Spiritual Dimension of WoW

Community General Discussion
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Do you guys realize that WoW actually has deep spiritual references in its lore? I’m going to reveal some over here and we can discuss them.

(1) The ‘whispers’ from the void that corrupt people and black dragons alike and drive them mad - I think it is a reference to the constant inner dialogue that all people have that keeps on judging, criticising, ruminating, worrying etc and that actually results in a life of madness, from a spiritual perspective. In Buddhism, they call it the monkey mind. The great spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle in his book ‘The Power of Now’, calls it the inner tormentor that lives in our mind that drives people into neurosis.

(2) “In the light…we are one” is a line that Paladin players are familiar with. I believe this ‘light’ actually is a reference to ‘consciousness’ or our ‘true self’ in the spiritual text. In Hinduism, they call it ‘Brahman’. In Christianity, they call it Christ - the Christ that exists in everyone.

(3) The co-existence of the void and light. I think most people are familiar with this one. It is a reference to Taoism concept of Ying & Yang. The fact that neither can exist without the other and both are interdependent on one another in order to exist and to function.

(4) Before the Gates of Orgrimmar, Sylvanas said something along the line of “Savor it… Nothing lasts” before she fled. This is a deep spiritual truth - Nothing lasts.

But from a spiritual perspective, it has a deeper meaning. Ultimately, from a spiritual perspective, reality comes from nothing and will go to nothing eventually. Therefore, the only thing that exists and persists is this thing called ‘nothing’, hence ‘nothing’ is the only thing that lasts. ‘Nothingness’ is analogous with ‘constant change’, ‘present moment’, ‘space’, ‘consciousness’, ‘god’ etc.

“Nothingness” also refers to the empty space that pervades our reality. Just like everything needs consciousness to manifest, all worldly manifestation requires ‘space’ to exist. In consciousness, there is only the eternal present moment that keeps changing within the space of consciouness. Spirituality has recognised that space and time are actually the same things in essence. Just like what Albert Einstein has proven in his theory of space-time much later.

(5) The evil ‘void’ that we are fighting can be interpreted as the ‘nothingness’ that gives birth to everything and will ensure that everything eventually crumbles into nothingness because that is the deep spiritual truth.

This interpretation has grave implication for it implies that our characters and all the characters in the WoW universe who are fighting against the void are actually… EGOS. Yes, our characters represent the egos who are struggling to survive AGAINST the natural law of the cosmos. It means that we are actually evil and the void is actually the real god.

(6) Sylvanas claimed that she serves ‘Death’. But remember, she is already dead and the ‘Death’ that she serves is equivalent to the ‘Life’ that we serve as well. Eventually, both ‘Death’ and ‘Life’ are 2 sides of the same coin and this coin is known as void (or nothingness).

(7) " All eyes shall be opened " is a reference to our 3rd eye, also known as the “Eye of Horus” in ancient Egypt. In modern times, scientists believe it is a reference to our Pineal Gland. The presence of fluoride in our tap water after WW2 in modern times has erased humanity connection to the spiritual dimension, fueling the Capitalism agenda in the process.

And many others!

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WoW, like a lot of modern fantasy, has ties to existing mythology and legends obviously based from real life history.

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I think you’re reading way too far into this, OP. As humans we like to make connections between objects and ideas that we find familiar even when there is no connection or resemblance.

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Thought you were a Pandaren monk for a second there, OP.

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An interesting interpretation brought low by the infusion of politics and junk science.

To build on what Aelora said, from a Jungian perspective our myths and images reflect deeper parts of our psyche, things that can only be discussed indirectly via metaphor, imagery, allusion and so on. Whether Blizz intended it or not, they will build on existing archetypes because those archetypes appear to be inherent in the human mind.

To paraphrase what Cladis said, these things may be universal but generally function as a Rorschach for both the enlightened and the foolish to talk about. This is why humility and the knowledge whatever we say is, at best, incomplete and more often than not a reflection of our own fears and desires.

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Hi Myths! I think you stated this post so beautifully. You’ve had certain experiences that don’t fit the mold of the Western “rational mind”, but I can tell you’re the type of person who still experiments and analyzes their own consciousness…and the many levels it may inhabit ;). I appreciate you sharing this message with the WoW community, and I’d like to throw in my 10 cents if you don’t mind.

It’s difficult when discussing the realms of human awareness, because a lot of these ideas do require direct experience to fully grasp. Many of the most beautiful aspects of the human consciousness are “gated” behind ego-induced suffering, enslavement to one’s emotions and desires, as well as the “rational” mind that we tend to worship so dearly. We have to find a way to transcend the many pitfalls of separation between us and the world outside of our bodies. There is a grind to go through if we wish to do this…

To clarify what I mean, think of it as a reputation grind or raid attunement that temporarily keeps you from fully unlocking your character’s power. You don’t know what the “power” is, but you’ve seen some max-level people wielding something that you have yet to wield. The difference between you and them, is that they have progressed through their grinds. You don’t become that version of yourself until you have done the inner work, the shadow work, seeing your own nasty truths inside, for whipping yourself and self-mutilating yourself as the inner demon who you have been until this moment. Then you find the self-acceptance work, self-love work, the inner-child work. It’s SO difficult at first, but it’s necessary to face your own darkness before you can stand to see your own light. This is the grind that stands between a powerless, dormant, sleeping human soul, and a being which is walks the path to self-actualization. It’s the quest we accept, knowing that our growth lies on the other side.

Fortunately for us, video games allow us to experience certain abstract concepts that are not achievable in an everyday mode of consciousness. WoW has shown us what a “universal cosmology” looks like in their terms. They showed us what it means to be so small in this collection of worlds, yet so impactful as the players of the Game. We have seen other dimensions, layers of reality that exist parallel to the physical plane of Azeroth. We have been shown that there is no such thing as “black and white”, “pure good, pure evil”. The Horde and Alliance are both guilty of crimes, responsible for redemption. Even the Old Gods are not pure “evil” as they only seek to assimilate, not destroy. A VIDEOGAME SHOWED US THESE PSYCHEDELIC TRIPS.

In Shadowlands, we will have a way to experience death itself, without truly dying. We can “experience” what it feels like to maintain our awareness when the physical vessel dies. This “preparation for Death” is what meditation, is really about. It is my belief that a large percentage of the player base will be forced to ask themselves difficult questions about Life and Death in the real world. I’m excited for those questions to be asked!

Something that boggles my mind is how few players discuss Ancient Egypt after playing through Uldum’s content. The technological achievements of the earliest Egyptian dynasties are the main inspiration behind the inhabitants and stories of Uldum. A book that opened my eyes to the lost histories of ancient humanity was called “Fingerprints of the Gods” by Graham Hancock. This was where I first began my own path to uncovering the truths of our world that are ACTUALLY SUPPORTED by rock-hard evidence existent in ancient sites today.

For those who might be interested in discovering more of this Game, I invite you to read the books, “The Law of One”, “The Power of Now” (as Myths referenced above), and “Be Here Now” by Ram Dass. They provide a view of oneself and the world that is not bound to any one religion or doctrine. The atheist will find just as much wisdom as the mystic. There is no need to abandon whatever view of reality you currently have with these teachings.

If money is short, there are plenty of discussions and information sharing about these books on Youtube.

Thank you all,

Dank

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Undoubtedly, there is a lot of spirituality all throughout warcraft’s universe. Even in the quests you do as a player.
It’s clear the quest writers have familiarity with many cultures and traditions from around the world.