Teachers and Leaders in Paganism

Finding a teacher in the Pagan scene can be a real challenge for the new seeker. I have encountered many people who have been put off Paganism by the sort of teachers who set themselves up to collect followers rather than out of any real concern for the seekers, yet the old saying 'when the student is ready the teacher will come' seems to hold true for those who look beyond any difficulties from first encounters.

Paganism has continued to spread quickly in the decades since the 1960's to the extent that many people become 'old hands' after just a decade or two of study. Some of these are quite genuine and can become valuable sources of teaching for those who are newer to the various paths of Paganism. However, it is not always easy for the newcomer to pick these out of the plethora of 'experts' who make themselves available to guide the fledgling Pagan.

A few simple guidelines may help the newcomer to weed out opportunists or egotists who are all too anxious to take up your time or money for their own ends. While nothing beats a good dose of common sense tempered with intuition, knowing the warning signals of the 'false prophet' can hopefully prevent a few false starts.

The first thing to be wary of is anyone who claims to be 'the only true teacher' or whose path is the only 'legitimate' one in their own eyes. This is the oldest con in the book, and at the very least indicates a narrow minded person who is more interested in control than in your spiritual development. A legitimate teacher will listen as well as talk. Anyone who finds themselves in a leadership position within the world of Paganism must be flexible enough to recognise if a seeker may be drawn to another path than their own, and to be prepared to facilitate them in finding the path that will suit them.

Another pitfall to look out for is personality clashes within geographic areas, and the manner in which a self-styled leader may try to sway the newcomer's opinion against those that they personally don't like. Any attempt to convince the seeker not to speak to specific individuals or groups should be met with suspicion. This is often an indication that the 'forbidden' person(s) are on the other side of a private argument, or may even know the speaker to be a fraud. The discriminating seeker will dismiss any such admonitions and form their own opinions.

In general, the more a person boasts about their expertise, the less likely it is that there is any genuine knowledge to be had from them. Looking for a magical teacher can be a bit daunting when those who make themselves most available are far too often those who are least suited to the position, but an observant person can find what they are looking for with some extra effort. No one ever said the magical life is easy.

One method of learning more about any given subject in magic is first to read up as much as possible on the specific subject, then attend moots and see if anyone is able to discuss the subject with you. This can be a good way to access teaching from someone who might not ordinarily seek such a position.

Also, it is all too easy for the average person to believe that someone who has had a book published must know what they are talking about. I always find it amazing how many people write to me through my website to ask my opinion of just about everything occult. Some of the questions I get are quite valuable as I will give thought to answers, and often come up with material for future books through the effort I put into researching some of these.

The point however, is that I am just an individual like many others, and another known author might give a very different answer, or an unknown person may come up with a better one. Those who insist that there is only one right answer may not necessarily be charlatans, but they will insist that you are 'wrong' if you don't follow their religion to the letter and may even put you on their psychic vampire list if you disagree with them. This is another warning sign to keep an eye out for, those who seem to feel persecuted by 'magical attacks' on a frequent basis are surely too wrapped up in self-importance to be of much real benefit as a teacher.

The natural inclination to seek a teacher for a subject which seems vast and mysterious can all too easily create a vulnerability to those who prey on the unwary, even if it is only for their own ego gratification rather than for material profit. However, there is much to be gained from learning from someone who is genuinely more experienced than oneself, even if the person doesn't require official recognition as 'leader' or 'teacher'. Covens and circles do require some organisational leadership in order to function, but a leader can be assessed by how much attention is given to organising and how much to impressing.

Practising with a group that isn't right for you can still be a valuable learning experience. The key is to remember to think for yourself, and always question. If the practises of the group become too dogmatic in a way that feels wrong or if your own philosophies no longer fit the group as a whole, it is probably time to move on and discover new sources of experience. The more diverse your lessons, the sooner you will find that you become the one who is being asked the questions, and possibly even looked to as a potential teacher yourself.