Leadership and Character

One of the hardest things to see is the character of your leaders—the only places to see it are in their public actions and in the things their followers do. Both of those are subject to far more mediation than is easy to sum up, whether the mediation of interpretation or the mediation of being aware that someone is watching, or some other factor.

In a real (and spiritual) way, the character of a temple or group is embodied in the priest or leader. A priest with a poor understanding of authority will spread it as a part of their influence, teaching it to their followers without the need to be spoken. The flaws of the priest become the flaws of their temple.

We say character is important, in vodou. What we do not mean is that the priest is required to be or appear perfect. Far better a priest with flaws about which they are honest than a priest who hides their flaws for fear of being seen as imperfect. The honest priest can fix their flaws. The dishonest one does not and will not.

You have to tell the truth to yourself and be in the practice of telling the truth in order to fix a flaw.

Far better a priest that makes mistakes boldly than one who refuses to do anything for fear of making a mistake. Inaction is a form of action and a temple cannot sustain an inactive or incapable priest. People in vulnerable states do not need the additional confusion.

Character is important because it reflects: because whatever you seek to be is less important than what you are, and whatever you are, you share.