My Unique Path

[Majere]

After weeks, probably months, of doing absolutely nothing of significance :geek:, I believe I have found out just what I want to do as a Witch. I'm not sure what to call it(Majerian? lol that'd be cool) or if it even has basis in other types of faith. Basically I've come to the realization that since childhood, I've always been interested in hidden knowledge and learning something new. When ever I play video games, I always tend to seek out easter eggs and hidden items. When reading books I always try to find obscure information within the story. For example in the Megaman series, I've tried desparately to link many characters to each other due to their relationships within their respective storylines(You gotta love the Japanese for their ability to relate characters and at the same time deny any such relations :lol: )

So after all that, I've decided to follow this path pertaining to the gathering of knowledge. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for this neophyte?

:signthankspin:

[gabrielle004]

This sounds interesting, but I'm not sure how it relates to being a witch/being on a path? Could you explain more how this is a path for you? Do you see this becoming a branch of paganism? Or is it just the point that you are at right now in your life, a point of gathering a lot of information and searching for the hidden facts?

[Majere]

This sounds interesting, but I'm not sure how it relates to being a witch/being on a path? Could you explain more how this is a path for you? Do you see this becoming a branch of paganism? Or is it just the point that you are at right now in your life, a point of gathering a lot of information and searching for the hidden facts?


First I'd to thank you for replying :)

Well I guess in archaic(probably didn't spell that right lol) terms I want to be a real life Lore Keeper; a Witch of Knowledge. Knowledge is power as they say and that's a saying that I've felt connected to for the longest. I myself have felt powerless for the longest due to my lack of knowledge over certain areas. For example, I want to come to an understanding with other faiths and to do such I must be knowledgeable of their faith. My path will look to patron gods and goddesses who hold dominion over knowledge and wisdom. The enemy to my path is of course ignorance for ignorance breeds my most hated nemesis: Misunderstanding. Hopefully I'd be able to do something like build a library to rival and probably surpass the Great Library of Alexandria and the Library of Congress. I'd also practice being responsible with the knowledge I gather. As to whether I see this becoming an actual practice....that'd be REALLY awesome if I inspire others to follow my path lol I don't really expect that to happen but again that would be AWESOME to know that I can inspire others to follow me. I was just kidding about it being called Majerian but if it became a real practice then I guess that name would be as good as any :D. Most likely this is just a point in my life though of looking through the veil and starring into the shadows with an open, but strong mind. But I do wish to take this seriously which is why I ask for wise advise from more knowledgeable peers.

[gabrielle004]

Ahhh... I see. Thank you for clearing that up! And I'm with you, my goal is to become more knowledgeable in not only Wicca and the Craft, but it other faiths and practices as well. My idol right now is Dumbledore from Harry Potter. I know, I know, I'm a nerd, but that's the kind of person I'd like to be. In the books Dumbledore is the one with all the information and insight. I would love to get to that point. I too enjoy looking for the hidden meaning in things and I LOVE treasure hunts and history! That's why your OP intrigued me so. Maybe we will have to start a Majerian branch of paganism after all! ;)

[Pinkfluff]

I believe that the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom ought to be a goal for all people. I for one am always interested in learning new things and developing greater enlightenment, whether it be knowledge of how the physical universe works or better insight into Existence. I like your idea of a lore keeper. I guess it gets to the writer in me too. I also would like to one day have my own library, even if it is just a room in my house, and I always fancy myself being one to help other people better themselves and being there when they need someone. In some ways I already do that. It seems that most (if not all) native religious communities had their "wise woman or cunning man" type -- the one who was known for, well, knowing things. The go-to person when someone needed a definitive answer or sage advice. I guess we are the type of people suited to that role.

But yes, your goal is a commendable one. You should try to be knowledgeable in many areas, but I think it is natural to have an affinity for a few specific ones.

Oh btw, the quote in your sig seems to be from George Bernard Shaw.

[Majere]

You should try to be knowledgeable in many areas, but I think it is natural to have an affinity for a few specific ones.

Oh btw, the quote in your sig seems to be from George Bernard Shaw.

What you say is true. We've all heard the phrase "Jack of All Trades, Master of None". It's very catchy and is good for moral fiber. However what if I change all that? What if I set the precedent and re-shape that phrase to say "Jack of All Trades, Master of All"? I plan on to apply that to my spiritual life as well as my normal life. So much so that I don't plan to just follow a few career paths. I plan to be anything and everything that I can be. No limits. The world is open to me.

One thing I want to achieve in my path is not only to be the keeper of knowledge, but to become immortalized by doing so. I want to follow in my namesake's footsteps, minus the part where I become evil for a time and the self sacrifice to redeem myself.

And thank you for finding the source of my quote! I had no idea who said it, but all I knew was that I got it from one of my favorite Dan Brown books "The Lost Symbol" That book is EPIC!

