Internalizing Authority

The Mature Magician learns from teachers and traditions, but he doesn't stay dependent on them forever. At some point he takes what he's learned, tests it against his own life, and starts trusting what he knows. He stops looking around for someone to tell him what to do.

The Manipulator claims authority he hasn't earned. He pretends to know what he doesn't know. The Dummy never internalizes authority. He remains dependent on others to tell him what to think and do. He's a perpetual student. The Mature Magician earns his authority through practice, then trusts it.

Internalizing authority requires:

Learning from teachers: The Magician studies with those who have walked the path before, respecting their wisdom.

Testing teachings: The Magician tests what he learns against his own experience. He doesn't accept teachings blindly.

Developing judgment: The Magician builds his own ability to tell what's true from what sounds true, what's wise from what's just clever.

Trusting intuition: The Magician learns to trust his inner knowing. His intuition has been trained by experience.

Taking responsibility: The Magician takes responsibility for his choices. He doesn't blame teachers or traditions when things go wrong.

Letting go of teachers: The Magician eventually lets go of dependence on external teachers. He carries their wisdom within.

No man is free who is not master of himself. The point of learning is not to stay a student for life. It's to reach the day when you can stand on your own. The best way to honor a teacher is to stop needing them.

Internalizing authority does not mean rejecting all guidance. The Mature Magician still learns from others and seeks counsel. But he no longer needs permission to trust what he knows.

No one can walk this path for you. The Magician who has internalized his authority trusts what he knows while staying open enough to keep learning from anyone who has something to teach.