Questioning Everything

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Mar 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	27 Mar 2003
Hi All, I would like to take a moment before I get back to my wonderful Psychology essay (Which has to be in tomorrow... :eek:) to talk about responsibility, taking life by the horns, and the things other people tell us. *Kiama borrows Umbrae's swami outfit for a while* Mmmm, love the red piping. }) All the way through life, people tell us things. 'Jesus us real.' 'Santa is real' 'Ghosts exist.' 'Tarot is evil' 'Wicca is a form of Satanism' 'The Goddess loves you.' 'Telepathy works' But all the way through life, we need to remember something... Question Everything Dare to know. When somebody tells us 'THIS is the right religion for you', we must take it upon ourselves to question what that person just said. Ask ourselves if we seriously believe that. Ask ourselves if that suits our belief system. Ask ourselves if it even makes any sense. When somebody tells us that it is some other being which learns all our life lessons for us, we must think about this... And we must wonder if we really want something/somebody else living our life for us? Life is a pretty amazing thing... It is there for the taking, and there is so much out there for us to dive into, explore, learn. Look at the Fool Tarot card. He has done just that. He has taken the bull by the horns (he he... Aleph reference there...) He has decided to get out there and DO SOMETHING. He wants to learn everything about life... So instead of sitting down and doing nothing, he has got his best walking boots, a strange backpack, and his faithful/annoying dog, and walked out of his house, ready to meet the world head on. He walks off the cliff, and into a world of strange, new experiences and people... He meets the rest of the Major Arcana... He meets life! Now, the Fool did not manage to get to the World card by sitting down, listening to everybody else, and doing nothing. He managed to get there by taking RESPONSIBILITY for who he is, what he was doing, why, and wherefore. He questioned stuff, he got answers, and he continued questioning... WHY? Because he could. Because there is so much out there to question. Did he have a guide? No. Unless you count that damn annoying yappy dog, which personally I would consider more of a hindrance... What DID he have then? He had his common sense, his sense of adventure, and a burning desire to understand, to find out... He also had guts enough to get out there and DO IT. And look where it got him! Crikey, I'd give anything to get to the World card, or even the Sun card... So, I'm questioning everything, and I'm making new opportunities for myself. I am taking life by the horns, and taking responsibility for what I do, say, think, feel, etc... Nobody else can tell you where to go, what to do, when to do it, what to believe, and what is out there. For starters, I doubt they really know truly for themselves either! And if they're telling you whats out there, they taking half the fun away! So please, *Kiama gets down on her knees and begs* next time soebody tells you something, question it. Even question what I'm saying now. Kiama

HOLMES	27 Mar 2003
'Jesus us real.'he is 'Santa is real' he is in my heart 'Ghosts exist.' they do 'Tarot is evil' they aren't to me 'Wicca is a form of Satanism' nah 'The Goddess loves you.' sure does 'Telepathy works' it does but so far only to send messages eheh. here is where we agree question everything, let your heart decide , it knows the truth. aye question the church, the guides, the tarot, the people who raised you. i like to add the high spirit guide doesn't learn the lesson for us but helps us to get past the current lessons we are dealing with here. (in answer to the some other being) i have to agree witht he fool taking responsiblity ( justice is the fool relation 11=1-1=0 ) it all depends, in the old days the dog was shown chasing him off the ledge , now days it is seen guiding him walking with him off the ledge. at least it isn't shown at the bottom of the ravine waiting for him with open arms. or even better flying with wings waiting for him to take the step. my point is guides are there be it family who come back to help out the family, power animals who appear in dreams, i think that is a lesson for us all and the guides (if they are high and loving ) say ultimatly you must walk the steps yourself. wonder how did the fool get past the hierophanitic ways into the lovers he made the choice. :O) well someone could tell you where to go it happens all the time, the bosses, the family, the parents, the friends, it all depends on who listen to, your saying listen to yourself if i am understanding you right.

Kiama	27 Mar 2003
Holmes: You got it down to a tee! Yay people understood me! The inner message: Listen yo yourself. As Grandmother Willow said, in Disney's 'Pocahontas': 'Listen with your heart, You will understand.' Kiama

Amythist	27 Mar 2003
I cannot agree that witch crafrt is satanism tarot are not evil I know spirits exist and that santa aint real. In your heart is what you beleive and please dont stop beliving what you think is true. You know what is real and what isnt follow your heart and guidance and go with the flow.