[Pinkfluff]

I prefer master of one trade, jack of the rest. I don't think a person can realistically master them all, especially not these days. Heck it takes many years just to master one. That doesn't mean you can't make meaningful contributions in others' lives in the others though.

Awhile ago a guest in an episode of a podcast I listen to said "We live in saga time" (this guy was a poet), and he was encouraging us (us meaning his fellow Pagans) to write the stories of our own times, lest someone who is not us do it for us, and ever since it has inspired me to write on these times from my own modern Heathen worldview. Heh when I got the time for it that is. But I definitely agree with him. We ought to be expressing and documenting ourselves and our lives so that future generations will know who we really were and what they can learn from us.

[Alexandria]

What if I set the precedent and re-shape that phrase to say "Jack of All Trades, Master of All"? I plan on to apply that to my spiritual life as well as my normal life.

Then you'll be setting yourself up for failure. No one person can master everything in this world in one lifetime - the world will always be one step ahead of you (if not hundreds of steps ahead, or thousands). In fact, I would think an attempt to do so would result in a shallow/superficial understanding of what one has learned - so still mastering none.

Knowledge is a wonderful goal. Knowledge is the goal of many witches - after all, "to know" is the first step on the witches' pyramid that many follow. Keeping knowledge and passing it on to others, particularly future generations, is a personal goal of mine as well... But it all can't be done by one person alone. One can certainly be knowledgeable about a great many things, and even a master of several things, but everything? It can't happen. There just isn't enough time.

Aim high and challenge yourself, but keep a realistic attitude about it as well. Unrealistic goals become discouraging after a while. Set out to truly master all you can, but know that it won't ever be everything, and there's no shame in that.

[Wandersoul]

What you say is true. We've all heard the phrase "Jack of All Trades, Master of None". It's very catchy and is good for moral fiber. However what if I change all that? What if I set the precedent and re-shape that phrase to say "Jack of All Trades, Master of All"? I plan on to apply that to my spiritual life as well as my normal life. So much so that I don't plan to just follow a few career paths. I plan to be anything and everything that I can be. No limits. The world is open to me.

I just want to put in a word of caution for you. On the one hand, being everything and anything you can be is an admirable goal - but tacking on 'no limits' and 'master of all' is putting you on the fast track to burnout and frustration. Be open to learning whenever you can make an opportunity, but don't tie yourself to the impossible: you're going to end up burning hours and hours of your life away only to end up as far from your goal as you were when you first started. Take it slow and don't push yourself so hard that you estrange yourself from what you wanted in the first place. It's never truly possible to master even one branch of knowledge or wisdom - IMO - so take some bites out of a few branches and see what looks realistically possible, given your lifespan and interests, before you jump in with a credo.

This might be a bit harsh and depressing after such an enthusiastic (and inspiring! don't get me wrong!) post, but this is a lesson I learned the hard way and I'd hate to see you lose your zeal.


More positively, I think this is an EXCELLENT path to follow and I encourage you in figuring it out! :) Maybe I'll join the Majerian coven someday. I love learning as much as the next bookworm :p

(Also, Pinkfluff: so I'm not the only person on earth who wants to have a library! :D Although I may be the only person who intends to give up her bedroom if she doesn't have a room for one. XD)

[Majere]

I prefer master of one trade, jack of the rest. I don't think a person can realistically master them all, especially not these days. Heck it takes many years just to master one.

This is true. However, I don't believe I've ever heard of anyone trying it. I want to be that person. Also I don't see how the state of the world should daunt my quest. I don't plan on having it affect me in a negative way. I will not have "these days" have power over me :).

Then you'll be setting yourself up for failure. No one person can master everything in this world in one lifetime - the world will always be one step ahead of you (if not hundreds of steps ahead, or thousands). In fact, I would think an attempt to do so would result in a shallow/superficial understanding of what one has learned - so still mastering none.

Knowledge is a wonderful goal. Knowledge is the goal of many witches - after all, "to know" is the first step on the witches' pyramid that many follow. Keeping knowledge and passing it on to others, particularly future generations, is a personal goal of mine as well... But it all can't be done by one person alone. One can certainly be knowledgeable about a great many things, and even a master of several things, but everything? It can't happen. There just isn't enough time.

Aim high and challenge yourself, but keep a realistic attitude about it as well. Unrealistic goals become discouraging after a while. Set out to truly master all you can, but know that it won't ever be everything, and there's no shame in that.

I don't think I'm setting myself up for failure. I know I won't be able to know everything in my lifetime, that was probably ignorant on my part to say something along those lines, but to say "I want to know everything" just sounds like a simple, definitive, and solid goal while saying "I want to learn everything I can" kinda sounds cryptic, vague, and not so strong and also can leave itself open for interpretation. Someone could be lazy, learn only a little, and say "Well, that's all I can learn!" like a kid trying to get out of eating more vegetables. It just didn't sound like a very strong goal.

