How to Deal with Misinformed People?

[Pyro21]

Like I said in another thread, I got the book "Energy Work" at the book store yesterday but my mom had to bring me to get it because I can't drive yet.

Now she's saying tons of things like "is it evil?" or "it's probably fake" and she's acting weird around me. I'm getting "Astral Dynamics" in the mail tomorrow and I'm sure she's going to act a lot worse when that comes  .

How do you guys deal with misinformed people that say energy work and astral projection is evil or fake?

[kurtykurt42]

Simple, don't tell anyone about it!

[Pyro21]

Simple, don't tell anyone about it!

I'm not going to tell anyone else about it but my mom had to find out about it because I bought the book when she was there.

[kurtykurt42]

My mom didn't like it either. Oh well! 

[Pyro21]

Oh well! 

That's what I figured but it's still going to be annoying if she keeps asking me stupid questions about it. lol

[Astral316]

Just tell her it's about dream interpretation or w/e... for a psychology class/experiment/etc.

[omcasey]

It is important not to take on too much (of these people) it is true, but, also, they are very key to the process you are beginning to move through.  A suggestion would be to view, and address them with reverence.  Thank them for the opportunity they are supplying, to express yourself and your views because it is they who are going to help you clarify all this within yourself more rapidly.  When you are able to relay yourself to these people, receiving less and less negative feedback you will KNOW things are crystalizing within you and that your clear light is reaching them.  If you allow it, they will help you polish yourself..  When there is no more resistance within you, fewer will attempts to apply resistance TO you will be made.  It is this simple.  The brave first step is always to let people show you where YOU are in each moment, to show you where you are now.

[personalreality]

I like what omcasey said and I think it's good advice pyro.  I'm 24 now and I got into metaphysics when I was about 15 or 16 so I'm going on a decade of dealing with my parents (mom in particular) and how they react to what I do.  Let me share my experience to validate and give you a proper example of what omcasey is talking about. 

When I was 16 and started learning more about psychology and my interest in human behavior and philosophy increased, I could see a lot of flaws in modern culture.  I could see through a lot of the nonsense that was being pushed on me and it made me arrogant.  Not only was I smarter than most of the other 10th graders, but I was smarter than most of the adults I was around.  However, I didn't have the experiences that gave me a credible understanding of my situation.  What that means is that I went around showing off my knowledge, running my mouth all the time about Mayans this, conspiracy that, meditation this, materialism that, etc. etc. etc.  Needless to say, it ticked people off.  I thought I was big sh*t.  Granted, I understood reality from a bigger picture already, but I couldn't relate it to my experience yet.

So, after a lot of resistance, I reassessed my position.  What I learned wasn't that I was wrong, but that I was just slamming people with something they didn't understand and I didn't understand how to relate it to them.  After years of study, and more importantly after years of SOLIDIFYING/CRYSTALLIZING MY REALITY and understanding what that meant to me, I "came into my own" as they say.  Once I understood myself more (which comes through dedicated practice, whatever that may be for you) I could more easily and accurately (and confidently) articulate what I was interested in. 

Now, I can express to my mom what I'm doing in a way that she understands and approves of.  For example, I tell her that my trance work is essentially deep prayer.  I've actually taught her trance work and told her I was teaching her how to achieve a level of prayer that was more accurately prayer than what she does at night kneeling by her bed is.  This may not help you if your mom isn't religious, but usually that's the case when they ask if it's "evil".  If she just said it was fake then her religion of choice would just be science.  Since she dropped both bombs, I would say she's a scientific christian (or some other Judeo-Christian).  She's got the superstition of religion, (no offense meant, truly.  I say it as a matter of fact, not with any kind of bias.  Benign) but the skepticism of science.  This is the profile of most Westerners these days (though our metaphysically inclined type is growing).  So, for energy work, I told my mom that what I was learning to do was more fully align myself with the will of God.  Which, when you consider the way Christians and the like define God, that's not too far off.  They believe in the power of God, but they will often see it as more of a psychological thing and less of a literal energetic thing.  Nevertheless, I told her that I was learning to embrace the "power of God" in my life, so that I could more easily live a spiritual lifestyle in my day to day life.  And that is entirely true, when you increase your energy your perception of reality changes. 

