Pagan spiritual maturity is a topic that is very seldom if ever discussed. It is something that should definitely be discussed more often as it is an essential part of positive spiritual growth. There is no simple definition as to what constitutes Pagan spiritual maturity, instead it is more of a series of qualities for one to aspire to. This is a short list of those qualities that indicate a level of spiritual maturity on the Pagan path.
1.Personal Code of Ethics. There is a great deal of freedom on the Pagan path and one of those freedoms is to construct one’s own personal code of ethics. Having a personal code of ethics guides our actions in both easy situations and the messier bits of life. It takes time and soul searching to develop your own code of ethics. We develop our own code through life experiences and through rumination on our paradigms of what is right and wrong. Others can guide us in developing our personal ethics but the best code of ethics we can adopt for ourselves comes not from others but from our own searching. This code may not remain static throughout our lives and in fact it is healthiest to review our personal code of ethics from time to time and make changes as our spiritual growth continues to change us.
2.Having knowledge but knowing you don’t know everything. Any kind of maturity requires one to have accrued a fair amount of knowledge. Knowledge can be the fertilizer that accelerates our spiritual growth. We need knowledge to move us along our path and to develop our personal code of ethics. One must be careful though not to fall into the pit of thinking they know everything. No one can ever know everything, there is always something new to learn. When seeking teachers be wary of those who claim to have all the answers, those who are willing to say, “I don’t know,” have the greater spiritual maturity.
3.Knowing and accepting that we all have a different path and that doesn’t make the other person wrong. Inevitably in Pagan discussion circles you’ll find at least one if not more people shouting down that someone is doing something wrong because they are not doing it their way. Those who are spiritually mature not only know that there is more than one right way to accomplish goals but they accept and allow others to follow their own path. It takes a great deal of maturity to not impose our own values and conventions on others.
4.Not seeking to control others. This ties in with the above. Those that are spiritually mature do not seek to control others. This includes not seeking to control how others practice their path. This also includes things like love spells, where one seeks to control another’s affections for them. When we are spiritually mature the only person we seek to control is ourselves. We understand that the only one we can every truly have control over is ourselves and in extension our own lives. The spiritually mature have no need to seek to control others because they understand that by taking control of themselves they have the ability to shape their own life into what they are seeking.
5.Understanding that power comes from within. Power doesn’t come from tools or titles, it comes from within the Witch. While the spiritually mature Witch may use tools or have titles they know that these are not what give them their power, they are merely physical items and labels. The spiritually mature understand that true power comes from within themselves and they are able to channel that power.
6.Being able to challenge your own beliefs. Part of positive spiritual growth is challenging your own beliefs from time to time. This can be uncomfortable on some occasions but necessary. Part of healthy spiritual growth is that when we are presented with new information that we hold it up against what we already believe and see which prevails. Perhaps we will retain our original belief or perhaps we will see that we need to make a change. Part of being spiritually mature is embracing this process even when it causes us discomfort.
7.Personal responsibility. The spiritually mature take responsibility for themselves and their actions. They understand that they must face the consequences of their actions, be those consequences negative or positive. This quality ties in with the understanding that power comes from within. Our lives are not the result of external forces but rather are manifestations of the power within ourselves and the choices we make. More can be read about this in the post Paganism and Personal Responsibility.
Spiritual maturity is something that can’t be measured by age or titles. The young can be spiritually mature while the old may have miles more to walk. Someone who is newer to the Pagan path can show greater maturity than someone who has walked it for years. Those who have no titles may be more mature than those with lofty titles. When it comes to spiritual maturity it makes no difference if you practice on your own or in a group. We each, hopefully, will reach spiritual maturity at our own pace and it is not a race. What matters is that we continue on a path of positive spiritual growth that will hopefully lead us closer to these qualities.