Dearest readers, I assume you realize by now that my interests, hobbies, and pastimes aren’t, shall I say, conventional.  In fact, I’m in a distinct minority of people who:

• Believe in God
• Believe in the gods
• Believe in spirits (ghosts, angels, demons, fey, etc.)
• Talk to spirits
• Practice magic

I know it may be shocking to some amongst you, dearest readers, that I’m a magician, but I do hope you at least saw it coming a few dozen miles off.  I mean, I don’t see why else you’d be reading my blog, otherwise, except maybe to look for evidence that the Illuminati/Freemasons/Jews/Space lizards are taking over the world through…Renaissance philosophy, metalworking, and mental working?  If anything, it just makes too much sense.

Of course, I admit that I’m not normal, nor am I conventional or even “modern” according to some definitions of the word.  One of my friends spoke to a psychologist about being able to interact with spirits, magic, and the like, and the reply she got was along the lines of this:

Do you expect others to see ghosts?  You are aware that culturally you are expected not to mention it to strangers in casual conversation, but that in other cultures it is acceptable to do so, right?  Then you are sane, whatever your spiritual beliefs and mystical experiences are.  If you told me that there was a giant pink teddybear on the ceiling of your house ordering you to hurt me and expected me to see and interact with it too, then you would be dangerously insane by the legal definition.

I admit, fully and wholeheartedly, that what I do is not common, nor is it “normal” (at least in my cultural context).  I admit that my interacting with supernatural forces and entities, mostly nonphysical ones, is unconventional and not scientifically supported by any modern theory of physics, chemistry, or other peer-reviewed established branch of scientific research of this day and age.  I understand that there is no hard evidence that the forces and entities I work with, call upon, make friends and enemies with, and study exist, much less have any material effect on the world.

But then, so what?  I’m not interacting with forces that are quantifiable, so why should I expect quantifiable methods to approve of it?  I’m not interacting with tangible entities that can be seen with the eyes, so why should I expect a culture centered on the materially tangible and visible to experience what I experience?  I’m not trying to push my hobbies onto others as something everyone should do, only that it’s something appropriate for me and my interests, and maybe others if it’s close to their interests, too.  My way of seeing the world is not the same as yours; we both see the same thing, but we react to it and think about it in different ways for different needs and purposes.  I’m not causing you harm, and I’m not calling you wrong for doing things differently while still being functional, happy, and productive.

You and I may have different points of view on how it might work, or the best way to make it work, or about the repercussions of making it work.  We may especially differ on whether it works at all, and whether there might be something better to do with my time and life than spending it on this stuff.  That’s alright that we hold different opinions: there are different ways to view the universe, all of which are valid, but some of which might hold more value in some circumstances than others.  However, don’t claim that I’m crazy because I don’t follow your opinions or points of view.  Don’t claim that I’m detrimental to society because I have different hobbies than my neighbors.  Don’t claim that I’m evil because I subscribe to a different notion of divinity and morality than you.  Don’t claim that I’m living poorly because I don’t care to chase after the same goals you do.  Don’t claim that I’m wasting my time because you don’t think the endeavors I follow are worthwhile.  Don’t claim anything about me at all; just watch, and keep your opinions to yourself unless you want to discuss them and how you arrived at them with me, and how we might better both of ourselves by it.