Lessons you Probably Won't Find in Books
1) Within a circle trust is an absolute necessity. If you attend a ritual be
SURE you trust those involved. Many feel this, in today's society, to be
archaic. It has always proved out when I have tried to work with unknown
people, those I was unsure of or who were in some way unsure of me, failure,
disaster or heated debate resulting in dissent has always been the end point
Know a person before you are willing to enter sacred space with them.
2) Never spellcast too soon. Magic should not be a first resort. The use of
non-magical means should be applied when possible and convenient. Overuse of
magic, like anything else, becomes a crutch that can unbalance your life.
3) Prophecy is a two-edged sword. Remember this, whether you read Tarot,
Runes or whatever other means of divination or personal analysis.
Be prepared to have the reading to go in directions you do not expect and be
prepared for them NOT to be in a way you will like. Remember the Lesson of
Kassandra (in Greek Mythology) that sometimes you can change the future and
sometimes you cannot, and only time will tell which is which. If you cannot
deal with the possibility of your personal wants or expectations being wrong
then you should not be consulting a means of divination. I have seen even
longtime craft-folk who forget this lesson in the heat of emotion.
4) There is not a magical answer behind everything. I have known some folks
who became so obsessed in their personal paranoia of some form of 'magical
attack' or 'magical influence' that such became their excuse for everything
that occurred around them, even when very simple non-magical answers existed
to explain what had occurred. The number of magical practitioners at present
is VERY small, and most have a range of influence that doesn't extend far on
their own. The gathering of hateful or vindictive emotional energy to
achieve a magical attack on another is not done easily or quickly, and tends
to harm the attacker more often then the target. Look with logic on a
situation.
5) Diversify. Don't depend on or look into only a single philosophy or
magical application -- a specialist is usually someone who is refusing to
grow beyond boundaries they have set for themselves.
6) A single teacher Is NOT enough. You will spend a lifetime as a real
student, even if others one day declare you a teacher, leader or High
Priestess. Gather from many to find what your lifepath is. Do not let anyone
tell you there is ONLY one true belief system, one true Divinity, one way to
approach a situation or one teacher to follow.
7) In the end you ARE Solitary. All Magickal workers are eventually forced
to depend upon their own company, separated from the many communities and
groups by distance, time or belief. You will probably spend more time
solitary than in a group. Be prepared to face this when it happens. The
Pagan Community is too small to be everywhere for everyone or to even always help
its own
(though trying to do so is a goal I feel vital to expand the community). You
must become sufficiently balanced and grounded to deal with being alone and
to practice your beliefs alone, especially in times of hardship and
adversity.
8) Don't be too fast to assume the role of a teacher, or to assume that a
student cannot teach you something in return. Can you really explain what
you believe and do within your belief coherently? Does the person to be
taught really want to learn it all and are they sincere, or are they merely
curious or on a 'power trip'? Learning to know when someone is ready to
learn is one of the hardest lessons you must learn if you purposely teach.
Don't give a hand grenade to a three year old and expect positive results.
9) Not all paths and philosophies are desirable. There are many that are
self-destructive, purely self-indulgent or a combination of both. If a path
cannot teach you some form of inner peace with yourself and what you are
doing in life, or is devoted to manipulating others to achieve your personal
benefits, then it is a 'dead-end path,' one that is a cul-de-sac on the path
of growth.
10) Don't do what feels uncomfortable. If performing a ritual, using a magic
form, reciting a chant/prayer or performing an activity feels personally
painful, uncomfortable or 'wrong' then it is not for you to be involved with
it at that time. Listen to the inner voice of your spirit and follow its
lead. Intuition is a powerful gift, don't waste it by always opposing it.
11) You will have to take chances. Magic doesn't work on its own, and
positive Karma won't help you if you fight it when it seeks to restore
balance around you. It is not enough to cast a prosperity spell and then sit
home and wait for a letter in the mail from Ed MacMahon with a check in it!
You must take non-magical action to help things along. Cast a spell for a
new job? Sure, but then don't turn down a chance to read job listings, mail
resumes or attend an interview! Working to heal a sick spouse? OK, but make sure
they are getting medical advice, enough to eat, attention, care, therapy,
etc. to help the magic on its way!