My fellow travelers on some of the spiritual paths I've taken look like the antagonists in occult horror movies.
Not sure if it's moreso me or my surroundings that have been lucky that I haven't turned out that way, but either way, I'm grateful.
Conversation
Replying to
Do you mean that really? e.g. villainous, diabolically possessed, intense power used for nefarious self-centered goals? I’m curious if that’s hyperbole, or if I’m “off base” with my mental image of occult antagonists.
2
Replying to
Bohemia grove; ritual abuse of animals, minors; demonology...
Yeah, those assholes.
It's not the only way to use the tools, but it's the most recklessly rapid and, for more people than we'd like to think, the most compelling.
1
1
Replying to
Was there a danger that you might get involved in something like those examples, and exited? or that _______ spiritual disciplines had diverse (and some malevolent) branches and some people went astray?
1
1
Replying to
Left-hand path stuff generally has a phenomenally high casualty rate, in either the sense of getting good results but going mad or getting awful results.
I don't think I personally was ever much at risk, but you don't know if you are or aren't ahead of time...
1
1
And definitely, if you go for some of the more extreme practices that I haven't touched, or join groups, there are endemic risks.
Peer pressure is always a threat. I've always had certain distaste for authority.

