Kym's House o' Paganism

[Avatar]

Interesting question. If you lived in SA, I'd tell you to consult a Sangoma, but chances are that they'd find you've been cursed, simply because they can make more by "curing" it.

Not sure about finding out, but if you're interested, here's a simple charm for reversing the effects of a "curse":

Take a hand-held mirror and simply turn completely around with the mirror reflecting outward and say:

"Circle of reflection,
Circle of protection,
May the sender of all harm,
Feel the power of this charm"

Visualising protective aura's of light around you while you do it is supposed to add to the effectiveness of it.

For the most part, I think that things like that, (the curse) only work if you both know about it, and if you believe in it. It's a documented fact that the "shamans" of certain cultures could literally cause somebodies death by a spell, or a "pointing of the bone".

Thing is though that these guys believed in it so completely that they couldn't accept that they could live if it happened, and they would literally die of some psychosomatic reaction.

Here's a slightly more complicated way to nullify the effects of a spell too:

If you believe that a spell has been cast against you, place a large black candle in the cauldron (or a large black bowl). The candles must be tall enough to extend a few inches above the cauldron's rim. Affix the candle to the bottom of the cauldron with warmed beeswax or the drippings of another black candle so that it will not tip over.

Fill the cauldron to the rim with fresh water, without wetting the candle's wick. An inch or two should remain above the water. Deeply breathe, meditate, clear your mind and light the candle. Visualize the suspected spell's power as residing within the candle's flame.

Sit in quiet contemplation of the candle and visualize the power flowing and growing within the candle's flame. (Yes, the power against you) As the candle burns down, its flame will eventually sputter and go out as it contacts the water. As soon as the flame has been extinguished by the water, the spell will be dispersed.

Break your visualization of the spell's power; see it explode into dust, becoming impotent.
Pour the water into a hole in the ground, a lake or stream. Bury the candle. It is done.

--Avatar

[Plissken]

Thanks, Av. Anyone else?

[Gadget nee Jemcheeta]

How do you know if you've been cursed? Wow... that's an interesting question. If you buy into being cursed in the first place, I would imagine the best way to deal with it, whether or not you actually HAVE been cursed, is to do something like Av said, act as though you have... I mean, all the anti-curse stuff is really just aura cleansing, good vibe spreading, bad vibe banishing stuff. Can't hurt, can only help.
The antithesis of a curse, as far as I'm concerned, is positive thinking.

What did you do to this girl?! :p

[Plissken]

How do you know if you've been cursed? Wow... that's an interesting question. If you buy into being cursed in the first place, I would imagine the best way to deal with it, whether or not you actually HAVE been cursed, is to do something like Av said, act as though you have... I mean, all the anti-curse stuff is really just aura cleansing, good vibe spreading, bad vibe banishing stuff. Can't hurt, can only help.
The antithesis of a curse, as far as I'm concerned, is positive thinking.

What did you do to this girl?! :p

We had a very civilized breakup, at her suggestion. I helped her move her stuff over to her Aunt's house, and probably even gave her a hug when I said goodbye.

The next night began the first weekend I would spend alone in my apartment in over 2 years, so, rather than spend it alone, I decided to go out to my brothers place. When I got back, the entire place was destroyed. I've still got the mattress with my side slashed up, but I think everything else (computers, artwork, my daughter's clothes, etc.) has since been replaced.

If I remember correctly, she left because I wasn't paying her enough attention...

[Gadget nee Jemcheeta]

Didja ever get her back for it?

[Plissken]

Not my style. The police thought that I had a pretty good civil case, but since I had not quite recovered from my time in Divorce Court, I was willing to let it slide.

Wierd thing was, she tried to reconcile a few days later.

Go figure.

[Avatar]

Man, that's hectic.

Like Jem says, it can't hurt. And often the simple act of doing something will make you feel better, which will create more positive energy for you.

--Avatar

[Plissken]

Yeah, but I kinda wanted to test it -- it's my nature, I guess. Find out if I'm cursed, do something to fix it, if necessary, and see if it gets better -- that kind of thing.

[Avatar]

As I implied before, I think that being cursed is a state of mind. It's easy to think that because X has gone wrong, there must be some external cause other than mere randomness. Hence the value of making sure somebody knows that you've cursed them.

