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(Number 207)
A Question of The New Age Path
Someone has written in to me asking about, what constitutes the
"True
Path" and how does one find it? A hard question and not so easily
answered and has been dealt with in various ways in other postings
before this one. But, I thought it may be time to bring a few
relavencies up, perhaps for further discussion with our members.
The other day I went by one of the local bookshops and checked out
the Occult section and was rather surprised to see a host of very
young teenage girls and boys sat on the floor giggling and laughing,
while flicking through an assortment of spell books, (mostly love
spells). It's the same the world over though, not just here.
I realize that many people today, especially youngsters, are
attracted to the Occult in general, (I certainly was at that age),
but these folk are really heading in the wrong direction, so to speak
and missing the Spiritual Essence. Writers are making a fortune
pumping out such rubbish books and the gullible are still buying
them, (or in this last case, let's say just sitting and reading them
within the bookshop itself).
This although alarming in one way, is comforting in another, in that
youngsters are finally breaking free of the oft-times strict
unbending dogma of many inflexible belief systems still in abundance
today and perhaps offers a more open and free path, with many side
benefits, such as I guess, magick.
I KEEP saying however, and have even posted it on the Home Page, that
flicking through books together with a half-hearted belonging cannot
lead to anything serious or practical, especially in the growing
troublesome times of today. It is actually what initially prompted
the main website, together with "The Research Group" (and the
resultant chat group here), and was developed in the hope that it
might "properly" educate all interested persons, dispelling the
rubbish while attempting to instill a perceived genuine concept, and
even perhaps attract any first tentative steps from interested
persons into the occult and Wicca itself.
I certainly don't want to deter anyone from asking any relevant
questions whatsoever, as that is what this group is all about, but
hope to keep it in some semblance of order and in line with
the "Path" as a whole which often coincides with levels of maturity
within us all.
It does not constitute any recruitment to any "Orders" or "How to
Do
Spells", as that is beyond the scope of a chat group and mere words,
and actually most Orders and Covens are extremely secretative and not
easy to penetrate – especially nowadays, and have strict vetting
procedures.
The idea of the Research Group is to cater to everyone, as long as it
is relevant to the group's ethos and any physical meetings that we
arrange here can help those of any age that turn up and help start
them on the path proper. While the chat group allows people from
anywhere around the world, of any age and/or experience to openly
chat – SO THAT WE MAY ALL LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
Again and again, I reiterate, (and I'll do it again here), that most
seekers probably feel that they truly want the proper guidance and
training from an experienced Occultist or Wiccan, and those people
would be right in holding that belief.
There are so many self-made "experts" nowadays and I sigh with wonder
where they get their profound expertise and knowledge from. The
books nowadays are repetitive in content and have strayed so far from
the foundation of any ancient occult ways or Wicca, especially
Traditional Craft, it is hardly recognizable, but these sort of books
sell to the younger group, who think it is the true thing.
This sort of teaching can ONLY come from a "teacher", or
"tutor",
called a Mentor, as the seeker becomes the "Dedicant" in the first
steps and the teaching is handed down accordingly, as it has been for
generations.
This means that there has to be a "commitment" FIRST. After showing
that `much needed commitment', ONLY then the true teaching can begin,
but mark my words; until that moment has come, it is only trivia and
skirting on any `true teaching' that is passed along to an
undedicated student, until their attitudes have changed to a more
mature one.
This sort of information cannot and will not be handed out for
someone that is not dedicated, or who cannot keep his or her oaths,
promises and/or commitments to themselves, never mind to each other
within a traditional group.
It was the way I first learnt and have since taught many others over
the years. A seeker definitely cannot and will not get the "real
thing" from even the better books. They can only hint at the ways
and cannot fully explain the unexplainable. It has to be "realized"
from within, felt deeply rather than merely read. It is a
wonderful "inner journey", (or microcosm), otherworlds and mixing
with the macrocosm and "what's out there", and will probably change
your life – for the better.
Everyone has to try this experimentation on their own and realize
(and know) what it is they are looking for ultimately and invariably
is spoilt by "people" who join it and run it and the dogma they
invent to maintain it. Power trips and egotism pressure new members
into a dogma that clings and drags one down into despair and threats.
Pure spiritualism does not need Priests and Grand Pubabahs', in
actual fact, as there is really no great Gurus "out there!" We are,
ultimately, all seekers on a similar path, or series of paths,
perhaps at very different stages, but never-the-less, still seekers
still struggling to know ever more and what is good for one, might
not be exactly the same for another. We are, after all, all
different and that is the beauty of it, is it not?
We must live by experience, not someone else's liturgy of their own
particular journey. I keep saying to people who write in to me and
also in on our site, that Wicca is definitely an experiential belief
system.
If someone wants to call it a religion, then it's his or her
prerogative. I don't care. Wiccans actually have a "similar" belief
system "in general", in that we might join a Coven to meet up
together to practice magick and help each other delve deeper into our
own psyches and celebrate the Wheel of the Year festivals together
and have fun.
