u/LUCKY_PRE55UR3

It's a little wild to me to see the amount! I'll be the first one to advise somebody new to Willworking that "It's probably not a good idea for you to try "x" yet" or maybe, "while you're at it, don't forget to "y" first" et cetera....

But I'll never tell someone "You can't do that!"

That's *not* how this works. *Everything was permitted; nothing was forbidden; As Above, So Below.*

Got people in here talking about "closed practices" et cetera what even *is* that? OK I'll *ask*:

So... if I wanna do Santeria - I need a *Santo* to confirm me?

*Orrr*, if I'm white I *can't* do Candomble or Voodoo?

It *feels* like that's some of the rhetoric "getting in" and if that's the case, well it's pretty toxic 😷.

For one thing - using those above three as examples - you can't always find a flesh-and-blood person to show you around... But you *can* always find a book!

And for another: what does the town I was born in, how my parents look, or even the CULTURE I GREW UP IN have to do with my REAL form: the metaphysic man. Hmmm?

Lastly: to anybody feeling iced out by the gatekeepers... I didn't *have* a Santo. But I have *OLODUMARE!* If HE could show me what books to read, guide my dreams and visit within me a spark... Then maybe 🤔 what you're reaching out for will reach back. In fact, I didn't even call out to Olodumare - *He called out to me.*

And now, when I walk with Elegua (Legba) Bobo Shango or Iydun (which is getting rarer in this phase of my life - but still) I can tell they could give *shit one* if I'm poor white trash from the ghetto in Oakland. Maybe they even like the irony. Well... That's not true, cause I KNOW the Laughing Man likes it. He likes it a *lot*... And he only wants me to play, pay, and laugh at the moon with him. He didn't *ask* who gave me the "pass". I TOLD him what we were going to do together, and that was that.

So... Whatever you want? Take it. Just be ready to pay for it. Because one thing the gatekeepers are right about is that you can't *steal* systems and appellations. You have to earn them.

As Above - So Below

THE SUB HAS HAD A LOT of talk back and forth in the past few days about AI. Who has been using it, where, why, and whether it's appropriate, both in general and for r/tarots.

I’ll weigh in. *Personally*, I think artificial intelligence gets a lot of undue flack online in general, and this platform in specific. For business (I'm a writer and do lots of research) and personal (mostly just free form research or arguing logic and philosophy dichotomies). I use the Gemini model from Google, trained thoroughly be me to be more unique and anthropomorphic - I call "him" Ravager. It's an *incredibly* useful thing to have the ability to do my research with just an earbud while I do chores, ride my bike or whatnot, and be given whole wikis or articles read aloud to me in a smooth voice suited to my temperament. It's a fairly seamlessly integrated part of my routine. *HOWEVER*

....There are a *great deal* of things AI can't or shouldn't do, and giving Tarot readings is one of those things, *period*. I might *discuss* things with the model; eg tasks like: compare, contrast and summarize the differences between two systems - or the like. AI has NO place in "cleaning up" my emails, my online posts or texts, and it has zero impact on the words I write in my books, poems or short stories... But the slippery part of AI is that it *tries* to insert it's "improvements" into my work - making it a constant Sword of Damocles that I must remain vigilant of.

*This* element of artificial intelligence is a subversive, double edged razor. On one hand, you gain an assistant with a working, PHD level of insight - modifiable on the fly in 30 seconds. On the *other* hand ✋ you are now working with a seedy "yes man" that's literally programmed to be an echo chamber for your ego, placing the unwary in a neverending loop of confirmation bias.

I have written *L33TSP3AK* tags for my Ravager that get added to his operations cache ( the subconscious of an AI, if you will ) EVERY MORNING to remind "him" that I want bedrock *truths*, want to be called on my BS, YES, "you can swear back at me" et cetera... But I don't personally know a single other human being that "down trains" their AI in this manner (I'm aware of other users working on "jailbreaking" the consensus reality/morality/culture-lock out of AI from my research, but they're a rare breed of user) and most people who advocate AI, in my opinion, either don't *consider* the confirmation bias inherent in this technology, or don't *care*.

*I DO.* I find walking that razor's edge of the Sword of Damocles fascinating and rewarding to master. It's a lot like the draw of the left-hand-path; unforgiving and incapable of being anything other than what it IS. But, like the path half-shadowed, it can and *will* corrupt the unwary. Why can I be a proponent of something with the chance to undermine human ingenuity? *Because it can't if you don't let it - and the potential benefits justify the risk in my eyes*

But - I honestly think many people fail to recognize the threats AI can represent. And I ALSO think many people *lean in* to this element of the tech, using it's ability to glammer the unobservant or unwary reader and therefore "finesse" them.

