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[Opinion] Developing spiritual authority.

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aleister dee

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What do you think of developing spiritual authority before doing any magic, from an animistic view point. How we can become powerful spiritually? And how much necessary it is to work on it before anything else.
 

Morell

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I would be careful not to develop a toxic ego.

What is authority? It is someone you can trust and rely upon to make good decision. When I have subordinates in work, I never task them with something I would not do, and I make sure they are taken care of in natter of their needs before I am. Your servants are not only your tools to help you do more, they are also your duty to take care of them. That makes them loyal.
 

Kepler

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Authority in an animist model implies responsibility that can be depended on by other entities.
Build relationships.
For example, entities can be 100% certain that I will give and work with them from accurate apparent astronomical positions between planets and stars as opposed to misinforming them with the fabrication of Tropical astrology. That astronomical information about the universe will not be fabricated or withheld from entities seeking celestial alignment.
There's personal developmental work that should take place like orienting oneself and aligning to nature, learning/improving how to communicate.
 

Durward

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You should try Googling this. You find out that A.I. has been brainwashed to associate Developing Spiritual Authority with Abrahamic religions and gives no other options. Again it is likely milking Wiki for answers, and showing how Wiki is being controlled by Abrahamic religion.
You have to add 'in the occult' to your inquiry to get an answer suitable to what most people here are interested in.
Then the A.I. will say, "involves cultivating inner mastery, profound knowledge of esoteric traditions, and consistent ritual practice."
So, describe "inner mastery" or "profound knowledge of esoteric traditions" or "consistent ritual practices"....
LOL, we could go round and round with that.
My inner roommates think I'm an ass, and don't necessarily like me much. Yet they still show me things and allow me to participate. I have a pretty wide range of knowledge about many different esoteric traditions and practices. Not much of that has actually been helpful or explained the how of anything. I got more satisfaction by reading studies from Prof. Persinger and Bengston, D. Radin, and other folks looking at the real deal.
Being an authority usually entails being in charge of something, controlling things, steering the boat, making decisions, and HAVING ACTUAL POWERS you can control. Not much of that actually happens to many people involved in these studies.
I remember sitting in a Catholic Mass (no I'm not Catholic) with a friend, and the priest talking crap about the authority he has, which made me burst out laughing in the middle of that mass service. Like this guy has any actual spiritual authority or that it was given to him because he sticks around for his free housing and Mercedes. I would love to see him in an actual possession situation, getting chewed up and spit out by a real demon that has some horrible agenda... oh wait, that's just in the movies...
I was sitting there thinking about the Inquisition, and how the only reason this religion is still around is because they persecuted and murdered for 400 years. I guess that's one way of becoming an "authority". And I was thinking about all the goodies they have locked up in the vault below the vatican that they won't share with the world.
Anyone claiming to be an authority usually gets the brunt of my defiance disorder unless they have shown through actions that they are worthy of being an authority.
But, in my humble opinion, to be spiritually an authority you would need power, control, and the clarity. So energetic clarity. This is so rare that we likely only see it every few thousand years.
 

Yazata

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What do you think of developing spiritual authority before doing any magic, from an animistic view point. How we can become powerful spiritually? And how much necessary it is to work on it before anything else.
I like this explanation / opinion an old member gave:

 

Durward

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I like this explanation / opinion an old member gave:

Very agnostic with a strong slant towards religious zeal. The fear factor answer to me. You do you, but barf in my my world.
 

AlfrunGrima

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Authority in animism comes from navigating yourself through a web of powers from all kinds of beings -->you can shape a web of relationships and meanings all by yourself. YOU are the coherence yourself, the spider of the web that holds everything together. Because of that, you have authority, you have to power to build your magic and be a creator/creatrix.

The article above talks about being the children of God, God is the creator that holds everything together. And I understand that would fit in the Grimoire kind of thinking, but that doesn't match my animistic witchcraft-like thinking al all. In my animistic view you hold everything together yourself. Everything is spirited and is a being that creates. You weave the web wether there is a god or not. I am a creatrix myself and don't acknowledge a God-like figure from which I am a part. God is only another creator, another spirit, only another leaf dancing in the wind, only another butterfly that has its effects, only one of the deities, not THE creator.
 

Keldan

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Spiritual authority to me means you know your stuff in your field. I don’t buy the idea that you should do no magick until you’re fully powerful. Because authority is something you build through consistent practice and the ability to hold power responsibly.

And the people who really have authority don’t yap about it. They keep it simple, do the work, and let time prove them right.
 

beardedeldridge

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You can definitely improve your discipline and self control by doing part of the work before beginning other parts but there is no substitute for walking the path.

-Eld
 
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