Questions on religion, meditation, healing stones, tarot cards

A little background on me, my mother is Christian (I believe Baptist..second Baptist, not sure how that all works), my father was Catholic. I was raised with my mother and went to church with her a few times when I was younger. Her best friend was of unknown religion (now a born again Christian), but her parents were New Age Christians (from what I remember as a kid). I know her parents believed you have to heal yourself or it is your time to die. Now, her parents taught me a little about meditation and healing stones. I have forgotten lots of it, keep in mind I was 8 at the time. But I know it made me feel good about myself and at peace when I meditated.
As far as the stones, I liked the idea of them, picturing an illness flowing from me to the specific stone needed. I don't know why people believe that they work or don't, but I know that I didn't believe then that the stones were like medication that healed you, but a way to help your body heal itself. You picture the illness flowing from you to stone and your mind in turn pictures it healing your body. This is what I thought as a kid, and still do to some extent.

Anyway, I have recently gotten into the world of Tarot. I love my Tarot cards and they have reminded me of when I meditated as a kid. According to a book I have, one suggestion for Tarot card learning exercise is to pick a card a day, and reflect on it. I have been doing this for last two days and at end of night I will focus on the cards meanings, how they apply to my life and to that day. It has been very enlightening to me. It has also made me question some things.
I know I believe in God, however some things I have read show that Tarot is a form of (can't think of a better term) but we'll say pagan or witchcraft practice in the negative way. As in casting spells to harm people. I am not using these in an evil way, or to try and enter other people's minds. But in helping me understand myself as well as my friends when I do Tarot readings.
Now, I know I have heard warnings about Christian holidays that were originally pagan holidays. Is this use of Tarot cards a form of this? Using meditation and crystals for healing?
I believe in God and the lessons of the Bible, however I have started questioning the inerrency of the Bible itself. That maybe it is stories that were based on fact but embellished. I do believe that the purpose of the Bible was good intentions, making people behave in a moral way that God would want. I also think that God was involved in it being written. But I think there is a possibility that is has changed over the years and parts are missing.
So, I have been searching lately, for answers on these questions. Also, looking for a religion or guidance of some sort that will help me with all of this. I am interested in self healing, meditation, Tarot, and God, I want something that unifies all of this together. Is there such a thing out there that teaches all of these as one? Or is this something that I am going to have to piece together for myself?

 

wow. ok thats alotta question to answer all at once but gimme a lil bit and i'll try to answer alotta it...its 3 am & might have somethin else real important to deal with..but i'll try to answer all this b4 i sleep...answer the best i can anyway

 

If you don't answer it before you sleep, I will understand. It's been something I have been wondering off and on all my life. I have decided it is time for me to find what I am looking for. I have had years to form my questions and thoughts, so if you want to take a day or two, that is ok by me
I decided getting back into the swing of meditation will help with my depression. I was diagnosed as bi-polar and OCD and prescribed medications. Which I took for two days and decided I would figure it out on my own. Although, I never got around to figuring it out, just sort of ignored it. I think of these 'diseases' as more of a personality quirk than an actual disease. Another way to label my personality. However, while I find the OCD funny most of the time, the depression bouts bother me a bit. Doctor said that bi-polars ups and downs are like waves, and I am trying to find the trigger for the waves.
Anyway, one of the things that depresses me is not knowing the answers to these questions. It starts with I get aggitated with it, then as time goes on I get angry, then depressed. Ironically, as I said meditation helps, Tarot card readings help, and I would like to add in the use of crystals again, but after feeling good with these objects, the subject of religion and doing right by God, if you will takes it away.
So take your time, I am on an up swing and can maintain it for at least a week more. usually longer but being jobless and having time to dwell, hurts.

 

lil bout me..most of the family was all catholics, but my parents not so much so..maybe more agnostic maybe..probly concider themselves semi catholic but never really did the church thing..
i got interested in crystals and tarot and meditation and all when i was a teen, and worked with crystals and stones and stuff for many years (tarot havent done since i lost my dali deck and after i read with that i couldnt read with any other except somewhat on the karma music deck...i kno..weird decks to only be able to read..lol but anyway... crystals are powerful things for sure,
theyre powers been known since men had fire
theres caves where they'd crawl 4 days into the cave having to light 1 torch off another and keep it lit or die..just to get crystals..
theyre not only physicaly healling but spiritualy cleansing

ok,. decided to just tackle that all at once...
well, lets get the bible outta the way..and this is just my belief and ya dont gotta take it as anything more, but i think it was devinely inspired...but i cant say i know any part of its truth...
there are sporitualities that incorporate all you seek. but wouldnt call it a religion.. although it accepts and respects all beliefs
its probly too late tonight to get too into this though

 

i'll come back tothis tomoro...i had typed a looong responce and was nearly done when my computer rebooted..
so lemme sleep on this and get back to u tomoro

 

religion is being told by men what to believe
spirituality is just connecting to WHAT IS
how is meditation, crystals, or tarot in amny way not doing right by god? is not all you do with the, good?
they may not be right by the church though, because they open you to answers..answers to questions religions dont like being asked..heehee

think about christ..not christianity for a momment..dont you think he was almost in a constant state of meditation?
the early popes and bishops wore arrays of gems (crystals)
isn't the bible..and dead sea scrolls..and otheer things used just the same way as tarot?

now think about christianity, not christ a momment
and think about all the evils done by christianity
and you mentioned witchcraft and whatever..who was burned for witchcraft? healers herbalists midwives.. good people, labeled as evil just for healling

you already know in your heart your not doing wrong, stop letting PEOPLE make you feel guilt over choosing your own path to enlightenment

would meditation, crystals and taort do so much good for you if thats not what god intended?

 

That is what I believe in my heart. That I am not harming anyone, but helping myself and maybe others.
I have been reading about wicca and paganism in the sense of the good, not the evil that religion has taught us to believe it is. I am trying to find information on these things without straying away from the belief of one God, and getting into cursing people or worshipping multiple Gods.
Sacrificing animals is too much for me as well.
Part of me believes that (or was taught to believe that) if I allowed God fully into my life, that I would not need these other items, but part of me believes that it is ok to help myself and a way to help 'enlighten' me, if you will to a better life.

Di Vinci Code ruined the Bible for me. I i know it was based on a lot of fiction, but it opened the door to possibilities of what might have happened in history. I think the Bible is mainly true, but that politics could have caused it to change, be misinterpretted, or passages left out. I am highly interested in history, but hisory can also be misinterpretted or misleading.
I also like symbology and once done with art history degree plan on writing about the history of Tarot cards, the symbology in them, how those sybols were used through out history.
I don't want to buy any books, because I would have to pick and choose what I believe and prctice out of a multitude of books, and that would get pricey. So looking on the wwfreew

 

lol well, personaly..i dont think any religion or book is 100% right..or 100% wrong
the bible like many books has alotta good in it and alot left out and misenterperated..and every single person alive who believes in it picks and chooses what parts to believe and what to discard

as for god..and animal sacrifices and multiple gods
GOD IS ..how you choose to perceive that fact however is up to you..nobody should ever dictate toyou what that should mean
but i'd hope no animals will be hurt in the process
i dunno why anyone would think sacrificing animals or even just squishing spiders could ever be concidered spritual or religiosly the right thing to do
but i think it goes to the church/cult thing of demonstrating elegience

 

magick.