(01-09-2017, 11:52 PM)Aion Wrote: Of course, we live in a reality that is composed of symbols. However, I don't think something created yourself is necessarily 'better' since it seems to fundamentally have an idea of fear of impurity if that is what you think. One of the arguments I would make is that the technique of using your belief as a tool and crafting sigils is fundamental to chaos magic as well as balanced magic. So, just because you make it doesn't mean it is instantly more wholesome than anything else out there, that seems rather self-important, but I can see why one would think that.
Ahh not that self important phrase. I really don't have that. It isn't because I think it would be purer or superior ... It might actually be fear. That old Christian programming raising its head again. Mark of the beast maybe, I think I'm just warey of using a symbol I don't know the actual meaning of.
This all started with a symbol I saw in a dream but it wasn't a dream. I really liked the flow and shape and considered getting a tattoo of it. But I couldn't figure out what it represented.
It looked like the Egyptian symbol for protection but not quite, it flowed more like some of supposed angel scripts but none exactly like it. That's is sort of when I ran across a lot of symbols and saw how old some of these are, how the heck could we really know their meaning and it got me off having anything tattooed. Except there is one I really love and that one may happen.
I don't have fear about the ones I use, I didn't create them they aren't of me so it's not a self important thing but more ah "ok how about these, will these work for you?" And I find them quite comforting. I guess I do have some fear about utilizing other symbols not because they are impure but because someone might know enough to use the energy for less kind uses. I don't even fully know if that's possible really, that could just be something that got planted when I was looking up symbols and saw conversations between witches about getting their stuff charged.
See why I avoid dogma? I kind of need my head free of that so I don't create beliefs that lurk in the background.... Lots to think about here.
Thank you for your input.