Anything that subsequently does go wrong, (as things often do) now has an explanation. Being of a more practical bent, I'm dubious as to the actual "physical" effectiveness of curses. It's in the mind where they are truly effective.

Worrying about it, (not that I think you really are) is what makes it appear effective. Simply dismissing the idea is probably the "cure", the chants/spells/rituals/whatever are, I think, merely an external manifestation (or a way of convincing yourself) that the idea is dismissed.

By ritualistically "banishing" it, you simply have an action which allows you to accept that it has been negated.

Magic of all forms tends to be sympathetic. i.e.

"The theoretical foundation for most magical practices is a belief in correspondences, or hidden relationships among entities within the universe-- especially between human beings and the external world...The theory of correspondences affirms the power of thought to confer reality on products of the imagination, particularly when these thoughts are expressed through significant symbols."

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[Plissken]

You're probably right, but if I do "banish" this curse, I'm definitely using the one that sends it back on it's originator -- not the one that just makes it go away!

[Avatar]

Well, I guess that's permitted, as it falls into a definition of the "Law of three-fold returns", in other words, whatever you cause will be caused for you three times over.

In this case, it'll be the person who sent it getting back three times the damage. In other circumstances, it would be frowned upon though.

Still, just getting rid of it will probably be better for your karma in the long run.

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[Plissken]

Dude, my Karma's so paid up!

(Sigh. You're probably right, though.)

[Avatar]

*bows*

--A

[CovenantJr]

Well, I guess that's permitted, as it falls into a definition of the "Law of three-fold returns", in other words, whatever you cause will be caused for you three times over.

I would assume it's not up to us to provide the "three-fold return". That will come. If you try to inflict a three-fold return yourself, surely you run the risk of having it returned another three-fold upon you!

As I implied before, I think that being cursed is a state of mind. It's easy to think that because X has gone wrong, there must be some external cause other than mere randomness. Hence the value of making sure somebody knows that you've cursed them.

Very Pratchett, and I quite agree. If you make a big noise about cursing someone, they'll attribute it to you next time they stub their toe or the cat runs away.

[Gadget nee Jemcheeta]

Right. About the three fold thing. SO many people I know have done something bad to someone because 'they had it coming' and 'it was only fair' as though nature worked that way, and they were merely the tool of Karma. If Karma had a tool, that tool would be a sorry creature, because some other karmic tool would probably be paying him a visit in short order.

[Avatar]

Very true, and good posts guys.

Yeah Cj, I certainly didn't mean that "returning" it should be considered your part in making sure it happens. Only that if it did, you probably wouldn't be racking up a debt of your own. It still falls into the consequences of the original action, as your intent is to protect yourself, not harm somebody else.

If it was to harm somebody, you'll shortly be getting some pay-back of your own, as JemCheetah says.

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[Gadget nee Jemcheeta]

Hey Av, no h in JemCheeta. Quirk of mine, coming from a long time of using the JemCheeta without the h. The actual reason there's no h is that undernet on mirc did not allow for the h in it's character count the first time I used it, but over time, it's gotten to be kind of a thing I like.

[Avatar]

Haha. Sorry, just in the habit of spelling correctly. But you've never mentioned it before, and I'm sure I've used it with the "h" in the past. Of course, I do try and make an effort to type names as they're displayed, but sometimes the brain just plays tricks on you.

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[Kymbierlee]

Hi, all. I'm sorry to have been absent so long. School is driving me nuts. I am also working day shift right now which doesn't leave me any time for school work or The Watch while I am at work. sniff, sniff....
I will be back on evening shift and on break from school in two weeks or so, and I'll spend lots of time here then! Sorry to hear about your misfortunes, Plisskin. I truly think a curse is something you have to believe in to really work well, but if you are pretty sure that is what has happened, get a small piece of obsidian and carry it to repel the negative energy. I wear an obsidian crystal on my necklace all the time, and I do feel less negativity directed toward me. At least, it is in my head that I am repelling negativity, so its effect on me is diminished. Good luck and keep me posted. Hugs to you all and I miss everyone!
Bright Blessings!
Kym

[Fist and Faith]

Hi Kym! Good to see you again.