path_of_one
Embracing the Mystery
Thomas, your post was very interesting. Granted, I don't study these things in the way that you do. However, I would like to ask a few questions to clarify, if you don't mind.
First, are you equating Faerie with the astral realm? And are you saying elementals exist in that realm? I'm curious because my own interpretation has been that Faerie is not the astral realm, but a different place entirely that sort of overlaps our own in a way. I had read that the astral was a realm of human thought- a realm of all the things created by human thought. Perhaps there are not solid definitions of these supernatural places and people are talking past each other and using the same word to describe different things. I suppose I had chalked up the beings people call fae and elementals as nature spirits; perhaps we are talking in the same language about different entities. I've never gotten a very good, solid definition of the astral realm. It seems that all sorts of traditions have their own understandings of what it is and how people get there, and whether or not there are connections between other phenomena, like lucid dreaming and trance, and the astral plane. I've heard some say it's a realm unto itself, and others say it's a gateway to a variety of places. Some say it's thought-forms, others that it is actual spirit-entities. Everyone claims to be basing their definition and beliefs about it on their own personal experiences.
I haven't heard before the idea that all these varied supernatural entities- fae, elementals, succubi/incubi, etc. are all from the same "place," so to speak. I tend to think there are many universes, and the mythology is an attempt of people to grasp glimpses they've had of other places, not one single place.
Second, I'm not sure I understand your definitions of presences vs. essences. Are you saying fae are essences but not presences, and what does that mean? I'm sorry if I'm being dense, but this is new to me and I just am not getting it. As far as I could tell in mythology, fae were personalities, spirit-entities- I would use the term presence for that. I've never been able to tell if what I read in some natural places as "nature spirits" are what others would call fae or not.
Third, as an anthropologist, I have to say that while I do not personally condone drug use to induce trance or spiritual experience, I also do not judge others who do. Though I am a Christian, I refuse to judge the many indigenous cultures around the world who have, for thousands of years, used hallucinogens to induce healing, spirit-journeying, and other spiritual experience. There are many shamans who have given their entire lives to serving their people, and I find it leaves a bad taste in my mouth to somehow judge their religious path and wisdom as inferior to my own and those standard to Western religions and cultures. Perhaps I misunderstood you, but it seems that you were being a bit judgmental of these traditional peoples. I realize this is the Christianity forum, so I won't go into much detail.
I will say that I agree that people who engage in such drug-induced experiences without shamanic guidance are foolish to do so. I do think it opens up a world that is dangerous and frightening to those who have not prepared themselves and who do not have a tradition with which to intepret what they experience.
I do not think anyone was suggesting drugs and the Spirit are the same, but rather that the feeling of spiritual ecstasy can be brought about by a variety of things.
First, are you equating Faerie with the astral realm? And are you saying elementals exist in that realm? I'm curious because my own interpretation has been that Faerie is not the astral realm, but a different place entirely that sort of overlaps our own in a way. I had read that the astral was a realm of human thought- a realm of all the things created by human thought. Perhaps there are not solid definitions of these supernatural places and people are talking past each other and using the same word to describe different things. I suppose I had chalked up the beings people call fae and elementals as nature spirits; perhaps we are talking in the same language about different entities. I've never gotten a very good, solid definition of the astral realm. It seems that all sorts of traditions have their own understandings of what it is and how people get there, and whether or not there are connections between other phenomena, like lucid dreaming and trance, and the astral plane. I've heard some say it's a realm unto itself, and others say it's a gateway to a variety of places. Some say it's thought-forms, others that it is actual spirit-entities. Everyone claims to be basing their definition and beliefs about it on their own personal experiences.
I haven't heard before the idea that all these varied supernatural entities- fae, elementals, succubi/incubi, etc. are all from the same "place," so to speak. I tend to think there are many universes, and the mythology is an attempt of people to grasp glimpses they've had of other places, not one single place.
Second, I'm not sure I understand your definitions of presences vs. essences. Are you saying fae are essences but not presences, and what does that mean? I'm sorry if I'm being dense, but this is new to me and I just am not getting it. As far as I could tell in mythology, fae were personalities, spirit-entities- I would use the term presence for that. I've never been able to tell if what I read in some natural places as "nature spirits" are what others would call fae or not.
Third, as an anthropologist, I have to say that while I do not personally condone drug use to induce trance or spiritual experience, I also do not judge others who do. Though I am a Christian, I refuse to judge the many indigenous cultures around the world who have, for thousands of years, used hallucinogens to induce healing, spirit-journeying, and other spiritual experience. There are many shamans who have given their entire lives to serving their people, and I find it leaves a bad taste in my mouth to somehow judge their religious path and wisdom as inferior to my own and those standard to Western religions and cultures. Perhaps I misunderstood you, but it seems that you were being a bit judgmental of these traditional peoples. I realize this is the Christianity forum, so I won't go into much detail.
I will say that I agree that people who engage in such drug-induced experiences without shamanic guidance are foolish to do so. I do think it opens up a world that is dangerous and frightening to those who have not prepared themselves and who do not have a tradition with which to intepret what they experience.
I do not think anyone was suggesting drugs and the Spirit are the same, but rather that the feeling of spiritual ecstasy can be brought about by a variety of things.
