Internet: the modern oral tradition

When I first started my path, almost everything I read suggested that each witch should maintain and keep a book, in which they wrote down what they were learning and doing, and that it should be hand written. It was also suggested that a special name should be taken, one used for rituals and amongst others who shared your beliefs, and in fact, that your real and legal name should not be used or written down, to maintain the secrecy of your practice.

The roots of both of these traditions are to protect those who do not wish their activities known. Throughout history, and even into the modern age, people with different views have been persecuted for them. Even though, by many counts, we are a very tolerant society, many people still choose to keep their beliefs secret to avoid trouble with family, friends or work.

But even with these cautions, information was shared. If you met with another who had knowledge that you did not, you would copy it into your own book. Then, if you met someone else who was interested, they could copy the information into their book. Like a web, the knowledge spread outward and all could benefit from it.

Today we have this great tool at our disposal: the internet. A web that reaches across the globe, to people you might never have the opportunity to meet face to face. A way to share information in a way previously unimagined. The internet allows us to be as anonymous as we like, and to freely talk about things we might not otherwise discuss.

But even in an oral tradition, sourcing is important. If an author doesn't wish to use a legal name, but prefers a pen name (a time honored literary tradition of it's own!), then by all means, source it to the name they prefer. An author who consistently produces quality, well researched and accurate information will become credible, where as those who don't will not be often quoted.

Posting something on the internet, be it on a blog, a forum or just having a conversation in a chat room is releasing the information to the world. If your words have weight, they will probably be quoted, and this is a good thing! It's not about being famous or being recognized, but about knowing that your words were so powerful that they moved someone enough that they not only remembered them but wanted to share them.

It saddens me, to think of all the valuable information that has been lost. And today, when we have the world at our fingertips, we shouldn't hoard what we know, we should spread the seeds of knowledge to the wind that they may fly to new lands and grow.