The Heretical Tradition High Priest/ess Manifesto

I do not ask for the care of your soul;
    I offer my service as a guide and counselor as you care for your soul

I do not ask that you forget who you are;
    I ask that you dedicate yourself to remembering who you are

I do not seek say in your life;
    We do not share Karma -- yours is yours and mine is mine

I will never tell you that I possess the Truth;
    I can only assert a Truth, my Truth, and encourage you to seek your own

I can never force you to do anything against your free will;
    You are in charge of your life and cannot lose your right to choose

I am not your mother, judge, guru, keeper or ruler;
    I am a servant to the community who offers her knowledge and experience to those who proclaim their
    own dedication to pagan paths

I do not require that you love or like me in order to be a member of the group(s) I lead;
    While you are a Group Member, you define your involvement within the baselines offered by Coven
    leadership

I do not require that you be a member of the group(s) in order to be my friend and cared for by me, nor do I require that you be my friend or loved by me in order to be a member of the group(s) I lead;
    My private associations are not based in group activities and my group associations are not based in
    my private activities

I will not attempt to recruit anyone to seek membership to the group(s) I lead

I will not attempt to stop anyone from discontinuing membership to the group(s) I lead

While we interact within the group, we mutually define ways of creating mutual beneficiality

Coven leadership is asked for,
    It cannot be assumed

Coven leadership is earned,
    It cannot be taken
    
Tyrants do not make slaves,
    Slaves make tyrants

Rebellion against tyranny is obedience to Love.

As HPS, I am, for the groups I serve, last say in group sensibility and custom for as long as I act impeccably on the groups’ behalfs.  While I am the HPS, I define the role of HPS.  In the face of my and others’ fear and/or desire, I will never forsake my position as HPS but will uphold and defend the position of HPS for the position’s sake and those who will come after me to fill that role.  I will not debase the position of HPS by feeding fear and/or desire and issue this statement preemptively:  As long as I am HPS, the groups I serve will survive individual membership. Including my own.