Window on the World
The concept of "world-view" is used often in new
age and spiritual discussions. It generally means quite simply what the words
themselves might suggest: the way an individual or group views the world they
live in. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines
world-view as "1. The overall perspective from which one sees and
interprets the world. 2. A collection of beliefs about life and the universe
held by an individual or a group."
Whatever world-view is held by an individual or group can be interpreted as
either the cause of events which impact that individual or group, or it may be
interpreted as having been created by the events which impact the individual or
group. For instance, if a particular world-view holds that the world or life in
general is a hostile environment requiring strength and competition in order
survive, this may be viewed as creating a kind of tunnel vision in which
everything that is perceived fits within the frame of competition and struggle.
Likewise, the world will continue to validate this particular scheme of
survival, and perhaps may be interpreted as having created the world-view being
described. But actually, if you think about it, both conditions are actually
quite true. The world-view (or general opinion) one holds will be validated by
experience, and experience will continue to perpetuate the particular
world-view that is held.The criminal mind, for instance, that holds the perception that the world is
unfairly stacked against it, offering nothing but obstacles toward success in
the way of slanders and derailments in a "rich versus poor man
world," will continue finding proof of this. And the proof that is offered
by this reality tunnel vision will only strengthen the likelihood that
reactions to the world will generate more instances of “punishment and
consequences” which the criminal will perceive as unfair. On the other hand,
the saintly mind that imagines or perceives that everything In the Universe is
beneficial and kind will in turn act kindly toward even events that others may
perceive as daunting and wicked.
Some hold the world-view that destiny is created in advance by an unknown or
unknowable force called “God” or something similar. Other’s hold the view that
the Universe is a random act with no personal forces whatsoever having been
involved; most hold a view that fits somewhere in the very broad spectrum
between those two. We may believe that the future has an outcome that can be
known with reasonable certainty and that in all eventualities there can be no
other outcome. Or we may believe that the future is only knowable within
certain parameters and can go in many different directions depending on the
application of various forces – including our own judgments and decisions based
on those judgments. One world-view is called “fatalism” and holds that no
matter what we do, the world is heading in a very specific direction in time
and such-and-such is going to happen. Other views may be such as “determinism”
which states that the future is determined, but not until after certain events
begin the chain reactions that lead to such-and-such outcome.
Because the world-views about this particular topic of fate versus determinism
are indeed cornerstones of every world-view out there, it is the one I wanted
to highlight for you in this article and relate it with your task of finding
the right source of psychic guidance. It’s important that you find for yourself
the type of advisor who can answer the questions you have in your life in a way
that makes sense for you. If you are a fatalist who believes that history was
decided even before you were born and that nothing is going to change the
course of events from genesis to apocalypse, no matter what you think or do, then
you need to seek the kind of counsel who sees things the same way (actually,
you aren’t seeking counsel but are instead seeking a sneak peak). If on the
other hand you believe that humans have been given the power to create reality
or co-create it alongside God or the gods of this Universe, then you will not
be served by a reader who tells you that nothing you do is going to change the
course of upcoming events. Likewise, if you discover a reader who tells you
more than one possible outcome dependent on the choices you make, and you
desire to argue with that person that this theory does not make sense, you are
not serving yourself with this particular philosophy and should seek your
guidance elsewhere.
Discovering if your reader is the type who believes in one future potential or
if your reader believes in the human potential to decide the future is maybe
not such an easy task unless the reader makes themselves perfectly clear in
some way what they believe. Almost every advisor here on Keen will say at some
point in their career that “the future is not written in stone” or that things
can change from their predicted outcomes “due to free will” or something
similar. So naturally we might easily assume that every psychic reader in the
world is a believer in the determinism school of thought. But strangely, this
isn’t exactly so. It’s like I hinted at above, the opinions about fatalism vs
determinism actually fit in a very broad spectrum somewhere between the two
absolutes. Yet, in any case, we can indeed make statements that a person leans
more so toward one or the other of the extremes.
One thing I have discovered for myself when deciding if I should think a reader
is a determinist or a fatalist is the type of reading spread or mechanism they
use. Of course, it is only fair at this point to tell you that my experience is
mainly limited to tarot readers and astrologers, so let me stick comparatively
to the field of tarot and hopefully help you conclude for yourself how to
determine the best style of reading or type of reader for yourself.
The most informative clue I can find about a tarot reader’s world-view on this
topic is the choice of tarot spread that they select for any given question.
Specifically for the sake of this discussion, we are sticking to the type of
question that asks for a future forecast of things to come and not on the types
of questions that are broader based such as “what is he feeling?” or even the
more specific “did he lie to me?” If I meet with a reader and ask something
such as, “what is the outcome of this particular direction I see myself
currently faced with,” I will learn by the exact spread that is chosen right
away whether the reader is a fatalist or if the reader believes in my own
self-determination in this matter.
Spreads that discuss only the situation itself
with one outcome obviously suggest that the person who believes in using that
style of reading believes there is only one outcome or at the very least there
is only one outcome that can be viewed at the time of the reading. On the other
hand, if you find a reader (such as myself) who will describe to you two or
more possible outcomes to come, and various choices that will be available for
you along the way and actions you can decide on at those times, then you have
found a reader who believes in the power of the person facing the future.
So choose carefully the reader you are looking for. It will not serve you if
you believe in the power of your own heart and soul to manifest the future you
desire only to discover that the advisor you are giving your hard earned money
to doesn’t also believe in that but rather has reached the conclusion that God
has or has not already written your name in the book of the happy. Likewise, if
you believe that it doesn’t matter what you do from this day forward and your
future will be what it will be because it was created for you the second that
Adam and Eve touched lips, then it won’t be of much use to discover yourself
listening to a spiritual counselor who is trying to teach you how you can
become the future you might possibly prefer to earn instead of the one you are
on the path to discovering.
I am a reader who believes in your power to make things happen and discover the
right choices as you go. I am a reader who believes also that we humans can
easily get ourselves confused into believing we know what is best for us when
in truth we might actually be shooting ourselves in the foot trying to learn
some hard lessons toward a design that is indeed happier for us. Like the
fatalists, I do believe that we came to this earth each of us with a plan and a
tendency to desire what is best for us and what will fulfill our wildest dreams
of being happy, healthy, and wise – but the determinist in me also knows that
some times in order to become all these things, “the angels of our better natures”
sometimes decide to dish out some tough love. So call me if you believe you
have a path of importance and you want to know the surest route to its
conclusion.