Curious about a concept in the BIP

[Luna]

...
For people who are curious about how I got to the point I'm at:  I started out Catholic, learned about Wicca before internet access when all I had were books and no local people and read literally everything I could find about Wicca and paganism.  Then I met someone who practiced shamanism and became interested in it.  I read, once again,  literally everything I could find access to on the subject (although I don't think I actually read any Casteneda somehow, I might have read one book...?).  I took Comparative Religion and Philosophy courses, which helped add to my path.  I also talked to many people over the years who walk the path with different training backgrounds.  I do not and have not attempted to follow any specifically Native American tribal practices because I have not been trained in them and that would be disrespectful.  I have studied shamanism from around the world.  My personal background is Northern European in an area where shamanism is still practiced and I've tried to get more information on that particular branch, but it is hard to come by.  Beyond that, a lot of practice and trail and error on my part.

What exactly does "trial and error" mean in this context?
How do you tell the difference between success and failure?

Read this:

http://www.amazon.com/House-Stairs-William-Sleator/dp/0140345809/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305572558&sr=1-1

Pretty clear illustration in it on how people determine the difference between success and failure.

I should read that book again.

I need to track down a copy.  The fact that I read this YEARS ago and it's stuck with me this long suggests it's worth reading again.

[Don Coyote]

...
For people who are curious about how I got to the point I'm at:  I started out Catholic, learned about Wicca before internet access when all I had were books and no local people and read literally everything I could find about Wicca and paganism.  Then I met someone who practiced shamanism and became interested in it.  I read, once again,  literally everything I could find access to on the subject (although I don't think I actually read any Casteneda somehow, I might have read one book...?).  I took Comparative Religion and Philosophy courses, which helped add to my path.  I also talked to many people over the years who walk the path with different training backgrounds.  I do not and have not attempted to follow any specifically Native American tribal practices because I have not been trained in them and that would be disrespectful.  I have studied shamanism from around the world.  My personal background is Northern European in an area where shamanism is still practiced and I've tried to get more information on that particular branch, but it is hard to come by.  Beyond that, a lot of practice and trail and error on my part.

What exactly does "trial and error" mean in this context?
How do you tell the difference between success and failure?

Read this:

http://www.amazon.com/House-Stairs-William-Sleator/dp/0140345809/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305572558&sr=1-1

Pretty clear illustration in it on how people determine the difference between success and failure.

I should read that book again.

I need to track down a copy.  The fact that I read this YEARS ago and it's stuck with me this long suggests it's worth reading again.

I think I was in middle school when I read this.

[LMNO]

You know, I've never heard of this book.  The blurb on Amazon makes it sound very interesting.

[Luna]

You know, I've never heard of this book.  The blurb on Amazon makes it sound very interesting.

It was in the school library when I was a kid.  Like I said, it's stuck in my head this long.  Not all the details, but...

I imagine it's a little dated, at this point, but worth a read.

[Don Coyote]

You know, I've never heard of this book.  The blurb on Amazon makes it sound very interesting.

It's worth a read. From what I remember it's filled with deliberately inflicted confirmation bias.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Oh wow, I completely forgot about that book! It was a good read.

[Wyldkat]

I actually do not consider the Spirit World a metaphor.

That's because your brain is wired wrong.

*laughing* Since I use that phrase on a daily basis, there is no way I can disagree with you!

I actually do not consider the Spirit World a metaphor.  I also find very little trouble personally resolving science and my spiritual beliefs

In case you were wondering, this is why most of us mock you.

Guilty as charged.

I knew that.  Spiritual paths in general tend not to mesh with "Reality" for a lot of people.  I didn't expect respect for my path (or many things for that matter) here, but that doesn't stop me from being curious about people's reasoning for the disrespect.

Although I doubt anyone is interested, there is a good book about shamanism and science out there that I can look up if anyone is curious.

[Don Coyote]

I actually do not consider the Spirit World a metaphor.

That's because your brain is wired wrong.

*laughing* Since I use that phrase on a daily basis, there is no way I can disagree with you!

I actually do not consider the Spirit World a metaphor.  I also find very little trouble personally resolving science and my spiritual beliefs

In case you were wondering, this is why most of us mock you.

Guilty as charged.

I knew that.  Spiritual paths in general tend not to mesh with "Reality" for a lot of people.  I didn't expect respect for my path (or many things for that matter) here, but that doesn't stop me from being curious about people's reasoning for the disrespect.

Although I doubt anyone is interested, there is a good book about shamanism and science out there that I can look up if anyone is curious.

If your spiritual path cannot interact in a meaningful way with reality you need a barstool inflicted on your skull.

[Cain]

Spiritual paths in general tend not to mesh with "Reality" for a lot of people.

Yes.  There is a fairly obvious reason for that, too.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I knew that.  Spiritual paths in general tend not to mesh with "Reality" for a lot of people.

That's because reality isn't subjective.

Although I doubt anyone is interested, there is a good book about shamanism and science out there that I can look up if anyone is curious.

Oh, this I GOTTA see.

[LMNO]

So... you already know why most of us mock shamanism, and yet you wanted to know why we mocked shamanism?


That's incredibly stupid.  Why don't you try asking a question you don't know the answer to?

[Cain]

So... you already know why most of us mock shamanism, and yet you wanted to know why we mocked shamanism?


That's incredibly stupid.  Why don't you try asking a question you don't know the answer to?

Because

Spiritual paths in general tend not to mesh with "Reality"

[Don Coyote]

So... you already know why most of us mock shamanism, and yet you wanted to know why we mocked shamanism?


That's incredibly stupid.  Why don't you try asking a question you don't know the answer to?

Because

Spiritual paths in general tend not to mesh with "Reality"

[Succulent Plant]

So... you already know why most of us mock shamanism, and yet you wanted to know why we mocked shamanism?


That's incredibly stupid.  Why don't you try asking a question you don't know the answer to?

She's mentioned being into masochism, and some of those types get off on being humiliated, so perhaps she's intentionally inviting the mockery because it makes her horny.

[Phox]

So... you already know why most of us mock shamanism, and yet you wanted to know why we mocked shamanism?


That's incredibly stupid.  Why don't you try asking a question you don't know the answer to?

She's mentioned being into masochism, and some of those types get off on being humiliated, so perhaps she's intentionally inviting the mockery because it makes her horny.

Her abject humiliation sure makes ME horny.