To Teach Again

[kokopelle]

We go through phases in life. During a five year stretch in the last decade I was a paranormal/metaphysical teacher. I shared topics at pagan discussion groups and then branched out to leading classes at the local Barnes and Noble. For four years I lead an astrology discussion group. I did a tarot discussion group for three years, and a shamanic discussion group for one year. Leading the discussion group meant showing up at the Barnes and Noble once a month for each of the topics with a lesson plan prepared. I had them staggered across the weeks of the month and I believe I met on Thursdays or Tuesdays. Anyway, I learned a lot from presenting material on a pretty regular basis. I did "recycle" the class notes, but I found that reteaching the material gave it a depth on return visits.

Now I don't teach much of anything. I am instead playing out a "Mr Wizard" role in my workplace as a super geek application designer/programmer. One of my lovely LJ friends suggested that getting back into teaching would address some vibrations I have in my life now. It could. Food for thought and all. The crux of the matter is that growing older has seemed to make me either more cynical or more aware of what I don't know. It would be nice to shake this and get back into teaching. Ah... a statement made releases an intention into the world. Nice...

Comments

Something my High Elder said once...

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

I'm paraphrasing as I can't remember the exact quote: We accept Dedicants so that the Elders can learn new things and be reminded of the magick they learnt as dedicants themselves.

So very true.

Re: Something my High Elder said once...

[greensh.livejournal.com]

(smile)

[chimerae.livejournal.com]

There's a place some people grow to where they teach in a form beyond the conceptual capacity of our culture. There's something very different that happens when you teach people how to learn. Part of that is teaching them how to experience their ignorance so they know WHAT to learn. This particularly critical with intelligent people, capable people, succesful people and high achieving people. Just a consequence of how our minds are wired, we tend to want to learn in areas where we experience interest and part of that is comfort. So we tend to learn in areas where we need the least study or study in areas we need in a way where we only learn what we already have capacity.

It's my personal experience that you teach me in that critical gap -- but don't recognize that you are actively teaching.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Here is an interesting thought... I was wondering where you lived while reflecting on how neat it would be talk to you in person. I saw that you blog every few weeks in contrast to my blogging most everyday. The daily routine that I force myself to do so I don't loose touch with the world. It then occurred to me that I probably taught people SOMETHING during my 'forced' blogging, even it if ""ONLY"" has to do with my life experience. I put that in double quotes and capitals because I am finding that life experience is one of the best teachers around.

Thank you for the confirmation to my thought (smile).

[(Anonymous)]

I quit attempting to blog because I found it impossible to be authentic. I have that "socialized female" reflex to try to keep my expression within the sigma bands (pick-a-little-talk-a-little pick-a-little-talk-a-little CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP talk-a-lot-pick-a-little-more) which is silly because I'm so astonishingly incapable. But I can't help trying.

So I thought I would try NOT blogging and commenting. nearer the mark but miles to go before I sleep.

[(Anonymous)]

=chimerae

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Regarding your remarks about authenticity, I am moving into a mindset that says that authenticity is one of the most relative things around. There is something else in its place that we are really striving towards, and I am just now seeing the vague outlines of this other thing.

Now... if you mean authenticity to mean being true to oneself (though this can be VERY relative too), I've never seen you as a CHEEPer. Sometimes I feel like this when I am putting up a daily blog, but on some days just putting a picture is enough to show I am still here. Know what I mean?