Is it hereditary? https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/t13022 Runboard| Is it hereditary? en-us Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:08:29 +0000 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:08:29 +0000 https://www.runboard.com/ rssfeeds_managingeditor@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds managing editor) rssfeeds_webmaster@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds webmaster) akBBS 60 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241621,from=rss#post241621https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241621,from=rss#post241621Kind of been my thinking for a while now. Especially, when I tell son something and he'll say...."I forgot how 'this or that' my Aunt was!" nondisclosed_email@example.com (Queenyforever)Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:20:01 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241607,from=rss#post241607https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241607,from=rss#post241607Queeny, maybe the Powers That Be figured you may need some good help when Chris came along, so they sent you someone who knew him well, and knew how to guide you in raising him...... nondisclosed_email@example.com (Saijen SilverWolf1)Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:20:59 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241597,from=rss#post241597https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241597,from=rss#post241597Oh, I know he is much older than me...he's at least 6,000....Cali is 3,000...but the one they call "Mother" who I met once here...has no age. Not as far as any of them can tell. But you are right....he finally found "himself" and is teaching me my Path....as gentle as it may be. Funny thing is, "My Spirit Guide" Alara....is my Immortal Son's Aunt and even older than him....which pisses him off to no end. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Queenyforever)Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:04:09 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241513,from=rss#post241513https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241513,from=rss#post241513Queeny, I think, in your case, it's as simple as an old soul(your son), teaching a newer one (you) about a path he had walked for many years. Just because he's younger than you in his human form, does not mean that he's not really older than you. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Saijen SilverWolf1)Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:07:08 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241500,from=rss#post241500https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241500,from=rss#post241500Probably being the newest member to find my Path, I have to say. My Mother, her mother and her mother's mother....Christian, Methodist. My father, his father and Grandfather...Mormon, Father and Grandfather very strict. Dad, went with Mom religion better. Me? I did my duties as a child, going to church, Sunday school, etc. But it always 'felt' wrong. Hubby's whole family was and still are Roman Catholic...but he has lost faith in everything that has changed since his baptism. And so, adjusts to me. He does not or is not ready to follow my path, but he lets me indulge somewhat. As for my choosing this......hmmmmm, well because I never felt 'right' in any religion, I raised my son with equal teachings from most all, including what I knew of the Pagan one. When he turned 17 he REALLY began learning and searching himself. 3 years later he told me what he had chosen, but as you all have heard before, he is what is called an Immortal. One who knows all his or her lives, remembers everything and is basically the worker for the Gods and Goddesses and Mother and the "Spirit/the One".....it was then that me wanting to know more, chose this and to learn what I have. I know I am empathetic, I have a way with animals and can communicate with most people. I am Earth and Water and unfortunately Mortal. Most mortals (there are exceptions and they are for a reason) do not remember prior lives, some do not even come back as the same species. Whether this is what we are truly talking about, I'm not sure. I did not 'make' my son. HE CHOSE ME...he needed to be born at a certain time, certain place and so he took the place of what would have been my third 'still born'...but because it was a rush job, coming through the veil tore him up pretty bad, so he did not remember what he was till about 10 (still was afraid to find out), but he'd have horrible nightmares.......very strange ones, about opening doors where there were none, true nightmares.*(now we know those are his other lives and the creatures he had to deal with then). Now we know why. And we know that from the very beginning HIS BIRTH had to be, which was probably why I was "questioning" my faith, but still not knowing I could not "teach" him....he had to wait till he healed and found out what he was from another. But by having my support...he remembered and grew quickly. SO...........now you tell me, what would that be. That my offspring had to teach me. Backwards hereditary? nondisclosed_email@example.com (Queenyforever)Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:26 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241473,from=rss#post241473https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241473,from=rss#post241473I read about family constellations when you first mentioned it here awhile back. I think it sounds soooo useful for a family with a lot of issues that is willing to have them worked on. I know you said there could be a substitute person for a missing family member, but thinking of my mom's family...I wish they would do this! Inherited is an odd word. We may inherit skills/predispositions from our parents due to our genes. But we also inherit money/etc when someone passes away. So it's an ambiguous term! Great conversation!nondisclosed_email@example.com (TexasMadness)Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:45:24 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241466,from=rss#post241466https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241466,from=rss#post241466Ok...I get where you're coming from now, Firle. Makes some sense. Maybe there are some genetic strings in some things....it's hard to know in some cases, but I think maybe if parents are musically inclined their offspring...or some of their offspring, may also be musically inclined, but is that genetics, or did the powers that be put a reincarnated person who is musically inclined with a parent or parents who are musically inclined? LOL. Some of these things, we may never really know. I know that doctors say some diseases are hereditary, and that may be. That's another thing I really don't