join the club, since the ranking system came out i've been ranked novice, as for two months ago though i keep being bumped back and forth.
could be a couple things, you haven't proven your knowledge, or one person ranked you and no one else has gotten around to it, you haven't make enough forum posts, written articles, spells, or flagged/edited information yet. keep in mind only a handful of people on the site can rank members, so it'll take a while before you get ranked again. anyone knowledgeable or higher can help you, but don't go to them demanding your rank be changed. first way to become ranked fluffy is to complain about your rank. personally i just ignore it. prove on the forums your experience, i don't think people really look at it, unless they notice mod next to the name. beginner and novice are pretty much the same thing. there's a forum explaining it you should check out.
I know you have learnt for 20 years. But you must prove yourself to others that i'm a experinced person. How can someone see how much you have been experinced without being popular around here? Well contribute yourself in forums by posting info, helping others by giving advice on the particular, showing what is right and what is wrong. In chatter you must follow the rules of the site and participate by sharing your beliefs and knowledge you own also getting to know the members and their character. Contribute spells/articles which are tested and written and should be helpful to everybody. Keep this things in mind to be ranked well.
Also remember that a belt is good for nothing but to hold up your pants. So therefore a rank is just a bunch of words. You know what you know and can do and that is what counts.
Due to the fact people are often ranked in ways that doesn't appear to match their actual knowledge level I just don't see how the ranking system has any benefit. I assume it's meant to get people to want to increase their rank through ways such as site contributions, but contributing to the site doesn't mean the knowledge given is worth a rank increase. Personally I'm happy being ranked beginner if I have to be ranked.
I know a lot of really knowledgeable people who have fought to be ranked fluffy. Its just a label nothing worth getting so heated about. I have also seen a lot of people that I personally would not rank up get ranked up just because they complain to so many so much they rank them up to quiet them. It can at times be a more political or poularity based. Just take it with a grain of salt and do what you can to present yourself as a knowledgable helpful member of the site.
If I don't see you post, I can't rank you. That goes for everyone else with a knowledgeable rank. Some rank in the chat, I don't go to the chat. Most who rank in chat, rank fluffy (so I've heard) so a Satanist can go to the chat and a knowledgeable Christian witch may just label them fluffy because they find their views ridiculous. It's wrong, but everyone has their hot button and it's also why we have so many knowledgeable ranked, because one bad vote won't do any good against 5 good votes.
I don't agree with the rank system. To me, I don't believe I have the right to judge anyone's spiritual progress. Someone could be completely ignorant to book knowledge, but entirely wise -- being spiritually attuned and enlightened.
I personally rank off of maturity and dedication towards magick and spirituality. Not "intellect" or "education" surrounding magick. But I never rank Knowledgeable unless I actually see the person active on the board consistently answering more questions than asking them. And carrying themselves maturely and respectfully.
We never stop learning, and we all have our strengths. It's in helping others in the areas we are good at, but continuing a humility (and not pretend like we know everything) that demonstrates who deserves what rank to me. For instance Awake is phenominal with comparing magick with science. I compare magick with psychology. Sometimes we go round and round, and other times we agree. But you don't see me trying to talk about atoms and particles because I'll make a fool of myself.
It's true there are some knowledgeable ranks that may be less understanding of as many magickal subjects as a few of the Novices and even some Beginners. But we must remember that magick has never been about book smarts, its about experience and wisdom. We also can't take your profile as 100% truth. I can say I'm a rocket scientist, no one will believe me unless I demonstrate what I know. It takes time for people to get to know you. If most people here don't know you, then perhaps you should ask yourself what you can do to change that in a positive way.
I make lots of posts, I think I'm ALMOST ready to contribute to the site, and become a beginner :D But I notice that they way I act, and my "childish" approach to everything, makes me look fluffy_ But I am a child, and Im one of those people who can't grow up_ And will always be a little kid_ (I dont mean immortal >_< I'm supposed to die at thirty two or something,,,) I have also noticed that this will matter more then my actualy capability_ So I doubt Ill ever be promoted to beginner, I'm just one of one people who will be a child as an adult, and an adult as a kid_
