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The Politics of Dancing

An ongoing dispute in the Pagan Community is just that: Community. What makes us a community? What (if any) are our goals? What can the individual group, coven or solitaire do to aid the community? What point do we draw the line on groups that claim our banner yet are neither Pagan nor do they serve as an asset to our Community? For those who are plain just disgusted by the "$19.95 witches" then I hope I can allay your worse fears by saying that (neo-)Paganism, while still a "counter-fad" to many people is growing beyond that. In a few years time most of the "fadders" will have gone on to the next "counter-fad", but a few (1 out of 10? maybe) will remain to become serious practitioners and valued members of our community. It is a sad fact that Wicca and Neo-Paganism attracts its share of freaks, degenerates and sexual predators. This harms us. The reluctance of people to take a stand against such individuals, while somewhat understandable considering our history as a persecuted group, has reached the point where political correctness and apathy is harming us. To quote Issac Bonewits, "The enemy of our enemy is not our friend". This applies to Satanists as much as those would profit under the banner of Paganism. We all know of merchants to display the Christian fish icon for economic purposes who are no more Christian than Star Hawk. A warning can be given to those new to the Craft who are impressed by props, robes, and someone knowing a few Goddess names. Some people who claim the title of High Priest or Priestess are little more than sexual predators, and I do not use that term lightly. These people are plain out scum. They have no moral code and prey upon the unknowing in forming little cults based upon their "knowledge", which is usually nothing more than having read a few books (usually the worst ones). These people are not Pagan. Even some established groups are not immune to such things. There was a MAJOR controversy (to phrase it lightly) about one particular HP of a MAJOR longtime group and sexual initiations with under-aged females in Atlanta about 5 - 6 years ago. I do not personally know if the allegations are true, but I do believe that the particular HP was at minimum careless about the appearance of impropriety. Whether or not he pulled a "Clinton", I do not claim to know. If intelligent knowledgeable people want to incorporate sex into their rituals, and are open about it, and let other people know that it not the norm or that it is a form of Tantra (there are VERY few Tantrists out there) not Wicca, well... the Karma Sutra has been around for a few 1000s of years and it IS powerful magic. I know and have worked rituals in such a form, but not as an orgy, but as two thoughtful knowing witchy adults using sex to raise energi to an incredible height for a specific purpose. But that requires a learned basis for entering into the ritual - not ignorance or game playing. Unfortunately that is rare. For those who fear that community means a letting go of individual freedom or local autonomy by the creation of a centralized political power structure, that is called bureaucracy. We, who are the Elders of tomorrow must be careful not to lay the groundwork for such a structure to take hold in the future - think about 100 years from now; the early Christians would be appalled by the bureaucracy that now characterizes Christianity 2000 years later, but they didn't have the historical perspective to think about it; we do. It is important for us today to state that a centralized power base is neither our intention nor our goal. Bureaucracy is a danger that we must watch for and one all too common in many groups and covens. However, a total lack of organization on issues of concern, from the rights of pagan parents in divorce cases and other government proceedings (such as Child Welfare Departments), safety from discrimination in the workplace and in home ownership/renting, the rights of Pagans incarcerated to practice the Craft as a bona fide religion, harms us and threatens us as a group, as families, and as individuals. Organization on the smaller local level is imperative and badly needed. It is my opinion that Community stands for a means of gathering our strengths in a mutually beneficial way. Not by telling others how to worship or how their rituals are wrong, but by encouraging others in open discussion and face-to-face gatherings, by giving to the overall community we can give ourselves a community that we can take strength from. We have to look for the commonalties of our celebration of the Lord and Lady not our differences. This has to come from a grass roots level. It has to start with the single person. It starts with education, both within our community and to the outer world. That also means coming out of the "broomcloset". I recently spoke to a group of Social Work majors at the local University I attend about Wicca and stressed that it is their job to be open to those with different religious ideas from their own. It means getting out and supporting such things as Pagan Pride days and local festivals. It means letting your government know about your concerns politically. It means attending local school board meetings. It means taking a stand. It means fighting the "Hollywood" image of the Craft that is the mindset of 99% of the general population by substituting our very real and very human faces there. I didn't say it would be easy. Blessings all, Eugene Chapman aka Tramanor
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