I have always been a rather reclusive, reserved sort of person and, probably due to being raised in a non-religious household where being religious or spiritual in any way was viewed with suspicion, I have been especially shy about telling others about my religious and spiritual path. This is why I have never tried to seek out other Pagans in my area. This is also why I don't reveal my last name or the city I live in, and use a profile photo that doesn't show my face very clearly on this blog. I don't want just anyone to be able to find out that I'm a Pagan and a Druid.
But many times I have wished that I knew other Pagans (in person, not just online). It gets hard doing things by myself. I don't if knowing other Pagans would really make things all that much easier, but at least we could compare notes, right?
Today, for no apparent reason (other than perhaps I was procrastinating about studying), I sat down and typed "British Columbia pagans" into Google. I had only glanced through the first few listings on the results page when I discovered a listing on Witchvox for a Pagan group at my university. I am not kidding when I say that I nearly fell off my chair. The page doesn't seem to have been updated for over a year, so I'm not sure if they're still active.
Still, the question remains: Should I contact this group? Do I even want to? I think that I do want to, and yet at the same time the idea terrifies me. Readers, what do you think?
I say take the bold step and email them. You can still keep your distance and at the same time find out if they are the type of group you would want to meet. Slow steps...slow steps.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
That probably would be the best option. After all, I wouldn't be committing myself to anything just by sending an email. Still a bold step for a wimp like me though. :)
ReplyDeleteOh Heather, you're not a wimp! A wimp wouldn't even consider something new or daring!
ReplyDeleteBeing reclusive myself, I know what a bold move it would be to reach out like that. But the truth is, that impulse is there inside you - why not see what it has to show you? Like the last commenter said, an email will allow you to keep your distance for now. And each small step along the way, you'll know what feels right to you. You'll know - just like you do now - whether or not to keep going. It could be great! Think not only of what they could bring to your life, but of what your perspective and experiences could bring to theirs.
I wish you very well!
I am also in the process of making one of my first attempts at real-world contact with other pagans.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the encouragement, Jeff, although I still think that I'm a wimp, at least some of the time. (Hey, probably everyone's a wimp once in a while.) I do think that I shouldn't let this opportunity pass by - even if it doesn't work out in the end, at least I will have tried, and stepped outside (a bit) of the barriers that I impose around myself.
ReplyDeleteAnd Kullervo, good luck with your own attempts at reaching out to other pagans!
I too say email them!!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think I would have the courage to do the same :) Though my fear mainly comes from close family and friends being scornful of anything non mainstream (ie. non Christian.)
It seems to be harder to find like people now that I am part of the workforce, and no longer in school.
I too found a local Witchvox event, this one is for Samhain. But I don't think I'm ready yet.
Thanks, Summertime dreams. I wish you good luck and courage with your own attempts at reaching out. I have similar fears about family and friends, although in my case I'm not worried about being non-Christian, but just being religious/spiritual in any way. If you don't feel ready to start going to local pagan events, don't push it. As the first commenter here said: "slow steps, slow steps."
ReplyDeleteHi. I really understand how you feel, for ages I´ve been thinking the same. I really really wish I could meet pagans where I live, but after looking for ages, couldn´t find anyone. And It´s like you say, when we´re alone, sometimes it´s very hard.
ReplyDeleteSo, if I were you, I would try to cantact them. At least you´d already know if they are active or not, and if it is the right kind of group for you. :)
Blessings and good luck. :)
Good luck to you as well, Morgana. I think that is the hardest thing about being a pagan today - doing so much alone and trying to find others who at least partly share our paths.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised to hear that there are so many of you that also have trouble finding other pagans. And here I thought I was the only one!
Ahahah, no... There are lots of us, I think. In Portugal, people still dont see this path as something "normal", either think it is just something "fashionable" (after all harry Potters and LOTR, it started to be cool to be a witch), or that it is something bad, or abnormal. I´m lucky that my familly doesn´t mind, they are all catholics, but I still feel a bit alone...
ReplyDeleteI'd jump at the chance personally ~ the closest group I can find to me would cost me a whole heap of travelling expenses to reach... I'd love to find a group of people where I was just Joe Ordinary... Good luck whatever you decide to do. If not now, then maybe later...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement, Nellie!
ReplyDeleteAnd an update: I actually did send an email to the group a few days ago, but I haven't received a response yet. So, who knows? Maybe the group is no longer active, or the person on the other end just hasn't had time to reply yet.
Let us know how it goes, okay?
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