I hear all the time from the members who like to keep up with the trends here that they don't like labels because it brings stereotypes and so on...
I also hear people thinking they are more open minded because they don't like labels.
What part of what I was originally asking requires you to surmount your beliefs with this labels phobia I see so often these days?
Labels are not only used by the uneducated might I add for you. Labels are extremely useful for organization and when put to justified use do not deprive one of open-mindedness.
To be open minded is good, but to be too open minded, might I say from personal experience, can be one's downfall.
Now then, I take you both (Personified and OccultJosh) are very--contemporary, with your beliefs?
I wouldn't call the dislike of labelling a "phobia", that emplies a fear of being labeled. There is a great gap between fear, and resoluteness in ones conciously developed beliefs (especially when those beliefs go against the support of something), as it is not fear that drives the dislike of a thing once the mindset is established, but logical opposition.
I don't like labels for many reasons, but I see the use in them also for many reasons. When you name something by what it is in detail, you convey the meaning of what it actually is (it also helps keep up a certain level of intelligence). For instance, of every person who practiced magick was called a Wiccan, then we'd all disolve into one gray blob or generalized poop (and I'm not calling Wicca a pile of poop.) But when discussing matters on a broad scale, say the basis of what Wicca is, it is easier to just say "Wiccans paractice -insert some creed here-" instead of saying "Dianic Wiccans practice -insert some Dianic Wiccan practice- while -name some other sect of Wicca- practice -insert specific creed here-".
As with giving magick labels of "colors", I do this so that I may describe the general intent of a spell or ritual in one word instead of saying exactly what I want in a longer drawn out sentence. I.E. "I want a Green spell" instead of saying "I want a spell that is aligned in intent with nature, life, and growth."
Labels are helpful, but just like everything, they have their time and place. They are great for generalized conversation, but for in depth discussion it would be best to name things as they really are.
I'm not certain there is a 'generation' for the way I see and practice magic, though I'm much more of a spirit worker than an energy worker, which seems to be a less well-trod path these days. It may be because there are fewer people who subscribe to the view that deities and/or spirits are real and prefer to view the spiritual world as aspects of the self, thus all magical work comes from the self too. Energy work does appear to a more modern (100 years or so) concept as the vast majority of spells and charms in texts such as the PGM entreat various gods and spirits to perform the work rather than concentrating on building magical energy in the petitioner.
"I wouldn't call the dislike of labelling a "phobia", that emplies a fear of being labeled. There is a great gap between fear, and resoluteness in ones conciously developed beliefs (especially when those beliefs go against the support of something), as it is not fear that drives the dislike of a thing once the mindset is established, but logical opposition."
lol A phobia is anxiety, anxiety is not fear, it is nervous avoidance of something without logical reasoning.
Example: Arachnophobia is when someone is absolutely sure if they step outside the house a spider will magically appear just to make their day worse.
I have reasons for calling it a phobia.
Now if we're done with that the point in that reply was this post isn't about labels at all. I don't particularly care for opinions on this labeling issue going around.
What I was asking, had to do with a person's views relative to say new age, or if they prefer things traditional, etc...
If you believe this to be labeling and should then avoid the question all together I reassure you that the black magic portion of the original post was an example of the difference between newer and older views. That is not the only difference, in fact there are several aspects you can be coming from.
The original question:
"I myself am a bit old fashioned and I can be fairly conservative in my opinions and preferences but I strive to understand people regardless.
So something I've been curious about for a while now is what "generations" are your beliefs coming from?"
Phobia: An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.
As defined by Google when "define phobia" was entered in the search bar.
Dictionary.com also states it as a fear of something.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/phobia
But you're right, the strict discussion of labels was askew and only tangent of the posed question.
So I would say that my beliefs come from my own generation, as that is the generation I am from. I can't be anything that came before me, for what was before is dead.
With time, everything changes, so it is impossible for anyone to be "traditional" in the truest sense of the word, because the acts we do, and things we hold to are always having things added to them or taken away from them.
So, it would suffice to say that my beliefs are formed by a gray blob of things that just are, as I found them.
As Maelstrom said, I think it would be suitable to call my beliefs somewhat of a 'grey matter.'
I take aspects from a variety of traditions, religions, etc. And then I use them to form my own. I wouldn't say I had a particular 'tradition' at all.
However, as said by somebody previously, I take science into account as well as parts of religion and magic. I merge them together; thus if anything, I would say I was a little more contemporary- but not lacking in more older traditional values.
As for labels, I very much agree with you, Amity. Labels can be extremely useful in the purpose of categorizing and organization, but yes, there are a time and place for them. Some labels may be a little out of context, but I still think in labeling something, newcomers especially will find the concept of what is being labeled much easier to comprehend. Maybe as they progress, the cons of labels should be explained.
I would say my view on magick it is a tool, that can help others or harm others and is not for the Simple Minded.
Generation? What are the "modern"
and the "traditional" generations?
I do not know what generation my beliefs and my views are from. I believe some magick can be done, some magick cannot be done, so Person, what are the generational general beliefs and views?
I would say that many of my beliefs come from older generations, as I was taught by older practitioners. I cannot say that for all of my beliefs though :)
