Craft Post 4: Questions and Answers: Wise Guidance for Priests and Guides

[sabrinamari]

Important chapters in Grace Unfolding: Psychotherapy in the Spirit of the Tao-te Ching and what they can offer Pagan Initiates, Guides and Priests:

Regarding (p 19) - More about doing the job of the Priest, Priestess and Initiate

Communing (p 29) - Really helpful guidance for an Initiate

Making Peace (p 33) - Describes the personal work of Neophyte, repeated in more depth again at 2nd Degree in the Blue Star training system

Empowering (p 38) - Answers the question, "Who does the work when an Initiate guides & counsels?"

Opening (p48) - Describes some important Initiate skills

Claiming (p 65) - More important guidance

Wandering (p 74) - Why I, personally, am not "conservative"

Comments

[shades-of-nyx.livejournal.com]

I know this probably doesn't shock you, but I just don't "get" this book. I've read it three times now, and I understand it intellectually, yet it doesn't resonate at all.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

It's OK. You don't have to. We all have different approaches, gifts and insights to share. Your approach will be just perfect for some subset of students who wouldn't really respond to my approach.

Diversity is life-enhancing and tradition-preserving, in my opinion.

[eoma-p.livejournal.com]

@shades_of_nyx: I'm struggling some with this book, even though I probably am a bit Buddhist. I'm wondering how you would answer the question that launched Sabrina on this tangent all those years ago: What does an Initiate "look" like?

[evaelisabeth.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna jump in here, I'm Eva a Priestess living in Ireland and I come from the more conservative spectrum of Blue Star (you have no idea how funny that is)

A Priestess is a balance point between action and calm. Her path is one of taking responsibility for herself and for her environment. She makes the tough decisions and takes her licks as they say. She is open to change but a keeper of the mysteries (that sounds a bit pompous). She is part of the cycles not merely an observer, her hand is one of those that turns the wheel. She finds joy in this world and is deeply rooted in it while walking the other world with confidence.

She also wears a cape and spandex tights ;-)

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this wise and beautiful description of the Priest/ess.

[the-smith-e.livejournal.com]

I fear I must ask. Could you define conservative in this context?

Thank you.

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

More attached to the traditional aspects of the tradition, really.

In some other contexts, "conservative" in Craft might include things like gender essentialism or a very strict interpretation of secrecy oaths, but that's not what 'Brina or Eva (or Nyx or I) are talking about.

'Brina just means that all the glorious little details of the form and the lore aren't her main concern, whereas for some of us, they're a matter of more primary focus. (Which is not to say that the transformation and growth aren't important, of course. Primary doesn't mean sole, on either side. :-)

[evaelisabeth.livejournal.com]

As usual Onyx says stuff much more concisely and better than I could.

When I describe myself as conservative on this spectrum I'm talking more about the forms as I was handed them. It's not that I would never change anything, because I have after lengthy and wonderful consultations with my peers. But I wouldn't change what I consider the core and I expect my students to have completely internalized that core. I have no problem with experimentation and working in new and wonderful ways but there is always that Core to fall back on to use as a stepping stool to reach other places.

The wonderful part about all of this is that despite that Brina and I divergent in some of our views I deeply respect her and the current of Blue Star that she represents. I very much appreciate the conversations we have because they make the think and stretch and when the rubber hits the road and we step into circle we can touch the Divine together and make the ritual sing.

[the-smith-e.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That does clarify things.

[shades-of-nyx.livejournal.com]

A Priest(ess) walks her talk. She lives her magic(k) and acts with mindfulness. She listens more than she speaks. She models through her actions.
All that said, a Priest(ess) is a human being who does the best she can.
Becoming a Priest(ess) is the result of the call to the Service of the Gods being to loud to ignore.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Also a nice description!

[radiant-one.livejournal.com]

If I might suggest the Stephen Mitchell translation. It is what could be termed pagan friendly and much more up to date vocabulary than any other translation. Frankly, when compared to earlier translations it some times reads more like a version of the Tao Te Ching.

If you are curious to see what the various translations read like, check out this website. It has multiple translations.
http://duhtao.com/

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

I love the Mitchell translation. All versions have something to offer, but the Mitchell is my favorite.