- Joined
- Nov 28, 2021
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I’ve been reflecting on my spiritual journey and the challenges that come with it, and I wanted to share my thoughts and seek your insights. As someone deeply interested in exploring different practices, I face certain cultural and practical obstacles that make this path a bit more complicated.
I was born and raised as a Roman Catholic, but my fascination with occult practices began when I was just 12 years old. I also don’t want to dabble Christian mysticism as much as possible. Over the years, I’ve had an on-and-off relationship with esoteric materials, often juggling between curiosity and the constraints of my upbringing. Being Filipino and a Christian comes with its own set of challenges when it comes to exploring the occult practices. Because in our culture, there’s a strong adherence to religious dogmas, and stepping outside these boundaries is often met with judgment or fear. This rigid tradition frustrates me, as it leaves little room for spiritual exploration beyond what is deemed acceptable by the Church. Especially the belief that Christ is the only way, because the bible says it, it creates an environment where any deviation is considered heretical. Like many Filipino families, we live together in one house, and I even share a room with someone. This makes it nearly impossible to perform the rituals and/or practices I’m deeply interested in. My initial fascination was with ceremonial magic. Over time, I discovered resources like the Gallery of Magick, while their methods have intrigued me, I’ve always wanted to expand my practice by incorporating elements from other grimoires, particularly those focusing on planetary influences to incorporate to a single conjuration. I fear being misunderstood or mocked, especially since there’s a widespread belief that anything remotely related to the occult equates to summoning demons or practicing witchcraft. This fear is intensified by the misconceptions within Christianity, where even invoking Abrahamic entities outside traditional prayers can be seen as dangerous or even blasphemous. Like I shouldn’t invoke the name Allah because it’s Islamic, and Yahweh/El/Adonay because it is part of Jewish practice. It’s frustrating because I see this as a form of spiritual exploration and empowerment, not as an act of rebellion or malevolence. I do understand that religion and spirituality can complement to each other but also acts differently. One is a dogma; one is a practice. Something a religious person would like to argue about (but I am not going to debate with them either). While religion or religious tradition can serve as a foundation or gateway for spirituality, they don’t always have to overlap. Spirituality can exist outside the boundaries of religious dogma, allowing for a more flexible and personal approach.
I also recall an incident when I was fourteen. My family discovered that I owned a booklet about our folk magic being sold online, I printed a copy of it. Their immediate reaction was one of caution, urging me to be very careful with such things, as they believed it could be dangerous. It kind of reflects a cultural sentiment toward the practice of “Lihim na Karunungan,” or “Secret Knowledge.” Here in the Philippines, this term encompasses various esoteric and mystical practices, a folk magic tradition, but unlike the structured systems found in Western grimoires. This esoteric tradition of ours seems to lack clear roots or consistent methodologies. Each booklet or text within this tradition often contains orations—invocations, prayers, chants, or spells—but provides little to no context and/no guidance on how to use them safely or effectively. The practice feels enigmatic and perilous, as without proper instructions or safeguards, practitioners are left to interpret the materials on their own, often risking misapplication or unintended consequences. This tradition is part of our faith-healers or shamans, even Christians got to believe in them, even if it is said to be effective. But It’s fascinating, yet also troubling, how these local practices are simultaneously revered and feared. They occupy a gray area in the cultural psyche, where curiosity is often overshadowed by a deep-seated fear of the unknown.
I know some of you might suggest renting an apartment for rituals, and I do plan to take that step eventually. For now, I was thinking about focusing on building my own system, the one that draws inspiration from various traditions and grimoires. I often feel constrained by my limited options, as sticking solely to Christian mysticism seems insufficient to meet my spiritual needs or address the practical limitations I currently face. So, I was thinking that by building a system that integrates elements from different traditions while remaining adaptable to my circumstances (thus performing syncretism), I hope to create a practice that is both personally fulfilling and workable within the confines of my current environment. Which this approach requires a careful balance respecting the integrity of these sources while innovating to suit my unique situation.
Being bound by cultural and religious expectations, limited privacy in a shared living space, and the fear of being misunderstood or judged. I would like to ask if, how do you think someone in my situation can navigate these obstacles while staying true to their spiritual path? What perspectives or approaches could help balance respect for tradition with the desire for personal growth and exploration? I’m interested hear any suggestions or perspectives that could help me further refine this system or navigate my current limitations effectively.
