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June 22 The Seeker's Entitlement MythThere seem to be a popular myth among pagans these day: That we are to coddle seekers and tell them anything they want to hear. That's right, what they want to hear, not what the should know about that which they ask. Not pose questions to them so that they can find their own answers. We are supposed to hand them everything hey want on a silver plate.
The path of the seeker doesn't work that way.
You are a seeker because you are active LOOKING into things, not sitting on your ass waiting for it all the be handed over, no questions asked.
Being a seeker is NOT easy. In fact it can be a pain in the ass as you work hard to make the pieces fit only to find that the picture you THOUGHT you had is all wrong and that you need to start again. One can easily spend their life being a seeker.
But it's that search which is rewarding.
And I'm not about to hand over my knowledge and experience to whiny armchair would-be theologians because they can't be bothered to actually make an effort!
I don't care if you live in a fast food world, MacPaganism is a meaningless crock. I don't care if you come form a Christian background where the priest told you want to think, you've left that so now it's time to think for yourself.
You want to learn then make the godsdamned effort. It's going to take a lot of time, energy and effort, but if it's important to you, then it will be worth it. June 18 InitiationIt's a subject hat keeps coming up time and again, be it in person or on the Internet. And it seems to me that people make far too big a deal out of it.
So here's my take. But like everything else, it's probably not what others are going to agree with.
1. Self-initiation is a crock. You can't initiate yourself because an initiation is something that is done TO you. If you want to go ahead and dedicate yourself to some god or a given path, go for it. It's great way to affirm your intention not only to yourself but to the universe at large. But to be initiated, one of the following two options is required.
2. Human initiation is when a person initiates you int eh ways and beliefs of the group. That group can be anything from collage frat to Wicca to eastern practices. What all these things have in come is they are the product of humans. These groups are for the members to be able to make the connection with whatever is the goal of the group.
3. Divine initiation. this is when there is no humans involved, but rather spirits or gods decide it's time to induct a given person into a new way of thinking and being. Shamanic initiation is a good example of this one. And going through such an initiation won't make you part of any group because it's highly individualized, being between you and the Spirits. and tell people you've gone through such an initiation probably won't be helpful. Very few will be able to understand what it means and more will see it as bragging.
Both types of initiation are important and having one kind doesn't rule out having the other. Nor does one only have one initiation experience int heir life. There are many. And they ARE important as they will influence who you are as a person. But they are NOT that impressive to others.
Rather then throwing out your "titles," show people you know what you're talking about. Evidence of knowledge is far more impressive then claimed titles.
So in short, initiation is great and valuable, but it's not the be all and the end all. It's just the beginning. I wish people would stop using it as a status symbol. |
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