Almost every day I see someone join and exclaim that they "need a mentor," and I started wondering exactly what these people were expecting in this mentorship. And moreover, I don't know what a healthy expectation in mentorship would even look like. I've therefore put together this little questionnaire to better understand what a magical mentor would actually [i]do[/i].
You do not need to be a mentor or have ever had a mentor to answer this questionnaire. The questions in [b]bold[/b] are the "main" questions and the things in [i]italics[/i] are example ways of approaching it. You only need to answer the bold question, not all of the italics ones (though you're totally welcome to). This questionnaire deals primarily with on-line mentorship, though insights into real-world mentorships are always welcome.
[b]1 - Is age an important factor and if so, how?[/b] [i]How young is too young to be a mentor? How young is too young to be mentored? How important is the age gap between mentor and student? Is it problematic if the student is older than the mentor?[/i]
[b]2 - How much experience is required on the part of the mentor?[/b] [i]Do they need to be initiates into some order? How many years should they have been studying? How much of their knowledge should come from experiences vs. books? Do they need experience in lots of forms of magick or should they be expected specialize and know one or two topics thoroughly?[/i]
[b]3 - What should be required of the student?[/b] [i]Must they already be proficient at certain basic skills like meditation? Should they swear to follow their mentor's guidance? Or swear to follow certain rules pertaining to magical conduct and ethics?[/i]
[b]4 - What topics should be taught and how?[/b] [i]Should the student choose what things to learn or should the mentor offer a semi-set curriculum? What lessons are considered essential and all students should take them? What lessons should a mentor be unwilling to teach (either to new students or at all)? What lessons would be hardest to teach and learn over an on-line mentorship? Should there be assignments and tests or should the student just be given information? Should lessons have some sort of schedule? How should the student provide proof of their work or progress?[/i]
[b]5 - What are good and bad traits in a mentor or student?[/b] [i]What behaviors are completely unacceptable? Are any behaviors acceptable for one but not the other? What personality traits should a mentor have? What traits of a student? What personality traits should prevent a person from becoming a mentor? What traits of a student? How much leeway should be given in terms of failing to meet promises (including keeping to schedule)? How should a mentor decide if a person would make a good student? How should a student decide the same of a mentor?[/i]