Instant Gratification

Instant gratification is a bit like instant oatmeal, just add water and you have something that is nourishing, for a moment, but it does not last.

There have been a few discussions out here that have mentioned instant gratification and the effects it has on the Pagan movement, but in my eyes, it has not been discussed at great length.

I know that there are many Pagans who have the attitude of "I want what I want and I want it now!" There is not a problem with this attitude, for the most part, but where I take issue is when this attitude comes into conflict with spiritual practices that this type of attitude will not adhere too, examples are traditions that take more than the attention span of a 2 year old to understand and learn.

I admit that, at times, I do have the attitude "I want what I want and I want it now." I am human after all. How do I combat this? By understanding the long term results of fully understanding what I am doing, on my own personal spiritual path.

I am also going to address this issue of Native Americans, and their spiritual life, that is if they have one. I am a wee bit tired of individuals saying that others have shit on Native American traditions, when in some cases Native Americans are not even actively practicing their spiritual path. Tell me something. How is that desecrating their spiritual path? I do understand the whole profiting off of the Native American name, or tribe, and I think that is just utter chicken droppings. I can not stand un-authentic people let alone con artists, which I see individuals who profit off of any spiritual practice that they have not be educated about.

So let us open up a bit of a discussion about this problem of instant gratification, in regards, to the Pagan movement. How bad do all of you think this issue is? Is this issue something that can be remedied, and if it can not be remedied can it be at least herded into a nice little paddock? Also, do any of you see instant gratification beyond not understanding traditions, and spiritual practices?

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Permalink Reply by bohemiangelnoire on November 4, 2009 at 7:34pm: I do think instant gratification is a HUGE problem in the pagan community, but not because of paganism in and of itself, but because of the culture we live in. Most of us come from the prosperous west; fries and a shake at the snap of your fingers; instant entertainment with the click of a button. Want a yam? you can get one in an instant with a swipe of your card.

Everything can be delivered quickly, with very little effort, and without thought if one has everything hot-keyed correctly; so I think this kind of attitude gets carried over to people in their religious practice as well. Some come to Paganism thinking they don't have to wait for anything, shouldn't have to cultivate or breed patience, and in the end- just as many leave disillusioned when all of their dreams don't come true with their first browse through of a Silver Ravenwolf book.

That's where the whole "Shaman in a Weekend", "Priestess in 20 Pages", mentality comes in- both for those seeking instant gratification and those who know how to package things so they can make a profit from it.

I don't even want to get started on the common Western aversion towards "working for" something. The Secret only became successful because it made people believe they didn't have to put work into anything. They could just "think" about it, maybe make a collage to put on their wall, and VOILA!

But that's a whole 'nother discussion.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Miss Anne Thrope on November 4, 2009 at 7:38pm: Pish on The Secret. That book is nothing new, to me at least.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by bohemiangelnoire on November 4, 2009 at 8:05pm: I was on a board full of Christian women when The Secret hit it big and they got so pissed when I said they were one candle away from performing magic. You should have seen it. It was HILARIOUS!

It really does sound A LOT like sympathetic magic, and I wrote into Deos Shadow asking them to give their thoughts on it and they came out with the show, pretty much ripping the thing apart. Intention is well and good, but you have put some effort into any endeavor to get it to blossom.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carey Moore on November 4, 2009 at 8:04pm: I think this is an excellent point -- it may not be as much "a problem in Paganism" as much as it is a general cultural problem that is affecting Paganism.

But I think there are some books and teachers who are cashing in on the demand, to the detriment of the Pagan/magical community... books marketed to beginners that are recipe books of spells, rather than guides to personal development and study and practice. (How, exactly, is a spell supposed to work if one hasn't laid the internal groundwork?); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carey Moore on November 4, 2009 at 8:09pm: Oh hmmm... and I hesitate to even mention this for fear of where people will run with it... but you know, another thing that might be cultivating this attitude in mainstream culture is the "Chick tract back page" version of Christianity -- Complete Eternal Salvation and membership in the religion is available in just a few easy steps and can be accomplished pretty much immediately... so why should Pagan religions be any more complicated than that? ::headdesk::; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Miss Anne Thrope on November 4, 2009 at 9:16pm: Chick Tract Back Page? I have not heard of that. Pagan religions should not be complicated, at least not in my eyes. But, I do believe that they should be well thought out.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Edanna the Willow Witch on November 5, 2009 at 12:11pm: Oh dang... never heard of Jack Chick? Look him up. He's a NUT.

His tracts make me rofl :D
Edanna; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carey Moore on November 5, 2009 at 4:07pm: OMG. These are classic nutjob-evangelism. Little paper "cartoon" pamphlets handed out to try to convert people.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by By the Beat of My Own Drum on November 4, 2009 at 7:36pm: So....a thread on a thread on a thread?

There is no problem. If someone wants something they will work or research it till they have it. If they find this is not it, then they will fake it or keep looking. Whatever, I see no difference between then and now.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Miss Anne Thrope on November 4, 2009 at 7:38pm: Pretty much. Since I don't like to piggy back on someone else's discussion. :-); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gary ~Mit Leib und Seele~ on November 4, 2009 at 7:59pm: I don't believe that one can attain a true instant gratification in any practice. Let me give you an example. I used to instruct sailing. Never did we drop someone into a boat and say "OK SAIL!". Before you step onto a boat solo you need at least a basic understanding of what things are what they do and how they work. Then we as instructors sail with or along side and give them challenges to face. Usually that means a trial coarse of 3 pins in different relation to the wind to sail around and help them along till they are competent on their own. Then we set up little regattas for them to sharpen their skill.

So in magic or spirituality one must learn the concepts, tools, and terminology. Then practice the principles with some guidance, then solo practice. Of coarse this can be adjusted in methodology the steps toward the end result is basically similar.

Study should be ongoing for this is a life long process of learning.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Chapman on November 4, 2009 at 8:08pm: Like I said in the other 55 threads just like this: with such little commitment, the information will be as nothing to the individual looking for a quick fix. So whatever. Those who ARE committed and have worked hard to get where we are can worry about our own paths and not worry about those who aren't as committed. There's no point to it. And I speak from experience. Things that upset me at one time no longer do because I see how utterly pointless it all is. It doesn't further me along on my own spiritual path to worry about other's needs for instant gratification.

Personally, I dont think the problem within the pagan community is a desire for instant gratification: it's redundancy.; ▶ Reply to This