Pagans, I've heard a lot about the three-fold law of return. Can you tell me about other laws of return?

Question

I've heard of an equal law of return and a seven-fold one. Are there any others? What traditions believe in these laws?

Answer 1

There's nine fold and ten fold, similar to the three fold. Nine fold is the three main: Mind, Spirit and Body, each essence in themselves hold their own mind, body and spirit. Ten fold just adds the Divine as well.

If you believe in the Other World, (typically Celtic), in the Other World there is the Isle of Black and White (black turns to white, white turns to black). What you put out you'll get back, if not in this life, then in the next. A literal example of the Laws of Accountability or Karma. It's the particular one I believe.

Answer 2

I'm a Taoist as well as a pagan, so my view on how things work is a bit more abstract. I've seen energy return all right, but not in ways that can honestly be measured and the timing is also inconsistant. So I don't define those laws quite that well.

It's very clear to me, however, that energy can be framed and channeled in useful and harmful ways, and I have no doubt there are effects, just none I can hold a ruler up to, to see if it's one or three or seven. How acutely a person feels the effects is hard for another person to measure.

My perception is that energy returns in the way that it does, and is generally quite appropriate.

Answer 3

Some say 3 fold, some 10 fold.

If it's 3 fold, it usually feels as though it was 10 fold.

Answer 4

I wish the law of three-fold return (or better yet, seven-fold or ten-fold) were true. Then playing the lottery and gambling would make sense.

Answer 5

There is the Sally Law of Return: if you bought it at Sally Beauty Supply and have the receipt, you can return it unless it is a hair extension or hair care product such as coloring.

There is the Felgacarb Law of Return: if you squat over the disintegrator and defecate, expect to have some of it get back on yourself. This cautions us to do our "dirty work" in private and clean up carefully.

There is the Boomerang Law of Return: if you buy something really really ugly and try to get rid of it, it will always come back to you, usually as a gift.

There is the Law of Love and Return: if you love someone enough, let them go. They will return to you. If not, hunt them down and kill them like the dogs they are. I think that is in some Bible somewhere.

Hope this helps,
A Neo-techno-woodland pagan who worships TFSM (The Flying Spaghetti Monster) - pbuhna

Answer 6

Heathens, being contrary, believe in Orlog and Wyrd.

Orlog is the sum total of your deeds and those of all your ancestors before you, from which your life and doom are shaped. It's a lot like the existentialist mantra of "existence precedes essence" in that we believe we ARE our deeds---the product of what we DO---and thus, bear responsibility for the consequences of our actions.

Wyrd is your orlog woven together with everyone ELSE'S. It's the part you can't control, your connection to all that is, which only the Norns see. And maybe not even them. ;-)

Answer 7

If you believe you'll get in cosmic trouble for doing something "bad", then chances are that's exactly what will happen. These things work on the power of belief, and are a way of keeping people in line, even to the point of restricting their free will through fear tactics.

Answer 8

I don't believe in any of them. To me they are scare tactics to keep us from exercising our energies to the full extent. For me, the rule of thumb is balance. If I'm doing a spell to restore balance to a situation or relationship, I have no repercussions. If I'm foolish enough to do it just to be mean, then it will probably just be a flop. I've never had any sort of retribution for anything I've done. But you must be very precise in your requests to the gods: if the gods want to punish you, they will grant you your wish :-)

Answer 9

For me it is a toss up between the threefold and equal............

It does not really matter which....

I just avoid doing anything to bring it upon myself!

BB
Ariel