know. I DO know that, as I stated before, a Witch can not give birth to a Witch. The powers one has in that area, aren't something you inherit in the strict sense of the word. You can 'inherit' the knowledge through stories..either verbal or read..by doing (rites and rituals)..but you're not born with it. I also think we may 'inherit' problems that started before we were even thought of by our parents, but it's the consequences of the actions taken by those before us that we actually inherit. In a sense the Bible has that right..'The sins of the father will be visited upon his children'. We suffer, as a consequence, for the things the people who came before us did. A man commits murder.....that does not mean his child will become a murderer as well because it's a genetic problem...but that child has to deal with the stigma of being the child of a murderer...and I think this is what you're referring to when you say a person can 'inherit' or 'carry' things that happened to an earlier relative. Sometimes a similar situation that caused our relative to act a certain way, and we may react in a very similar way, based on family dynamics, and what we learned growing up. That then, is really more a learned behavior than something inherited. Think of it like this... Jill's mother learned to brush her teeth by going in circles...because that's how her mother was taught, and her grandmother was taught...etc. John's mother learned to brush her teeth by going up and down, because that's how his mother, grandmother...etc...learned. It's not inherited, but learned. How a person reacts to a situation, is generally also based on things they learned while growing up. Some manage to break away from bad behaviors they learned (the child of a career criminal who chooses to go in a totally different direction...possibly a police officer/judge or someone who helps people) (ok...I'm rambling...sorry. Kind of 'thinking out loud' if you will..lol) nondisclosed_email@example.com (Saijen SilverWolf1)Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:47:06 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241447,from=rss#post241447https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241447,from=rss#post241447Saijen, I just brought that up because I've seen both "lines" (earlier lives and family inheritance) have an effect in clients, sometimes culminating in them. I agree, it is not inheritance in the strict sense of the word, but just wanted to mention it as another influential line. I work with a technique called "family constellations". The basic understanding in it is that every family is a system, with its own rules and balance. Sometimes, members of the family follow those rules even if that means they suffer. It is very enlightning to look at families this way, and it often helps my clients to realize what's going on. Bear with me, because following this technique we also assume that people can "inherit" or "carry" things that happened to an earlier relative. People can even be entangled in the fate of an earlier relative - often this shows by repeating their experiences or reactions, sometimes by atoning for them. This can be very mysterious to people - but it only needs action if this is detrimental to them. Again, this is a very broad sense of "inheritance", yet I find it extremely fascinating. I know ways of easing these problems and dissolving entanglements - the results are often spectacular. With plain genetic inheritance, I am firmly in the middle. I believe any kind of talent can be inherited, but it needs to be practiced, encouraged and focussed to be noticable.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Firlefanz)Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:03:21 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241440,from=rss#post241440https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241440,from=rss#post241440Even if a person is granted another life on earth (reincarnation) anything they bring with them from their previous life is not something that is inherited in the sense of the word that's used here. It's not handed down from genentics. It's given back to that person to continue to grow that talent/gift. So, I don't look at that as it being inherited. I do agree with you, Firle, that things like being able to see/hear things others can not, is not a broad spectrum geneticly inherited ability. As I said, it's really rare for 5 generations to have the same, almost identical ability. Mine is a bit more pronounced than the rest of the family's, but I think some of that is because I've worked at making it that way. I'm more in tune with the spirit realm than my Grandmother, Mom and sister are. Of my girls, one of them is more in tune than the other 2, but all 3 are able to hear and see as well. And I mis-spoke..it's 4 generations, not 5 (man, I need to learn how to count! LOL) As far as I know, none of the grandkids have the ability. If they do, they've never mentioned it to me. nondisclosed_email@example.com (Saijen SilverWolf1)Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:12:23 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241430,from=rss#post241430https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241430,from=rss#post241430Firlefanz wrote: On the other hand, I firmly believe in reincarnation, which is a second line of continued talent. It probably doesn't fall under the definition of "hereditary", though. Ooo, interesting twist here. When a person reincarnates, so they have the same/similar abilities as before? Like inclination to musical talent or empath or even more mundane things like 'athletic'? Very cool to think about! nondisclosed_email@example.com (TexasMadness)Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:04:15 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241425,from=rss#post241425https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241425,from=rss#post241425I believe that a talent (like the one Saijen described) is hereditary in the narrow sense. On the other hand, many family traditions are handed down through generations, good and bad. This is like a cultural inheritance, but it's still something that's passed on. For myself, I'm fairly sure that my maternal grandmother would have been a witch if she had had the opportunity. Sadly, she couldn't teach me anything along those lines. On the other hand, I firmly believe in reincarnation, which is a second line of continued talent. It probably doesn't fall under the definition of "hereditary", though.nondisclosed_email@example.com (Firlefanz)Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:37:49 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241423,from=rss#post241423https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241423,from=rss#post241423  Loved your response