Hearth & Horn

I feel really strongly that one of the things about mystery traditions is that they shape people in particular ways. And that's both wonderful and terrifying, y'know?

It's also hard to predict, though one of the things I tell people looking at groups is to look at the ways in which members of the group (especially established members) are alike and figure out if you like that.

(Big reason not to require significant long-term commitments without plenty of time to get to know people moderately well.)

Possessory work is part of our tradition, but it's something only taught after 1st degree, and something only done in ritual occasionally (in a large group setting, we averaged 2-3 times a year, out of 20+ rituals). We believe it has some risks for the people involved (not just the person drawing down, but the people assisting directly), and even without the risk can be draining and affect ability to do other necessary life things (work, etc.) for a few days. It's also something that can be easily abused, and I've been in a situation where it was.

My preference is to use it sparingly, and only when it's the best method of service to the community.

I actively recommend against it for personal connection to deity (there are lots of other safer, more manageable ways that are less prone to abuse or wonkiness), and I actively recommend using multiple checks (common sense, divination, meditation on your own, and other techniques) to check the info.

(For example, there's a specific phrase, an epithet, that multiple deities have used to/about me. If that's present, I take it a lot more seriously than the ones that don't.)

On the rest of it, one of the things I think about a lot is the concept of egregore, sometimes also called group mind. A lot of times, you'll find people who are pulled to a group or pushed away from it because of that: the accumulated 'flavour' that goes beyond words or formal writeups. Ideally those things match the egregore and are reviewed regularly to keep that happening, but it's a remarkably hard thing to manage.

(Similar to why some people love specific places, and other people just can't deal with that location.)

The thing I try to do is build that, with some 'this is stuff I'm interested in, and how' and some flexibility so it can be an organic thing, recognising that the stage I'm at now (me + students) is different than the thing I would eventually like (group of people who are at least all initiates and contributing in different ways.)