Many years ago I found myself in a heated discussion with a priest of a modern Pagan denomination concerning the nature of priesthood and the meaning of the crown. Recently I have returned to that conversation in my own thoughts, observing how many people today hunger for crowns of one kind or another, whether for status, titles, offices, recognition, or legitimacy. The disagreement arose over a man who had spent nearly two decades presenting himself as something he was not. He had built his reputation upon false claims of initiation and authority. Eventually, however, he did receive a legitimate initiation and immediately sought to establish himself as the foremost representative of that tradition in Brazil, despite the existence of elders who were both technically and legitimately senior to him. During our discussion, my colleague argued that the crown itself deserved respect regardless of who happened to wear it. My younger and considerably less patient self replied that I wou...