In reading the new Dan Brown book, "The Lost Symbol," I came across this term. I'd never heard it before... It seems like they are supposedly studying, scientifically, the use of Magick! At least, as I define it and my practice of it. Hmmm... They also say they are *not* a "religion."
I'm wondering about checking this Institute out.... Anybody heard anything or read anything about this? Just another "remake" of ancient wisdom, a la "The Secret?" Another way to make money from people who are searching? Or something like Scientology, you pay for each stage of study?
Thoughts? Comments? You are all so well read and erudite, I thought I'd ask. :)
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass
and loses itself in the sunset.
- Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator
Dog fighting is cruelty, which is a human activity and a human illness.
It's not the dog's fault.
All dogs need to be evaluated as individuals."
--Tim Racer, one of BAD RAP's founders
I am EXTREMELY interested in this book! I read "Angels & Demons" back in 2001, and "The DaVinci Code" a few years later, and when this book was announced, originally titled "The Solomon Key," DH and I were dying to get it. We did not realize the title had been changed!
I have never heard this term, but am very intrigued. I am currently taking a class which views magic(k) as a total separate entity from religion and spirituality, which appeals to me greatly, since I personally view it the same way.
In my own view, a religion is certainly not necessary, nor is a deity, in order to control and manipulate energies.
I am absolutely going to take this information to our instructor for us to discuss (privately, since I've already been spoken to about bringing up subjects too advanced for a beginning class ;D )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I am a wizard, not a saint." - Harry Dresden
States with legal same-sex marriage:
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Washington D.C.*
I agree, one can be a practitioner of the Craft without having a religion. Witches don't need to follow a religion at all. And I know some who do not. :) I see Witchcraft as a function of utilizing the power available and present in this physical realm. ;) I'll be looking forward to what kind of response you get from your instructor, too. :P
I am enjoying Dan Brown's book. It's just been published in the past few weeks, and I had pre-ordered it online.
I am encouraged about this "concept" called "Noetic Science" in that I firmly believe that is mostly our ignorance at this stage of our species evolution, that we don't know the power of our own minds and directed energy, much less how to utilize it! Except for a few of us who seem to manage to access these "gifts" or somehow become aware and learn to use them. :) I also believe that power can be harnessed by anyone, given training and preparation. We are born with the capability, IMO. We have placed our own mental blocks as to recognizing, accepting and using this ability, however. Through religious, social, cultural denigration, ridicule and so on, there is a "control" in place that denies access to many.
While in some ways, currently it seems our country is reverting to fear and separateness and intolerance, there is also an encouraging growth of people following more Pagan paths. The thing is, I don't think Witchcraft is necessarily "Pagan;" it's just been labeled that way, to isolate the concept to a less "desirable" category, perhaps. :) Religion, culture, society can shutdown the gifts we are born with, I think, with the right conditioning. Which also shuts down a scientific willingness to study these gifts fully. Maybe this "Noetic Science" is an indication that willingness is coming? I dunno. :O For me science is only the half of it, but it is an awesome tool that will eventually teach us of our own awesome power of our minds one day. ;)
JMO, of course! :D
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass
and loses itself in the sunset.
- Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator
Dog fighting is cruelty, which is a human activity and a human illness.
It's not the dog's fault.
All dogs need to be evaluated as individuals."
--Tim Racer, one of BAD RAP's founders
I am in the midst of the climax building moving the last part of the book... As always, a suspenseful yarn that speeds up as the climax approaches, and me trying to figure out what details are "for real" and which are "embellished." ;))
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass
and loses itself in the sunset.
- Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator
Dog fighting is cruelty, which is a human activity and a human illness.
It's not the dog's fault.
All dogs need to be evaluated as individuals."
--Tim Racer, one of BAD RAP's founders
