Llewellyn Journal - When the Student Is Ready

This is an article from Carl's previous blog, Conversations Across the Table, originally posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005.

The old saying was to the effect that when “the Student is Ready, the Master (teacher) will appear.”

I believe it, but I also believe that this aphorism applies to many situations, and that the “teacher” takes many forms – including the right book at the right time.

When I first started selling occult books (before people spoke of the New Age), there were many times that a customer would ask what I thought of a particular book he or she was looking at. In many cases I would suggest that there was a much better title and they would buy it on my recommendation. But, what was fascinating is that many times they would return to buy the first book – and I came to the conclusion that it was indeed the right book for them at that time. It was the teacher for which they were ready.

But there are other ways this happens.

One time I was working in the old mansion on Summit Avenue, and a man – about 40 years of age, professional in appearance – came to the door and asked to talk with me for a few moments. He introduced himself, and said he was participating in a series of lectures on architectural history at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and that he was a member of a certain group of Cabbalists interested in knowing if I was a “real” and sincere occult publisher or just in the business for money.

I defended the right, and necessity, to make a profit – without which a business cannot survive – but also asserted that I was sincere and believed that we should publish good material and that good books could be profitable. I know I expounded in greater detail, but that was the sum of it – I believed in what we were doing, and if I was in business only to make money I would chose a far different business than occult publishing!

He smiled and said that I had “passed his test” and that be would advise his associates accordingly. He said I would hence forth start receiving good Kabbalistic and occult manuscripts to publish. He was very personable and gave me two passes to the exhibit at the Walker and said to mention his name.

Well, Sandra and I did go to the Walker, and the passes were good, but no one knew of this man’s name, and it was not on the faculty for the event. But we did start receiving a much higher quality of manuscripts.

The right words at the right time.

I am sure all of us have found times when we had the opportunity to say certain words at exactly the right moment for someone else. They may not have been the most wise sayings or revelations of great truth - but they were the right words at the right time to help someone through a difficulty.

I believe we are all “teachers” for some one or another, and that in a given circumstance where we want to help, we are inspired to say the needed thing. It may turn out not to be the “correct” thing, but it is the right thing to trigger the growth response in the person we are helping. In other words, it may not have been the “orthodox” or scientifically correct thing to say, but whatever it was it was the right thing to say.

It helped.

I like to change the original saying to “When there is a need, Help is available.” Be aware of your need, and be open to help coming from perhaps the least expected source. I believe that when need is expressed – whether in prayer, meditation, a journal, magical diary, etc. – an answer will come. Be observant, but not restrictive in your expectation of how the response will come.

It may come as a message given by a stranger. It may come in an unexpected way from a friend or relative, or from your employer, the local government, or other source. Or maybe you will win the lottery!

Many years ago, I stretched my budget with new aluminum combination storm windows on my house. I contracted with a nice man of considerable experience, who had been in the business for years, then sold out, and then out of boredom was starting up again. He finished the job, and never sent me a bill. I called, and found out that he had died, leaving no heirs and no debts. There was no one to pay. I benefited from this accident of fate, and I have always been grateful.

Once, on my birthday, I was walking with my dad to a favorite downtown restaurant. I could see something blowing along the sidewalk coming right toward me, and it stopped right at my feet. A new twenty dollar bill. I held it up over my head and called out: “Anyway lose a twenty dollar bill?” No one responded.

Instead of my dad taking me to lunch for my birthday, I took him to lunch with this cosmic gift.