Karma??

[Myst]

Have you ever noted a situation wherein someone you knew received karmic repercussions in a noticeable way? Did they realize it was karma? Did they have no idea? Did you want to "tip" them on it? Do you think they will realize it?

[WolfWoman]

I think it depends. I live in a side by side duplex and the woman next door is a habitual liar (to me as well as everyone else she comes in contact with), and she's manipulative. In the 4 years I've been living next door to her (not for long, I'M MOVING!!!) I've seen the karmic boomerang on her many times. I honestly think that alot of people don't get it - I mean people who are so self centered and self absorbed can't see the forest for the trees, they don't think that lying, cheating, and using people as a bad thing if they get what they want. She's lied to my face countless numbers of times, knowing full well I KNOW she's lying - I won't tip her off - she's not stupid and she understands karma, yet she continues. When she does things like that I just kick back and wait for it; and it ALWAYS comes back. Fairly quickly I might add.

I'd like to think tho, that in some people a little lite goes off to tip them off that they're not acting right. It happened to me many years ago, I think or at least I hope that they can grow passed it.

[Danustouch]

Yep..i see it all the time. Sometimes, if the person is close to me, i'll try and remind them of Karma, and ask.."do you think that anything you could have done could have caused this". But..I leave it at that. Most of the time, they don't realize it's karma at work, anyway...unfortunately.

Love it when Instant Karma happens though;)

I already told myst this story, but I'm going to share it with the rest of you.

One beltane, a couple of friends and I decided as part of our celebration, to go swimming in a local swimming hole. When we got there, there were already a bunch of teenage punks (and i mean..these kids were PUNKS), there. We almost left, but decided to stay. The kids started making jokes about our bodies..etc. And being generally rude. All of a sudden, one guy goes diving into the water, and when he came out, his ..umm..private parts had come out of his swim shorts (actually, a pair of boxers). Now..due to the cold water, it was of course..umm....shrunken. Which gave us the perfect opportunity to point, laugh, and make hand gesture indicating "tiny". LOL.

I've never seen anybody turn so red in my life, and they left soon after that.

I couldn't help but feel magick involved in that one...Either Karma, or the hand of the Goddess..or maybe some water sprites :)

heheheh. It was just too perfect. Beltane Morning, Three Women. And get this. One of them a younger girl (17), one of them aged 23, and pregnant, and me, 25. It was almost maiden, mother, crone like. And ..it was beltane morning. So it HAD to have been magickal. LOL>

[WolfWoman]

:crylaugh:


That's just BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I can't stop laughing.....


:crylaugh:

[Lavender]

:lol: Never mess with the Goddess! That was priceless!

[Illuminatus]

Karma's real. I don't think it's anything magical, I think that peoples actions naturally have consequences that they may not intend on. Liars get caught up in their own webs, and suffer. Good people who do good things are noticed, and enjoy aid un-looked-for. You really do reap what you sow, but it's not a hard-and-fast rule; and there are notable exceptions and many jerks do win in the long run, and many nice people are so nice that they'll happily dig their own graves just to spare someone else the trouble. My new lady is like that, the latter. I am trying to teach her to be more self-centered.

[Myst]

Yeah. There's also that idea that if you're always p*ssed off at someone you end up being the bitter old loser who sits in their shorts at the computer all day and night in the dark who has no friends... you're just too busy plotting to have time to be happy or accomplish goals...

Same goes for everything I guess.

[Lavender]

I think that some people need more than a gentle karmic nudge before they learn. I've seen some pretty bad things happen to people & they still make the same mistakes over & over again. Each time, the repercussions will get worse & worse but they still don't learn. Others need just a 'gentle' reminder & they're set.

I also believe that Karmic return doesn't always happen on our terms or time. Not all of it will be in this lifetime. I believe that the Akashic records will balance out in the long run.

[Myst]

I keep telling Hellfire I must've been realllllllllllllllllllllly good in a past life or something.. either that or the karmic records are fubar'd :)

[Kiya]

And read it, too!!!!

I intellectually believed in Karma, but it is only in the last three weeks that I've seen it in action. After 4 years making one wrong decision after another (and mounting up some really nasty emotional, financial and physical problems) I make one painful, but ultimately right decision and my Goddess pours blessings into my lap!! What I'm trying to do now is pay back all this good stuff by doing some nice things myself, not only magickal, but stuff that takes time and effort.

