Why Straying from Your Path is Necessary: The Sorcery of Bliss
"Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run,
There's still time to change the road you're on."
― Led Zeppelin
Ah, the great decree, "Follow your Bliss," uttered from the lips of the master of myths, Joseph Campbell. He was a true legend in the evolution of the cultural soul.
It was this edict that sent my soul on the journey of self-realization, a beacon term lighting the way through societal grimm and lost dreams celebrated by the fallen.
In the Wizzan Oracle, the core guide is the Soul Star card, which represents the true orbit of a seeker. It guides like a tuned instrument through the chaos of life, ever swaying left and right on the two paths that, in the long run, merge.
Make no mistake, dear Wizzan, you are a magician, a sorceress, a soul alchemist creating your life through the balance of opposites. Through the anima and animus, light and dark, inner and outer realms, left and right-hand paths, you are steering your soul through the gateless gates.
You no longer follow the creeds (beliefs) of the Giants from your childhood (parents, teachers, aunts, and uncles). You have stepped onto the path of direct experience, which requires straying to truly know your soul's path.
sorcery(n.) c. 1300, sorcerie, "witchcraft, magic, enchantment; act or instance of sorcery; supernatural state of affairs; seemingly magical works,"
Breaking the Chains of Obedience
“It was the straying that found the path direct.”
― Austin Osman Spare
For centuries, a "thou shalt" beast has haunted humanity—a ghoul hovering over us, whispering, "You don't belong, you don't deserve, you must obey." These commands are like genetic implants that freeze the heart and corrupt the beautiful creative magic we are all born with.
From generation to generation, the beast's touch is passed on, snapping its fingers like an old nun, compelling our every move from without rather than from within. To move from within is to violate the very system of "thou shalt."
This is why we must embrace the path astray—the path of direct experience. We must venture into the dark forest, for that very act defines our true north. Our progress is further validated by the resistance of the crowd, those onlookers who throw their darts at the rebellious fools who dare to follow their bliss.
Who's the Fool?
Throughout history, this rebellious journey has been represented by archetypes, none more perfect than the Fool in the Tarot.
At the time Tarot was invented, the mentally ill fell into two categories: the dangerous, raving madman who needed to be confined for everyone’s safety; and the “Innocent”, the child-like simpleton. Most people believed mental problems were caused by excessively cold and damp humors that thicken and slow the brain fluids, making one dull-witted and susceptible to demonic possession. Being born under an unlucky star could also be a factor.
Those so afflicted had no legal rights, and no obligations to family or society. They were the ultimate outsider with no place in the social hierarchy. This is precisely the role the Fool plays in the game of Tarot, where he has no rank and no power, yet he can pop up anywhere to mimic any card; making him, ironically, one of the most valuable cards in the deck.
Hmm, pop up anywhere . . . mimic any card.
The Detour of Perfection
The Soul's path is often defined by a great detour: the delusion of perfection, enforced by the ancestral ghoul, our inner critic. Its commands protect us from punishment and comfort us with approval, but they lead us astray. We do not go astray by choice, but by necessity—this is how we undo time-based commands (do not stray) and release timeless essence (desire and wisdom).
We must experience the illusion of perfection and imperfection, witnessing the dance of these opposites. Only then can the great revelation occur: that we are, have always been, and always will be, an essence beyond opposites. We are beyond identities, beyond judgments, and beyond the limited perception of those who are lost on a downward spiral.
We are destined for spiritual revival. Our souls have seen the light, and with patient certainty, they are growing ever closer to the Soul Star that awaits above our heads.
The Path Astray is the Path of Solitude
If there is one lesson gifted by the "path astray," it is the necessity of solitude—not just in physical absence, but in a silence of words. To walk the path of direct experience is to make mistakes, to stumble, to do the taboo thing. It is to break the rules, to outrage the normalcy geeks, and to violate the voice of the ghoul.
You are the rebel. The one who kicks down the door when patience has run out from those chattering, "Don't do it, stay, be safe..." or, their favorite, "Stop being so selfish." These mortals possess their own sorcery, and it takes a wise Wizzan to spot their wiles. This is why Wizzans are also Dragons.
To authentically share your mistakes, lessons, faults, and failures—innocently casting your pearls before the swine—is to reveal the sacred path you must walk to grow your soul. They do not understand, will not understand, and therefore must become your enemy. In their judgment, they protect themselves from their own shadow, for they are lost in found.
Dragon Wise
In the ancient, pre-Christian worldview, the serpent and the dragon were teachers, protectors, and symbols of a wisdom that had its roots not in good or evil, but in the timeless, powerful forces of nature. They were revered as sacred because they held the keys to the very secrets the Druids and other mystics sought: the interconnectedness of all life and the hidden power within the Earth itself.
The dragon, held a place of immense spiritual power. It was not a fire-breathing monster to be slain (a Christian invention), but the living, breathing spirit of the Earth itself. Dragons were seen as the protectors of ancient knowledge, the guardians of sacred sites and the telluric currents often referred to as ley lines. For the Celts, the dragon was a representation of sovereign power and the very life force of the land. The Pendragon, or "Head Dragon," was the high king—one who embodied the spiritual authority and wisdom of the land itself.
Mortal Resistance
Now contrast the Dragon Wise with the mortals who have been infected with the Christian doctrine (systemic shame/guilt). The "obey or die" myth that feeds on mortals daily worldwide. Those earth minions who secretly judge you behind a foreign smile—gatekeepers of the "thou shalt cult" holding space for the horde.
I can sense the voice of the ghoul transmitting from select readers: "Zzenn, you are so judgmental of mortals," which is a genuine reflection of my distaste. However, the only thing required to join this party is the next person who mercilessly judges you for your sincerity. We were all there at one point, and as wisdom grows through the serpent mind, so we entertain the dance of reluctance and tolerance and, in time, cultivate understanding.
There's Still Time to Change the Road We're On
The beauty of the Wizzan path is the freedom to explore all directions and to think in all directions (mortals, Wizzans, good, evil, pretentious, sincere, etc.) On this journey, we "eat the grapes and spit out the seeds" to discover the unique tastes, flavors, and scents that suit our soul-print.
There is no "One Way" to the divine, as orthodoxy would have us believe. Instead, all ways lead to the path direct. The Wizzan Way is the path of all directions; it is the universal path reflected in all paths. It is simply one way to look at the jewel of the soul, and to feed our curiosity into the unknown.
Maybe I should have entitled this article "the blessing of confusion."
—Zzenn
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