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Finding Good Teachers

To: alt.pagan,alt.religion.wicca,alt.magick.tyagi,alt.witchcraft,alt.traditional.witchcraft
From: "Balrog" 
Subject: Re: Finding Good Teachers 
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 04:07:51 -0000

lorax666  wrote in message
news:feA8a.69836$Ik.3047643@typhoon.sonic.net...
> 50030302 VII NULATIX!!
>
> c9429854@cc.newcastle.edu.au (Frosita):
> > ...where does one find a good teacher.
>
> start local and private. don't draw attention to yourself,
> preferrably investigate with a friend. meet prospective
> instructors over coffee or juice and talk about what you
> want to learn and what it is that the teacher says they
> are doing and how they are qualified. tell them that you're
> interested in checking them out and finding out what their
> lineage or authority is. without mentioning that person's
> name, describe their supposed background and how they
> presented their authority to you in some forum like
> alt.religion.wicca.moderated or alt.pagan, or whatever,
> and see if it gets any red flags. determine your next step
> based on your own interests and those of your friend(s).
>
> another route to do this if you have disposable income is
> to subscribe to Pagan periodicals like Circle Network News
> and Green Egg (if it's still around) and Sage Woman and
> others of this type, as well as finding basic texts in
> FAQs (like bard's!) online before involving yourself
> with any seriousness of time and energy. consider contact
> with local CUUPs (Unitarian Pagans) or COG representatives.
>
> initially attend public events to get a feel for the
> level of social interaction you're likely to be
> involving yourself with if you pursue studies. have a few
> informal meetings at the dwelling of the teacher (if they
> are fearful of you, let this be a lesson!). see how they
> react to thing that *you* share about what you know, how

> they treat your wisdom, etc.  proceed cautiously and don't
> rush anything. if they treat it like a Rush Offer Limited
> Time Only, avoid them like the plague.
>
Good advice, couple of points to add.
In many areas there are regular public accessible social/discussion
gatherings. Find them and go along, most are friendly and welcoming and over
period of time you are likely to make friendships who will know the local
scene and can advise. From my experience Pagans tend to know what happens in
their area and who should be avoided and why as teachers. You may not agree
with their reasons, that is your choice, but additional information can be
very useful. The usual group dynamics will apply, watch who the folk there
listen to, don't just listen to the loudest voices, but who asks the
questions that make the speakers pause, or do they turn to for the answers
to unusual questions.
Be wary of meetings in someone's house, especially if you are told a friend
would not be welcome, get to know the person on neutral territory first -
that isn't a guarantee, but it helps.
Learn to listen to your instincts, if something does not feel right, get
out.








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