Comments on: Lasting Pagan Communities http://hawkscry.org/2008/01/lasting-pagan-communities/ The voice of a witch Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:54:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Morninghawk http://hawkscry.org/2008/01/lasting-pagan-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-365 Morninghawk Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:34:34 +0000 http://www.hawkscry.org/2008/01/27/lasting-pagan-communities/#comment-365 Yes, I would agree. It took the Christians 200 years before they consolidated their community, and that was done by force. I expect it to take at least as long for us to become as cohesive without the element of coercion. To me, it is as much (if not more) about the journey as it is about the destination. I don't think we will ever achieve a stable utopia, but I don't think that is important or beneficial. If we did, it would encourage stagnation. The hardships and adversity we meet along the way are what will make us a functioning and loving community. Yes, I would agree. It took the Christians 200 years before they consolidated their community, and that was done by force. I expect it to take at least as long for us to become as cohesive without the element of coercion.

To me, it is as much (if not more) about the journey as it is about the destination. I don’t think we will ever achieve a stable utopia, but I don’t think that is important or beneficial. If we did, it would encourage stagnation. The hardships and adversity we meet along the way are what will make us a functioning and loving community.

]]> By: R.E. http://hawkscry.org/2008/01/lasting-pagan-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-364 R.E. Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:32:52 +0000 http://www.hawkscry.org/2008/01/27/lasting-pagan-communities/#comment-364 I suspect working towards a cohesive and inclusive Pagan community, whether on the local, national, or global level, will be the work of our lifetimes for sure! I suspect working towards a cohesive and inclusive Pagan community, whether on the local, national, or global level, will be the work of our lifetimes for sure!

]]> By: Morninghawk http://hawkscry.org/2008/01/lasting-pagan-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Morninghawk Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:35:27 +0000 http://www.hawkscry.org/2008/01/27/lasting-pagan-communities/#comment-350 I agree that many covens contain a component of all three categories (nobody can be exclusively any one thing). I have found it to be rare, though, for covens to have a strong focus on all three without sacrificing depth. For example, one circle I was previously in was very strong in the community/socializing aspect, good in thaumaturgic occult practices but weak in the mystical practices. I won't disagree that there are a few covens that are strong in all three, but it is rare. Where I have seen it more is in larger groups that have different circles or orders within them, where each order can focus more (though these are not large in number either). Thanks for the comment. I agree that many covens contain a component of all three categories (nobody can be exclusively any one thing). I have found it to be rare, though, for covens to have a strong focus on all three without sacrificing depth.

For example, one circle I was previously in was very strong in the community/socializing aspect, good in thaumaturgic occult practices but weak in the mystical practices.

I won’t disagree that there are a few covens that are strong in all three, but it is rare. Where I have seen it more is in larger groups that have different circles or orders within them, where each order can focus more (though these are not large in number either).

Thanks for the comment.

]]> By: Cosette http://hawkscry.org/2008/01/lasting-pagan-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Cosette Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:17:41 +0000 http://www.hawkscry.org/2008/01/27/lasting-pagan-communities/#comment-346 This is very interesting, but I'm not sure these categories work well for a few reasons. I do agree that there are several layers to the Pagan/Wiccan community, but I think many covens have a membership that encompass all of these qualities -- occultists and ceremonialists, mystics, and people who actively serve the broader community in some way. And while most covens I know are far too small to develop separate orders, different levels of training often focus on these skills. This is very interesting, but I’m not sure these categories work well for a few reasons. I do agree that there are several layers to the Pagan/Wiccan community, but I think many covens have a membership that encompass all of these qualities — occultists and ceremonialists, mystics, and people who actively serve the broader community in some way. And while most covens I know are far too small to develop separate orders, different levels of training often focus on these skills.

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