The Left Hand Path vs. The Right Hand Path
Too often, those on the left hand path spend more of their time explaining what their beliefs do not involve, rather than what they actually are about. Not everyone on the Left hand path is a Satanist.
Satanism is quite possibly the most misunderstood of all religions or philosophies. Some prefer the term secular humanism to avoid this reaction. Why?
Satanism and the left hand path is really about the self and reaching ones potential. Here are some ideas that left hand pathers embrace:
*You have to love yourself before you can love another;
*Only emotionally strong parents can produce stable children with healthy self-esteem,
*Question everything, including authority;
*Always look before you leap.
*Provide for self and close family
These are examples of a left handed view of life. It is a belief that forces an individual to be responsible for his or her self and actions. Because there is no one else to share the blame, it can be a difficult road to follow. There is no scapegoat. There is no forgiveness. There is only a focus on the present.
These are the characteristics of the left hand path, according to Wikipedia:
1) agnostic view
2) belief that people should strive to become deities
3) self-determined codes of morality
4) possible existence of male and female polarities as natural forces
5) possible existence of more than one god
6) practice and knowledge – not faith – makes a pagan (craft vs. religion)
7) deity is transcendant and imminente
8) person is responsible for his own actions
9) no external salvation
10) Magic is based on natural laws and works in accordance with science yet to be explained
11) there is a web of interconnection with the earth
As you read the above, you may notice there are not a lot of differences as compared to the characteristics of a pagan path.
John Allee explains it this way:
“The left hand path is about what goes on inside you. The right hand path is what goes on outside of yourself. In other words, the left hand path is esoteric and about the microcosm while the right hand path is exoteric and about the macrocosm. My favorite way to describe this is that the right hand path’s perception is about becoming, and the left hand path is about being.”
The left hand path focuses on change from within and evolution. The focus is about the here and now and not the hereafter.
The book religions that call themselves right hand path are building a community as they suffer in the present, waiting for the glorious day that they meet their God in heaven. They literally see this life as a waiting room that one is stuck in until they finally get the call for boarding.
Unfortunately, some pagans have also been conditioned, as children, to believe this way, and they carry this into their new spirituality as adults. The symptoms include:
*Judgment – there is always a right and wrong, not matter what the topic is. Their version of witchcraft (or whatever) is the right way and yours is not.
*Guilt – while a code of ethics is important, the pagan philosophy is one that focuses on responsibility. The book religions often have taught control through guilt. You will find these individuals afraid to admit to a mistake. They will also carry a lot of guilt with them. When things are not going their way, they will feel they are being punished, instead of being faced with a challenge to learn a valuable life lesson.
*Sexuality – as much as they try to deny it, they still have guilt over sex and their sexual identity. These are the people who are uncomfortable about any ideas that buck the traditional systems.
*But’s – no, this is not a misspelling. These are the people who are trying to follow a pagan path, yet in every description of their beliefs or a topic
they will add a “but.”
*Parent relations – you will often find that these people have not told their parents about their beliefs or actively hide their beliefs from family and friends. They often sound apologetic when talking about their beliefs and almost seem ashamed if a parent, peer or friend has found out about their religious interests.
*Good and evil – these individuals consistently pepper their conversations with people, places or things being good or bad, white or black, or good or evil.
There are other symptoms you will recognize through the words and actions of your friends. It is important that you educate rather than irritate. Remember, these individuals have been conditioned since childhood to believe certain things. Be understanding, and gently offer a different perspective.
Here is a different way to view the differences: the right hand path gives us a focus for the future The left hand path always favors the interests of the individual over the collective. "Do What Thou Wilt" is what many left hand pathers believe. The Wiccans will add harm ye none. The left hand pather says that almost anything you do may end up harming someone or something. The cow will not be thrilled that you are eating a hamburger. The grass will not be pleased if you are mowing it. The person who did not get the promotion or the new job will not be as happy as you are when you accept it.
Hermetic Law states for every action there is a reaction. Most of the left hand path rejects the idea of karma, but both paths can agree on Hermetics. These laws are natural laws handed down over thousands of years from Egypt.
The left hand path also has no use for the Three-fold Law. The right hand path adds to the idea of karma by using the Three-fold Law, stating that anything that will return to you, comes back multiplied.
Many Wiccans argue about just how many times a reaction occurs. LetÂ’s be honest here, if you hurt someone, you would not want to be hurt back once, three times or one hundred times. The Three-fold law is a way of warning people to remember their responsibility for their own actions.