I get if you don't like new age practices and maybe they aren't great. I don't know what they fully entail but I can guess as to why they were made in the first place and why some indigenous people practice them.
They were robbed of their culture. The culture that remains is but a fragment due to the brutal conquer of land. The new age practices is to fill in those gaps probably. They may not be right but some might not have acess to everything. They may be torn away from everything.
true and sad and heart wrenching . If I may ask, does this pertain to you ?
In my case I am talking about my teacher as an example . He full well knows the traditional stuff, but he looks at some new Age stuff as he wants to get into , share and understand 'whitefellah' culture . ( There are videos in my intro , if you missed them ) . It certainly is not a replacement.
But for others and probably many others , what you say is true . Here, we work to reconnect . It can be regained . One of the latest conversations I have been having with the indigenous is ' Imagine 20 years ago ..... an aboriginal elder being concerned about a smoking ceremony and teaching fire circle .... because all these white people want to take a respectful part in it ! 30 years back, language was virtually lost here . Now you can study it at the local University ! I would say more on this, but its veering off topic . if you need support or questions or anything about this make another thread on the subject and I will gladly contribute .
I understand because I was also torn away from family due to life circumstances. There is no guide book for me. I have no one to ask about anything. Its like I have no roots. But I did. They just aren't here anymore to ask so I just have to guess and sometimes the guesses are wrong.
It can be a long journey .... my grandmother was not my real grandmother and I only found out in my 30s ! There has been one huge cover up for many people .
New age and guessing might be all I have to work with and maybe some stories but thats it.
Maybe not ? Let's find out .
I get if you don't like because maybe some of the practices are just bad or lies or something. But there is a reason why some choose to adopt it and I thought I might share the reason. Its not a fun one.
Thankyou . I was trying to be specific in pointing out it was my view and my experience and in 'my' places . But you bring up a worthwhile point .
AND I remembered something while writing this .... the 'little people' ... we have them here . My teacher says they leave little footprints in the ash around the fire at night and some mornings he sees them still there
. Other groups have them too , sorta shape shifting / walatha / Mimi . More seen as 'real' than spirit , they help regulate and protect the land along with the humans . Amerindian culture has them too
But still ...... not 'familiars' ( by strict definition ) .
