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Books abound on the array of
neo-pagan faiths and Wiccan traditions, but after reading all we can, it is common
to desire a teacher to inspire and guide us along our chosen path.
Unfortunately, the world is full of hucksters eager to cash in on this
desire. Money, however, is not the only "evil" to watch out for,
and often not even the primary one. Potential religious teachers often seek
the recognition or respect given to them by eager students. Sometimes, such
respect is entirely unwarranted. Over the course of our lives, we may have
many teachers and learn these lessons through hard-won experience but how can
you avoid these pitfalls and find a spiritual teacher with your best
interests at heart? Here are some tips to help you find your way amidst the
labyrinth of good and bad intentions:
- Search for a teacher who is both experienced
and honest. There are many
reputable teachers in a variety of traditions and they will welcome your
questions about their lineage and training. If they are self-taught, a
good teacher with lots of experience is not ashamed to admit they are.
Claims of profound mystical powers are often a warning sign, as is how
your prospective teacher handles proprietary information. Is it common
for the teacher or other group members to pass along written information
without crediting authorship? How can you tell? If the style of language
used in the text does not match what your teacher or fellow group member
usually uses, chances are they copied this information elsewhere without
crediting its author. A good teacher will not only credit where they
acquired information, they will make a point of teaching you to do the
same.
- Take your time & avoid anyone who moves
too fast. Don’t adopt a
teacher on the basis of one meeting. Spiritual education is a life-long
journey. There’s no inherent value in rushing your decision. On the flip
side: does your prospective teacher accept you as a student without
taking the time to really get to know you? This should be a two-way
process and a teacher who does not take the time to evaluate prospective
students is in search of quantity, not quality.
- Get to know your teacher & his/her
tradition. Sometimes the only
way to get to know a teacher is by enrolling in a class they may offer
online or at your local occult shop. Feel free to enroll in these
without committing to being their student on a long-term basis (i.e.,
seeking initiation or ordination with that teacher). Evaluate the
information you are provided with in the class. Does it feel like the
right path for you? Does his/her description of their tradition fall in
line with your own research on that tradition? You haven’t done any
research on his/her tradition? Back-up and do that before agreeing to
anything!
- Conduct a background check. What is your prospective teacher’s
background? Does s/he claim initiations or degrees that you cannot
confirm through outside sources? A reputable teacher will be happy to
provide references. Be wary of individuals who claim hereditary blood
lines or training that you cannot verify. Find out his/her reputation in
the spiritual community. Is the prospective teacher respected amongst
his/her peers? If you meet your teacher at a festival, community event,
or even in a chatroom, ask others of similar
stature and experience what they think of him/her. Does s/he allow
contact with her former students that have completed their training with
her? If not, consider it a warning sign.
- Learn to spot power trips and puffery. Are you strongly urged by the teacher to take
the next class (to the point of being pushy)? Does the teacher seem
impressed with him/herself? Does s/he brag about whom s/he knows or
his/her own stature? Does your prospective teacher make rash, emotional
decisions or always place blame on someone other than themselves? Does
your prospective teacher expect you to put them on a pedestal? If not,
are you tempted to put them on one? Run far, far away. No matter who
instigates such a relationship, it is not healthy for either party.
- Ask questions about his/her personal and
professional life. Is his/her
emotional life in order? Spirituality affects and permeates all levels
of our lives, and as such a good teacher should have stable
relationships with their mate, family, friends, former teachers and
former students. This is not to say that we don’t all go through ups and
downs, or that you should necessarily quit working with someone when
they go through inevitable woes life swings our way, but you’ll both
have a more rewarding experience if you start when you are both on a
more stable footing. This, of course, will become readily apparent if
you follow step 1 (above) and take your time: time will tell you whether
or not your prospective teacher is merely going through a rough period
or if chaos, dissension and blaming others seems to follow them wherever
they go.
- Find out if the teacher takes minors as their
students without significant dialogue and permission from the student’s
legal guardian. For those who
are underage…Yes, I realize you are eager to learn as much as you can
about your chosen spiritual path, but remember that there is no reason
to rush things. Even your parent’s religion will teach you valuable
lessons regardless of what path you later choose to take. A good teacher
will encourage that you learn your lessons from your family while you
can.
- Explore all your options. Does your prospective teacher encourage you
to explore several paths before deciding his/hers is the right one? An
experienced teacher will be able to provide you with a list of readings
that illustrate perspectives different from his/her own. S/he should be
willing to discuss these options with you without pointing out
his/hers is the only right option. Certain traditions require
significant investments of your time. If you are the type that likes to
study many different paths simultaneously, talk this over with your
teacher. Most will be fine with it, especially if you are still
exploring and trying things out (they may even encourage it!), but
because of the intensity of the training they may require you to decide
upon one before beginning a priest/ess path
with their group.
- Evaluate what you expect from your teacher. What kind of relationships do other people in
the group have with the teacher? You can tell a lot from context. Some
teachers will prefer a more formal relationship, others informal. One
isn't necessarily better than another, but knowing what you're after
ensures a more likely fit. It's also a good idea to open up a dialogue
by writing a list of what you are looking for and sharing this with the
prospective teacher when you meet.
- Ask prospective teachers what they expect from
you. What will your homework
assignments be like and how much time per week
or month will you be expected to devote to them? How many classes and
rituals do you need to attend? Be honest with him/her and yourself --
can you balance the study load along with work, family life or school?
If not, now may not be the time to begin this particular course of
study. If a fee is charged for lessons, does it seem reasonable?
Teachers have to eat too, so money does not necessarily indicate base
motivations, but the fee should be reasonable (whatever that means for
you -- don't be afraid to ask what the fees are allocated for). Also ask
if you are allowed to disagree with a teacher. You should certainly
learn their tradition and fit reasonably well with their beliefs if you
plan to dedicate and seek initiation, but questions and doubts should be
part of the dialogue and not simply subject to blind faith. Bear in mind
however that the relationship you have with your teacher should also not
be a constant source of philosophical (or other) disagreement.
- Assess whether or not the ethics of a group is
a good fit with your own.
Some people think that "consciousness-altering" substances are
a valuable part of ritual, while others would never even consider such a
thing. From Dionysian revels to Native American worship, this isn’t an
easy question when you look at historic precedents, but whether your own
ethics fall on one side or the other of this argument, make sure you
discuss this with your prospective teacher ahead of time. Either way, avoid
illegal substances and the groups that use them. Whether or not they
should be legal is beside the point; common sense tells us that
it is needlessly foolhardy to participate in illegal activities. Another
area to consider: Certain favors from the student to the teacher are not
considered ethical; the most obvious ones are sexual favors. We’re
human; sometimes romantic relationships develop between members of a
group, but they should not be expected as a matter of course, nor should
they break any commitments you or the other party has made with your
respective spouses nor should they be tied to your advancement in the
group. Less obvious are things like washing the windows in the High
Priestess' house (Helping to clean up the property after a ritual,
however, is normal).
- Trust your intuition. A teacher may check out all the points
beautifully but the student's inner bell is clanging an alarm. In that
case, the student should heed it.
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