Demons

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

greensh has got me thinking about where demons might factor into the shamanist worldview of all those others out there who practice, or are interested in some form of shamanism.

There is quite a drive for 'fluffy shamanism' out there, in the same manner that there is 'fluffy Wicca.' Watered down versions of practice that are sanitised and made 'malice' or 'darkness' free so that even a neopagan can go 'but Baba Yaga is full of love!!!', and a neoshaman can say, 'the Underworlds are even safer than the real world! RLY!'

However, while this drive continues, there is also the stark 'reality' of the Otherworlds and what they present.

So do you believe in demons? Not in the classical Christian sense, but as beings that inhabit this realm or the Otherworlds? Do they factor into your worldview, and how?

Have you encountered with them / worked with them / avoided them like the plague?

When did you first realise they were there in the Otherworlds? Or did you learn via others?

Comments

[joansies.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit confused. Do you mean demons as in - malicious spirits/forces/whatever? I certainly believe in malicious forces. I've only encountered such in passing. I don't work with anything potentially dangerous, if I can help it.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit confused. Do you mean demons as in - malicious spirits/forces/whatever?

Generally, though I don't believe all 'demons' are malicious, but that's just me.

So if you call them malicious forces or entities instead of demons, then sure! :)

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

Well, I think I've kinda always known they've existed. Some can even be helpful. I guess it kind-of depends. I met a water demon once. It was interesting. I'm not really sure I've ever thought about it all that much. Sometimes I run into them, sometimes not.

[starlightwind.livejournal.com]

Hm, well, I can say that in my travels I have met with a few different "less than pleasant" entities/beings, though I'm not sure if I would use the term demon. That's a pretty loaded word for what I've run across.

I've seen entities that want to cause harm, but more because they've either grown or been programmed that way. Like the residual energetic beings that are left behind after a big tragedy and know no other way of existing except pain. Then i've run across beings that are just on a completely different moral page than I am. It's not that they're specifically malicious, just that we totally disagree on particular important topics. Then I've run across those that attack but out of either self-protection, protection of others, or a test.

I can't say I've run across a stereotypical demon, one who's just cruel and dangerous for no reason than "because". But spiritually I tend to be of a darker persuasion, so perhaps I just don't notice as much as say a super white-lighter squish bunny would.

[rivenscythe.livejournal.com]

I've met several that might fit the description, but only relatively few of those were originally earth-bound spirits as far as I could tell. Of the spirits, I don't know if I could even call them a "lower order" demon. Of the other entities... definitely.

I fought some demonic looking entities in the lowerworld once as part of a series of tests/lessons, but all the rest of been in the middleworld/this one. And yes, I'm aware I'm making a distinction between the two there, and it is on purpose.

Would I go out of my way to seek them out? Haven't needed to yet. Would I do so in the future? If I have a good enough reason.

Lastly, anyone under the impression that they are perfectly and completely 110% safe in the otherworlds needs to cash their reality cheque before they get themselves, or others, hurt through overconfidence.