Kiama	27 Mar 2003
Amythist: The sentences I began the post with are not all my beliefs. I just used them as examples as to the things people might tell us which we need to decide on for ourselves. Whilst Holmes feels that Santa exists in his heart, and I feel that Santa exists as a way of teaching children how to give, some may feel he doesn't exist, But it doesn't matter what we believe: It does matter how we get to that belief. Accepting the belief blindly from other people is not, in my opinion, th ebest way to get to that belief. Instead, we should get to our beliefs by questioning them first. :D Kiama

HudsonGray	27 Mar 2003
They're not saying that they WERE, these are just things people tell other people & often people never look deeper. We all know Santa doesn't exist, but for a while he DOES to those who believe it. It's easier thinking that than Wicca is a form of Satanism & objecting to it. If you never move beyond the statement, nothing gets changed. Not so long ago it was common to NEVER question a doctor's diagnosis, to never question authority, to always believe what those in power (police, politicians, etc.) told us. 'Others' would have the job of questioning things (like the newspaper reporters or investigative offices), it wasn't up to the standard individual to ever think they could do that for themselves. Since then, fortunately, society has shifted enough to encourage thinking to a higher degree--question what was always accepted, get that second doctor's opinion (or a third or fourth even, it's your life!), and take things into your own control. By not questioning, we have to accept any problems that come that are associated with those thought views. Letting others make ALL our serious decisions often isn't doing the best thing for us. But until a person questions, all they can do is abide by what others think. So question your religion. Question the 'facts' people present to you. Do your own stretching out & learning. Visit that library. "Learning" is never ending, it does NOT end once a person leaves their organized schooling--you have to make it a continuous, lifelong thing. Thanks, Kiama and Holmes, that's something we should never forget. Always keep your attention focused and looking.

Major Tom	28 Mar 2003
Who says Santa doesn't exist? :confused: Did you hear the one about the dyslexic devil worshipper? He sold his soul to Santa... :laugh: Thanks for this post Kiama and thanks to Holmes and HudsonGrey too. :) Accepting personal responsibility for what happens to us is one of the hardest lessons to learn. It's so easy to blame someone or something else. Donald Michael Kraig offers this advice in many of his books: Think for yourself. Question authority. But then of course, you have to think this through for yourself and not just take my word for it that it's good advice. ;)

RingTheory	28 Mar 2003
You got that right, question authority, because authority is usually wrong. Of course, the more you question authority, the more you figure out authority doesn't know much at all. Then you find out you don't know all that much, anyways, since you spent all that time following authority. So I did question what you said, even if you're not authority, because then you might be right. I think you are right to question everything and everyone, including yourself, but I'm not an authority. I've been involved in different religons, too, who all thought they had the final answer to what was good and what was evil. But I was like you, I always would question authority, which never went over so well, the control freaks they are. To stop rambling, I agree with all of you, even though I've never had any problems with authority, as long as they didn't try to tell me what to do. And that little dog irritates me too for some reason.

Kiama	28 Mar 2003
RingTheory: Very interesting points about authority! I must say, I've never actually had a problem with authority: After all, if they wanna be authoritative, that's up to them... I have a choice as to whether I accept their authority! Often I do accept their authority, but keep my rights to disagree with what they say. The PrimeMinister for example, teachers at school. But NEVER Mum! ;) There are some people in authority who I find, after questioing what they say, actually have good things to say. I've begn to realise that Mum was ALWAYS right, and now find myself giving my friends the advice my Mum would have given me... :D Kiama *Still questioning*

cheekyminx	28 Mar 2003
I agree with whats been said. Pity that not more people think like that Kiama. Lots of reasons why, the main one I guess is being too scared to speak up. Yes. Scary thought that mums can be right quite often. My older sister as well!! I always listen to their advice. With age comes experience & knowledge!

Inana	28 Mar 2003
I totally agree with what is said. But want to add one more thought: Question everything including your own stablished beliefs from time to time. Questioning its the basic principle of science, philosophy and the path to knowledge.

