Wizard Wisdom?

I am absolutely cross-posting this, because I put it in my initiate's journal, but the title didn't show up, so I am putting it in General Discussions as well.
I have been enjoying this concept for a while lately, I think I read it first from Terry Pratchett, in discussing characters in his books, but I found it now on a website, and found the whole text very applicable to our philosophies here. I have bolded the text that I heard originally.

So, what is a Wizard?

Wizards are unusual human beings who create and smooth the way for change. They are individuals who have consciously sought that rare commodity we call wisdom, and then put it to work changing themselves and the world around them. Wisdom is a special kind of knowledge that arises from experience more than from book learning. It also comes from the ability to view things from different perspectives. Wizards accept ultimate responsibility for themselves and the world around them, to an extent that might seem strange to others.

We sincerely hope you will choose the path of the wizard. Our world is in a constant state of flux, and in need of the guidance of wise and powerful wizards. As citizens of the world, wizards can see what needs to be done, and take on the responsibility of doing it. They are powerful individuals with the wisdom, knowledge and power to make the world a better place.

I got that from wizardsways.com, which is a site I've never heard of before, but I might look around it a bit. I just thought this community would enjoy absorbing that little morsel.

Thanks Coyote! The archetypical wizard in fiction and myth certainly fits the Jedi/Sith master mould... I see Gandalf for example as less of the Odin figure he was intended as, and more a kind of Jedi figure - intuitive, powerful, ready to help those around him, working with intuition and natural forces and energies to achieve seemingly impossible results. I know many feel the Harry Potter books are essentially Jedi mythology as well, and Obi-Wan is even described as an "old wizard" in A New Hope, I think?

Interesting topic!

Personal responsibility is considered a virtue by many, so it seems. Why is personal responsibility considered a virtue to you the creator of this thread?

I heard a guy explain that Wizard was the way of wisdom and that to be a wizard meant you sought knowledge which would help lead to wisdom. They were a serious of videos (and I watched all 20 something of them) and I thought they were pretty good. I could look them up for you if your are interested.

I like what you posted. You could tell us what you find if you feel like it. I may check it out when I get a chance... it sounds very interesting.

One understanding of "Wizard" I have came out of a book I read in High School. Wizardry is magic of the world. But a wizard must first have the KNOWLEDGE of a thing before he can change it. A complete understanding of that thing at it's very core. In that understanding you learn it's true name. And with that name, you can command it.

But a wizard must have the WISDOM to change things for Good. If he does not have the wisdom to match his knowledge, trouble can follow. The poor wizard in the book was trying to strut his knowledge before he had wisdom and ended up nearly killing himself and anybody who tried to help him.

This came out of a fantasy book called A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin . But I loved the book in High School. It's a very short book and very well written. I think the myth has a lot of value (at least for me) and I love the real-life wizard idea there too. It feels like a very similar vein to me in both the Earthsea book and Jediism

I feel like the Way of the Wizard and the Path of the Jedi have many parallels, perhaps we are the new Wizard myth? I hadn't considered my stance on the virtue of personal responsibility until you asked, Mortose, but I think it's about letting the buck stop with me. Usually the first person who takes an action is not the first person who noticed that action needed to be taken. Humans are rather exploitative by nature (as many animals are), so I think we have a tendency to hold back and see if someone else will do the work, even if we see no other way. The "Wizard," in so many forms of lore, is the one who marches, in just a robe, up to the most dangerous of situations. They are confident in their abilities, and even if they are not, they still know what must be done. The difference is that instead of thinking "This is what must be done," they automatically think, "This is what I must do."

And Wescli, I would be interested in those videos. The Wizard's Ways site has a lot of empty pages, and hasn't been updated since 2012, but it definitely looks like the creator was on a similar path to ours.
Statements like "human beings who have gained an unusual level of wisdom through experience and reflection, and who act more powerfully and effectively than the average person does," and, "this effort to create the wiser, more powerful and responsible human beings we call wizards," as well as a whole paragraph about our current, ever-changing world and a wizard's place in it:
"The rate of change in our world is accelerating. We have reached turning points in many areas, and the fate of our planet may well hang in the balance. We need more and more wise and powerful wizards to help guide us on toward the ever-evolving, exciting future humanity is capable of - and away from the complacent, ineffective, and wasteful ways that threaten our very existence."
Some very appropriate thoughts. His name is Tobias Beckwith. I feel like reaching out to him and seeing what happens....

Coyote wrote: I am absolutely cross-posting this, because I put it in my initiate's journal, but the title didn't show up, so I am putting it in General Discussions as well.

That is perfectly fine, its a great idea and its encouraged to post particular journal entries into discussion forums as their own thread if you are seeking discussion on it.

For me I have wizard as making 'magick' for others, and warlock as making 'magick' for themselves - therefore assumes different technique (imo). Definition of magick left open for individual interpretation :side:

Great question Coyote and my own defintion of a wizard echoes alot of what is being shared on this thread.

A wizard is someone who can cause transformation.

A wizard can turn fear to joy, frustration to fulfillment.

A wizard can turn the time-bound into the timeless.

A wizard can carry you beyond limitations into the boundless.

Powerful archetypes like Dumbledore, Merlin, Gandalf and Yoda are all alchemists that show us the way to personal transmutation, purification and perfection.

They are the old wise sage that share common virtues like patience, timeliness, deep commitment, seriousness, calmness, peacefulness, caution, benevolence, joy, passivity and wisdom.

Jayden wrote: A wizard is someone who can cause transformation.

A wizard can turn fear to joy, frustration to fulfillment.

A wizard can turn the time-bound into the timeless.

A wizard can carry you beyond limitations into the boundless.

I had a thought when reading this that I thought I would share, if we go by the above then aren't we all wizards of our own being ??