US citizens are probably familiar with the expression "come to Jesus". For example, if you know a young person who is acting up, you might say "Come here, you and I need to have a come to Jesus". As Pagans, I think we need to have a come to the Goddess chat.
As many of you know, I am both the High Priestess of a shamanistic witchcraft tradition, as well as an interfaith priestess with an interfaith and secular spiritual community. This week, I'm mad as Hades. Not into rants? Don't want to hear a truth? Leave now.
I see the USA becoming a battleground for large corporations, many of whom who are using religion as a polarizing force in their ongoing mission to strip the world of resources and crush the masses beneath their gilded heels.
I see our government, which began in response to religious and political tyranny, teetering between positive cultural change and regressive faith-based policy. We were specifically chartered as a secular government, yet we are still seeing debates about religious laws.
As a nation, we are actively fighting Islamic extremists, and supporters of this war decry their sharia law. Yet they want to institute the same thing here. Legislators and judges are trying to pass laws that say they don't have to do their job if it contradicts their religious beliefs. Their job is to serve the public - ALL OF THE PUBLIC. Any legislation that interferes with this mission is directly and starkly unconstitutional.
Iowa recently did a brave thing in having in having a Wiccan priestess give the invocation to begin a day of legislative work. Rep. Liz Bennett invited the speaker, and she has this to say about religious freedom and our government:
"When we say we believe in religious freedom and we believe in religious liberty, that means that we don't endorse one religion over another as a government," Bennett said. "And in fact, when you look at other countries who do show preference or endorsement for one religion over another, you can see it's not a very good situation. That's something the founders of our nation knew."
The fact that this occurred is a beautiful step forward. It was received respectfully by some, but others chose to turn their back or absent themselves from the proceedings. Others even organized prayer protests at the Capitol building in response. As if the very hearing of words from another faith would somehow besmirch them. As if their religion, which happens to be the majority religion in this case, holds the only truth in the world, and only they have the right to speak in public. I have so many problems with this, but that is truly another post unto itself.
In the midst of all this, we Pagans continue to bicker, exclude and bully. I chatted with a friend this week. It turned into a mutual venting session, which I think that we both really needed at the time. We both are community leaders, and we both are passionate about our need to unite as a community. She shared with me her frustrations about lack of support, gossiping, apathy, and exclusion. I was shocked and saddened. It seems to me that this conflict was about ego and pettiness. It seems that some people would rather be in the limelight and in control, rather than supporting my friend's sincere and altruistic goals for our community as a whole.
Look here, people: we cannot afford the infighting right now. There is no room for your ego here, in this tumultuous age of environmental crisis, political instability and war. We do not have the luxury of wasting our energy on gossip. Our apathy and cynicism is killing almost every attempt to unite and elevate us as a community.
I don't care what path you follow. I don't care what tradition to which you belong. I don't care how much training you have. I don't care how many degrees you have, what garter you wear. I don't care about your pins, your crowns, or your special robes. I don't care what you call yourself.
Ask yourself this one question: am I inside the Big Tent of Paganism? Before you say no, read the article. John Beckett has done a great job of describing what this blanket term means and how it is valuable to all of us: "Druids and Wiccans, Heathens and Hellenists, Thelemites and chaos magicians, shamans and seers, kitchen witches and tree huggers – there’s room for everyone."
So you're in the tent? Congratulations. That makes you part of a controversial minority faith, which honestly, is a dangerous place to be in some parts of the world, including mine. It should not be dangerous to you within the community. I myself have experienced the exclusion, the lack of welcome, the cliques, the judgments, the back-door deals. I've heard stories from so many Pagans over the years, both from newbies and experienced practitioners alike.
It has to stop. Right here, right now, with each of us. I wrote a blog post last year about suggestions for good Pagan citizenship. Check it out. Have suggestions of your own? Comment on this post. I truly welcome your feedback and input.
To summarize: be good to each other. Stop the drama, the gossip and the infighting. Show up, speak up and DO SOMETHING NOW. Join your local Pagan Alliance. Go to a local festival or retreat. Fight the apathy and let's make some magic happen!
Remember, we are all in this together, and we are stronger together. I believe in this community. I know we can do this!
With perfect love and perfect trust,
Tanaria
No comments:
Post a Comment