Me have aching cheeks from big grin that seems to be permanently on my face at the moment!!!

So, I guess I'm the dense type that doesn't take a hint... but thank goodness the Goddess is forgiving enough not to make me wait 'til my next lifetime to send some good stuff back!

[GingerBurkley]

I've done things that I knew I shouldn't, and had serious consequences for my actions. And I knew I was just getting what I deserved. That's why now I live my life with the thought ever-present in my mind that whatever I do comes back to me. Something as simple as letting someone merge in front of me on the highway can bring blessings later in the day (even if they don't give me my thank-you wave).

I had a neighbor 4 years ago who was determined that she could entice me into a lesbian relationship, even though I repeatedly told her I wasn't interested. When I finally told her that if she didn't stop putting the moves on me I would never speak to her again, she turned totally evil, never missing an opportunity to hurt me or my daughter. It was a tough 6 months before I could afford to move away. After I was gone, she kept trying to get in touch with me, begging for my forgiveness and saying I was the best friend she ever had and she knew she had ruined our friendship and would I give her one more chance. I did not. She began taking antidepressants, gained about 200 pounds and is now in a mental institution, still writing to people and asking if they know where I am. I'm sorry for her, but I can't have people like that in my life. And, quite frankly, I feel she brought this all on herself. Although I'm no Bible-bearer, I believe you should treat people the way you want to be treated.

[MagickHLHgurl]

I deffinetly believe in karma....i've been influenced by it as have people i know....for example....my ex cheated on almost everyone she had been with(including me) then the one person she doesnt cheat on moves to Florida but not before admitting she never fuly trusted my ex was faithful.....

[WolfWoman]

Cheating is a bad thing no matter how you slice it, and trust me, that ALWAYS comes back.

I think sometimes that with some of the wonderful people I have in my life (and there aren't many, believe me) that they were sent to me so we could teach each other things. I was not a very likeable person 13 years ago and I can recall several times when a dear friend would point something out that wasn't right, or a reaction I may have had to something. I think sometimes if you're doing something that is karmically damaging it takes a little 'nudge' from someone you care about to point it out. Of course, it's up to the individual to make the changes.

[Twig]

Have I seen manifestations of it?

Oh Yea! A person, who now has no name to me, stole my ritual dagger a few years back. When asked what I would do I replied,

Nothing. I call on Karma to provide the justice I seek.

One month later I found out that they are serving 1-5 years for Burglery and Theft. :eek: :D ;)

True story. Peace,
Twig
:elf:

[Myst]

I just find it interesting to wonder about when I see people who I feel are receiving their karmic reward and they really have no idea. Rather then recognizing they made a mistake and trying to remedy it they spiral further into it.

[Lavender]

Another question on Karma. Do you think people can take on someone elses karma? I don't believe so. I hear people say things like "it's ok, I'll take the full responsibility for the karmic backlash" (not here). It made me stop & think about it. I think people as individuals are responsible for what they do...no matter how someone else says they're not.

[Myst]

A lot of people think they know a lot of things and it would do them good to take some time to reflect on reality.

[Danustouch]

Here is one thing..that I find rather odd. I unfortunately had a stalker a while back, and the reason she was stalking me, is that she claimed I was her Karmic Enemy in multiple past lives. She invented these elaborate "Past Life Memories", in which I screwed her over one way or another, and claimed that it was her duty to "Mete out Karma" to me. Basically, the woman was out for blood. Luckily, the situation has since passed. The police got involved, and everything. But...are we in danger, when we claim that we're seeing someone elses karma, of being the same kind of person? I mean..as I've said. I can sometimes see how someones karma is affecting their lives. However, my sight doesn't reach into their past lives, and say..."Oh..this is happening because he/she did this or that in a past life, and that is why this is happening to them now.". I mean..i might draw a conclusion, and say that somewhere in this persons souls existence, something may have happened to contribute to their present situation. However, I would never reach as far as my stalker did on the subject...

Anyway...I've always believed that it is not my responsibility to "mete out karma" to anybody for anything he or she has done in a past life, or even THIS life, to me. Does anyone here feel differently?

