Tag Archives: karma

Witchy Questions: Do you believe in Karma or Reincarnation?

This post was inspired by Question #12 from this list.

I’m not a big fan of the concept of karma, at least not in the sense that there is some cosmic scorekeeper that makes sure you receive the same amount of good and/or bad as you put out into the world. I do get the impression that my own understanding of wyrd is very similar to the tradition Hindu understanding of karma. But my understanding of the Hindu understanding of karma is limited by the fact that I’m not terribly familiar with that religious tradition. So my understanding may be completely wrong. So I prefer to focus on wyrd rather than attempt to co-opt the word “karma.”

As for reincarnation, I tend to have complicated beliefs about that. The short answer is that I believe in reincarnation and actually consider rebirth into a new life after death to be the desirable outcome rather than something to be escaped through some sort of reunion with the Divine. This life is full of wondrous things and I want to live again so I can experience them again. Or maybe have all new experiences.

I’m also not convinced that souls are atomic units, either. I tend to believe that it’s more a case that our essence — that vitalizing force within all things — flows back into the universe and flows where to wherever it may. So my essence may end up helping to revitalize a bunch of different people and living things rather than just getting repackaged as a whole into a single body.