Saijen! Good things to think about and has even given me an idea for another question to post on the forum. Will do that in a few days!nondisclosed_email@example.com (TexasMadness)Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:32:39 +0000 Re: Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241409,from=rss#post241409https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241409,from=rss#post241409Hmmm.... I don't think heredity has much to do with our religious preferences. I think it's more society and what is expected of it's members. My Dad's parents were Christian. Well, at least my Grandmother was. My Grandfather attended church, and was a deacon (like an elder)but when he was alone with certain people, all that 'Christianity' went out the window. My Mom's parents wouldn't be caught dead in a church. My Grandmother really did not like organized religion, and my Grandfather really didn't care one way or the other. I used to think Grandma was a Witch...my sister used to call her a Gypsy. My parents were (Mom still is...Dad has passed on) Christian, so my sister and I were forced to go to church from the time we were born, until we were married and could do what we wanted. As long as we lived under their roof, we had to do as we were told. From a fairly early age (around 8) I began to question a lot of the things in the Bible as well as Christianity as a whole. I always felt as if there were so much more out there, but no one I asked had the answers I needed or wanted to hear. I remained faithful to the church for a long time after marrying the first time...but we grew away from it for a while....then went back. When I left my first husband, I left all of that behind me. After moving to where I am now, I was sought out by a preacher and his wife because I had professional skills in puppetry that they wanted....so, I went back to the church, and was never quite happy. I still could not find what I was searching for. It wasn't until I started on my current path that I've found what is right for me. So, no, I don't think religion is hereditary. I think the thirst for religious knowledge is something that may be ingrained from conception...but through things like music and listening to our mother's pray or speak while we're still in the womb....then, when we become a part of the world as a person, we have to do what we're told by our parents. Not sure if I'm making a great deal of sense. I think that who/what we are is, ultimately up to us and only us, but a good portion of who we are is shaped by the people and events that surround us. I take the good I learned in the Christian environment and couple it with the things I am learning along this path. It has nothing to do with genetics, in the sense that I am what I am because of my parents, or...I am what I am because of my grandparents...etc. I am who/what I am because this is what I choose, based on the things I've learned in the span of the life I've lived so far on this planet. I do not think that a Witch births a Witch anymore than a Christian can birth a Christian. It's a way of life, not a genetic code. It's a learned behavior. I do believe that there are those who have certain gifts (psychics, mediums, etc) that they are born with, and that is possibly hereditary, because my maternal Grandmother, my mother, my sister and I, as well as all three of my children (all female) can all see and hear things that others can't. So, maybe in cases like that....that may be hereditary. It's rare for 5 generations to all have the same ability, but for our family, we all do. So...perhaps some things are hereditary, while others are simply nothing more than learned behaviors. Did any of this make sense???? (sorry...a bit on the tired side)nondisclosed_email@example.com (Saijen SilverWolf1)Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:30:24 +0000 Is it hereditary?https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241393,from=rss#post241393https://bthepaganporch.runboard.com/p241393,from=rss#post241393I found an interesting blog that just has 'prompts' to encourage or give ideas to other pagan bloggers to use. I've been reading it for a few weeks and a lot of times it's stuff we've already covered, but I thought this was one very interesting. I'll just copy her post here: From Pagan Blog Prompts: This may seem a bit weird, but.... Is it hereditary? I had to think about my wording on this one... I had to leave it vague, because I wanted it to be as open to interpretation as possible. What I'm referring to here can be magic, witchcraft, spirituality, the things you can do that others around you cannot, etc. Another way to put it might be "Do you come from a family of Witches?" but that only works if you see yourself as a witch. Get what I'm trying to say here? What you do and who you are - did it come from your bloodline? Or is it something you discovered and nurtured on your own? ******* I'll go first! I think our religion and spirituality is more culturally based than anything else. What we grow up with makes a huge difference in what we believe, especially early in life. I think by the time people are well into their own adulthoods (this age may vary from person to person 20-40 yrs old I'd say!), they are more likely to make their own choices. But social pressures can still be intense in certain cultures and many people will never 'convert' away from their birth religion even if there are lingering doubts. With more and more religious tolerance though, this may change and there may be less of an environmental affect on religion. But still...people want to be normal, like everyone else, no matter if there isn't a stigma about being different. However! How religious we are - our religiosity - I do believe is affected by genes. In fact, this is supported by scientific studies. I'm very much looking forward to reading the February book, The Biology of Belief because I hope it gives me a better understanding of this. I found an article discussing the connection between genetics and religiosity (done on identical and fraternal twins) and it also mentioned something else: About a dozen studies have shown that religious people tend to share other personality traits, although it is not clear whether these arise from genetic or environmental factors. These include the ability to get along well with others and being conscientious, working hard, being punctual, and controlling one's impulses. I'm pretty sure - but can't say because I haven't read the actual studies - that these were studies done on Christians. I wonder if the same would be true of Muslims, Jews and Pagans? I might have to dig around a bit on this one... Anyway, what do you think...is it hereditary?nondisclosed_email@example.com (TexasMadness)Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:29:32 +0000