#pagan student

[llunamarie]

Pagan Thoughts On Accidently Walking Into Christian Bible Study...

I wish I wasn’t the only Pagan Witch on this campus…. Pagan study groups would be so awesome.

[felis-praecantrix]

I'm going to check out the Pagan Student Association on campus.

...but I'm very wary that it is, in all reality, a Wiccan study group.

The reason why is their logo includes a pentagram, a stereotypical howling wolf, and the phrase "Blessed Be" in multiple languages.

Their website also includes the phrase "Merry Meet."

(Now it's possible they use those phrases to draw newbie pagans in - when I was a newbie pagan, I saw "merry meet" and "blessed be" on nearly every single website that came up on google, so I thought it was just what all pagans did. In time I learned it's really only a Wiccan or NeoWiccan thing.)

I've come up with a list of 8 concerns and questions that I will pitch to the club leaders, and if I get unsatisfactory responses, I don't think I'll bother joining. Feel free to add some more if you think I'm missing any.

Is it predominantly Wiccan? Are the terms "pagan," "Wiccan," and "witch" being used interchangeably (even though they shouldn't be)? Are the group members aware of the difference between these terms? It just plain wouldn't be any fun to join a group that's mostly Wiccan - just like it wouldn't be fun to join a group that's almost all Buddhist. I'm hoping to find a club that is diverse, open, and full of conversation with people from many paths.

Is there Christian-bashing or Satanist-bashing? Is there bashing of pagans of certain paths, such as those that worship war deities or curse? Is one monolith morality being forced on the members?

Similarly, Is there pressure to follow the morals/beliefs of one religion - for example, the Wiccan rede? I have seen this happen in a lot of supposedly "open and accepting" pagan communities and oh my god I do not need more of it. THE WICCAN REDE DOES NOT APPLY TO EVERYONE that isn't hard to understand.

Are there guidelines in place to prevent members from participating in cultural appropriation? Are the members or leaders aware of cultural appropriation, what cultures/objects/religions are known to be closed, and what steps a person must take to respectfully find out if a culture is open? I better not see anyone with a book on "animal totems," a dreamcatcher tattoo, or a bindi, for example. Are the group members aware that oppression can occur in the form of cultural appropriation?

Are there guidelines in place to prevent the spreading of misinformation? Is there an emphasis on good, reliable research and sources? (I do not want to walk in during an April meeting and hear all about how the "Christians stole Easter from the Pagans." I do not want to hear about the nonexistent "Burning Times." I better not see a Silver Ravenwolf book hailed as a reliable source. And for god's sake, BAST IS NOT A MOON GODDESS. NOR A TRIPLE GODDESS. You also better not be telling me you saw Isis as a white woman with blonde hair.) 

Is it exclusionary? Yes, pagan groups can be racist, homophobic, sexist, ableist, etc. But they can also be exclusionary towards those with beliefs that deviate from the "love, light, nature" approach to paganism - for example, being exclusionary towards Pop-culture pagans, Technopagans, Christopagans, those who curse, those who work with ouija boards, etc.

Is consent discussed? Especially when it comes to those love spells - I better hear consent discussed. This spreads into doing divination (or anything magical) for other people without asking, asking deities/entities for consent before working with them, etc.

Is the safety of all involved emphasized? Is it discussed how to conduct ritual safely? Do divination safely? Channel or astral travel safely? Work with entities safely? There should be advice or resources available on how to protect yourself, your home, your space, etc, if needed.

If this criteria aren't met, I'm going to be really iffy about joining or even supporting this club. I'm hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

[red-starr]

Words in my heart to the toughest meanest teacher I've ever had in my life!

I have the goddess in my heart and nothing you say or do to me will ever change that!! I won't back down and you will not scare me!!