Magic Forums
It is with much sadness that I make this post. In the past 2 months that I have been back on this board, which I enjoy greatly, I have had several people ask me to teach them. Most people are legitimate seekers of the truth. But I have had problems with one in particular. (User names removed)
He first approached me under one user name. He wanted to learn magic, and had several good posts on the site. Unfortunately he is 12. Well, he claimed to be a member of the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn. He stated that he was able to get past the age requirement in the EOGD. After corresponding with the EOGD, I now know he is not. He also plagiarized several people on this site, and information off of other sites and tried to pass it off as his own work. He also commented during a discussion on the Illuminati that he had contacted the head of an order, and he was most knowledgeable and helpful. Well, it was a website he created, and even included his own email. Now, we have hopefully read the post about teaching minors. If you have not, read it. I have my own reasons for not teaching minors, namely that they are in a period of physical, emotional and mental changes and I have found that it is not a good idea to open up spiritual energies in a person going through those changes. (Some of you will no doubt disagree with me, and I respect that. As I said, these are my reasons. I am not trying to force them on anyone.)
Well, when I informed him of the reasons for my choice not to teach him. He became irate, stating that he had a high IQ, and that he was mature beyond his years, and that I should find out more about the people I turn down. He then deleted the account.
Not two days later, I get an email from another person wanting to be taught. He had a different user name. Well, he signed it with the same name that he used as the first account! When I confronted him with what I knew, he stated that I was more intelligent than he originally thought, but still requested to be taught. Again, I refused for the same reasons. He then closed the second account.
Well, a few days ago I received another email from a different user on this site asking to be taught. Well, after doing a bit of research I find it is the same person. Of course, this account was deleted as well. I just saw a post today and I believed that the author of it is the same person. I checked the person?s profile, and it said that he was one of the founders of the ?Temple of Christ?, a new order that was looking for members, offering to teach ceremonial magic and other things to members. The post he had made was him looking for someone to teach him high magic. I emailed him, stating that I knew who he was and wanting to know more about his order. He closed that account as well.
I wanted to bring this to everyone?s attention not to beware of this person (I?m sure he is still lurking around somewhere, and I?m pretty sure I know where) but to show what I feel is one of the biggest problems we as the magical/pagan culture has: dishonesty. This is an extreme example, but there are those who lie, make up lineages and information, and then try to pass themselves off as something they are not. There are a few who will take this to an extreme to get what they want, with no reguard for values or concern for others.
I find it sad that we, who are supposed to be the ones embarking on spiritual growth, have to be concerned about those within our midst. We have to look with suspicion at our brothers and sisters on this journey. We who create petitions and demand respect of others have so little respect for ourselves and each other.
LVX,
Shawn.