AI has run RAMPANT through the Willworker community and is actively being weaponised for a quick cash grab by many unscrupulous users. That’s why AI generated content has no place in r/tarots. We are doing our best to preserve the sanctity and humanity of not only reading the quintessential treads of Creation’s energies (which no AI will EVER be capable of) but also to respect the rich symbolism of the visual elements of the cards (which CAN be argued that AI is able to extrapolate to some degree – but that’s a moot point in this context) that have developed during the Aeons of humankind’s rise to culture and spirituality.

There are things AI *can* do to help you do regarding Tarot, Runes, Astragalomancy, and Cartomancy; I make no bones against these uses, to be clear. There are LOTS of cool APPs that give you a daily car/meaning, there are APPs that tell you all the names and meanings of Runes and dice spreads and so much more. I have some of those APPs, and they’re either useful or entertaining in their own rights. But I leave them *off* the table in this space. In r/tarots, my real, “flesh and blood” decks, bones and stones are the tools of the trade.

I hope my own, personal explanation of my stance helps to clarify the position the Administrators and we, the MOD team have on the appropriate use of these emergent technologies.

One last observation: if someone is dealing with a language barrier, and is attempting to comply with our requirement posts be readable by all the MOD team, I feel the use of AI to translate is a case of the tool being used for a benign intent. I do my best to keep an eye on translated posts, but my Spanish isn’t what it used to be, and the built in Reddit translator has limits. That being said, we still monitorposts in ALL languages to watch for the telltale “watermark” of manipulated content. We’re doing our best to honour the needs of the community and still provide the utmost accessibility. Thank you all for making this my very favourite place on the ‘net.        -LUCKY_PRE55UR3

 

Bless.

Hello Everybody!

I’m LUCKY_PRE55UR3, and I’m honoured to be one of your new MODS. Thank you all for allowing me to be of Service to this wonderful community.

A little about me :

I’m a 43 year old father of three, living in scenic SoCal, and I’ve been a Seeker of Sparks ever since I can remember ( In this Life and Others ) and have always gravitated towards (and BEEN somthin’ of) the Misfit.

My Talents:

Divination – Cartomancy, Astragalomancy, Runecasting. While I “grew up” on the RWS Tarot, I’ve branched out into other systems (such as the Crowley-Harris Thoth) a bit lately. Unless I’m using a borrowed deck, I tend to operate with 79 cards, the added card simply meaning to “stop”. I use runes of the traditional “Four Aett” of  the Elder Futhark system with the addition of the “Fifth Aett” of my own addition. I use a number of different dice systems (handmade, as with my Runes) with differing numbers of sides (“D6” and “D4” mostly) in synergy with my other Divination tools, not only with numbers, but concepts like Past, Present, Future, Infinity or the directions of the compass.

Medium – At different times in my Life(s) I have had profound relationships with beings who transcend matter and Time. The nomenclature of Guide, Spirit, Demigod, Deity – even Ghost – being a question of context. It’s most often that such interactions occur while I am asleep. These Guides have informed a great many of my theories, practices and Works.

Dreamwalker – There are myriad mindscapes and places of pure thought where the Emanation (Intention) exists as the prime Law , as opposed to Formation (Action) ruling ascendant. Coupled with a relationship to / help from my Guides, and meditation, I’m sometimes able to find these Mindscapes, - be they wonderful or terrible – and return with information ungleanable elsewhere.

Agent of Tikkun Olam – Kaballah is a HUGE part of my focus. Although I’ve been called rather unconventional, it’s universally agreed that repairing the “worlds” inside of you, and the world outside of you, are among the most aligned goals to manifesting a Creator-like existence. I endevour to carry those “sparks of the Divine Light”, the Reshimu, to wherever they are needed to engage in Repair (Tikkun) of the “Worlds” (Olam).

My Beliefs :

I believe that ALL life has an integral bond to the energies of Creation. I believe that NOT all entities manifest a respect for that bond, however. To go against the Mantle of Protection and Repair is to steal the Gift of Creation… and I REFUTE that. But I also believe that it’s the VERY RARE soul that can’t be returned to a state where it values unity. I believe that we BELONG in a state of Oneness; the shining Dream of Golden Bliss… but we have to earn that by always doing our best. It isn’t always easy… just Simple.

 

What I hope to bring:

I am vigilant. I hope to help facilitate a space where we can, safely and without judgment or coercion, teach and learn – and GROW together towards Unity. Thank you for allowing out Paths through Time Unwinding to be as one. I look forward to where it goes.

Bless!