
Consumerism VS Spirituality
#1
Posted 23 July 2007 - 01:54 PM
The blatant consumerism at the heart of the modern Occult revival.
I don't live near to that many Occult supplies stores, but the few I do, and some of the more well known ones I have found online, are charging stupid amounts of money for ridiculously over priced trinkets that they claim are 'the only way' to perform a given Magical task, or are just 'the same as everyone else is using' and therefore correct.
Whatever happened to individualism in Magic, and the inherent connection that it would bring to our ancestors?
Did our spiritual growth die in the face of the mighty Dollar?
Y'know, I actually believe that our Ancestors are central to this argument. Could a Druid pop over to his local supply store and grab a new Wand when his old one broke? Could a 16th century occultist nip online to grab a new Scrying Ball? And would any of them be seen dead spending hundreds of Dollars on commercially made and therefore soulless and spiritually dead tools for their work, just because everyone else was?
No.
They made their own as best they could, and where this was unrealistic they begged, borrowed or bought the closest mundane item they could get top what they needed and 'made' it a magical implement on their own, sometimes for a fraction of the price of the modern, supposedly Magical version.
Because of that I believe that they had a better control of said tools, and therefore the results as well, as they would carry the natural vibration of their maker or the person who turned them to magical use, and would work in perfect harmony with them to achieve their goals.
I believe that some Mages, from a whole host of Spiritual Paths, have lost sight of the very Magic they were chasing first place, blinded by the form and function, the aesthetics of the tools and rituals they use, and the constant need to 'buy, buy, buy'.
I for one stand against it, and I always will.
But thats just my opinion, and I'd like to know where everyone else stands on this somewhat thorny topic.
cryptokiller
London
UK
#2
Posted 23 July 2007 - 02:07 PM
Otherwise, I'll either grow my own herbs or purchase them fresh or dried at the store (sometimes the grocery store, sometimes I have to head to Chinatown or other marketplace). Candles I have always purchased at the dollar store. I tend to use many, so 4 in a package for a dollar is a steal. I have two sterling silver goblets I bought at a junk shop and cleaned up. My bowls were inheirted, part of a service set. Etc. Etc. I've found oils at a West Indian all in one shop, as well as incense. I've bought charcoal and resin at similar shops.
One of the joys of living in the city I guess is that I have such easy access to less expensive and just as workable options.
Krafted with luv
by monsters
#3
Posted 23 July 2007 - 02:09 PM
Take my hand and we'll go riding through the sunshine from above
#4
Posted 23 July 2007 - 05:48 PM
I think you mentioned a key reason in your original post. Our Pagan ancestors made everything they knew how to. They used herbs that were convenient to where they lived. We now mostly live in cities without any local herbs. The general public doesn't know how to make a scrying ball. We don't have convenient access to differen5t crystals without hitting the stores.
I believe we leave imprints on things we make and use. The stronger our emotional tie to that object, the stronger the imprint. I'm Christian so I don't do the spells and such, but reading your post it seems the stronger the emotional tie between the practitioner and the object, the better results can be expected in the spell. I have oil which I myself have blessed; I use it when anointing the sick. Since I blessed the oil, I have better results than borrowing someone else's oil.
I didn't lose my mind - I have it backed up on a disk ... somewhere
#5
Posted 23 July 2007 - 07:14 PM
I think that materialism is something that is simply human. People have some sort of need to obtain - and it has to be better and more costly than your neighbor. Religion seems to be a way of showing off for a few people, and the marketing folks know just how to suck us in. I prefer to make gifts, to grow gifts, etc. I suppose I am too much of a Franciscan to do otherwise. Too bad more people don't get it.
#6
Posted 23 July 2007 - 07:25 PM
In the end, it's what you create yourself (or in Aloha's case, bless yourself), be it a gift for another or the tools you use in your worship, that works best.
Krafted with luv
by monsters
#7
Posted 23 July 2007 - 07:32 PM
#8
Posted 23 July 2007 - 07:33 PM
#9
Posted 23 July 2007 - 07:37 PM

#10
Posted 23 July 2007 - 08:14 PM
#11
Posted 24 July 2007 - 12:06 AM
Today we're better off financially, but try to keep the same spirit. We give small gifts throughout the year instead of going in debt in December. My nieces and nephews each get their favorite candy bar, then I give a small something for each family (homemade chocolates are always a hit!).
I didn't lose my mind - I have it backed up on a disk ... somewhere
#12
Posted 24 July 2007 - 02:40 AM
Take my hand and we'll go riding through the sunshine from above
#13
Posted 24 July 2007 - 07:52 AM
You know, back on topic of Wicca/Pagen being more commercialized than before, I have a hunch marketing folks have noticed a slight trend in Christian folks doing the kind of Christmas that we've been talking about and decided to shift some focus to where they think money can be made. More people are exploring Wicca, so they see that as a likely demographic.
#14
Posted 24 July 2007 - 08:55 AM
You know, back on topic of Wicca/Pagen being more commercialized than before, I have a hunch marketing folks have noticed a slight trend in Christian folks doing the kind of Christmas that we've been talking about and decided to shift some focus to where they think money can be made. More people are exploring Wicca, so they see that as a likely demographic.
That could well be true. Which disturbs me, since followers of Wicca and Paganism tend to not be all that materialistic (not to say there aren't some. I know of one person who doesn't feel right unless they've purchased an overpriced Athame with a fancy hilt for example. One in every batch).
Krafted with luv
by monsters
#15
Posted 24 July 2007 - 09:25 AM
No, I blow my cash on a whole lot of other stuff I only think I need and then it sits in a closet, forgotten until I'm rumaging.
I do agree that the profit mongers have spotted a whole new market in regards to Paganinsm and Wicca. It's kind of depressing, really. They're like vultures on a corpse.
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