The Nine-fold Way: Conveying Knowledge
Witches have long been known for conveying knowledge or teaching. We convey to the members of the community in which we live but also to strangers who cross our path. The knowledge we convey, especially hidden or occult knowledge, is for a purpose-to help whomever we teach become what they are meant to be. We convey knowledge because we care. We care about every being becoming what it is meant to be.
What we convey is the knowledge we have gained from our own personal experience. We do not convey the last word on anything but a word nevertheless. Our knowledge is never complete because everything is constantly changing including what we know. We do not convey the only word but our word. Our word on any matter is all that we can convey. We do not convey knowledge in an attempt to get others to think as we do. Rather we convey knowledge so that others can think and decide for themselves.
The knowledge we convey is what is needed at the time. It might be about nature as whole or a goddess, god or other spirit. It might be about humans and other animals or the earth, herbs, trees or stones. A word about wind, fire or water might be what it needed at the time. What is needed might be knowledge of a symbol or gesture of power. We might need to convey something about purification, protection, money, relationships, love, sex, or success. Knowledge of a ritual might be the need of the moment. Whatever it is that we convey we do well to convey what is relevant at that moment in time.
We convey knowledge in a variety of settings. Sometimes the setting is a group gathered for a class. At other times the setting is an unexpected and brief encounter with an individual. Conveying knowledge can also occur when counseling, curing or conducting a sacred ceremony.
However we convey our knowledge, we’re not in the category of professionals in the modern sense. We have no university degree in witchcraft, no diploma to frame and hang on the office wall, no office with desk and chair at all, no business cards, no certification or licensure, no professional organization or code of ethics to which we subscribe and no liability insurance to cover malpractice claims. Only our practice makes us legit. Our best means of advertisement is word of mouth.
Conveying knowledge is a mutual act of love in which all that participate both love and receive love. When conveying knowledge new knowledge is gained by both the witch and those to whom the witch conveys. Such conveying requires wisdom but also increases wisdom. Conveying knowledge conveys power. While knowledge is not the only power, knowledge certainly is power. Conveying knowledge also empower the one who conveys and the one who receives.
In the Nine-fold Way of a Witch conveying is as important today as it has ever been. It is essential to being a witch.