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It has recently come to my attention that some magical traditions don't want you to ask them for instruction, but want you to prove you are "worthy" and then have them ask you to study with them.
I consider this wrong, for so many reasons, the top of which is that it's sheer unadulterated arrogance. Another is, it is the student's *choice* which tradition to learn (or to learn none at all), not just the would-be teacher's. Furthermore, "teachers" who hawk for students often have other ethical deficiencies, and often take advantage of their position with the student.
Now, I teach. But I don't go to festivals or community gathers saying "oh, come study with me". The people who do that I consider untrustworthy. If I'm planning an open class, I would mention it, maybe even post fliers, but "classes" are different from one on one training. Also, I don't believe that the "take a class" style of teaching is anywhere near adequate for most students. One on one instruction, tailored to the individual, is the best way to help a person learn and master a complex tradition. A tutoring model is more appropriate, IOTW.
Also, I tend to resent the "in for a penny, in for a pound" approach some trads take. Diamond is as much or more a philosophy and magical system than a religion. There are some basic things we will teach to anyone, even people not formally "students". But except when I do seminars/classes at a festival, we don't hawk it.
Then of course, comes the conundrum: How do I let it be know that I will teach/train/tutor without hawking my tradition, or pushing things down people's throats? I know of several people who I think probably would have been very well suited for my tradition, but who gravitated to the "louder" traditions that had all of the fancy bells, whistles, classes, and foofoo, and who probably have gotten shorted of their potential in the process.
I just can't say to someone "gee, you should study with me" - it would be so... wrong. It's their choice, they to find what they want, whether I agree with their choice or not. All I can do is let people know that I do teach, but even then that seems like bragging.
I consider this wrong, for so many reasons, the top of which is that it's sheer unadulterated arrogance. Another is, it is the student's *choice* which tradition to learn (or to learn none at all), not just the would-be teacher's. Furthermore, "teachers" who hawk for students often have other ethical deficiencies, and often take advantage of their position with the student.
Now, I teach. But I don't go to festivals or community gathers saying "oh, come study with me". The people who do that I consider untrustworthy. If I'm planning an open class, I would mention it, maybe even post fliers, but "classes" are different from one on one training. Also, I don't believe that the "take a class" style of teaching is anywhere near adequate for most students. One on one instruction, tailored to the individual, is the best way to help a person learn and master a complex tradition. A tutoring model is more appropriate, IOTW.
Also, I tend to resent the "in for a penny, in for a pound" approach some trads take. Diamond is as much or more a philosophy and magical system than a religion. There are some basic things we will teach to anyone, even people not formally "students". But except when I do seminars/classes at a festival, we don't hawk it.
Then of course, comes the conundrum: How do I let it be know that I will teach/train/tutor without hawking my tradition, or pushing things down people's throats? I know of several people who I think probably would have been very well suited for my tradition, but who gravitated to the "louder" traditions that had all of the fancy bells, whistles, classes, and foofoo, and who probably have gotten shorted of their potential in the process.
I just can't say to someone "gee, you should study with me" - it would be so... wrong. It's their choice, they to find what they want, whether I agree with their choice or not. All I can do is let people know that I do teach, but even then that seems like bragging.
From:
no subject
However, a lot of good students are clueless about what's out there. I think that's what you're seeing with the people you feel wistful about. I think it behooves a teacher to do one of two things--rely on the gods to guide him/her to students (if in a gods-centered tradition like mine) or be out there as a presence, keep a moderately high profile in many different arenas because you never know where the next newbie will stumble in and look around to see who is there ... and the latter is, in my view, one of the duties of a priest. Which is why I'm on lj, although journal-keeping is not my thing so I keep my lj as boring as I can.
Interesting issue, actually. How secret is "secret."
Frith,
Marion
From:
no subject
Yes, that was one that was niggling at the back of my brain. If you have to ask a person if they want to study, can you be sure that they want to??
or be out there as a presence, keep a moderately high profile in many different arenas because you never know where the next newbie will stumble in and look around to see who is there ... and the latter is, in my view, one of the duties of a priest. Which is why I'm on lj, although journal-keeping is not my thing so I keep my lj as boring as I can.
That's part of the reason I'm on LJ as well. Also, it enables me to talk "shop" with geographically distant folk. With the hours I'm working these days, this is one way to stay in touch. I think that the only person that I know has a more grueling schedule is
BTW, I added you to my magestuff filter.
From:
no subject
It was the e-lists that alerted me there were other heathens out there. Folks stumble around within their different little circles even in the on-line world. Funny the way it is. But it's a damn sight better than it was in the 80s with a few newsletters and lots of cliqueish word of mouth.
M
From:
no subject
Aint it the truth. The worst thing was that the bigger the local community, the more cliqueish it was. The 80s for me were virtually one long series of witch wars and similar crap, and I got pretty damn fed up with the whole lot.