Are you involved in your local Pagan community?

@rowantree (1186)
United States
May 20, 2007 7:04am CST
Lately in our local Pagan community, the topic has come up as to who will carry on when all of us just can't do it anymore. We have quite a few events that keep us all hopping - book club, discussion group, an annual campout, Pagan Pride Day, public Sabbat rituals, etc.. We're in our 40's and 50's now. It seems like every time we hold organizational meetings, it's always the same people who show up - us! These events have been going on for almost 15 yrs. I'd hate for all of it to die out with us. So if you're in your 20's or 30's, I'd really like your opinion on this. How involved are you? How involved are you willing to get?
3 people like this
7 responses
@Wingedman (238)
• United States
20 May 07
First of all I'd like to say, listing paganism as a hobby is down right rude. It is either your religion and your path to spirituality or it isn't. It isn't like some kind of weekend warrior, habitat for humanity donate a few hours to get a tax write off kind of thing. Personally I consider the clasification as a hobby repulsive. That is also why I don't spend much time with so called pagans in the community. They are workday Christians with delusions of power through witchcraft like they see in the movies and if they stumble onto something that really works I don't want to be there to see them get their entrail split open, because they were idiots. Paganism is a philosophy, a religion and a way of life, not something to be trifled with because there are powers that exist in this world, beyond what normal closed minded religious fanatics can see and feel that not only want to do harm but they will if you tamper with them. The craft, to use popular terms is highly personal, the moment you let some one in you let in all their baggage. Trust is essential, as you are trusting everyone in your circle with your very spirituality. Sorry to be such a downer, but please enjoy your religion and revel in it. Do not degrade it to a hobby. You do your devotion a disservice that way.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
20 May 07
All of the religions on mylot are pretty much listed as hobbies on the interest categories because they don't HAVE a category for religion. Personally I held off adding either religion or paganism to my list for a long time because I didn't want to list it as a hobby, but since it was hard to find discussions that way, I finally gave in and decided to be practical about it. Trust me, I doubt the people here consider paganism a hobby. I've been a Pagan my entire life, and I've suffered a lot because of that, since I grew up in a largely Christian area. But I was never willing to hide or marginalize my beliefs because of that.
@rowantree (1186)
• United States
21 May 07
lecanis is correct. There isn't a category for religion. I'm going to list Paganism wherever I possibly can, because most of my discussions center around my religion and I'm not about to waste my time with Christians. I'm not going to hide. I'm going to continue to encourage Pagan parents to educate their children on their religion. I'm going to continue to hold an activity class for Pagan children. I'm going to continue to educate the non-Pagan public at Pagan Pride days and at public rituals. It almost IS a hobby, since it takes up a nice chunk of my time. There is a lot of work involved. But I do it because to me, Paganism isn't a way *of* life, it *is* life. I'm going to list it wherever I can so whoever does a search can find me and also so anyone who looks up my profile knows right upfront that I am Pagan.
1 person likes this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
21 May 07
well, im in my 40s so maybe out of your time span, but i have to say i tend to have a distrust communities of anything and tend to work alone blessed be
@rowantree (1186)
• United States
21 May 07
:) I'm in my 40's too and considered in the group to be one of the younger ones. People are people. We're going to have differences. I'm lucky to have found an open, honest group.
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
20 May 07
I try to get to the Pagan Pride Day festivals each yr but other than that I'm really not involved in the community at all other than talking to others online or my family and friends etc....I gues for me being an active part of the community really isnt somethign I'm interested in...Not to say I avoid by any means I just have no interest in it...My Pagan ways are mine and I have little desire to put myself in a position where I may have to defend my ways to newbies or rigid ppl who happen to also pagan..I have no desire to work with others becuase of that very reason actually...I really dont think that taking part in things that others have set up based on THEIR ways is necessary or even beneficial since chances are I wont feel the same way they do...so why be there ya know....I do shop locally when possible (though where I'm located there really isnt much in my immediate area) but thats about it (and the PPD festival)
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
20 May 07
I'm involved on and off. To be honest, there isn't much to be involved in where I live. Mostly it's individual covens or coffee groups and usually they aren't very friendly to outsiders. There is one kind of open pagan "coffee night", but no one there actually wants to talk about paganism, it's just a social group. If you mention anything religious there, they kind of shush you and look around to see if anyone in the coffeeshop heard, which is silly because "pagan" is right on the fliers for the group. Grr. I would love to have an active pagan community in my area, but between my health problems, my job, and my 1-year-old, I haven't really managed to start anything on my own. There just aren't enough people who are interested. Most of the pagans here seem to either seem to not actually practice or be in the broom closet to some extent. I do attend a Unitarian Universalist fellowship, and we do have Pagan celebrations on sabbats and such there. A friend and I tried to start a CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) but couldn't drum up enough interest. I would love to live in an area with an active Pagan community. When I was a kid, I stayed in some places that had a lot of pagan events, and I love attending them. I'd even be willing to do some organization if I could just find someone who would GO!
@Galena (9110)
20 May 07
fairly, although Trad crafters tend to keep themselves to themselves much of the time. very near to my home there is a midsummer bonfire on a hill, which is a lovely tradition. I'd very much like to go to some of the events al ittle further afield in my own county, The Obby Oss at Padstow, and tar barrel running, and I've only gone and forgotten where that is, but I want to go. I'm known in my community for my craft, so occasionally am asked for my services. at 26, young for a Village Witch, but I'm proud to be seen in that light. I would like to see more in my area, and may one day try to organise more events, as there are a lot of us. we just tend towards our own company.
@AdalieM (1134)
• United States
14 Aug 11
Well, I am in my mid 20s and I am not very involved in the pagan community, there is a large group of other religions and beliefs. Paganism isn't one of them around here. Not that I mind. I always have been a loner and I like to do things my way.
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
20 May 07
Since our community still practices pagan events as the norm, across the population, I guess the whole town is involved. We still do our bonfires, and light them on the islands at Halloween and for the harvest festival. It goes back to the time when the fires were lit all the way across all the henges in Ireland and it is something that has been brought back. It is completely informal, though and not called a 'pagan practice', although that is exactly what it is.