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Amidst all the self importance portrayed by certain neo-pagan wiccan groups, especially in the regard of public recognition and legal status for clergy.. half-in-humour we play with acronyms, our own dear POOK... Pagans Of Other Kinds? and then the seriousness of all this becomes apparent. Even "an' it harm none, do as you will", an invitation to respectful tolerance. Something frankly we see very little of within the greater neo-pagan community. |
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But no, I'm not going to be pessimistic as I take a long look at this, Pagans Of Other Kinds.Each of us an autonomous individual with a singular personal line direct to the godhead.
Each individual yet another 'kind'.
Hidden here in this silly acronym, a humourous and loving open-handed invitation to joyfully celebrate the kaleidoscopic jewel that is our difference.
Every one recognizing all the other kinds as kindred-kinds.
So, we offer the godhead the multiplicity of our loving imaginations.
Pagans of Other Kinds.Other than what? or other than whom?
Should hopefully become not even worthy of a question.
Returning to the organizations:
those who would round-off the corners of our differences; describing, grouping together, homogenizing. This rings very deep alarm bells with me.
The need to 'describe' and control, as if in the description, in some ritual form lies the means of control.
The 'high magic' and 'low magic' argument becomes hopefully redundant as the realization that 'other' is a large part of the word 'brother'. Rather than a thing of fear, a potential companion.
These musings intend no disrespect to any tradition or individually held belief system, rather they are intended to celebrate all the differences.
Pagans Of Other Kinds; Witch, Wiccan, Druid, Ritual, Asatru, all people, all Others, potentially brothers and sisters. A multiplicity of paths and the myriad facets of godhead for every path.
2,000 years of book-religion's control should have taught us that loving the difference is a much more fruitful and sensible way of going about our lives and spirituality.
I cannot believe that however arbitrary and however uncaring, however distant, the godhead would give us the perception to recognize it's existence to touch that part of It that resides in each of us without It should desire us to use these talents. And it is only by being open to the 'otherness' that we can exercise this as it seems it should be.
"A thousand monks, a thousand religions"? I hope so.
Castle Pook,
August, 1999.