Presence of Mind
Guest Presentation for The Magic Cauldron / Wicca 201
Once you have a basic understanding of your own spiritual path and how you relate to others in the Pagan community, you can extend your attention to the larger "mainstream" society as well. Whether you live in a small town with a strong sense of community spirit, a huge city with more individuals than connections, or a rural area with few close neighbors, you can find ways to contribute. Part of the problem we as Pagans face when dealing with members of the mainstream is a lack of recognition. We need to demonstrate that Pagans are not only good people but good citizens, the kind of folks that benefit any community we live in.
First, consider your current situation. How "out" are you? If everyone, or at least many people, already know you as Pagan and you feel relatively safe and comfortable with this, great. You can use your legal name, and help people put a familiar name and face to Paganism. If you prefer to keep your religion private, or if your safety requires discretion, you can use an alias or Craft name or act anonymously. For instance, you could sign as "Karen Woods" or "SkyHunter" or simply "A Local Witch." Another variant is to cite your group, especially good for larger projects: "Silverweb Coven" or "Newberry Pagan Alliance" etc. You could even use a combination of these tactics, depending on the situation.
Next, think about some things you could do for your community in general terms, things which don't relate directly to Paganism: Help clean up after a harvest festival, parade, trade show, or other event. Take part in a charity auction or other fundraiser for a worthy cause. Volunteer your time at a soup kitchen, women's shelter, or humane society. Take advantage of existing recycling services or join a campaign to start new ones. Such activities go well with anonymous and discreet service.
Now consider ways in which you could attach your affiliation to your service. One popular fundraiser, used by many organizations, involves hanging paper cutouts in a store or other public location. For each donation (usually $1 to $5) you get a cutout on which to write; you can sign either your name and your tradition (Bjorn Anderson, Asatru) or just sign by affiliation (A Local Priestess of Isis) as mentioned earlier. Another version of this uses concrete paving blocks; you pay the donation (higher here, $20 to $50) and then decorate the wet concrete with handprints, names, etc. This one is popular for playgrounds and such. A coven or other group might organize a public event, like cleaning up a stream or riverbank. Many covens hold annual food or clothing drives, and donate the proceeds to appropriate local organizations. These activities subtly place Pagans in public view, with positive rather than negative associations.
What about beneficial acts that spring more directly from your beliefs? For example, as a writer I honor Hypatia, the Last Librarian of Alexandria; when I donate books to libraries, I just include a short note to that effect. Suit your service to your patron -- teach sacred crafts like pottery or basket-weaving at community classes, volunteer as a lifeguard at the municipal pool, survey wildlife in parks, etc. For group participation, think a little larger: how about planting trees on Arbor Day in groves of 13, or in Oak, Ash, and Thorn sets? These may or may not be the type of project to which you can attach your name, but they all give a unique and special touch based on your personal path.
Finally, those of you who can afford relatively open knowledge of your religious affiliation can help provide communication and information about Paganism. Most local newspapers carry something about Witches around Halloween; contact the paper and offer to write a "letter to the editor" or make yourself available for an interview regarding your customs and beliefs. This is a great way to dispel bad propaganda. If you have a knack for public speaking, you might volunteer to make a presentation on Paganism for interested groups. Large cities like San Francisco often have ceremonies and festivals held by Pagan organizations for the general public. For a smaller project, try holding a festive Maypole dance in a local park -- you can secure permission quite easily in many places. Let folks see the fun and realize that Pagans are people too.
You don't have to make a huge task out of this. Keep it simple and work it in with things you already do. Contribute according to your inclinations and abilities. You have something unique to offer. Give the mainstream society nice things to think and say about Pagans; knowledge banishes prejudice. Our presence in this world should improve it, not just on a physical level, but on a social level as well. By working together and making ourselves part of the wider community, we remind people of the values we hold in common.
"Presence of Mind" copyright 1996 Elizabeth Barrette.
Art on this page is from the "Whiteflower" set, at Winter's Pages
The URL for this page is http://www.worthlink.net/~ysabet/spirit/presence.html and it was last updated on October 13, 1998.
