"magical thinking"

Hi there, just wondering what milder forms of magical thinking might take the form of? I'm not quite up to saying what's on my mind right now but it's just something I've been thinking about. cheers

crazeebrit,

Welcome to the forum.

That is a good quesiton. It depends on how far you take it, and what your culture allows. Being British, isn't like being from a culture that practices the arts.

There are so many types of magical thinking.
Some think they are just magic.
Some go the black arts, some the white.

It's all in what we are taught, and how we think we can control our distanies with magic.

Or revenge can be a motive to head this direction.

I studied demonology, and grew up Babist. So I believe in heaven and hell. I believe in ghosts, evil spirits and possession. I've seen the arts at work. And am somewhat superstitious. I have been reading on where some superstitions started, and the reasonings behind witch hunts. To tell you the truth, that part is almost funny. That is why I say somewhat superstitious.

This disorder to me, is confusing to discuss with therapist, that are scientist and only see the facts that science can prove.

Maybe it was all coicidence, maybe my imagination, maybe an obsession, but I think I would believe that more if it came from a priest.

My best advice is we all believe differently. But keep your soul. Just in case.

"Magical Thinking" is one apparent attribute of SPD that does not apply to me. I'm a skeptic and an Atheist. Am I the only one like that here???

You're not alone. I'm diagnosed with schizotypal disorder, and I'm rational and an atheist. It's certainly possible and the diagnostic criteria allows for it, you don't have to have all the symptoms to get the diagnosis.

Miko wrote:You're not alone. I'm diagnosed with schizotypal disorder, and I'm rational and an atheist. It's certainly possible and the diagnostic criteria allows for it, you don't have to have all the symptoms to get the diagnosis.

Schizotypal without magical thinking, wouldn't that simply make you schizoid?

I think the most important distinction is interpersonal. Schizoids have no interest in people, schizotypes are thought to avoid them out of discomfort.

i do find it odd that one would be schizotypal without magical thought. i am "atheist" as well but that does not affect my discourse into magical thought. from what i gather through the knowledge i have obtained throughout my life is that magical thinking can be obsession with religion, the occult, or philosophy; belief in ghosts, extra sensory abilities (telepathy, sixth-sense, clairvoyance), obsession with God or gods and the roles they play in everyday life, and things like this.

i believe that some of my dreams are snippets of the future or people I will see in passing that I haven't seen before, i also believe in ghosts or ghost like beings, i believe in intuition on probably a greater scale than others, i obsess with philosophy on occasion. but all these things do not compromise my "atheistic" views of the universe, nor do i find them irrational, I actually find myself a pretty rational person--if I haven't had a psychotic break

Is the whole notion of schizotypal something that is passed on in the genes? I know guy who a couple of years ago decided to donate sperm. He has a background in psychology and, of course, is totally into Jungian thought. He admits he is extremely schizotypal in his way of looking at the universe. So he showed me a test that the clinic gave him that he had to take before being accepted as a donor. Intermixed in the over 200 questions were attempts to measure schizotypal traits. He merely said that he answered these questions in the middle ground, even though in reality he did feel far more adament in his views of metaphysics than he indicated. And yes, he passed the psychological screening. One wonders if he would have been totally honest if he would have not been allowed to donate.

Personally, I see this trait as a postive thing -- it enhances one's creative abilities. So I am not sure why some people feel it might be a disorder.

creativity is wonderful, but if you have too many problems its not worth anything.

"the difference between insanity and genius is measured by success"

crazeebrit wrote:Hi there, just wondering what milder forms of magical thinking might take the form of? I'm not quite up to saying what's on my mind right now but it's just something I've been thinking about. cheers

major magical numbers:
1,3,7,11,13,17,33,37,69,77, 97,111,113,117... 666, 667 ...

solstices, a seasonal inflection point.

i see divine signs in rare synchronicities.

example: if i am looking for someone in the phonebook for a business reason, and i find someone has my same or a similar name, that i will take as a sign that i should use them, especially if my eye is drawn to them.
example: i dont celebrate birthdays, but if i see my birthday associated with something, it makes me more favorably inclined.
example: i bought a car because the last six VIN digits were a magical string

i dont play the lottery or gamble ever, because i never deviate from the laws of chance, i feel it is an insult to loki.

i like the night, because i worship luna, and am therefore a lunatic. it is also a time when i can see the stars and when orion is bright in the sky (watching over me), i find that a favorable omen.

i am a skeptic (bc i hate to feel like i am being manipulated), and i dont believe in esp, telepathy or any of that. more specifically i do not believe that MAN has access to these powers. i do not try to put restriction on what deific/malific beings might do or powers that they might have, so i would not say that these powers are not possible, but rather that i have no evidence that man has current access to these powers, or that he ever did (with perhaps some few exceptions, like christ).

i believe that man has a soul (not sure if it is all men/women or only some) and it may be that the soul has access to information that would allow the man to which it is attached to perform miracles. this is just speculation and i have little evidence to support that this occurs, but i dont rule it out.

i try to understand the world first with logic, but i do not put on blinders and avoid advice from higher powers.

i feel like i have some statistical evidence (rare lucky events) that suggest i am divinely protected. shrug. its a backup plan, cuz i like to handle my biz without help from above.

hope this helps!