[Myst]

*bump*

[Myst]

I believe people learn their own lessons and face their own karma. Very rarely do I feel the need to help karma along - only in extinuating circumstances. But I think the woman you're talking about was just nuts and looking for some arcane reason to be nuts.

[flar7]

I think it can be avoided, have seen it done. Or at least in this life
if such is the case, but have also seen some "friends" reap their
"just" rewards!

[Myst]

Yup. There's always the next life tho.

Wildchild I agree totally with you.

[s1ren]

I'm sitting at this stoplight about a year ago. There's a green minivan next to me--in the MIDDLE of the red light, she just takes off, blows through the next one, turns and heads on down the road. I hate drivers like that.

I wait my turn, then go when both lights turn green. I just happened to be going the same way the minivan did. When I get up to the next intersection--there she is: van turned over, broken all to heck down one side, surrounded by cops. She had blown through two more lights then turned--RIGHT smack into a police car! She was out and walking around, so she was ok. She sure got what she was asking for!

Did she realize it? Doubt it. She was probably only pissed that she was late to work and had to spend $ to fix her van.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Someone I knew? Nope. Not that I can recall offhand. I've *wondered* if a friend of mine was recieving a bit of it. She loves animals, but she doesn't understand how to take care of them. Her poor cats have never been healthy, and as soon as one has an irritating or expensive problem, she gets rid of it and gets a new kitten. She kills her fish-- she has two large, beautiful Oscars that are dying as we speak because she can't afford a larger aquarium for them--she was GIVEN one, but she didn't want to waste the space on the Oscars..she wanted "cool" fish for the big tank that would've been a perfect home for the Oscars. She will *not* hear talk of changing the way she cares for animals, either. She just doesn't care.

And she has no end of medical problems that seem to have no explanation. Hmmmm?

-s1ren

[Myst]

Is there ever a time when you want to tell someone "hey smarty take a look at all the problems you're having, see what karma comes when you do something nasty to others for no good reason?"

Because I'm *really* having that right now. Maybe if someone accepted their karma and their lesson they'd find it easier to get through the problem.

[Nina]

I've actually said that, but to myself in the mirror. Took me three years to work out exactly why my life had turned into a pile of poo.

[Wyrdsister]

Originally posted by Danustouch
....bodies..etc. And being generally rude. All of a sudden, one guy goes diving into the water, and when he came out, his ..umm..private parts had come out of his swim shorts (actually, a pair of boxers). Now..due to the cold water, it was of course..umm....shrunken. Which gave us the perfect opportunity to point, laugh, and make hand gesture indicating "tiny". LOL.

I've never seen anybody turn so red in my life, and they left soon after that. "It looks like a penis, only smaller!" :T :D


My internal jury is still out on the concept of Karma. While I do feel there is something to it (and oh, do I ever want there to be something to it!) I haven't seen that many examples of it in my personal experience. Maybe I'm one of those people who hasn't woken up and smelled the karma yet! :D

Here's to learning to see the forest for the trees,
Wyrdsister

[Laiste]

My husbands ex- boss was an extremely rude, nasty obnoxious. loudmouth!! He caused problems for everyone and no one ever lasted too long at the job. Well a few years after my husband left that job his ex-boss had a stroke and can no longer talk! He can still write to communicate but can no longer hurt people with his words (verbally anyway)! He got fired from his position (just before the stroke) and took the co-op to court. He lost the case!

From what I hear he still writes nasty letters to people and has even threatened a few! Now he is being brought up on charges of harrasment. It has come full circle for him! I don't think he realizes what's happened though.

I don't think that people realize unless they are out of the situation and have actually learned from it and moved on.

[Myst]

Oh yeah. Sometimes I wonder if people are subconsciously harming themselves and that's how karma comes through - like if you're bitter about someone for months and angry and get yourself worked up and then you start getting sick from that stress.. it might be karma but I think it's also you working yourself up and making yourself have problems because of it.

I also know a few people who, if they could realize and take responsibility for their negative actions, could probably overcome them and be better people - they're facing their own self inflicted karma.

[Danustouch]

Ummmmm..welll...I can certainly attest to the "Getting all worked up and stressed out, and then getting sick" thing. That happens to me all the time. But I think it has far more to do with the fact of internalizing ones' feelings, then with the feelings being present in the first place. Let me clarify that...

