Magic and discipline

I agree..I kinda admired those from the more rigid orders, and some of the fanatics too..since if anyone has the will, focus, and energy for something..its definitely them. In their case, if something doesn't work..it probably meant the fanatics didn't understand what they wanted very well. That's another thing which is pretty common, sometimes we just don't understand whatever it is like we should, or some other bit of info that we need to. The lack of fun thingy, though.. All work no play? Some people can do that and are perfectly happy..I adore work, but without any fun..ANY fun whatsoever? I might as well keel over right there lol. Life's supposed to be fun, supposed to have spontaineously beautiful..random, outside the box type stuff happening..and oftentimes, whatever system one dedicates themselves to..depending, kinda squeezes that out. And those are the things I live for, it's one of the things that triggers my inspiration. Without my inspiration I can't write or paint..or anything. My art'd be lifeless lol. I'm pretty sure fun is one of those necessary things..to me, in any case. And I think the amount of fun varies from person to person. But hey, that's my opinion. I'm sure the people in the more strict traditions, systems, groups, etc have plenty of fun too..I just don't see me or a few others being happy in them. It's one of them things I guess..it's pretty cool. But we can be disciplined and still goof around plenty. I like to call it "Learning discipline at our own pace" which may be til we're a hundred, but whatever works lol.

Even in the occult orders that are rigid about training it is the practitioner him or herself that must exercise the self-discipline to do the repetitions and use the concentration skills to do it right. That said, visualizations and focusing are enough for me when I rarely work toward manifesting the good. Sometimes it feels like cheating since it comes without study and training, but there you have it.

in many ways you have an excellent point. I don't beleive every failure is down to lack of discipline, practice and skill, but a lot of people seem to think you can idly dabble and call yourself a Witch, when the title is not for someone that just plays at Magic, it is for one particularly able and skilled, and that takes shedloads of hard work, discipline, and a fair does of natural inclination. anyone can sing. doesn't mean you're a singer.

Discipline is unforunately a major part of magic, it's the only way to not only be safe - remember it can get dangerous and only the strongest can fight off attacks - but to give you the tools to actually do it. I've not been in a order for years, preferring to work on my own but when I was, there was a lot of fun, not during the serious rituals of course but definitely as a group we were. I remember my friend who is a witch saying that if you're not able to laugh, then you're in the wrong religion/order/group.

ive had friends that adhere to the stickler routine, ritualistic step-by-step stonefaced seriousness in every single ritualistic/magical thing they do. someohow they feel it is disrespectful or something to whatever god or goddess they happen to be doing rites to. ive been scolded for my lack of seriousness and my casual nature about it by such people..but never from Them ^ , and its never affected my practice any at all. THEY dont require the stodgy theatricals, They enjoy laughter and fun same as we do, and yer sposed to feel good while doing it, not stressed out wondering if yer doing things "wrong". just my two cents.