Hey folks, made a huge mistake and went trawling through some past topics now loads of things whizzing around in the head for consideration. One of them is: Ive noticed a lot of people consider it "improper" (I think is the best word for it) to utilise practices from a Path which they have no connectiuon too.
Firstly if you are one of these could I just check that the "lack of connection" mentioned is a lineage issue (as in family line not craft ) or is it that you dont "connect" mentally with the Path in question?

I utilise various practices from different Paths, anything really that gets me thinking outside of the box, or on a new tangent is good. There are also some elements of my own Path that are included from others simply because I find them beautiful or apt. I can understand the need for a "connection" be it mental or Lineage based, but for me all thats really required is an interest in the Path or Practice plus the results. After all a particular ceremony might be beautifully written, but if it is just pretty words with no results then i wouldnt include it.

I think I've never required a direct connection other than a mental one because these things are out there to be utilised where they fit. To not utilise them would seem to me to be a tremendous waste. We preserve many other things in life, so if these things can be preserved by some, if only even a few, then I for one think its a shame that having a literal connection to them or not is seen as a barrier.

Dear Ethereal,



This is an interesting topic. I don't really feel there's anything inherently proper or improper about someone attempting to use practices 'from' a Path they have no connection to. They might find it difficult to utilise such practices without the training, familiarity and experience in their use available within a group dedicated to that Path, but propriety wouldn't seem to come into making the attempt.

Then there's the question of the sense in which particular practices are said to be 'from' particular Paths. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that particular practices are associated with particular Paths or Traditions - forms of invocation and elemental working with Wicca, for example, or runes and Seidhr with modern Heathenry - but that doesn't really give the Tradition in question an exclusive claim on the practices, as it in turn is drawing, or borrowing if you prefer, from older precedents.

BB,

John Macintyre

I use bits and bobs from other practices - not really other deity based paths though. Mr S terms himself an "eclectic occultist" and borrows bits & pieces from everywhere, like his totem, the magpie So I get roped into trying this & that, and reading the other and we use really simple generic stuff for our family celebration of festivals. He doesn't believe in deities though and I don't think I would feel comfortable calling upon any other than the Norse pantheon. I've used crystals, tarot cards, stuff from the Kabbalah etc. I'm trying to be guided by intuition and try not to limit myself too much.

John thats one of the things that had me pondering, because there are few if any practices that can be "nailed down" to any particular Path, which got me thinking about the reasons people may have for not using them.

I can understand the concept of only calling upon a certain pantheon, well to a degree atleast, if you are rooted with the pantheon in question I can see how that would benefit. But again its not something thats ever really occurred to me, if a Deity will assist and has the relevant "credentials" then I will ask for the assist. This freedom within my Path is what I was seeking. I have never quite managed to understand the Faiths or Paths that seek to restrict or narrow ones way of thinking.

*Universal disclaimer: This is not having a go at any persons Beliefs, Faith or Path. This is purely a personally held opinion and way of looking at things*