The Domain of Wisdom extended across Europe from Portugal to beyond Poland, and at its height included northern Italy, Britain and most of Ireland. It lasted for six thousand years until its conversion to Christianity under the Roman Empire. Wisdom was a religion administered by wizards who at the same time acted as political advisors, teachers, engineers and physicians.
It was their prowess as physicians which necessitated the Way of Wisdom, the rules by which the wizards lived. For these sages of the past had access to a power for which there has since been no equal until the past century, the power to destroy the human species. Their knowledge was confined to members of the wizardry, and to qualify as a member a candidate had to undergo rigorous training that emphasized character development, with no promise of success. The Way of Wisdom had been taught by Inanna, and was known also as the Way of the Goddess. It had been the source of Her spiritual strength in the depths of Tiamat (see 'The True Strangers of the Bible') and it was the antithesis of slave mentality.
It is important to realize that the wizards did not confine themselves to didactic teaching methods. They knew the limitations of words, and they wanted proof of a candidate's self discipline. They knew that one's true character is revealed when one has given up hope, and they were not easily fooled by pretences. They valued application of their rules over memorization, and that was a life lesson.
The stakes were too high to allow much error, for these master physicians possessed medical knowledge that could kill as easily as it could cure. They knew very well that no substance was good or bad in itself, but that it could be applied in good or bad ways. Everything in the world had its place. Their knowledge of this truth dictated their attitude to the world, for they viewed evil as merely displacement, and saw themselves as part of an interactive order whose ecological laws must not be violated. They understood the intrinsic value of every individual's experience as a subject rather than an object, they saw each one as a person with unique needs and a unique role in the world, and they defined justice as a balance between the suffering of interdependent people, each of whom must be considered as having inviolate intrinsic worth.
The wizards were looking for people who could handle power. They knew that human beings adapt as well to pleasant circumstances as they do to unpleasant ones. They were on the lookout for corruption both within their own ranks and among their apprentices. They taught the difference between a necessity and a luxury, between a right and a privilege. They warned that justice would often feel inadequate, that some psychological states could not be cured, and that one's will was distinct from one's desires. They knew that influences did not motivate in themselves. Eyes were watching for signs that someone was 'rubbing in' a victory, criticizing harmless imperfections or showing off his or her cleverness. Apprentices learned that some things ceased to be true as soon as they were spoken.
The difference between power and influence was clarified. It was understood that the limitations of each had to be accepted. Influence had a broad scope, but was dependent upon the agreement of other people. Power did not extend to the minds of others. Apprentices learned that people who did not control themselves would find themselves being controlled. They learned that power was not in itself an evil thing, and could be used for better of for worse, and that an imbalance of power could be very good or very bad. They learned that power could not be taken, that it must go hand in hand with responsibility, and that power and powerlessness were dealt with in the same way.
They did not do anything simply because they could, and defined self government as what they would not do, an honour distinct from privilege, belonging to the bearer alone. They saw the consequences of seeking to destroy a potential danger, for everyone was a potential danger, and became strengthened against paranoia. It was essential that they know the meaning of vanity, for it was unrealistic to view one's objective appearance without abandoning one's self interest. So they learned that it was never too late to be a hero, that people could not agree and defend themselves at the same time, that true remorse did not induce resentment, that others' opinions belonged to others, and that their suspicions were not impressive.
In doing so they learned that they should never be proud or ashamed of what others did, and that unless they were unjustly causing pain, shame was inappropriate. They understood that pride and shame could not be shared. They became enviably immune to false shame which prevents humility, and they were willing to abandon false pride in order to obtain this treasure. They learned to distinguish shame from embarrassment and humiliation. They were not devastated by weakness, failure or contempt, and knew that esteem had nothing to do with respect. They did not fear criticism or ridicule, and their awareness of personhood was not in others' hands. But only from some harsh experiences did they learn that they generated love by giving it, and that they may not get anything back. And only from some easy ones did they learn that if they could control everything that happened to them, they would quickly become bored. There was no futile attempt to know the unknowable or cure the incurable.
If the apprentices wanted to 'win out' over others, thought their own ignorance shameful, or believed they had achieved wisdom, then they failed. If they kept on trying, knew their own foolishness and achieved dignity, then they became wizards. Dignity had nothing to do with one's body, possessions, power or demeanor, and it had no single appearance. It had nothing to do with others' regard. It came from one's own decision. The wizards were very aware of the difference between appearance and reality. They could bow low, play the clown, acknowledge defeat, and even take unjust punishment without a diminished sense of personhood. Possessing a strong sense of reality, they valued hands-on experience and the application of theory to real life situations, and they knew that a student must be tested by experience.
When they emerged from their training, apprentices were ready to learn from anything and everything. They were not prey to wrong advice, for they learned from the bad things as well as from the good, discovering how not to be. They also learned that some people are better as enemies than as friends. They knew how to process everything that came into their lives. They were wizards.
Things were defined by what they were not, every bit as much as by what they were. Wizards were constantly on the lookout for what was not being said, for what was being ignored, and for what was inconspicuously absent. They saw the world as a place that was constantly changing, and knew that all their influences would change with it. They knew that everything within that world was defined by the way in which it changed, and that if they were to understand that thing they must observe the changes, and must not try to alter their pace or 'turn back the clock'. As physicians, they knew that healing occurred through the life process, and that life and death were interconnected. Each came from the other, and neither was intrinsically bad. With their view of evil as displacement, a bad situation could be transformed into a good one instead of simply being opposed. A disadvantage could be turned to advantage. Anything could be seen as beautiful in its proper place, and everyone needed to be understood. When evil itself was seen in its proper place, and was understood for what it was, then one would grow out of it. And no matter how much of it there was in the world, it could not enter in without one's express permission, for sinfulness was a chosen path.
The wizards' science was never separated from their love or from their worship. They had a proper regard for their subject, knew that it was both wonderful and terrible, and refused to break its laws. They knew that the great test of their character was the challenge of loving that which they feared. They refused to hate anyone or anything simply for having power over them, for how else could they live in a world that they feared and loved at the same time? This principle was in every part of that world, from the tiniest drop of water to the largest mountain, and the same pattern could be found in each. The wizards knew that the world was a priceless gift, and they never took it for granted. Those things which were most beneficial were also most harmful, and must be handled with care. One must not partake of just anything that one wanted. The more precious the gift, the greater the danger. And the greatest gift of all was life, for the world was known through living and every life was a doorway that came from something more wonderful and more terrible than the world itself. But for the time being the wizards walked upon the earth, knowing that where it flourished they would thrive, and where it faltered they would die.
return to Stonehenge
return to mainpage
