on coincidence, on destiny, on magick

[gurdonark]

"Room in the east invested with meanings,
Open to none but the strange and the wild
Sunset encounters with destiny's chances,
Envelopes marked for the personal life" --Bill Nelson

I met a powerful warlock once. How did I know he was powerful? It's simple, you see. I knew he was powerful because he told me so. In fact, he was so powerful that he had never met his equal in the handling of magicks. As I recall, his magick proved unequal to moving out of his mother's home, owning an automobile, or holding down a fulfilling job. As nearly as I could see, his magick was most strongly suited to dinner conversation, between liberal puffs of infinite cigarettes. But he was a powerful warlock--he told me so. What can be more powerful than an assured set of words?

I am a firm believer in destiny and in coincidence. I think that the universal is so complex that something can be both entirely destined and utterly coincidental.
I know, deep down, that destiny and coincidence are "magicks" that really do not exist side by side. But somehow it's less important to me whether my belief is literally true than whether it is what I experience as true.

I think that the search for genuine truth sometimes requires mistrust of one's emotions and "feelings" about truth. But I also think this same search sometimes requires embracing and doting on one's intuitive feelings about what is real. The process is like faith and skepticism liberally admixed--it requires a bit of both utter trust in emotion and utter disregard for emotion, although the two notions do not fit together.

I also wonder if it matters so much whether I live in a universe of destiny--or a universe of coincidence--or if, instead, it matters how I live in my mundane little part of that universe. All the great theological debates may be resolved in the teacup of science or the crucible of faith; still, my own part surely is little more than to be kind, meet my obligations, and perhaps pray liberally. Some wizards are destined for powerful magicks. But I believe that I'm called to live as if by coincidence.

Comments

"And it's worth a thought"

[kelquestor.livejournal.com]

What can be more powerful than an assured set of words?

Indeed. As someone whose words are often not assured but unsure, I am all too aware of the power of assertion.

But oh! The search for truth is a long and winding road, I'm finding. No wonder so many people choose never to embark upon it.

Re: "And it's worth a thought"

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

A long and winding journey, all in pursuit of a straight path....

[nacowafer.livejournal.com]

As much as I don't want to admit it, I think, I too believe in both fate and coincidence. And I guess that doesn't necessarily negate a very staunch belief in meaning. Although it doesn't seem logically sound. I like the notion that when something is so utterly complex, things that do not make sense in our less complex realm become completely acceptable tenants. Okay! I can buy that without too much integrity compromised. Maybe only a teacup...

Mr. Calvin and Mr. DesCartes

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

The problem of predestination v. free will (and hence, coincidence) runs through many world faiths, but the protestant tradition seems to make the largest conundrum of this problem. I do believe that it's all so complicated that things I can't understand as compatible make "perfect tenants". I just assume it's all too complex, that it all has meaning, that I must search for the meaning, and that I must act as if I can make choices that matter. But it might be cool to be actually be a powerful warlock, provided I got to own a car.

Re: Mr. Calvin and Mr. DesCartes

[nacowafer.livejournal.com]

I think I might know a warlock! Well, he kind of looks like a warlock--a nice, friendly one. I hope he is a warlock, in case I need to call upon his services some day. He has a really nice tattoo of a bat. Oh, and he's a librarian.

Re: Mr. Calvin and Mr. DesCartes

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

You travel in much more "with it" circles than I do. My mystics list stops at a cowboy pentecostal preacher in the making.

[adamskisaucer.livejournal.com]

i once spent the evening with an odd man who considered himself able to manifest any ability that he had read about in works of fiction. his contention was that when someone writes a coherent work of fiction, that reality, that univers, joins the ranks of all the possible, and therefore real universes. so, he felt able to utilize psychic powers or magickal spells based on this belief. he believed that he could even visit worlds that only exist in the minds of authors and readers
\
i have to admit, his assuredness was spooky. he had a very strong faith in this belief, and he didn't otherwise seem crazy. in fact until i left his presence it was easier to believe him and fear him, than dismiss him as insane, perhaps dangerously so. could he be a magician, and i missed the truck?

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

What a great story. I'd be hunting for great novels to manifest, had I but the faith of a mustard seed.

[scott-m.livejournal.com]

This is a heavy philosophical thread, even by Gurdonark standards, and it reminds me of a story told by a friend of mine who is a former seminary professor and currently is a manager of missionaries. He tells of interviewing one prospective missionary who was asked about the theological concept of Election (God chooses you). The missionary candidiate answered by citing Bible verses that support the Election concept and saying that he stands by what they say. Then he was asked about Free Will (You're free to choose God), and he cited Bible verses that support Free Will and said that he stands by what they say. He then said that he can't reconcile the two concepts, but that doesn't stop him from believing both of them. My friend thought that was the perfect answer.

I tend to believe that Truth is a journey rather than a destination. Our president these days sees Truth as a destination where he's arrived and is impatiently checking his watch waiting for us to join him.

And for what it's worth, I knew a guy in college who claimed to be a warlock. His magick consisted of getting tuition money from his mother, spending it on toys and games, and forging a diploma to show his mother at the end of the semester. Some trick, eh?

burning bushes

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I'm like, I suspect, most superstitious people, in that on some level I believe in the supernatural things, but on another level, I've never met someone who really personified them. As you note, this is really about predestination v. free will, although "magick", used out of context, is a nice stand-in.

I like the God in the whirlwind, although, frankly, the Job God seems a bit discourteous to me. The Baha'is have a concept that God is just too much to understand, so his prophets are mirrors, adapted to our limited perception.

Your warlock friend was a form of alchemist--turning gold into Star Wars figurines.