How to learn

I watched one of Anni's vid's on materialism and spirituality.  In the video she tell's her story of one of her lesson's from her High Priest.  First they were to learn all the elements and how their tools corresponded to those elements.  Eventually creating a relationship, one where love has grown, with their tools and the elements.  And then at the end of the month he asked them to bring him their tools, and then took them away, and they were to learn to do ritual without them.  He eventually gave them back, but the lesson stayed.  You don't NEED anything but yourself.  I also imagine they went through a sort of mourning period as well, so they experienced that, the initial panic of now what do I do, until finally succumbing to the fact that done is done and things must move on.  I wish I could've had this type of teacher.  Because, even though they are good teachers, for me, I don't think I have spent my money well to get smoke and happy shit blown up my ass.