--- In
[url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url], "searchingeast666" <searchingeast666@... wrote:
First off, I agree that the self-appointment to titles such as High Priest or Priestess needs to be regarded as something inherently dangerous and susceptible to abuse. With that being said however, I think the real purpose of this type of appointment is being missed.
In a coven that is actually active and doing regular ritual workings, there will be large amounts of energy amassed to be directed. There has to be someone at the head. Someone who takes control of the energy raised by the group, shapes it to the directed purpose, and then sends it forth. Beyond this, there generally needs to be one person that is appointed to create specific ritual requests and perform other duties that are required for a mass ritual working. It is in this type of atmosphere where a "self-appointed" high priest or priestess would be acceptable, because it is generally done by someone who is equipped with the practical, workable knowledge to lead a mass rite or ritual, and be advanced enough to be supported into a position of relative authority by a group of his Satanic peers. And in this type of atmosphere, it isn't even a role of direct authority or control, but that one greater responsibility and requirement in the ritual space. In a (true) Satanic coven, a self-appointed High Priest or Priestess wouldn't truly be self-appointed, because the coven around them, and their inner need to take up greater responsibility, does the appointing for them(and in many cases Satan DOES play a hand in it as well).
But, like you, the idea of someone appointing themselves to HP and then running around gathering "followers" to do their "bidding" is something that downright frightens, and then enrages me. As I said though, this is something that is INHERENTLY dangerous, and must be watched for abuse. But there is a legitimate reason for it, and a legitimate atmosphere for it's use.(Because it is actually needed.)
Ut Servo Diabolus!
HG
--- In
[url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url], "surreptitious.serpent88" <surreptitious.serpent88@ wrote:
I am not saying the forming of Covens is wrong, I am saying that self-appointing a very important title most especially if it is undeserving should not be advocated. Usually, if you truly have the Knowledge, you do not feel it necessary to give yourself fanciful titles unless you truly deserve them.
Forming Covens is great, but people seem to take the true seriousness of a Coven and its Leadership lightly, you need to "be" a High Priest to lead like one, and if you are the High Priest of a Coven you should still meet the pre-requisite I already mentioned, just like our Clergy (As in the Joy of Satan Clergy) do.
People take the same lightness when it comes to the Summoning of a Succubi\Inccubi, it is very sad to see the "joke" that some people seem to make out of a Relationship with a Demon\God.
- Surreptitious Serpent
666\44\88
--- In
[url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url], "chalchiuhnenetzin" <jaguarcat2002@ wrote:
Oh I know where you're coming from and I couldn't agree more.
But forming local covens is encouraged, I believe, and someone has to head them up. Hopefully, they share with their members that their leadership role is not one of high advancement (unless it actually is) and the coven exists to facilitate workings, learning, a gathering of like-minded people, etc. ...
There's nothing like that in my neck of the woods and I'm certainly not about to alter the status quo by dubbing myself a "high priestess" of anything. Not only is it not my "calling" but I've been a Spiritual Satanist for over 6 years (and a sort of LaVeyan before that) and every day I'm impressed with the amount of knowledge I still must learn and make my own. I'm way more advanced than some and, by the same token, way less than others -- I think that's true for most of us.
(And I've never been a "joiner" or "group person" so unless a coven could offer a lot more than I can do on my own, I can't see my becoming a member of one.)
