then, in a state of transformation, the werewolf violates social norms. Done properly it's extremely powerful.

 

[Hasuna]

Oh my, my! Other than worshiping myself ?... hmm I don't think so!

Post automatically merged: Friday at 6:29 PM

And you, a Dacian, asking this! Word gets out and I wouldn't be surprised if they take your passport!

In all seriousness, yes, this is a very real and very old aspect of magic. It's very strong across all of Europe and particularly present in Hungary and Romania. The oldest layer comes from the idea that, when the tribe couldn't find food and were in trouble, the ritualist could transform into a wolf and take on the wolf's hunting skills. The structure was:

1. Leave behind civilisation (represented by going into the woods and taking off human clothes - in Greece the clothes are hung on an oak tree and the ritualist passes through a river and enters woods on the other side).
2. Conjure the wolf through sympatheia (basically act like a wolf in conjunction with the presence of wolf materials - in Northern Europe, Germany, England, etc., this was done by wearing wolfskins, in Italy and Greece sometimes by consuming human flesh).
3. Entering into a trance-state (subjectively the ritualist is now a wolf).
4. Hunting in order to use those awakened wolf powers.

This could be done in warrior bands as well as alone. The same mechanism turns up later in the Christian era. In Hungary and Romania this is often associated with God-given powers (the táltos or vâlva lupilor is born that way) that help the community. In Western Europe it's more often associated with the Devil. The mechanism is basically the same as the pagan era, it's just now merged with witchcraft. The ritualist goes into the woods, puts on something like a belt made of wolfskin (see Peter Stumpp), "ointments" (basically belladonna infused lamb-fat) are applied and then, in a state of transformation, the werewolf violates social norms. Done properly it's extremely powerful.

e adevarat frate

 

[Jonathan Strange]

I was raised catholic. Know a bit about the bible because we have one in the house. I don't practice anything anymore besides blessing myself when I pass in front of a church.