Starcana Journal Spiritual Interpretations, Tarot Inspirations, Relationship Advice, and Other Healing Thoughts TODAYS THOUGHTS Read Another Post! Talk With Me Return to Home Page Why People Cheat ©2006 starcana.com 10.27.06 Its funny. Certain things come to certain people.. for certain reasons, at certain times. You try to make sense out of this new discovery that falls into your lap, and you wonder... is it something that you should look at as helpful to your personal goals or as a hindrance. My specific discovery comes from crawling the net as I exchange links with other related metaphysical sites. You get to review alot of other sites, seeing what sort of content they might have, their artwork, their articles, and so forth. Its' all interesting - considering that I just don't always have the time to surf the net. Each website and blog is like its own little star. I came across a number of websites who obviously found mine, enjoyed my content, and copied my information and placed it on their site - with the generosity of linking the original content - to its rightful owner.. me. It's the smart and classy thing to do, other than it's also the legal thing to do. I mean you take the time out of your day or night to come up with a topic, you sit down researching, and spend time writing and re-writing it - and when its finally published on the site - you like to share that with those who might have interest in your writings. Then you come across a few certain sites who had come along, liked my content, so much that they decided to take it, and place it on their site. The problem is that they take credit for my work. Oh, they add a few words into the text that I wrote, as if it gives them a right to "own" it now. But the fact is... is that it is still stolen content. You sit back and ask yourself, should you make a big stink and approach them about it? Or just let it go. Should I email them... and tell them about stealing, their lack of morals and question their business sense? Should I call them directly, letting them know that they copied my work and enforce the copyright laws on them - demanding that they remove my article? Should I contact their affiliates and the search engines to let them know about the illegally placed copywritten information on their site? The fact is that I could never lower myself and act like a mentally deranged nutcase... threatening someone with demanding emails and harassing phone calls over frivolous stuff over the internet. I was surprised at how many people do this during my research for this topic. The fact is that they just fit into the category with the rest of the nutcases out there who feel entitled to help themselves to other peoples property.... whether this would be on the net or off the net. It was rather sad to see how often this actually happens, and how many people are hurt over it. But stealing, ripping off, thievery, embezzlement, robbery, shoplifting...whatever you want to call it... is not morally right. Seriously, these people have a website up... so they are webmasters and owners, and aware of what you can.. and can not do. They even have all their copyright information on their sites - so no one steals information from THEIR website (you know, so no one steals MY content from their website - or whatever else they have stolen for content from other sources.) I mean - if you are gonna steal... you may as well steal big. My site isnt big.... it's just a measley little thing - but it is original and creative. Usually people who have a need to steal, lack creativity and inspiration. They have either bad ideas or no ideas.So when they don't have that special knack - they look for it - elsewhere - and feel quite entitled to it. If I can't be creative on my own - I do nothing.. I hibernate. And believe me - I have had my share of creative blocks. But I don't rip off content from other websites without giving them credit. I will simply do nothing - until that creative surge creeps back into my blood. I guess a few of the readings that I have done lately inspired me to write about this too, basically because if you capable of stealing in one area - you are quite capable of stealing in another area. One person who contacted me, described her business to me, and then mentioned about an employee leaving... and that person going out on their own and copying everything from the business she left... from exact words to a newspaper ad - to the color of their uniforms. This woman was left in tears and felt threatened, unable to understand how people can be so ethically-challenged. I told her ethics and morals go out the window when someone feels threatened or deprived. Desperation and obsessive behavior replaces trust and confidence. Probably two days later I had another reading where another similar situation came up with another woman feeling upset because someone else was copying their business. This particular person told me that she became so emotionally and mentally involved with this persons bad behavior, that she actually decided to get her first psychic reading to ask questions, and release the pressure by talking about it. Basically I reminded her that although it's a shame that this negative behavior exists - that every beautiful city in the world has its share of dirty rats and sneaky rodents looking to take whatever they feel that they can take ... pretty much like on the internet. And like the dirty rats in the city, the thieves end up using all of their natural resources, and will eventually die off - or move on to other newer territories. If you just go and google in "stealing my content" or "ripping off my ideas" you will see how many people this has affected. It happens to everyone on the net. Its a free for all. But then again, there is so much news about homes and businesses being robbed and cheated. What is scarey