Forums » Smalltalk » spirituality

recently i've grown to be more curious of spirituality (note that when i say spirituality, i mean stuff like wiccanism, astrology, crystals, tarot cards and such) but i'm very confused as to where i can or should start just researching (and then possibly learning) about said subject. so i was wondering if there's somebody around here who would want to give some advice or tips?

edit: book recommendations, youtube channels (or videos) and instagram accounts (or the like) are also more than welcome!

I will start by saying that in my opinion, there is no right or wrong when it comes to finding a specific type of spirituality that fits you. There are many people out there who pick up various things from various beliefs and apply it to their day to day life. So if you find some tidbit that you enjoy, but it doesn’t fit a specific box or mold or a label, that doesn’t mean you have to reject it.

That said, here are some books I’ve enjoyed that I can recall off the top of my head...

Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within by Juliet Diaz
Wiccapedia: A Modern-Day White Witch’s Guide by Shawn Robbins , Leanna Greenaway
Crystal Bible Volume One and Crystal Healing by Judy Hall
The Complete Crystal Bible by Cassandra Eason

thank you so much!! i have a bit of trouble finding half of the books and if i can find them, they're ridiculously expensive or the shipping is sky-high; do you happen to know where they can be purchased outside of the us?

Oh nooo! I’m so sorry that they’re so expensive for you or hard to get.

I’m not sure if you use Audible - it’s an audio book website. They have some books that I can recommend, but not sure what the pricing would be for you...They do have a 30 day free trial (for US, not sure about international) that you can cancel before having to pay.

Magic in Wicca & Witchcraft: A Beginners Guide for the Modern Witch by Brida Penrose
To Walk a Pagan Path by Alaric Albertsson

I’ve walked the spiritual path for about 15 years right now and settled where I felt best. My recommendation would be to look into the basics of the different paths one could take.

Wicca could be a great option for you but you might also find yourself drawn to general paganism or even other paths you could walk. My belief is that everyone should find their own path as it’ll always be the one that works best for them.

Should you find yourself with any spiritual questions (mainly wicca, satanism or pagan/neo-pagan ways), you’re most certainly welcome to send me a private message and ask them. I’ll try to answer them to my best ability.

In my personal experience, the answer to the question of which path would be best for you can’t be found in books or conversations with others. While books and conversation can offer knowledge and many answers, they can’t offer this one. Soul-searching and truly getting to know yourself is how you’ll find your path.

I wish you all the luck, may the spirits guide you and bring you fortune on this quest for spiritual paths.

I have to agree with Somnom, while I am a practising spiritual person, I don't think there's a right or wrong way to do it. The main focus is finding a way that works for you. I apply meditation and yoga to my own spiritual beliefs and routine, as I find they help elevate my body and mind and make me more aware of both my own surroundings and inner thoughts. My house is also littered with various crystals and incense to help me maintain emotional balance.

Before diving into a specific topic, I suggest asking yourself what you'd want out of spirituality. I'm not suggesting you're doing this, but most people are engaging in this belief because it's become a fad and popular in social media. And not everyone is accepting of it either. Two jobs ago, my very Christian supervisor told me my belief was "incorrect" and that I needed to put my faith into something that was actually real.

So before you buy ANYTHING, I mean books, crystals, incense, guides, whatever - just take a moment and think what you want out of this belief specifically. Whether it's to focus your mind, become more in touch with your surroundings, or work on your inner struggles and then ask yourself is it something you're going to dedicate yourself to. It's not an instant solution to temporary problems, it takes time and energy, devotion and practice.

Not something I know anything about, but something that cropped up in my circles recently is that there's a problematic book called "Witch." I don't recall the author, only that it's got a nice, dark cover design and is supposed to be generally informational about being a witch. EDIT: Did a search. Lisa Lister is the author.

It popped up in my circles to spread the warning that it is very TERFy and, I guess, supposes that only cis women can actually do magic/k and claims that magic/k comes from the vagina.

No personal experience. *shrugs* Just passing on the message.

I'm going to jump on and say that before you buy any book, I would look for what people are talking about. A lot of older books are still important to many witches, but come with a lot of problems with their age. Take anything you read with a grain of salt and be wary of anyone who claims to be a witch because they are a G-slur, or books that uses Wicca and Witch as interchangeable.

There are a lot of places out there that are good, but it's always worth reading things with a critical eye.

If you're into tarot I am a part of a tarot server that has weekly card discussions, and plenty of people who know a lot. Feel free to PM me for the link.

@Somnom: thank you!! i’ll be sure to check audible out - the worst thing that can happen must be that they don’t have the titles you’ve been so kind to write down, and i’ll find something else

@SylOfficial: i think you’re very right; for now i’m just looking for insight and information, from there i think i’ll figure out how much i can sort of relate to it. sooner or later, i’ll most likely be taking you up on your offer to message you because as of now, i have no idea where to start

@Mintelle: i do admit that my sudden interest is the cause of said things becoming more popular on social media but i wouldn’t say i’m interested in it to be “relatable”. the experience with your former boss sounds terrible!

@Zelphyr: thank you for letting me know!! i can’t believe somebody would write that in a published book, both because it’s transphobic and it just doesn’t make logically sense in any way

@Cacophony: i think it’s always good to take information with a grain of salt! i might message you about the use of tarot cards later when i’ve read more about them

I think it's good that you're seeking for truth and knowledge from the part of the world that can't be seen. I believe in the monotheistic tradition, and the only things I know about other traditions are hearsay from those I know. One thing I would say is that there's some truth out there; life is more than meets the eye. I think that a lot of people benefit from having something to focus their faith, attention, and spiritual energy on, such as mandalas in Buddhist meditation, and crystals in some pagan practices, and human gurus in some Hindu and new age circles. However, I do believe there is something essential and powerful underlying any of these things--something about the faith itself and the source of faith--something intangible. I would point you in that direction if giving advice--the direction of knowing that the power is within you and lies with faith rather than in any object, words, or living human being. As long as that is kept in mind, many things can be helpful! I find meditation helpful. I also find making a dream journal helpful.

Above all, read multiple books, and maybe you'll find one that rings true in your spirit. I personally recommend a book called The Power of Now by Echert Tolle, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, the Tao Te Ching (the foundation of Taoism), and the book of John, in the New Testament.

this was very motivating to read and i do agree; i think there is more to life than what can be seen and now i want to explore some of it! i don't think all answers we're searching for can be found by reading books or listening to the opinions of others but by looking inwards