Mental Health and Metaphysical

[STARRYSKY]

this is just my point of veiw and in no way mean to offend anyone.
I have experience with a lot of mental health isues in my family (both my mum and dads extended family) and dps mother.
It seems to me that a lot of the time people with mental health issues seem to use "religion" or spirituality as a crutch. I dont mean this necessarily as a negative, just something that helps them get through the day to day.
My fathers mother (who has no idea who I am) is we think bi polar, has never actually been diagnosed, has a history of changing church, belief or religion every few months or so, my mums sister who I was once very close to is also diagnosed manic depressive (now known as bi polar) possibly drug induced, anyway a few years ago she decided the best thing for herself to do was up and move states, cut contact with everyone and become a born again christian, with very rigid beliefs etc. seeing as my mum is a white witch who reads tarot cards she has been advised to have no contact with our family as we are evil and in league with the devil, productive or good for her mental health? I think not!
anyway, I guess I going off on a tangent here, sorry, I think I made my point..?

[paradise lost]

The waters are muddied because it's hard to know if people who are spiritual are seeing/hearing/witnessing real phenomena which others cannot detect or if their mind is conjuring these things out of nothing.

As someone who has worked since a young age on grounding in this reality and NOT seeing the bits of awareness i'm not supposed to, i would say that yes, it's possible that for some reason some people are seeing through this reality and onto others which taken as they are seen make no sense. I think some people are just more open to that. My experience was one which led me to know that it is easier to shut the door than to deal with what is on the other side of it. I don't feel it was a "gift" any more than having size 8 feet or being blonde is. The ability is there but i reject it.

Part of the problem with drug use is that if, in order to access a different plane of reality, you open a gate inside yourself, then using drugs to do the same basically blows the gate right out of its hinges. Then you have no gate you can shut over and whatever is on the new plane you accessed can come hassle you all the time.

As a child i had the tendency to leave my body so now i work on accessing the higher awarenesses physically with tantra, yoga, running and so on. Physical meditation, for ME, is a safer way. But i'll bet drugs are quicker and lots of people want the feelings without the work.

[LimeSlice]

I think you have touched on another aspect too there Hoobley.
From my personal experience many people experience one form of astral travel/projection at some stage in their lives, most not knowing what it actually is or dismissing it for dreams, etc. But I think its highly possible that many people with mental disorders or problems are not aware of what they are doing, nor ho to do it safely, or properly, or simply prevent themselves from doing it full stop.
Part of the major teachings of most pagan relgions is the understanding and correct use of AP, and how to stay safe doing it. It is not something that should be taken ightly as it can lead to things we are not prepared for.
And I think that often these negative aspects and contacts could manifest as something most classify as a mental disorder or disease.

[Caramello]

Sounds like Spiritualism and Paganism has similar teachings about controlling astral travelling and openings of aura, Limeslice.

Which was going back to my original point - if some of these people had been taught how to do this, rather than going straight to a mental health diagnosis, would they have the same issues?

Hoobley, I'm amazed that you have been able to keep the otherworldly at a distance. Amazed, but I understand. My mum is very similar.

I'm actually the opposite - I needed to have knowledge of what was going on in order to reduce my own fears and understand this spiritual side of myself.

It's been fun trying to integrate it all!

[AnyDream]

As someone who has worked since a young age on grounding in this reality and NOT seeing the bits of awareness i'm not supposed to, i would say that yes, it's possible that for some reason some people are seeing through this reality and onto others which taken as they are seen make no sense. I think some people are just more open to that. My experience was one which led me to know that it is easier to shut the door than to deal with what is on the other side of it. I don't feel it was a "gift" any more than having size 8 feet or being blonde is. The ability is there but i reject it.

Part of the problem with drug use is that if, in order to access a different plane of reality, you open a gate inside yourself, then using drugs to do the same basically blows the gate right out of its hinges. Then you have no gate you can shut over and whatever is on the new plane you accessed can come hassle you all the time.

Yes Yes YES!!!

[LimeSlice]

Gargy: It would be interesting to tell, but thoe with the most intimate knowledge do not share it, because it is not to be shared.
There is a reason the Masons are a secret society, there are reasons why there are keepers of the secrets which are not to be shared exist. And one of them is the power that is involved with fully understanding an dcontrolling the extreme effects (and affects) of such things, is simply too great for understanding - to quote common cartoons (lol) it is used to evil, instead of good!
So hence, information needs to be protected to protect people from themselves...iykwim!
That's why it takes 20 years to complete a druidic apprenticeship...lol..you got to be committed!! lol

But Ido think that there are mental disorders out there...I watched an American Dateline program this mornig about a ma who has utterly convinced me of that (scary fellow!!) I just dont always agree with how society deals with it and the people who suffer under them.