is the metaphysical sites who try to act all mistic and spiritual.... and of all people, they resort to plagiarizing and steal intellectual property... conveniently forgetting about their own practices when it comes to morals, ethical business behavior, and more importantly...spirituality! I guess you can't trust no one. So while I have had a number of these topics come up in readings this month.... I decided to pull a few cards on people who steal and take what does not belong to them. I pulled the Emperor card reversed, the 5 of swords reversed, and the Strength card reversed. Basically when I look at these cards, this would strongly suggest a dissatisfaction with areas in theses people's life. There is a lack of creativity, a loss of individuality, as well as scattered thoughts. Loneliness is strongly attached to this energy. These people are lost within their own beliefs, and yet have lost faith. That is where stealing and taking something of someone else's comes in.. as this action gives them a false sense of empowerment or righteousness. They have confusion and frustration within their thoughts and within their lives. Not only has there been an unsatisfied feeling with people who are close to them, but also a personal dissatisfaction within themselves. Their disappointment comes from the ego, finding it easier to blame others, rather than simply looking within. There is a tormented inner struggle, struggle about forgiving others, and forgiving themselves. It is a refusal to change or let go. The question is to ask these particular people is - What is it that you cant let go? People who steal, often feel hurt or empty. There is a hole in their being.. that needs to be filled. They take from others to feel better, to feel like they've gotten away with something, to feel like if someone has done it to me - then I will do it to someone. Sometimes it is easier to take from others and seek something of a revenge - rather than just accepting the empty hole, and doing something positive to make it whole again. For the victims out there who have had this happen in some way in their life..... Do you choose to hold on to the emptiness of the HOLE - or do you choose to become WHOLE? The Emperor card is related to Mars (action and revenge) and 5 of swords (thoughts of loss and despair) are both in a reversed position and based on the struggle with having clear thoughts, and lack of open-mindedness. The strength card which also falls into the reversed position suggests abusive control and false sense of power. So in regards to the subject, people who steal feel entitled (in a twisted sense) to what they are taking from others. People steal and rob for a number of reasons. For example, poor people who steal feel entitled that the world owes them. Rich people steal for the power (just because they can do it). Uneducated people steal because of ignorance (refusal to learn). Intelligent people steal because they think it makes them more clever. But the Strength card represents just that - Strength. And when they don't feel that they have the strength or power to control the influences that surround them - they do the opposite, and do whatever they can to regain their own inner strength, which they usually become abusive in some way to gain that control back.... and will do anything within their power to overcome those feelings of weakness (or being out of control).. In general, with regards to what cards were chosen, the whole particular act of thievery, truly comes down to the basics of simple morals and intention. The fact that you steal - for whatever reason - is simply wrong.... no matter what reason or excuse is used. So when someone does this, whether they are an internet thief, an unemployed man robbing a convenience store, a woman stealing from her boyfriends wallet, an employee stealing from the company.... you only need to ask about their intention. Obviously, stealing is wrong. Knowing that it is wrong, and they do it anyway... means that is just out of desperation... whether that be selfishness, greed, or simple insecurity. So what does one do about the problem, whether it is in my own situation, or for the others who came to me for answers.. or perhaps for someone else who so reading this and is a victim.... I pulled another card - and a card flew from the deck I pick it up off the floor (when a card flies from the deck that you are shuffling - you are to pay special attention to it) and it was the Death card. Basically, the same card pops out as to what my own personal beliefs are. You let go - and let karma have its way. No professional email or harassing phone call will make the situation any better.. at least not the way Karma handles it. Stealing and a wrongful theft is a lesson to be learned.. and how they are learning about life and themselves through their own lesson... especially when someone intentionally steals and takes what is not theirs. Stealing hurts and is bad behavior... But we are not to try and control, or judge their reason for their actions. We are only to judge our own behavior during this period. This is a comforting thought, which is a familiar quote on Intention... "If you do it to intentionally to hurt someone - then it shall come back to you three times stronger." When you have a personal belief system and trust the universe with your questions, that is all you need. Therefore, when it comes to all the pettyiness of chasing down people who are only trying to get ahead the only way they know how, I choose to let it go. And only because I always get a warm, cozy feeling in my soul that knows the Natural Law and Karma will take it from here. Many Blessings and Peace to the Restless Starcana © 1991 Robin Wood. Used with Permission. © 1998-2008 Starcana Entertainment. All content of this website is copyrighted to Starcana.com. All rights reserved