I guess we are all "damaged" in some way or another. Some things can heal, others can't. But, we humans are very adaptable and creative and we always figure out a way to get where we want to be in spite of the damage. That's what I'm doing.
Absolutely. That's what the human condition is all about.
The Eastern Mystical philosophies, like Buddhism, etc., teach to live in the now and that we are not a product of our past. In other words, are past doesn't "define" who we are. I fully understand what they mean by that, but at the very same time, it's truly impossible to completely ignore the past experiences that have indeed contributed to our very growth. In fact, it flies in the face of "karma" to claim that your past doesn't affect your now.
So to claim that our past doesn't "define" who we are not is a bit ambigous. It most certainly does to a very large degree. But I understand what the Buddhas are trying to say. They are basically saying to realize that it's not carved in stone, and that you are constantly created new karma for your future. And it is that new karma that does not need to be defined by your past.
Whew. Such subtleties! But even so, an intellectual understanding of these philosophies and spiritual insights only goes so far. They don't truly become affective until they become intuition. And that's where ritual and meditation comes into play. And it's the rituals and meditations of the traditions of witchcraft and shamanism that I find to be so useful.
I mean if you think about the different ways in which the very term "meditation" is used it's really quite amazing. In the Eastern Traditions, "meditation" is often seen solely in terms of transcendental meditation. (i.e. transcending thoughts. Quieting the mind. Emptying the mind of all thoughts).
Well, that's certainly one type of "meditataion". But in the witchcraft and shamanic traditions a "Shamanic journey" is considered a meditation. As is the simple act of focusing all of your thoughts and energys on a single goal. That is also seen as 'meditation' on the goal, and it fundamental to spell work.
So in these traditions "meditation" isn't reserved for solely quieting the mind, althought that type of meditation is also used. But it's taken a step further into "Controlling" the thoughts of the mind by focusing on allowing the higher self to be in control.
The higher self is indeed "immune" to our past experiences, because the higher self exists solely in the now. It's not concerned with past or future, just the now.
Ok, that was a ramble. I'm just a rambl'in man I guess.
That's what it's like when the only live "people" I ever see around here is my cat and my horny fish.
Shame on me! 
