I am a Priest/Priestess/Shaman/Guru/Master/.....

I haven't posted in awhile, not because I have nothing to say, but because I have been too busy to sit down and pound out my thoughts on a keyboard. I have to say something, though. What is the deal with all the people these days claiming titles that, essentially, mean nothing?! If I hear one more person state (in a self-righteous tone), "I am a thirteenth degree High Priestess of Reiki Masters in the Shamanic tradition of Gaia's Children under the auspices of the United Druidic Order of Thelemic Wombats," I am going to roll my eyes and puke! First of all, who needs a damned high priestess anyway? I can talk to the spirits on my own, thank you very little. The whole hierarchical structure of some Wiccan groups reminds me of another hierarchical religious organization with a much longer history and just as little sense, namely the Catholic Church. So you have the Horned God instead of Jesus, and the Goddess instead of Mary, and a woman instead of a man heading the group and intervening with the spirits on behalf of the laity! Big fucking deal! It is still one person interfering with the direct relationship of another with the divine. Now, I understand the role of a high priestess in many of the rituals and do not deny the validity of the position in a ritual sense. However, the idea of some sort of authority or even responsibility granted by the position is simply an excuse for grasping power, even though the influence of a pagan 'leader' is generally very limited in scope. Of course, that just makes it all the more pathetic. In closing, I will just say that I feel sorry for anyone who is willing to give their personal power to someone else and allow the other person, no matter how well-intentioned, to make their decisions, spiritual or otherwise.