Diana	28 Mar 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama I must say, I've never actually had a problem with authority: After all, if they wanna be authoritative, that's up to them... I have a choice as to whether I accept their authority! Oh Kiama. That's because you still haven't come up against some form of authority that really blocks you in your choices. An extreme example is those people who live under a dictatorship. Try accepting their authority or not! Of course, you can always say no, but then you may end up in prison and even tortured. Red Emma once said to me when we were talking of children that it is never too soon for them to question authority. So I told my kid: "Red Emma said......" LOL - he thought that was great! Now he argues with me even more than before. :D Thanks, Red Emma! I mentioned in a couple of old posts that the man who was probably the most influential when I was growing up, who taught me a lot about spirituality and religion always said: "If you can't prove it, Diana, don't believe it." (He was my Sunday school teacher for many years.) It was the best lesson I ever learned as a kid. But it got me into trouble at school many times!

Ravenswing	28 Mar 2003
Question always. If you get answers, doubt them. Don't pay any attention to anyone who tells you what to do. Resolve paradox. fly well raven

DarkElectric	28 Mar 2003
Ok, if Santa doesn't exist, where did all the cookies go, and who drank the milk???... I saw a tee shirt that said "Don't believe everything you think". (I didn't ask the dude where he bought it, I should have. ) Questions are usually more fun than answers. Question everything. It's the only way to find out.

HOLMES	28 Mar 2003
a quesiton came to my mind.. how far does one go into the actual research of the question ? do i go up to the north pole to search for the old fella, hehe :O) but seriously, how much do we want to know about the other stuff. ? or more precisely how much do we want to experiment. i am not sure what i am saying i lost my thought . but i guess what i am trying to say there are many things in this life to do, and how far do we give of ourselves before we know something isn't for us. example would be the very logical career unhappiness that some have. do they try differnt careers, try to make their career better or do we wait, and accept what society says, your studied to be a doctor for example (i never did study anything but tarot and new age books that i came across) dont' waste that time but invest it , harvest it. or does one say i had enough i am ready to try other things ? i know this is more actual life related then beliefs yet sometimes our beliefs instilled in us by the parents, or society affect us. a example of this is "you going to grow up to be a doctor , or lawyer, " "what about artist, ?" " you want to be poor boy" !! or something to that effect. or your friends tell you something like , why you break up with him he was so good for you , there is no one else here for you. and you think to yourself perhaps they are right . and they go back for friends think they make the ideal couple, according to their standards and their images they have. yet if the person left the area they live in, more fish in the sea right ? or perhaps the ideal of soul mates, , there is soul mates, there isn't soul mates, which one is the ideal ? who knows pick the one that feels right for you . sometiems i go against what i learned as an individual and make my mistakes, and i boot myself up for it as i am my own worst enemy and it is because i don't question those beliefs. and here is what it boils down. remember the tarot is evil comment ? all my life i heard that, the tarot is evil the tarot is the devil, don't use those cards boy the devil will come take you away . ( abusive step dad programing coming out) and today as i was driving away the idea of tarot being evil popped back in my head, and i thought to myself i thought i got i got rid of you and he said i am alwasy here part of you in your mind, and i thought of buring the tarot like in old times ( possible past life) or an image of making a post that says i am giving up my all my tarot ( not that much just 40 to 50) first come and first share. then i said go away old programming i dont' believe in you no more.

HudsonGray	28 Mar 2003
Aww, gee Holmes, what if we wanted those decks? This way you can buy more once the guilt goes away. It's amazing what we're programed with, isn't it? If you never think about it, the stuff just stays.

coldsuns	30 Mar 2003
'Jesus is real.' 'Santa is real' 'Ghosts exist.' 'Tarot is evil' 'Wicca is a form of Satanism' 'The Goddess loves you.' 'Telepathy works' We should listen to our own voice,our heart and our mind. Jesus/Satan - Have you seen him before-No. Have you heard his voice before-No. Why is he real? Many people told me that. And with our heart, we ask ourself whether this can be accept that he is real. Ghosts- You see before-No. You heard them before-No. Why are they real? I sense them, everyone told me. And it is the only thing i can be when i'm dead, my heart told me that. Tarot- Why it is evil,my heart told me it isnt. Half of them say they are but the other half say they arent. I search the history and ask people. The people that say they are evil didnt have enough evidences. But those that say Tarot arent evil have many good evidences. I choose to believe that Tarot arent evil. Goddness- Why do you think she loves you? Did you make her angry. What makes you so special to let her love. Your heart tells you that your face is special, your characters are special. Hm..-.-? Thats my thoughs. Listen to your own voice. Search your mind.Feel your heart. Not everythings people say will be right.

The Questioning Everything thread was originally posted on 27 Mar 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.