While I'm very wary about handing over my instruction about anything to just anyone, there is something to be said about personal instruction.
For example, I learned far more about meditation by having a teacher teach me how than reading it in a book and trying to apply it.
Otoh, I've been consciously pagan for about 5 years now, and still haven't found a "teacher". Nor have I looked for one in earnest. So, I do agree with you that saying "I think I'm pagan, who wants to be my priest/ess??" is not the smartest way to do it.
Other people have made the points about being trained most of our formative lives to need a teacher to learn anything. If these people came from christian religions, there's alot of spoon feeding there too.
And then there's that worry about doing things "wrong". OMG, I used TABLE salt not KOSHER salt ... awful things will happen with this spell. I said "thee" instead of "thou" in that incantation ... the gods will hate me forever! I'm exagerating to silliness here but I've seen some people get all worked up over perfection. And it's not about perfection, it's about so much more than that.
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branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2004-07-07 03:18 am (UTC)For example, I learned far more about meditation by having a teacher teach me how than reading it in a book and trying to apply it.
Otoh, I've been consciously pagan for about 5 years now, and still haven't found a "teacher". Nor have I looked for one in earnest. So, I do agree with you that saying "I think I'm pagan, who wants to be my priest/ess??" is not the smartest way to do it.
Other people have made the points about being trained most of our formative lives to need a teacher to learn anything. If these people came from christian religions, there's alot of spoon feeding there too.
And then there's that worry about doing things "wrong". OMG, I used TABLE salt not KOSHER salt ... awful things will happen with this spell. I said "thee" instead of "thou" in that incantation ... the gods will hate me forever! I'm exagerating to silliness here but I've seen some people get all worked up over perfection. And it's not about perfection, it's about so much more than that.