Recently, I have heard the term Spiritual Authority being used in the local magical and pagan communities, and the term is being used misused to the detriment of all. Just to set the ground straight, let us define authority as “The power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior. “. Examples might include your employer, your elected officials, even the transit authority that runs the buses. Another example of interest in various occult communities might include someone who by sheer dint of charisma, force of will and confidence can command others.
Much popular understanding of spiritual authority attempts to reconcile this definition of authority to the spiritual realm. It leads to the notion that spiritual authority is 1) a position held by someone else that possesses access to abilities or knowledge inaccessible to you, and 2) measured by quantity (i.e., the number of people over whom they have power, the size of the corporation they manage, their income level, etc.). But this is nothing more than natural authority renamed.
Unfortunately, that is just too broad a definition for spiritual authority. Why? Because nobody stands between you and larger realms of existence, but ironically you. The implicit or explicit notion that priests or other “spiritual authorities” stand between mankind and their search for the inexpressible is a notion wholly religious in nature. This is exemplified in the various ordination ceremonies for priests of various (typically monotheistic) religions, which are supposed to confer or confirm one's connection to deity and thus presumably their power. Tell me, is your sincere confession “better” if the Pope flies to to hear it, or whether an old man with shaking hands and a white collar listens in a small chapel in El Paso? Is the amulet someone claims was made by Grand Poobah Hufflepuff more effective than one made by your best friend, who was worried enough about you to assemble and charge a lucky mojo for you?
This is distinct from ritual authority, common to almost all forms of magical, religious and many philosophical traditions. One of the most common roles of ritual authority is as a leader or officer in initiatory traditions of religious, magical or mystery nature. Also, it includes rites of passage in many or all cultures. Using the Golden Dawn rituals for example, various officers are present who perform various roles in the rituals. These rituals are designed to lead to certain insights which are shared in common among the members of the group. The Rosicrucians have them, and the greek mystery schools did also. It is a common magical understanding that by ritual and images are all powers awakened and re-awakened, and in this case the spiritual authority of the officers and participants/celebrants in a ritual are designed to create spiritual growth in a certain fairly predictable way. Initiatory rituals can be immensely transformative and are the cornerstones or hidden bones of every religion as well as many occult paths. Ritual authority typically lasts for as long as a particular ritual or even requires to be completed, and is generally considered as an “acting role” whether drawing down the Young King or officiating a wedding.
So what is spiritual authority? It varies from person to person, but in my experience people assign spiritual authority to someone whom they feel has a larger spiritual perspective than their own, whether one might have a close reationship with the spirits in a house festooned with altars and ancestor shrines, has had various transformative experiences, pursuit of various paths of enlightenment or mystery traditions. One quality of spiritual authority is that is voluntary. It is very similar to the willing suspension of disbelief when watching a movie. One has to give permission for others to exercise spiritual authority.
Second, that authority is fragile, in that as soon as that individual feel that the person is now acting outside of the spirit, authority is taken back. Spiritual authority and the directives that issue forth from that authority are conditioned on acceptance of each directive.
Finally, that spiritual authority must eventually be surrendered. When the rite is done, and the world and the sense of “I” are no longer observed but believed, the spiritual authority must be set down. Even a mighty Magister may still make a complete ass of himself.
So, what is not spiritual authority? Spiritual authority is not being a high ranking member of a specific school or tradition. Some of you know my background, but I am the greatest living magical adept of the tradition of Michael A. Eckhard. And you, dear reader, are almost certainly the greatest known adept of your own unique brand of practice. You might have started out in one tradition, or pursued the path of Jack of All Traditions (and master of none). So what? Every tradition has it's great and not-so-great aspects, from cultural blind spots to frankly bizarre practices that people agree are “traditional” but don't serve any practical or even ritual purpose anymore.
Spiritual authority is not being told what to do. If someone is telling you how “it works”, perhaps you should be wondering why they don't seem to be interested in how “it works” for you. A spiritual authority wants to hear what is going on, and will probably have questions. And may have advice. Or not. And if they offer it, you are free to take it or leave it, just like if it came from anyone else.
