Topics

Hello Ari
  Everyone has free will and the ability to find the path that suits them. A true teacher will not be controling or force you to follow a path. They will teach you the subject that they or the organization are about and specialize in doing.
  A teacher helps to clear up points when you are beginning that may be misunderstood and sabotage some of your efforts in the future. An organization or a group also allows you to speak with others and learn from what they are interested in and what they do.
  You first have to decide what you want to learn. You should read up on the subject and actually do some of the methods. It will show you if it is something suited to you and your interests.
  You should then continue studying and see if there are any teachers in your area or on the internet. A lot of magical schools now have internet access and teach solitary students.
  Magic is a lot of hard work and I suggest finding a method of meditation that suits you and helps you to concentrate. I also suggest reading books upon how to visualize because it is essential to any sort of magic. You have to have control of your mind to make magic work properly. The only way this is accomplished is by working upon yourself. You will then find that the teacher just pops up or becomes accessible to you at a point where they will be able to benefit you and your learning.
  Nita

Ari, I'd like to see you rethink your ideas about relationships.  We're always ready for relationships.  We're always IN them.  Whether they're good or bad, that's another story.  Don't use the divorce rate as proof that people can't have relationships.  The divorce rate is proof that most of our ideals about marriage are silly!  I was married for 10 years.  For 10 years the marriage was successful.  Now that we're divorced, we're still in a relationship, only a different one!

You can practice becoming ready for a successful, magical love relationship by relating to the rest of the world in a positive, magical way: your parents, your teachers, your siblings and friends, animals, plants, rocks, etc. etc.  Don't expect a romance to be the be-all and end-all if you can't pass Basic Friendship 101!  When your life is ripe and full of successful, long-term friendhships, that's when you will know you are ready for a good, long-term love relationship. Also, if you want a powerful love relationship, don't go for shallow things like looks, paycheck, or even personality characteristics; rather, learn how to "see" properly (i.e., magically) and go for the MAGICAL CHEMISTRY. And then go for it!  

Don't worry about whether or not a relationship will last forever; forever is not really the point.  Nothing lasts forever.

Welcome, Ari! I am sorry but I do not know anything about LBRP, but I think we can all understand where you are coming from in looking for your path. If magic is your interest then be sure to look in the Magic section of the forum.

quote:And I'm sure everyone has some amount of bias in terms of what they think is a negative influence in their life.

None of us like what we find unpleasurable in our lives, but it is through the "negative" things that we can learn and grow a considerable amount. If it aids us on our path, is it truly a negative thing?

I hope you enjoy the forums.