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These things are important to me because I have this sense of vocation, of wanting to be a community-builder or community leader or priest, so then I ask..."what does that actually look like?"
To distinguish this from merely my ego, I'm trying to repeatedly focus on "What are the services that people actually *want*?"
And like, that question is really hard to answer. Which makes me think, the role doesn't exist in paganism in quite the same way it does in other faiths.
I do have ideas for how to do this from a spirit perspective. That's comparatively easy: keep every festival, as if it was real, because it is, even if there's nobody watching. Keep the values/behaviors of the faith. Walk out among the woods frequently, as if it was my responsibility to keep these spaces hallowed, because it is.
And do it wearing a cape, because visibility.
But what do other pagans want? I try and imagine what I'd want from someone. I definitely want training, be that in getting better at magical skills, or in community-building skills. And I want well-run discussions, talks, or opportunities to grow what I'm doing with others. I don't know about group rituals. I've never been to a good one. But I like the idea of having people I meet up with on holy days, and for that relationship to be a long one. I want to feel like service to the spirits is more effective because there are more of us, be that more energy in rites, or more skills on a human level - like we are doing something important and of value. I like the idea of there being families; I feel somewhat icky about raising children in religions, but at the same time, I like the idea of it being part of life and the life of the community. I like the idea of having numbers, and having a relationship with a wider national or international community - being invested in something bigger than my solitary self.
So to express this, I mostly try and attend things & be a joiner and support initiatives already out there, and then create these opportunities myself. I don't know. One of my Christian friends, her parents got together with five or so others and founded their own church. It's now the dominant church in the area, with youth clubs and a physical church building. In the space of twenty years. Well, what I'd like to do is be part of something like that: something with longevity, and purpose, which strengthens its participants and enhances the magic and worship we can do by both numbers and infrastructure.
To distinguish this from merely my ego, I'm trying to repeatedly focus on "What are the services that people actually *want*?"
And like, that question is really hard to answer. Which makes me think, the role doesn't exist in paganism in quite the same way it does in other faiths.
I do have ideas for how to do this from a spirit perspective. That's comparatively easy: keep every festival, as if it was real, because it is, even if there's nobody watching. Keep the values/behaviors of the faith. Walk out among the woods frequently, as if it was my responsibility to keep these spaces hallowed, because it is.
And do it wearing a cape, because visibility.
But what do other pagans want? I try and imagine what I'd want from someone. I definitely want training, be that in getting better at magical skills, or in community-building skills. And I want well-run discussions, talks, or opportunities to grow what I'm doing with others. I don't know about group rituals. I've never been to a good one. But I like the idea of having people I meet up with on holy days, and for that relationship to be a long one. I want to feel like service to the spirits is more effective because there are more of us, be that more energy in rites, or more skills on a human level - like we are doing something important and of value. I like the idea of there being families; I feel somewhat icky about raising children in religions, but at the same time, I like the idea of it being part of life and the life of the community. I like the idea of having numbers, and having a relationship with a wider national or international community - being invested in something bigger than my solitary self.
So to express this, I mostly try and attend things & be a joiner and support initiatives already out there, and then create these opportunities myself. I don't know. One of my Christian friends, her parents got together with five or so others and founded their own church. It's now the dominant church in the area, with youth clubs and a physical church building. In the space of twenty years. Well, what I'd like to do is be part of something like that: something with longevity, and purpose, which strengthens its participants and enhances the magic and worship we can do by both numbers and infrastructure.
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I would guess that the lack of kid-friendly is - among other reasons - lingering fear about pagans "corrupting children". The satanic panic goes deep: covens accepting children are opening themselves to more trouble, if trouble comes knocking. Additionally, the pagan value of not indoctrinating people into religion. Finally, a lot of pagan leaders simply not wanting to - because children need additional planning, or because they simply don't like children or know much about them.
But I agree: religion is, for most people, a family thing, and it plays a role in the whole life of people and communities. It's a bit bizzare for the Pagan standard to be "no children", with kid-friendly being the exception. And it's absolutely a barrier for people with children, who then can't participate due to practical concerns.
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I'm trying to think about my Future Self Who Leads Local Rituals, and how I feel about the presence of children. I actually redesigned my wedding around kids, because it was important for them to be there and happy: we were married outside, provided lots of lawn games, had no dress code, and explicitly told parents and kids that if they wanted to wander off that was fine. No sitting in uncomfortable clothes at my wedding!
So, I would be very on board for things like children attending walks and meals. But I think I would feel a bit weird about doing the invocation to Pan with children there. I don't know why. I suppose that fear of Doing Religion To Children in a way they cannot fully consent to. It's one thing to invite children to a springtime walk and craft afternoon; quite another to start talking to them about god. Perhaps that's a discomfort I should get over? No other faith seems to have this problem...
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