Finally, spiritual authority is not concerned with changing you. Rather, it seeks to help you manifest what is growing inside you, to assist you in reaching the full blossoming of your spirituality. Not theirs. If the man or woman you have decided has spiritual authority tries to wield actual authority over you, look somewhere else.
Much popular understanding of spiritual authority attempts to reconcile this definition of authority to the spiritual realm. It leads to the notion that spiritual authority is 1) a position held by someone else that possesses access to abilities or knowledge inaccessible to you, and 2) measured by quantity (i.e., the number of people over whom they have power, the size of the corporation they manage, their income level, etc.). But this is nothing more than natural authority renamed.
Unfortunately, that is just too broad a definition for spiritual authority. Why? Because nobody stands between you and larger realms of existence, but ironically you. The implicit or explicit notion that priests or other “spiritual authorities” stand between mankind and their search for the inexpressible is a notion wholly religious in nature. This is exemplified in the various ordination ceremonies for priests of various (typically monotheistic) religions, which are supposed to confer or confirm one's connection to deity and thus presumably their power. Tell me, is your sincere confession “better” if the Pope flies to to hear it, or whether an old man with shaking hands and a white collar listens in a small chapel in El Paso? Is the amulet someone claims was made by Grand Poobah Hufflepuff more effective than one made by your best friend, who was worried enough about you to assemble and charge a lucky mojo for you?
This is distinct from ritual authority, common to almost all forms of magical, religious and many philosophical traditions. One of the most common roles of ritual authority is as a leader or officer in initiatory traditions of religious, magical or mystery nature. Also, it includes rites of passage in many or all cultures. Using the Golden Dawn rituals for example, various officers are present who perform various roles in the rituals. These rituals are designed to lead to certain insights which are shared in common among the members of the group. The Rosicrucians have them, and the greek mystery schools did also. It is a common magical understanding that by ritual and images are all powers awakened and re-awakened, and in this case the spiritual authority of the officers and participants/celebrants in a ritual are designed to create spiritual growth in a certain fairly predictable way. Initiatory rituals can be immensely transformative and are the cornerstones or hidden bones of every religion as well as many occult paths. Ritual authority typically lasts for as long as a particular ritual or even requires to be completed, and is generally considered as an “acting role” whether drawing down the Young King or officiating a wedding.
So what is spiritual authority? It varies from person to person, but in my experience people assign spiritual authority to someone whom they feel has a larger spiritual perspective than their own, whether one might have a close reationship with the spirits in a house festooned with altars and ancestor shrines, has had various transformative experiences, pursuit of various paths of enlightenment or mystery traditions. One quality of spiritual authority is that is voluntary. It is very similar to the willing suspension of disbelief when watching a movie. One has to give permission for others to exercise spiritual authority.
Second, that authority is fragile, in that as soon as that individual feel that the person is now acting outside of the spirit, authority is taken back. Spiritual authority and the directives that issue forth from that authority are conditioned on acceptance of each directive.
Finally, that spiritual authority must eventually be surrendered. When the rite is done, and the world and the sense of “I” are no longer observed but believed, the spiritual authority must be set down. Even a mighty Magister may still make a complete ass of himself.
So, what is not spiritual authority? Spiritual authority is not being a high ranking member of a specific school or tradition. Some of you know my background, but I am the greatest living magical adept of the tradition of Michael A. Eckhard. And you, dear reader, are almost certainly the greatest known adept of your own unique brand of practice. You might have started out in one tradition, or pursued the path of Jack of All Traditions (and master of none). So what? Every tradition has it's great and not-so-great aspects, from cultural blind spots to frankly bizarre practices that people agree are “traditional” but don't serve any practical or even ritual purpose anymore.
Spiritual authority is not being told what to do. If someone is telling you how “it works”, perhaps you should be wondering why they don't seem to be interested in how “it works” for you. A spiritual authority wants to hear what is going on, and will probably have questions. And may have advice. Or not. And if they offer it, you are free to take it or leave it, just like if it came from anyone else.
Finally, spiritual authority is not concerned with changing you. Rather, it seeks to help you manifest what is growing inside you, to assist you in reaching the full blossoming of your spirituality. Not theirs. If the man or woman you have decided has spiritual authority tries to wield actual authority over you, look somewhere else.