In my case...If I get angry at a person, and tell the person, immediately, and get it "off my chest"...i'm fine. I don't get ill. But..if I feel that I cannot relate my feelings, cannot let go of them, cannot "Get it off my chest" i very soon after develope athsma problems, or bronchitis. Specifically, with people very close to me. My mate, and my parents. This happened just recently, and I had to go into the hospital. Why?

Because somehow, between childhood, and adulthood, I stopped speaking my mind. I don't know where it happened, or when. I never had problems as a Teen. I always said EXACTLY what I felt, or thought. But as I grew older, I developed more "Respect" for my parents, and possibly, an appreciation for all they did for me when I was young. Thus, when they tick me off...and I mean..they REALLY do, still to this day, I feel like I cannot tell them what they are doing wrong, how they are making me angry, How I feel, etc. Out of "Respect". And also, probably, because I live so far from them now, our contact is so rare, that I am afraid of causing an irreperable rift between us. So I internalize it. I fume for days, internally. My throaght and chest constrict, my muscles in my back, knot..and a few days later..BAM..i'm in the ER with an athsma attack, or bronchitis. It never fails. And oddly enough, Lungs are often associated with Communication. the Element of Air. And I am a Gemini. Also, in Native American Astrology, my Totem, is the Deer. And in that system, Deer's greatest vulnerability, are their lungs. So..to me, it all seems to make sense. The only way I know, to overcome this, is to learn how to speak my mind. To tell someone, when they've upset me. The only problem is...i'm afraid of losing the fragile relationship that I have with my parents. So..it's a very long, and very difficult journey. It seems to be a pattern in my family too, for I have observed the same behavior in My mother, towards her own mother. Ugh..Guilt..an endless cycle.

[SnowStar]

hmmm...karma in action...well, off the top of my head I can't think of anything verifiable. However, a couple of years ago, word got back to me via a friend that there were these three guys in my class who were CONVINCED I'd cursed them or something because they'd been giving me a hard time about something and then all of them got really sick the following weekend. First off, I don't even remember these three guys ever giving me a hard time...at least no worse than anyone else, and I take it all with a grain of salt anyway. Second of all, even if they had, I'd have never cursed them for it (or anything else for that matter! I'm personally too aware and a little wary of karmic reprecussions of that!). However, whatever they'd done, it must not have made much of an impression on me because I don't remember it, but it must have been mean spirited enough to cause them to get some karmic reprecussions from it.

On the note of becoming ill from stress, there was a period of about 2 weeks less than a month ago that I was perpetually ill due to stress I was under from school, troubles in a relationship, and various other things. I try not to do anything in a mean or spiteful spirit because I know karma is out there, and I can't remember anything that I've done in recent past that caused all of these problems at once, but maybe some of what was coming back on me was residual from a previous relationship that ended about 2 and a half years ago on some pretty nasty terms. It just seemed that a lot of my relationship problems were like deja vu from my previous one, only the roles were reversed. Ouch. It was like, ok, ok...I've learnt my lesson! Eventually everything resolved itself and things are looking up now, but some of the things I did in the past must have been pretty nasty 'cos those were a lousy 2 weeks.

So...yeah, karma exists, it bites back if you're not nice, but if you are nice things are like cream cheese (or whatever smooth kind of food you prefer to use in the expression :))

[Danustouch]

Oh...by the way..one clarification to my above post on illness related to emotions. I didn't want to come off, as if I blame my parents for the times that I get ill. That is not the issue. It is "MY" fault when I become ill, because for some reason, I cannot master myself, and have the courage to speak the truth of what I feel, without fear. Often times, my fear is much greater than the reality in situations would be, and it prevents me from saying what I really think and what I really feel. I allow myself to be intimidated in situations where I shouldn't be, and I hold myself responsible for things that I shouldn't. So in all reality, my becoming ill has far more to do with ME, and MY shortcomings, fears, etc, then my parents. I would never think of blaming it on them, as I truley believe that if my parents realized how much the things they say bother me, and if they thought this stress could actually make me physically ill, they would NOT do it. I simply don't have the words to tell them.."hey...you're really ticking me off here. It's driving me nuts. Blah, blah blah...and by the way, I have to tell you this, because if I don't, I'm going to get dreadfully ill again". You know what I mean? Ugh.