Guest Author - Linda J. Paul

In ancient times, a persons pathway in life was most often determined by who his or her parents were, and their position in society. A peasant lived on the family plot of land, and never ventured much further than the local township. A boy born into a family of fishermen usually became a fisherman. Kings and Queens were born into royalty and trained to become the nobles in society. Girls born into most segments of society were expected to become wives and mothers.

However, there were those in every society who stood out for their spiritual gifts. They were the spiritual leaders of their tribes and clans. They were the priests and priestesses, healers, warriors, and mystics. They represented the spiritual attitudes, ideals and thoughts of their societies. They worked with the dreams, myths, fairy tales, hopes and desires of their people.

In our modern day society, these magical people still walk among us. They are hidden in mundane disguises, but their presence and leadership is still very much felt by those in their families and communities. To find out where your own magical skills are let's take a look at the four types of ancient spiritual professions and their modern day equivalents.

Priests and Priestesses

Priests and priestesses of ancient times held positions of power. They were the community leaders of their tribe or clan, and often were as much or more respected and honored as the ruling chieftan, king or queen. Their voices were very important in any type of tribal counsel.

They often chose to work within existing tribal and spiritual structures. To attain their status within their tribes and clans priests and priestesses had to study for many years. They were the intellectuals and not the rebels.
Because of their positions they were concerned with groups of people and their welfare. This meant that oftentimes individual needs were not considered when making decisions for the good of the whole. Responsibility and leadership were keynotes of these priests and priestesses.

In the modern world, priests and priestesses are goal oriented people. They often work with lists or a plan of action. They are strong willed and know exactly what they want out of a given situation or their lives in general. They are the talented organizers and compassionate leaders. They are very comfortable working with groups, as long as their ideas are respected, considered, and valued. Since they are natural leaders, their ideas are often put into motion. They exude a natural confidence in their abilities and often attract less secure individuals, who may be drawn to their charisma, charm and well grounded nature.

Today's priests and priestesses would be: human and animal right activists of every race, color and creed, organizers of disaster relief efforts, scientists (especially those involved in environmental "clean up" projects), Montessori school directors and teachers, and any other profession that strives to raise the consciousness and promote unity and peace among all beings on Earth.

Healers

The healers of the ancient world were the most important members of their tribes and clans. They were responsible for each members physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being. Their knowledge of medicinal herbs, healing skills, and the ability to communicate with or through a higher power made them invaluable assets to their tribe.
These healers were called upon as midwives at the birth of a baby, spiritual support to ease the pain and suffering of the sick and dying and their families, and to be the dispensers of herbal potions, advice, and compassion.
Healers often dedicated their lives to the care taking of their tribes and clans. They were "on call" night and day to tend to maladies ranging from broken bones to severe depression.

To a healer, each of their "patients" was seen as a unique case. They treated the whole person, body, mind and spirit. The pathway of a healer was both physically and emotionally draining, but brought its own rewards.
In our modern world, healers are the people who listen sympathetically to the problems and concerns of others. They do not pass judgment or give unsolicited advice..they are very good listeners. They make others feel better just by being around them, and seldom ask for anything in return.

Healers tend to be somewhat reserved, preferring one to one consultations, rather than large public speaking engagements. They are often much more comfortable around animals and plants than fellow humans.
The simple life appeals to a healer. They exude a quiet type of confidence, which attracts less stable individuals. Healers often wind up taking in "strays', including the human variety.

Modern day healers would tend to be: holistic healers in various fields, peace corps volunteers, disaster relief workers, naturopathic physicians, herbalists, energy healers, midwives, and any other profession which requires empathy and compassionate listening.

Shamans/Mystics

In ancient times, belief, culture, art and entertainment were all part of working with the spirit. All songs and stories had a purpose for the tribe, weaving through their history, beliefs, and practices. The Shamans acted as the spiritual leaders of their tribes. Many myths and legends came about from tales of the spirit journey of the Shaman.

Acting as a bridge between the spiritual world and the physical world, the Shaman would lead rituals, dances and chants. He or she would bless the crops, bless the hunt, and lead rites of passage as children entered into adulthood, couples joined together, adults became the elders, and to help those who were passing to cross to the realm of the ancestors.

They were called upon to talk to the dead, and to be advisors to the Chieftan or King about affairs of state, the outlook on the season’s crops, and the best way to appease the ruling deities of the tribe.

Mystics enjoy time by themselves, communing with nature. Woods, forests, the wild ocean, and mountain tops were the domain of the Shaman. They gravitate toward between places like dawn and twilight, order and chaos, and earth and sky.

Elementals, fairie folk, and spirits of the dead are attracted to the Shaman. Quiet and reserved they tend to keep to themselves as much as possible, avoiding political or controversial discussions, although, because they can see all things from many points of view, they tend to support new ideas, as well as cherishing the ways of the past.

Modern day Shamans would be spiritual leaders from all pathways and denominations, holistic based psychologists, philosophers, tarot card and other divination type readers, museum curators, and any other profession would requires working within the fields of ritual and ceremony.

Warriors

Even though the ideal world would be a world free of the need for warriors, we have not yet achieved that goal.

Since ancient times, warriors were a necessary part of any civilization. Warriors protected the community form outside attack, and kept the community safe and secure.

Warriors were not always adept when it came to book knowledge, but they were well trained when it came to mastering their chosen craft. They learned to become one with their weapon, whether it be sword, axe, bow or spear. They also trained their bodies and minds to work as one. Quick thinking and reaction time were vital for the warrior, if he chose to survive.

Warriors had to learn to rely on their instincts as well as their logic. Loyalty was another trait of the warrior. They were loyal to those who they defended, and in return expected that loyalty to be returned.

In the world of today, warriors are not the thinkers, but rather the doers. They are not the ones to consider the political or philosophical ramifications of a certain action, they just want to get what needs to be done.. Done.
Despite their sometimes gruff exteriors, warriors can be just as caring as healers, although they show it in a different way. They tend to seek out the weak and unprotected in our society and become their champions.

Today the warriors in our society would be carpenters, construction workers, police or military officers, and other professions which employ “keepers of the peace.”

All of us have the characteristics of each of these archetypes within us.. But usually one is stronger than the rest.

Follow the link below to find out if what type of spiritual personality you may have.