And also I'd like to say I won't be alone in my quest. In time, I hope have others with me who not only have their own goals, but will benefit me with mine. For those of you who are into to anime and manga a couple of good examples of that are the Strawhat Pirates from One Piece and the 1st and 10th Gen. Vongola Family from Hitman Reborn.

I just want to put in a word of caution for you. On the one hand, being everything and anything you can be is an admirable goal - but tacking on 'no limits' and 'master of all' is putting you on the fast track to burnout and frustration. Be open to learning whenever you can make an opportunity, but don't tie yourself to the impossible: you're going to end up burning hours and hours of your life away only to end up as far from your goal as you were when you first started. Take it slow and don't push yourself so hard that you estrange yourself from what you wanted in the first place. It's never truly possible to master even one branch of knowledge or wisdom - IMO - so take some bites out of a few branches and see what looks realistically possible, given your lifespan and interests, before you jump in with a credo.

This might be a bit harsh and depressing after such an enthusiastic (and inspiring! don't get me wrong!) post, but this is a lesson I learned the hard way and I'd hate to see you lose your zeal.


More positively, I think this is an EXCELLENT path to follow and I encourage you in figuring it out! :) Maybe I'll join the Majerian coven someday. I love learning as much as the next bookworm :p

(Also, Pinkfluff: so I'm not the only person on earth who wants to have a library! :D Although I may be the only person who intends to give up her bedroom if she doesn't have a room for one. XD)

Again I thank you all for your opinions and concerns. It makes me very happy to see other people who understand me give their wisdom.

:signthankspin:

I agree with what you all are saying. I don't want to be at a point where I start stressing my self out or worse go to an extreme such as turning into a crazed hermit :banghead:. That would not be beneficial for me, my loved ones, or the people I want to reach out to.

I don't wish to learn everything all at once. I understand that it takes a LOT of time and given that I share the same ultimate fate as everyone else this goal does seem impossible. However, I see this as a challenge. I won't respond to this challenge with brashness and impatience. I'm willing to put in the time and effort. I won't be alone too. I've got people behind me, supporting me, and this gives me enough power to get started. I also have everyone here at the Wiccan Wisdom site to go to :D.

:circle:

[PAN33]

I'm fascinated to learn that so many people on here want their own private libraries. It's also a personal goal of mine but my career goal is also to open my own bookstore. I love that you want to open a library that will surpass that of Alexandria ... of all the lost wonders this one always fascinated me. Don't forget the online world as well though when considering your goal - there's a lot of information out there on the net - at the very least you could campaign (seek followers/contributors to this dream) online.

I used to daydream about opening up my own school of the arts one day. On par with a university but dedicated solely to artistic endeavours - music, dance, story-telling, writing, quilting - absolutely anything. But it would be this wonderful open learning experience where people created and shared together - faith areas for everyone ... it's hard to describe :S Like a master collegium (you see these a lot in fantasy books) ... and no grading system, each student progressing at their own pace (kind of like the ancient Greeks did...

Anyway, I digress, your endeavour makes me think of Merlin for some reason...
Also perhaps a better motto would be a quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem Ulysses:
"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield"

To be all-knowledgable is impossible for humans (it would make you omniscient - leave that sort of thing to the gods) but to always strive for knowledge, to always be learning - that is a good goal. I'm also reminded of the motto of my university "now I know, in part" -- a bit more humbling but still somehow very beautiful - it speaks to the idea that you can never know all...

Anyway, I love your idea - hope you update frequently on your endeavour :)

Good Luck!

[Alexandria]

I don't think I'm setting myself up for failure. I know I won't be able to know everything in my lifetime, that was probably ignorant on my part to say something along those lines, but to say "I want to know everything" just sounds like a simple, definitive, and solid goal while saying "I want to learn everything I can" kinda sounds cryptic, vague, and not so strong and also can leave itself open for interpretation.

See, I feel the opposite. Saying you want to become a master of everything seems more vague to me - it's too broad and unattainable to really mean much, you know?

Either way, I suppose so long as you know what your goal is, and what you'll have to put in to achieve it, that's all that really matters.

[Lunacie]

When I started my training as a Wiccan 20+ years ago, others were picking one thing they wanted to focus on and get really good at. I didn't want to do that - not until I'd had a chance to learn more and see what I really wanted to "specialize in." I still haven't picked something. Some would say I've wasted my time, but I don't agree. I have a lot of knowledge in a lot of areas, but others certainly know more about some things than I do.

But - I don't claim to be a master at anything. I admit I'm a Jill of All Trades.