15/2/2015 2 Comments Rationalism and ShamanismCan shamanism be rational? Can it be skeptical (as in the old philosophical tradition)?
I must practice in a way that is in alignment with what I am and although I am highly intuitive, I'm also rational and skeptical. I doubt just about everything and in case of not coming to any conclusions, I abstain from judgement. This abstention never stopped me from working as a Practitioner. In fact I find it refreshing. Proper agnosticism, especially in epistemology, meaning knowing that you're not sure about something, doesn't conflict with pragmatism. I really do not know what the spirit world is - though I suspect it is the same as the Dream World we go in when we're asleep - and I don't know where it is. It may just be only in our minds, or it may be an alternative universe, or wherever. But it is. It has existence and it has essence. It doesn't seem to have matter nor energy, not properly speaking as in electricity or radiance. It seems to be somewhat temporal and spatial, but not in the way we are used to. Yet it is. And we can go into it. Perceive of it as a reality, like a landscape. And when we're in it, we can find and bring back to normal waking reality the qualities of information and understanding. Properly integrated into ourlives, this may bring positive change. It is more than a collection of techniques. Agnostic and skeptic I may be I, do understand it is a spiritual art. I define spiritual as the repository of beauty and values : Hedon and Ethos. The spiritual is non-rational - it is intuitive. By being spiritual we experience beauty and awe and we touch on deeper values because we envoke empathy. You can be agnostic, even atheist and still be spiritual. I cannot for the love of the world look into the starlit sky at night and not be impressed by and in awe of the Universe. And I cannot look at a flower, hear a bird, see a waterfall or talk to another person without identifying with them and feel connected, feel like them. So I'm arguing that yes, you can be rational and intuitive - skeptical and even atheist, yet still spiritual and a good Shamanic Practitioner.
2 Comments
Dingir
25/9/2017 04:26:37 pm
I think you're right
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Blog en franglaisWillem debien-HartmanTous les textes sont mon opinion personnelle. Les anciens textes étaient écrits avec un fort accent néerlandais. Veuillez lire au-delà et comprendre le message sous-jacent ;) Categories
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