Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Jason, Do you have any recommendations on working with entities outside your religious tradition? For example, as a Christian magician, what is the best way for me to work with Hekate? How about non-Christians working with Christian archangels?

The first question to ask yourself is why do you want to? If there is a real reason than there is no problem. If its just for the sake of being exotic than you may run into problems.

Next you should ask yourself how you see this being integrating with your beliefs. If you are a Christian you might view Hekate as similar in some ways to Sophia or Shekina. Alternately you may see her as a demon to be constrained because she is Pagan. Or you may just be open enough to realize that your belief system is not as universal as some treat it. The same goes with non-christians working with Archangels.

After that you should learn as much as you can about the rituals, culture, and protocols that the being comes from. Slapping Orishas in place of Archangels just isnt a good idea.

Ultimately working with entities from another tradition is not much different than metting people from another culture. Respect and a willingness to always interpret things in the best most forgiving light will get you far.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I LOVE THAT IMAGE!!!

who is the artist?