However, on our own, the true seeker will be at one with nature
riding the sky and bypassing the stars and time itself. It is also
true and of merit that within Wicca everyone is a Priestess and
Priest once they reach the First Degree and we certainly don't ask
for any funds or initiation fees or any other fees in our groups
to "inner members". The Coven is not a business! We have a High
Priestess and High Priest to simply run it and maintain order and
mainly to "invoke" or "evoke" the forces to the Circle.
We are not by any means individualistic in this or Nature belief, for
nearer to home here in Singapore, we find Taoism, which can loosely
be translated as the Witchcraft of the East and of course, vice versa.
There are so many similarities within many of the ancient practices
around the world that makes one wonder if there is a real core
structure and that it is simply one's own interpretation of it that
is written down and spread to others. Did ancient man and woman find
the secrets of these forces and through proper working, find the
ultimate key to spiritualism and being at one with our Gods,
Goddesses, forces and powers?
But, it's still only an interpretation we can say. Spirits, forces
and otherworldly beings do exist in realms we cannot comprehend
ourselves, never mind verbalize and explain it all. We can
experience some of this/these at times and certainly journey to
places we cannot describe. And around the world, over many
generations, similar occurrences happened to generations of genuine
seekers and practitioners. Remembering that reality is in the eyes
of the beholder!
This however, has been changed and corrupted over the years to cater
for changing times, growing egos and other "people" things, but it
must be said that the core and the forces are still there and just
needs to be tapped into.
No one can tell you how, or do it for you. There is no quick recipe
book; only hard work and actually "doing", gives results, so that one
can experience oneself. What one person calls Quan Yin in one area
of the world "might" be called Mary or Dianna in another, or is it
yet a purer essence of sorts?
A power perhaps with male or female characteristics or traits, which
mere humans can only relate to in this mundane way and thus call
these inner forces by a human name they can relate to, which of
course helps visualization and evocation of Them. They then in fact
can manifest these forces and have continued to do so over a great
period of time maintaining a connection made with one civilization or
another to the present day.
A true Occultist realizes certain powers, and represents, rather than
worships them and fuzes with them, involves them and has a symbiosis
with them.
And especially for seekers such as `Sonya', who wrote into our group
about white and black, fluffy or dark, let me AGAIN say that there's
actually no such thing as a good or white witch, or inversely, as bad
or black witch, but an admirable shade of grey. It's what you do and
how you use these powers for that makes it so. Each person is
answerable only to those powers to which he or she is oathed to and
works with, but remembering the axiom, "Do as ye will e're it harm
none."
True initiation actually comes from within oneself and all I can do
in the physical experience is guide a seeker and take them on a
journey that invokes that inner spiritual side of them to enable him
or her to make that commitment and self-initiation to themselves.
The trappings of the Circle are but props to aid in effect and inner
visualization and the initiation follows a rather strict tradition
dating back far before Gardner and if it is done properly, releases a
great flood of emotion and a deep moving happening is experienced.
To quote a new book recently published, "Unless a witch is willing to
take initiation when the "magick calls", and
to "actively", "consciously", and with free will, "walk
across the
line" to live IN the world, but not OF it, and to take the oaths of a
priestess or priest, then the line is not crossed.
The power will withdraw because it knows the witch is not yet
ready. `Some other time!' it seems to say." There will always be
the talkers and the doers in anything in life, but who really gains
the real insight and satisfaction of doing, rather than merely
copying and reciting someone else's experiences, perceptions and
views. Think about it – it can't be done!
The basic message is that, what is fundamental to Wicca is the actual
doing of it and no amount of theorising and intellectualisation can
substitute for the actual experience. However, even here, one must
be practical and not be a doer of absolute rubbish and high hope
wishing.
We must work within practical boundaries, until we are advanced
enough to work alone and not be on group chats asking and offering
nebulous and very personal so-called inner secrets, such as spells
even. They certainly wont be given over a chat group, if they are to
be real at all and you wont find them in any book on the free
market. Any book at all in fact, can only point the way and loosely
guide someone – and the rest is up to the individual to search it all
out and make it work.
It has recently being written in a book called, "Wiccan Roots" by
Philip Heselton that secrecy within Wicca (and other Occult groups
for that matter), besides fear of persecution of course, there is a
concern that certain very powerful magickal techniques could be
dangerous if they got into the wrong hands. Actually even Gardner
said that;
"Witches have a firmly rooted belief in their own powers, and the
danger of these being misused if unitiated people learn their
methods. Also, Witches reverence their Deities and Ancient Powers,
and do not wish Their Names to be known, or bandied about and mocked."
Most genuine Occult groups can trace a long history – both as a group
and individually and – the heartbeat of Occult and Witchcraft today
must always reside in the old established Covens and Temples of
such. However, in saying this, we must try and pass on truths and
assistance to those seekers that knock on the door to learn and I'm
hoping that this Group can assist with this.
There are now an ever-growing number of us within the group and I
hope to hear from some of the other members too, so that we can all
feel the spiritual pulse and practicalities of the Path together.
Don't be afraid to speak out. We are all but mere seekers on the
same path remember.
Blessings,
Azaz
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