Prodigal Son

One of the many trends and social problems in the pagan community
today is the want and almost need to seek out a teacher. Many people
have attempted to explore the idea of what makes for a good teacher
and most of the time it ends up in a debate not long after someone
writes an entire article of credentials. Highlighted titles such
as "Elder", "High Priest or Priestess", "Reverend", and "Master" are
just a few of the labels we see wrapped around teachers who are
seeking students rather than students who are seeking teachers. I
always worry about the intentions of the label wearers and in
observation I often see the same bug light effect happening. The
students are lured into the trap and burned when they find out that
the "wise master" isn't so "wise" after all. Which is why they needed
the label in the first place. If you can't be good you can always
look like you are.
I've never added a label or title to my signature or to any of my
works. I don't consider myself a teacher and never thought about
being labeled anything by myself or anyone else. No one comes to me
and says "Master", "Teacher" or any other combination of point of
views. Besides, my name is Angel. I don't think I would answer too
much else because that name means more to me than any title out there
that I could gain or earn in the eyes of the pagan community. It's a
name that holds more value because it's who I am rather than what I
do. It couldn't be earned, it couldn't be gained, and it can never be
taken away by anyone who would like to prove otherwise. It's not a
title; it's who I am and it has a history and story that is unique to
me.
But antithetical to my point of view on label wearing teachers there
are many people out there who are just that. I simply tend to be more
open-minded to teachers who are not out hunting students. The ones
who simply do what they do and should someone see them as a teacher
they remain humble about it and even cringe at the idea.
It takes a lot for a good teacher to want to take a student under
their wing. And there has to be something about the student that
makes them worth teaching. I also think that a good teacher will not
take on more than one student at a time and maybe only one period.
Though these types of teachers are few and far between.
One of the many reasons for this is that "the young", meaning those
new to this magical world of ours, do need a lot of attention and
they tend to get themselves into trouble from time to time. It can
get fairly stressful when you truly love and respect your student
enough to allow them to make their own mistakes. Even if it might get
them hurt. An almost parental instinct kicks in and some teachers
fall to the notion that they have to protect their students from
everything they get themselves into. Which doesn't teach them
anything but dependency.
It's sometimes awkward when we teach someone what we know, and then
the time comes when they want to go out alone. They do great for a
while but then run into something or someone that they don't know how
to handle. Something that messes with their heads and in fear and
panic they do the only thing they know to do. Go back to their old
teacher for help. And if the teacher was really that good the idea
that the teacher will know just what to do to fix it is nearly the
natural thing to do. Chances are good that an experienced witch will
have already confronted the same problem before anyway.
So the student returns and in this they learn a valuable lesson as
well. That if for whatever reason they thought they were ready for
anything because of ego or because they had a good teacher, time has
made them a liar.
Upon their return the relationship is not always a student/teacher
situation so much as it is simply a friend in need. Just because the
relationship changes doesn't mean that it has to end. Which is lesson
number two that goes to both the student and the teacher.
No one is good enough or powerful enough to always do everything on
his or her own. Even the greatest warriors and witches of all time
had their mentors and loyal friends who they could turn to for advice
and aid when need be. They did so willingly and humbly and that was
what made them great in the first place. Not everyone is made to be a
teacher. But everyone is made to be a student. Being a student is a
title that people should be proud to wear for as long as they can. A
good teacher knows this and that is proven when they honestly say
that their student taught them just as much or even more than they
ever taught the student.
Another facet of this all that often remains untouched in discussion
is that there are just as many people out there who teach the young
ones to be negative and destructive as there are witches who teach
honor and integrity. I have had confrontations with people before who
acted and carried themselves the way they were taught to even if it
was wrong. But the excuse of "He or she made me what I am." doesn't
minimize or justify their personal choices. Commonly enough there is
usually an analog of the first person to "find us" somewhere in our
being even if we have been cultured since. For good or ill that is
where our true credentials lie.
If we have had a good student and we have faith in that student we
can't always be there or fight their battles for them. We can't fight
in their stead and expect them to learn how to confront the many
challenges that lie ahead. In all of our love and friendship we also
have to teach them how to stand on their own. Even if it means there
is a good chance of them failing. The hardest thing for any teachers
to teach themselves is to have faith in their students and to let
them know that they are strong enough and smart enough to take on
challenges alone. To teach them that sometimes you simply have to
choose your weapon, choose your ground, and do the best they can,
come what may.
If they succeed they will be better and stronger for it. And if they
fail, it might be a bitter lesson but it is a lesson that will teach
them more about themselves than anything a teacher can come up with.
Some things in life can't be taught. They have to be learned.

Angel Snowden - 2006