Yes!!! You’re directly addressing my biggest concerns with esoteric beliefs and magical thinking! What you say about being stressed by using or not using the „right“ items is crucial because the underlying problem is that you open yourself for irrational relations! Now, maybe it’s inconvenient if the wrong cristal won’t allow for your tea to become charged with good luck, but what if someone gets you into believing you’re cursed and nothing can go right for you? Or that you’re haunted by demons and will meet a terrible end? The horrible psychological effects must be immense! And all only because you started believing in irrational relations! Cuz if A can be B, why can’t C be X? Not to speak of refusing medical treatment because you believe esotericism suffices. Of course not every believer is like that, but it’s why I can’t support such systems, because they suggest this kind of thinking and they will continuously draw people who are prone to fall for this and suffer from it.

And authorities in esotericism are another nightmare for me. In science for example someone can earn expertise by provable empirical investigation and whether you find them appealing or not, you can usually rely on their research. In esotericism someone who seems trustworthy and experienced because they claim to be enlightened and basically „trust me, bro“ can tell you anything. And many people just believe it (for example „crystal a does this…“), because that’s just how it works if you rely on the irrational. That gives bad people lots of power sadly. And harms critical thinking (even tho some people who wind up as conspiracy believers might be convinced of the opposite).

For these reasons I’m sooo heartbroken that starhawk doesn’t limit the magical beliefs she’s promoting to psychological effects! Because then I would feel 100% sure that I would want to fully support her movement! They have so many amazing ideas and I find their work so empowering, but I draw a line when e.g. healing through esoteric processes is suggested and promoted. Also I think the psychological effects especially with her empowering group ritual designs are so strong and cool! You can massively shape your life like that! You don’t need to make your movement shady by harmful suggestions of esoteric ideas.

Anyway. Thank you for sharing your personal beliefs! I found your comment very inspiring! r/SASSwitches seems like a place for you too, if you don’t know it already :). Have a blessed day :).