Does it really matter?

There is a lot of talk in the Pagan community about how long we've all been practicing.  It seems to be pervasive in our culture, whether it be an author of a book states it in their "about the author" blurb, when you join a group and introduce yourself, or when you meet a Pagan friend and your practice comes up in conversation.  I find this to be a phenomenon confined to the Pagan community.  No one asks a Christian how long they've been Christian, a Muslim how long they've been Muslim, a Hindu how long they've been Hindu, or a Buddhist how long they've been Buddhist.  You might discuss their beliefs, but how long they've been a part of that religion is generally not discussed nor is it important.  It is simply accepted that they are part of that faith.  Why then is it so important in the Pagan community? I had never really given it much thought until two nights ago, when the High Priest of my coven grumbled about someone throwing around how long they've been practicing.

While I think there is some merit to how long you've been practicing, after some thought, I do not think it is the be all, end all.  Do I think you have any business calling yourself a high priest/ess and forming a coven after only a year or two of study?  No I do not.  Do I think that because you have been practicing for 20 years that that makes you qualified to call yourself high priest/ess and form a coven?  Not necessarily.  Do I think you are not a real Pagan just because you self-dedicated and were not taught by a particular coven?  Not in the slightest.  Do I believe that because you come from a hereditary tradition or Pagan parents that you have more knowledge than those who do not have those experiences?  Maybe, but maybe not.  I bring these scenarios up because they seem to be the ones that I hear the most from my fellow Pagans.  I explain myself best through examples, so I present the following to you.

I began studying Paganism in general when I was 15 1/2, and Wicca soon after that.  I self-dedicated in February of 2003, when I was 16 1/2, once I felt I had done enough research to know that this is the path for me.  This is the time that I count the beginning of my practice from.  I am now 26, and this coming February will mark my first decade as a Wiccan.  I did not receive my personal initiation (described in my entry "An Awakening of Spirit") until I was almost 24.  I studied and practiced for 7 1/2 years before the God and Goddess decided that I was ready.  That "awakening of spirit" caused such a change in me that when it happened, I knew that there was no going back and I didn't want to go back to the way I was before.  I had a lot of book knowledge, but not a lot of practical knowledge.  I have grown and learned more over the past 2 years, than the previous 7 1/2.  By some people's standard's I would be within my rights to call myself high priestess and form a coven after almost 10 years, however I do not feel that I am adequately prepared to do that.

A former friend, that I had met in college, asked me how long I'd been practicing.  At the time, it had been 6 years and when I told her that, she quickly replied that she had been practicing for 8.  I later found out that she had only been practicing for about 3 years when we met.  While I have my speculations, I will never truly know why she lied to me over something so small.

My dearest friend from college, on the other hand, began her practice around the time we met.  She was also a member of my previous coven and we always seemed to gravitate toward each other in that group.  After we both left, we became spiritual buddies.  We would bounce ideas off each other and celebrate the sabbats together.

Finally, there is Cricketsong.  Although I have technically been practicing longer than her, she is by far more qualified to lead a coven than I am.  I honestly do not hold a candle to her at this stage in my practice.  She is wise, nurturing, a tremendous wealth of knowledge, experienced, a fantastic leader, a great teacher, she expects you to think, welcomes questions, and is organized and dedicated to the coven.  If she had followed this traditional view, then she may not have formed our coven, and I would not have found my spiritual safe haven.

Why do Pagans place such value on the length of our practices?  I don't know.  My best guess would be that because most of us do not grow up in Pagan homes nor is there a Pagan central governing body to regulate covens, the only thing that most feel gives them credibility is a lengthy practice.  It's not like an organized religion with a holy book that has the answers and traditionally trained clergy.  I think what we need to do is focus less on how long someone has been practicing, and more on the quality of their experiences.