I was born and raised as a Roman Catholic, but my fascination with occult practices began when I was just 12 years old. I also don’t want to dabble Christian mysticism as much as possible. Over the years, I’ve had an on-and-off relationship with esoteric materials, often juggling between curiosity and the constraints of my upbringing. Being Filipino and a Christian comes with its own set of challenges when it comes to exploring the occult practices. Because in our culture, there’s a strong adherence to religious dogmas, and stepping outside these boundaries is often met with judgment or fear. This rigid tradition frustrates me, as it leaves little room for spiritual exploration beyond what is deemed acceptable by the Church. Especially the belief that Christ is the only way, because the bible says it, it creates an environment where any deviation is considered heretical. Like many Filipino families, we live together in one house, and I even share a room with someone. This makes it nearly impossible to perform the rituals and/or practices I’m deeply interested in. My initial fascination was with ceremonial magic. Over time, I discovered resources like the Gallery of Magick, while their methods have intrigued me, I’ve always wanted to expand my practice by incorporating elements from other grimoires, particularly those focusing on planetary influences to incorporate to a single conjuration. I fear being misunderstood or mocked, especially since there’s a widespread belief that anything remotely related to the occult equates to summoning demons or practicing witchcraft. This fear is intensified by the misconceptions within Christianity, where even invoking Abrahamic entities outside traditional prayers can be seen as dangerous or even blasphemous. Like I shouldn’t invoke the name Allah because it’s Islamic, and Yahweh/El/Adonay because it is part of Jewish practice. It’s frustrating because I see this as a form of spiritual exploration and empowerment, not as an act of rebellion or malevolence. I do understand that religion and spirituality can complement to each other but also acts differently. One is a dogma; one is a practice. Something a religious person would like to argue about (but I am not going to debate with them either). While religion or religious tradition can serve as a foundation or gateway for spirituality, they don’t always have to overlap. Spirituality can exist outside the boundaries of religious dogma, allowing for a more flexible and personal approach.
I also recall an incident when I was fourteen. My family discovered that I owned a booklet about our folk magic being sold online, I printed a copy of it. Their immediate reaction was one of caution, urging me to be very careful with such things, as they believed it could be dangerous. It kind of reflects a cultural sentiment toward the practice of “Lihim na Karunungan,” or “Secret Knowledge.” Here in the Philippines, this term encompasses various esoteric and mystical practices, a folk magic tradition, but unlike the structured systems found in Western grimoires. This esoteric tradition of ours seems to lack clear roots or consistent methodologies. Each booklet or text within this tradition often contains orations—invocations, prayers, chants, or spells—but provides little to no context and/no guidance on how to use them safely or effectively. The practice feels enigmatic and perilous, as without proper instructions or safeguards, practitioners are left to interpret the materials on their own, often risking misapplication or unintended consequences. This tradition is part of our faith-healers or shamans, even Christians got to believe in them, even if it is said to be effective. But It’s fascinating, yet also troubling, how these local practices are simultaneously revered and feared. They occupy a gray area in the cultural psyche, where curiosity is often overshadowed by a deep-seated fear of the unknown.
I know some of you might suggest renting an apartment for rituals, and I do plan to take that step eventually. For now, I was thinking about focusing on building my own system, the one that draws inspiration from various traditions and grimoires. I often feel constrained by my limited options, as sticking solely to Christian mysticism seems insufficient to meet my spiritual needs or address the practical limitations I currently face. So, I was thinking that by building a system that integrates elements from different traditions while remaining adaptable to my circumstances (thus performing syncretism), I hope to create a practice that is both personally fulfilling and workable within the confines of my current environment. Which this approach requires a careful balance respecting the integrity of these sources while innovating to suit my unique situation.
Being bound by cultural and religious expectations, limited privacy in a shared living space, and the fear of being misunderstood or judged. I would like to ask if, how do you think someone in my situation can navigate these obstacles while staying true to their spiritual path? What perspectives or approaches could help balance respect for tradition with the desire for personal growth and exploration? I’m interested hear any suggestions or perspectives that could help me further refine this system or navigate my current limitations effectively.
