Witchvox Article

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Posted: July 14th. 2001
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Recently I was confronted with the question of what an elder is. Frankly, at mere mention of the word I am confronted with memories of certain individuals who have misused this word. These individuals have declared themselves elders in an effort to command respect and special privileges. They felt that a few years experience or the fact that they'd read a few books made them privy to special considerations and respect.

Had these individuals thought more carefully they might've recognized that respect is not commanded but afforded by those who give it to people they find worthy. One does not become an elder by calling themselves one any more than one becomes respected by ordering that they should be.

And yet it shouldn't be necessarily suggested that elders are decided according to some other specific guideline of time or knowledge. A forty year old woman who's been studying Witchcraft for two years may or may not have more knowledge than a twenty year old woman who has been studying Witchcraft for ten years. In the same way, a man who has read twenty Witchcraft and related books may or may not have more knowledge than someone who's read two. Can the notion of what an elder is be assigned so easily because of these guidelines? Not in my opinion.

To me an elder is a title given to someone I respect. This individual may or may not be older. This individual may also not have read more books or done more research than I have. To me an elder is someone who is wise and experienced in the ways of the Witch. He or she is mindful of ethics and works both magickally and mundanely to protect and better him or herself.

An elder works towards learning and growing at all times. He or she may not have expensive tools or books, but they will experience the God and Goddess in every way possible. They will take the time out to meditate, interact with nature, and work positive magick if need be. This individual achieves their goals in both mundane and magickal ways, and feels free to use divinatory and other tools to find his or her own path. They are not afraid to use tarot cards, runes, a dowsing rod, or other new techniques to find their way. They are also willing to take the time out to meditate regularly and ask the God and Goddess or any other spirits and entities for assistance.

More importantly than this, an elder has learned that it is entirely appropriate to magickally improve their life. He or she sets goals and achieves them methodically. You will not find an elder sitting on their butt complaining about how they never get what they want. Even mundanely they work toward their goals without expecting to have anything handed to them. They've learned through experience that you must attain and achieve through your own work, not expect others to do the work for you. They feel it is necessary to be self-actualizing.

I also feel it is necessary that an individual does research regularly to be considered an elder. This doesn't mean spending hundreds of dollars on expensive books. The elder surfs the 'net, borrows books, and consults friends to learn. He or she also learns by doing. This individual does not back away from new techniques or experiences, and will conduct rituals and spells in new ways in an effort to learn and experience new ways of doing things. One day they might conduct a ritual as they go and the next they might consult literature and write out a long, formal ritual. They might take up new practices like tarot cards, runes, wortcunning, chakra meditations, martial arts, musical instruments, and study various types of mythology and history to broaden his or her horizons. They understand that a Witch is constantly learning.

An elder also understands and has their own interpretations of ethics and practices. He or she has solid understandings of the Rede, karmic retribution, or other forms of explanations and classifications of ethics. This is not to say that the individual has a specific ethic belief, but that they've considered and created their own belief systems in some ways, while they are still open to learning and understanding that others may not share their opinions.

I feel age has little to do with an elder. I have met a forty year old woman who considers herself an elder while she has less experience than a twenty year old I know. Whether she has more life experience is not important, in my opinion. She has been practicing only as long as the twenty year old. To me the word elder has more to do with Witchcraft experience. She may or may not have done more research or conducted more spells. This woman has not gained my respect, nor am I sure she's gained anyone else's. Until she can demonstrate some superiority I consider her an equal.

And on that note, what can be considered superiority as far as Witchcraft goes? Some folks consider that an elder is somehow superior or should have special privileges. This is like suggesting the Crone should somehow be more revered than the Maiden. In fact, the Maiden is the Goddess at an important part of her life as well. She represents newness and growth, and isn't this period as important as when the Goddess has learned much about life? It is true that an elder can teach, and that his or her students should respect her if she's a good teacher, but isn't the student just as special an individual?

Personally I believe I have done more research than some of my peers. Some have cast more spells or conducted more rituals than I, but in most cases they have been practicing longer. Does this make any of us better than the other? Not in my opinion. We are equal as is every other life form in the world. An individual who gives him or herself the title of elder may or may not be an elder in my opinion. However, if they have demonstrated that they are always learning and growing, they are magickally responsible and have done a lot of research and practice, and that they have a solid base of ethics and knowledge I may consider them an elder.

Willow Raven

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Bio: I am a 21 year old eclectic Witch interested in Green Witchcraft, Faerie, Hellenic, and Egyptian Paganism. Mundanely I'm a software developer and web designer, and currently maintain Digital Denial (http://digitaldenial.com/), Danielle Hodgins Creations (http://digitaldenial.com/dhodgins/), and am working on a new project at http://www.willowraven.com/. In my spare time I can be found using tarot cards, doing research, and playing with my familiar, Orion and my other pets.

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