By Deacon Gray
I was asked to write about the Hierarchy with in this community, but I have
to admit I have been having some trouble with the subject. You see the community
is not a structured organization. It does not have fixed levels that you can
ascend though. The Hierarchy in this community is not actually a Hierarchy at
all.
The community is made up of many different concepts, theories, and
organizations. In many of those there is a ranking system, set up for various
reason but those in organization ranks really have little to do with ones
standing with in the community itself. In fact most of the well-known people in
the community are fairly unaffiliated. Yet even those are well connected to
specific organizations have the same thing in common; Time.
The only true test of a Community Leader/ Elder is how long they have held
standing in the community and what they accomplish. People’s popularity comes
and goes, but the real test of a Elder is how long they are out there active,
working, and leading the community itself, and not every long standing member in
the community is a leader.
In my view, and believe me when I say that not all will agree with the
overall assessment, the community elders break down into different groups. You
have Charismatic Leaders, Group Leaders, Community Leaders, Community Elders,
and group Elders and I list these in no real sense of hierarchy.
Individuals can be more than one of these things at any point and time, and
none of them are really fixed positions, and people can move in and out of these
different standings simply by what they are currently doing, and depending on
what the most recent drama is all about.
Charismatic Leaders are not always Elders, though they can be. Charismatic
leaders can be anything from “The Next Big Thing” those that are currently
showing a sense of Charm and Charisma that is having a current effect on the
community as a whole, to those who have had a very visible and long term impact
on the mentality of the community, or group.
Community Elders are those who have been in the community for a very long
time, they have a good standing and over a long period of time have developed a
reputation that have proven out their knowledge and understanding. Community
Elders often have their own projects, but their ability to lead is not really
important to their standing as Elders, and in fact many could care less about
the limelight or standing at all.
Community Leaders are those who tend to have been in the community for a
significant period of time, and have proven themselves to have a sound
understanding, and the ability to lead by example, and with projects and
concepts that have a pragmatic appeal in most cases. Community leaders do not
always have to lead by putting themselves into the light of the community leader
groups, or clicks, but they tend to have an impact regardless.
Group Leaders can run groups that are anywhere from small focused, family, or
collegiate groups, to the largest and most well known. They can be Houses,
Covens groups and pretty much any organization out there. These group leaders
can be community leaders, Pragmatic, Charismatic, or just plain Dramatic
depending on the make up their individual mentality.
Group Elders are those who have developed a standing inside any particular
group. This can be a newly awakened person who has spent a enough time inside a
group to develop a good reputation regardless of their knowledge and skill, or
it could very well be someone inside a group who has an exceptional level of
understanding, with very high depends on expectations of their elders. Some
Community Elders and leaders cannot meet the requirements of knowledge and
understanding that some groups demand. This is because groups individual
determine what the standard is for someone to hold title and position within
their fold.
This is why I say there really is no Hierarchy within the community. It is
more of a connection…a loose court without a king. People from all of these
different aspects mix and mingle, have influence and standing, and as a whole
they influence the community in their own ways. Some with very little to say
have a major impact, some with a lot to teach us, really only become known
inside a very small group. In the end it is what you are seeking from the
community that will lead you to those of whom you will develop the most respect.
It will be what you learn and teach later that will showcase your own skill to
others.