being_chrysalis
It is with a great deal of nervousness that I consider putting up this post... I certainly don't want to offend anyone here or put down anyone's path to spirituality...
Here's my deal - I am originally *from* Oklahoma, I'm a member of a tribe there and worked with the tribe for years. I have had a lot of contact with more traditional members of several different tribes over the years and one complaint that comes up a lot is about "cultural theft" - the idea that people from other cultures (traditionally the dominant "white" culture) take bits and pieces of traditional American Indian tribal cultures and knock them together with a lot of other things and come up with their "own" brand of spirituality. (Again, I am NOT knocking people who do this, I am trying to talk about the "complaint" of the traditionals.) One of the aspects of that complaint has to do with people not really being aware of what they're doing and misusing important spiritual rituals and symbols without the "proper" respect for their power. Another aspect has to do with a lack of deep understanding of the culture in question (ie: each tribe has it's OWN culture so ascribing attributes to a monolitic "Native American" culture is already starting out on the wrong foot) - - this leads to "stereotyping" and generalizations that traditionals find offensive as well.
And... this leads to a touchy subject for me -- the use of Tarot... I have to say right off that I don't know that EVERY traditional mindset would find Tarot to be incompatible with spiritual practices but I do know that I have had to be very careful to keep the two separated in my own world. I do participate in some traditional activities - and the Tarot is not a part of that. I also know that there are *some* traditionals that I would not even tell that I do tarot because they would see this as wrong. Others are curious or interested but do not see it connected to the traditional path/practices... (I am one of those.) I know it is a VERY touchy subject and a lot of traditionals feel angry about the "whites" stealing cultural symbols/practices - - I am wondering what people here think of that?
Again, I am NOT judging people here. It is one thing to *talk* about how people think/feel about certain trends/general practices.. it is a whole DIFFERENT thing to sit in judgement of another's path (which would be considered WRONG even from a traditional mindset). I hope that this does not offend or put anyone off!
Here's my deal - I am originally *from* Oklahoma, I'm a member of a tribe there and worked with the tribe for years. I have had a lot of contact with more traditional members of several different tribes over the years and one complaint that comes up a lot is about "cultural theft" - the idea that people from other cultures (traditionally the dominant "white" culture) take bits and pieces of traditional American Indian tribal cultures and knock them together with a lot of other things and come up with their "own" brand of spirituality. (Again, I am NOT knocking people who do this, I am trying to talk about the "complaint" of the traditionals.) One of the aspects of that complaint has to do with people not really being aware of what they're doing and misusing important spiritual rituals and symbols without the "proper" respect for their power. Another aspect has to do with a lack of deep understanding of the culture in question (ie: each tribe has it's OWN culture so ascribing attributes to a monolitic "Native American" culture is already starting out on the wrong foot) - - this leads to "stereotyping" and generalizations that traditionals find offensive as well.
And... this leads to a touchy subject for me -- the use of Tarot... I have to say right off that I don't know that EVERY traditional mindset would find Tarot to be incompatible with spiritual practices but I do know that I have had to be very careful to keep the two separated in my own world. I do participate in some traditional activities - and the Tarot is not a part of that. I also know that there are *some* traditionals that I would not even tell that I do tarot because they would see this as wrong. Others are curious or interested but do not see it connected to the traditional path/practices... (I am one of those.) I know it is a VERY touchy subject and a lot of traditionals feel angry about the "whites" stealing cultural symbols/practices - - I am wondering what people here think of that?
Again, I am NOT judging people here. It is one thing to *talk* about how people think/feel about certain trends/general practices.. it is a whole DIFFERENT thing to sit in judgement of another's path (which would be considered WRONG even from a traditional mindset). I hope that this does not offend or put anyone off!