Learning solo vs joining a group

[isis.auset5]

Hello!

I was wondering which of these do you prefer? Learning alone and working solo or joining a 'group' (let's call it that) and learning from someone and learning it well?

There aren't many options available in Portugal and the ones that exist are incredibly secretive. I don't mind working alone, but I literally don't know anyone else in my personal life that takes this kind of interest.

So, I question you: what's preferable?

Isis

[WillowDarkWytch]

Motumbá Àse

Studying alone has it's benefits. One may have a little more freedom to research, read and practice. But the value of growing in a group or being taught, it's in another level.

I had both. I always studied and practiced a lot alone, but was when I entered the groups and orders that all that "bag of knowledge" I had started to take form, and a very much better understanding from me. An elder o "master" or guide or teacher, etc, is always convinient. They have done and passed through things you're about to, so their guidance through those exoperiences is of great value.

That's how I feel about it

Saravá
Idansinají

[Caerdon]

I personally learned solo. There wasn't anyone that I was aware of around me, and I started at a young age so i didn't know how to reach out to any group that may have been around.
Going solo lets you have alot of freedom, but it's dangerous, and progress goes in bursts and lows. There are times when your learning clicks and you suddenly figure out how to do alot, but other times where it's stagnant. You can go months with no progress because you don't know what you are missing.
That's why group learning is alot more effective, you can draw on others experiences and they can guide you, minimizing the dangers, and giving you hints to what you need to do to keep progressing.

Anyways, it all comes down to what you want. Do you want to learn something structured and guided, or do you want something more exploratory and hand crafted?

[Desecrated]

I think it depends on luck.

I've reached out to some groups but found that most of them are unserious, unskilled and even worse, at least 2 of them are pure scams and fakery.
If you can find a genuinely good group, there are benefits to joining that. But until I find a group that actually benefits me, I'm just going to continue doing it on my own.

[Nahemah]

I'm not really a people person, so groups and I don't get along that well. However, the odd group effort for a cause and so on, that I can chime with and I've learned a lot through that kind of selective interaction.

If you are following an organised paradigm or faith, group learning is a very effective way to go, at least for the basics and starting on the path. It can be useful to have feedback and support from others active in your path also, so it's mostly personal preference as to which is better, I think, outside of lack of groups locally.

Online groups do exist, but they vary greatly in quality and style, so caution is advised in checking them out before joining.

I don't know of any active in Portugal atm, but I hope you find something to suit, whether online, distance or local. I think there are groups or used to be, in your country, but I'm not sure of where, who they are and what they do exactly.

[cactusjack543]

what if an equalization of initiation began its sequence?/

[Hadit]

The only way to truly raise yourself to a higher state is isolation. Work alone, or with a small group of very close friends in a casual manner.

[Urscumug]

I'm learning solo but joined a group 2-3 years ago. We usually meet once a month, this is nice, we can share findings, ideas, questions and work on some group rituals that you can definitively not perform alone.

IMHO, being part of a group (open minded and not intrusive of course) is a plus, but solo work is the basis.