Post by sabrina on Jan 9, 2007 15:55:05 GMT -5
I would like to discuss in this post the concepts of Karma, the Law of Multiple Returns, and the Witch's Rede.
I am currently training in the NROOGD tradition of the Craft which is a mystery based initiatory tradition. In my training I have received information on all of these concepts as well as a very well written paper by an elder of mine who discusses and shares her take on these ideas. I love her take on it and it rings true to me as well so I thought I would share in my own words what I have learned both from experience and through the teachings and philosophy's of others.
One thing that is quite often over looked is the simple idea of responsibility. Most people will speak of this as something that you can take or leave at will, choosing to blame it on outside forces or on Karma. Denial of responsibility is self deluding and you must realize that responsibility for any act rests soley upon your shoulders. Refusing to take responsibility and denial of personal control is dis-empowering yourself.
The phrase "It wasn't my fault it was Karma" is ridiculous in the sense that Karma is only a result of your own decisions.
What is Karma?
Karma is cause and effect carried out on large scales as well as small ones. One way of saying this is that one's choices in the past govern what choices one will be faced with now and in the future. Karma is not limited to the mundane notions of causality or to ordinary time scales. Most people who believe in Karma also believe in reincarnation, which allows for many lifetimes for the causes and effects of Karma to be acted out.
If the choices and actions you take disrupt the balance in your life Karma acts to balance it out but presenting you with choices that will allow you to create new balance. Imbalances are not bad, without them we could not go anywhere. Think about walking. Your balance is momentarily thrown off between each progressive step forward.
One of the hardest concepts for people to understand is that there is no greater power controlling this process. Karma comes from within not from without. Taking responsibility for our Karma is most important in our own advancement and learning.
There is no such thing as "bad Karma" When events challenge us with difficult choices, it is not necessarily because of "evil" behavior in our past, it might just as easily be because we have reached a new level of spiritual evolution and are ready for more significant lessons. In the school of Karma there are not "failures" we will just continue to get the lessons until we get them right.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that sometimes shit just happens and is not a part of karma.
The Three Fold Rule:
This rule simply says, what goes around comes around, and around, and around. It says that whatever you put out comes back to you not once, but multiple times. There is some disagreement as to the number three. It is more as a poetic device then a rule. This applies not only to destructive energy but to constructive energy as well.
Please remember that no one is telling you not to use the energy that is available nor is anyone telling you how to use it. Basically what is being said is that you must be willing and prepared to deal with what ever consequences will result in your decision.
An It Harm None:
In the same way that no one can make you use your power for one purpose over another, no one can make you abide by the rule "an it harm none, do what you will". If you have made it to the age of consent and have not already developed some idea of ethics and morals then no one can help you develop them now. In order to understand this rule of the craft you must already have some sense of what you believe is right and what would "harm" others.
The next thing that you need to realize is there is nothing you do that will not cause another person "harm". Take the simple act of accepting a new job, by you simply accepting the new job means that someone else did not get that job and you have "hurt" them. Therefore you must decide for yourself what causes the least harm, not what would do no harm at all.
Witches don't advocate the turning of the cheek policy either, when harm is threated you should absolutely have the right of defense. What form of defense you use is up to you but keeping in mind to accept responsibility and consequences of actions.
So anyone want to open this up for discussion?
I am currently training in the NROOGD tradition of the Craft which is a mystery based initiatory tradition. In my training I have received information on all of these concepts as well as a very well written paper by an elder of mine who discusses and shares her take on these ideas. I love her take on it and it rings true to me as well so I thought I would share in my own words what I have learned both from experience and through the teachings and philosophy's of others.
One thing that is quite often over looked is the simple idea of responsibility. Most people will speak of this as something that you can take or leave at will, choosing to blame it on outside forces or on Karma. Denial of responsibility is self deluding and you must realize that responsibility for any act rests soley upon your shoulders. Refusing to take responsibility and denial of personal control is dis-empowering yourself.
The phrase "It wasn't my fault it was Karma" is ridiculous in the sense that Karma is only a result of your own decisions.
What is Karma?
Karma is cause and effect carried out on large scales as well as small ones. One way of saying this is that one's choices in the past govern what choices one will be faced with now and in the future. Karma is not limited to the mundane notions of causality or to ordinary time scales. Most people who believe in Karma also believe in reincarnation, which allows for many lifetimes for the causes and effects of Karma to be acted out.
If the choices and actions you take disrupt the balance in your life Karma acts to balance it out but presenting you with choices that will allow you to create new balance. Imbalances are not bad, without them we could not go anywhere. Think about walking. Your balance is momentarily thrown off between each progressive step forward.
One of the hardest concepts for people to understand is that there is no greater power controlling this process. Karma comes from within not from without. Taking responsibility for our Karma is most important in our own advancement and learning.
There is no such thing as "bad Karma" When events challenge us with difficult choices, it is not necessarily because of "evil" behavior in our past, it might just as easily be because we have reached a new level of spiritual evolution and are ready for more significant lessons. In the school of Karma there are not "failures" we will just continue to get the lessons until we get them right.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that sometimes shit just happens and is not a part of karma.
The Three Fold Rule:
This rule simply says, what goes around comes around, and around, and around. It says that whatever you put out comes back to you not once, but multiple times. There is some disagreement as to the number three. It is more as a poetic device then a rule. This applies not only to destructive energy but to constructive energy as well.
Please remember that no one is telling you not to use the energy that is available nor is anyone telling you how to use it. Basically what is being said is that you must be willing and prepared to deal with what ever consequences will result in your decision.
An It Harm None:
In the same way that no one can make you use your power for one purpose over another, no one can make you abide by the rule "an it harm none, do what you will". If you have made it to the age of consent and have not already developed some idea of ethics and morals then no one can help you develop them now. In order to understand this rule of the craft you must already have some sense of what you believe is right and what would "harm" others.
The next thing that you need to realize is there is nothing you do that will not cause another person "harm". Take the simple act of accepting a new job, by you simply accepting the new job means that someone else did not get that job and you have "hurt" them. Therefore you must decide for yourself what causes the least harm, not what would do no harm at all.
Witches don't advocate the turning of the cheek policy either, when harm is threated you should absolutely have the right of defense. What form of defense you use is up to you but keeping in mind to accept responsibility and consequences of actions.
So anyone want to open this up for discussion?