Now that I'm a little older it is easier for me to express what I'm doing as a function of what other people believe.  People are scared of stuff they don't understand, and more importantly they are scared of things their God (be it Yahweh or the Scientific Method) don't approve of.  Since I have expanded my understanding of what I do and how that relates to other beliefs, I have a more "universal" comprehension.  I can see the equivalent of what I do in other traditions and can relate it as such. 

Just stick to it.  Keep talking to her, but try to relate it to something that is more comfortable to her.  Don't lie to her.  It may seem harmless but it hurts you in the end.  Either it will bite you somehow in the future or it will effect your conscience.  Trust me on that.  You can find a way to connect with her.  If she's more about science then tell her that it's a psychological practice to study the deeper parts of your psyche so that you can more fully understand who you are and why you behave how you do.  That is also the truth.  You can do it, just think about how what you do is like what she does.  It works I promise.

[Xanth]

I'll second that entire post. 

[WASD]

My mom didn't ask much when i wanted to buy Astral Dynamics. I just said it was a book about supernatural experiences and after i while i said that you can learn to archive them.

[Xanth]

My mom didn't ask much when i wanted to buy Astral Dynamics. I just said it was a book about supernatural experiences and after i while i said that you can learn to archive them.

You can't get much more accurate than that without lying outright.  LOL
It's VERY supernatural. 

I gave my mother Robert Monroes books to read.
To her credit, she was able to get through the first two books, but refused to read the third one.  LoL

I don't really blame her for that decision, it's a little "out there" to be honest.

But my parents always stayed out of my metaphysical affairs, thankfully.
Now I own my own house and I can do whatever I want there. 

[Pyro21]

She hasn't been saying anything about it anymore but I'm sure when I get Astral Dynamics she'll start saying things again 

[Xanth]

Well let her read this one.
It's actually a really great book.
Robert Bruce lays it all out in very laymen terms for anyone to figure out, even someone who picked the book up as their first read.

It might not convince or change her mind, but don't worry about that, allow her to form her own opinions AFTER she's read it. 

[WASD]

Tell her that Energy Work is basically the same thing as physical exercise but you train your mind instead of your body or something.
Or perhaps that Energy Work is just as dangerous as physical exercise. Drawing similarities between "normal stuff" and astral stuff makes "normal people" understand better i think and that its not dangerous.

[Tiny]

Dear Pyro21,

I suggest not to deal with the ignorant and let them talk themselves into oblivion until they manage to get their head of out of their buckets and move towards a more open attitude.
It's always more tempting to say the truth but in some cases it simply backfires  .


peace

[Xanth]

Dear Pyro21,

I suggest not to deal with the ignorant and let them talk themselves into oblivion until they manage to get their head of out of their buckets and move towards a more open attitude.
It's always more tempting to say the truth but in some cases it simply backfires  .


peace

While I agree, in principle.
It can be difficult in practice since parents tend to have more say over what you learn than you do... until a certain point, at least.  lol

[VictoriaLS2004]

I think of it this way, astral projection is no more ridiculous than any religion.

[WASD]

I think of it this way, astral projection is no more ridiculous than any religion.

Most people that hear about it probably see it like that. I don't know about all the religions but AP can be proved with personal experience. I sometimes tell people that those who have done experiments know if its real or not and those who haven't experienced it can only believe. I have experienced it but not done any experience to prove it is outside our heads but i strongly believe it is not.

[justin35ll]

I've told a couple of my friends. I guess they seemed interested because they kept asking questions, but were very skeptical at the same time and probably didn't believe me.
I never told my parents, but I have 2 or Robert Monroe's books and 1 of Robert Bruce's books in my room and I don't know if they've seen them, but if they did they never said anything

[WASD]

"Astral Projection is a kind of out of body experience that you can learn to archive. The only way to prove if its real or not is to do experiments by yourself."

Short and good explanation?

[zareste]

How do you guys deal with misinformed people that say energy work and astral projection is evil or fake?

Just make fun of them, or not deal with them at all

[WASD]

Just make fun of them, or not deal with them at all

Or make fun of their beliefs. "Atheism/Christianity/whatever is fake and evil!"

[Synune]

Tell her that you saw the devil and he wants to take her hostage and that there is an epic battle of angels and demons about to ensue and that Keaneu Reeves is involved!

Jk,

but really, sometimes its better not trying to get people to understand. It's what makes you unique. Sometimes just knowing is enough. It's hard to not talk to people about it, esp when it has such a profound impact on the way you function and view life.