Southern Pagan Etiquette:
I
don’t have a clue as to what the etiquette in your areas are; but I do know
what are some of the rules of etiquette around these parts. So I thought I would share them with you all,
mostly because the Pagan community is growing very rapidly. With more and more new and eager fresh hearts
and faces coming in it cannot be expected that they just “know” how things are
done. The irony here is that most of these rules were passed down verbally and
in small covens that branched out, hived, joined, combed and then became the
present community we live in here today.
When
I say I am only telling you how it is in the Midsouth what I literally mean is Tennessee, Mississippi
and Arkansas now I understand that in the
Eastern parts of Tennessee there is a whole ‘nother
set of Cumberland
region rules I am not query to. I do keep in mind a lot of us here came from people (myself included) who moved to these areas from
those red crusty mountainous regions.
They carried with them their poultices, remedies, songs, spells, quilts,
and traditions. I am
not trying to preach to anyone; or get a point across to a particular person I
am just being the “Miss Manners” of these here parts and sharing with you all
some general “ways of being” so that you understand how we do things; and what
is expected here.
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- Never go to another person’s circle and touch their altar. You can look at it, but do not touch it. It is considered rude. In fact, many witches or groups do not want you to step in their circle BEFORE the ritual because they just cleansed it. So no matter how curious you are; wait until after the ritual and then ask the facilitator of the ritual if you can look or touch.
- Never go to another Pagan/Witch/Wiccan’s house and see their personal altar and touch their things. It is okay to ask the owner about the altar, but unless you ask for permission and are given it…do not touch. Only observe.
- If you go to an event and are introduced to an Elder or Highpriest or Highpriestess be respectful. This means in actions, words, and deeds, for this is the way of acknowledging their time and effort given to the community you are just starting to sniff around. You do not have to fill their coffee cups every time it is empty, but it is nice! When greeting them bow your head slightly, and if they are sitting and you are standing either crouch down to their level or bend your knees so that you are lower than them. Why? This is body language respect and they are the matriarch or patriarch of that group you think you might want to be part of.
- Never ever go to an Elder or Highpriest or High priestesses house for counseling or PERSONAL lessons and not bring them a gift. If it is something special like you find out they like such as boysenberry pie then you score extra points! If they are a shaman it is highly likely tobacco is considered a standard gift. It is disrespectful of the spirit and the person for you to expect they give and give and give to you, and you do not acknowledge their gifts. The job of an Elder or Highpriest/ess is not to SERVE you; it is for a reciprocal relationship with spirit they open doors and hand you keys. They aren’t a Gas Station folks!
- It is considered bad form to go to a circle at another person’s circle or home and for you to immediately ask that they move their circle to your home. You just met them! You have not taken in what they do, you have not thanked them for the gift of their time, the energy they gave you for the ritual, or even the food they laid out and fed you. ALWAYS thank your host, but do not start out asking them for what they can do for you and telling them how they should move their circle and all their work to your convenient location. It is their circle, they built it up from ground zero RESPECT that.
- Do not judge people you just met! First impressions are hardly enough ground for you to tell enough about a group, its members, or its Clergy/Highpriestess/Highpriest for you to know what they are about. You should take the time to go to the rituals at least three times before getting a “feel for them”. DO though ask their experience if you are thinking of joining you really don’t want to join a group that has a leader who just “DUBBED” themselves leader do you? See if they have roots, and people in the community that is respected that would recommend them. Checking recommendations is not a bad thing.
- You see those people standing next to you in circle? They are a lot like you! They too are scared, and shy, and awkward feeling. They have just made a BIG step! They decided to take a risk and gamble and try to practice their faith with other people. Respect that, be nice, be friendly, make friends…but do not try to use those people to “stir up the cauldron” or to “start your own group”. We all drink from the same well of the Goddess. If you want to start your own group, that’s cool do it! However, going into other people’s circles with the intent of farming for a group of your own only starts “bad feelings” in a community. Try to remember that everything is done with a “group” in mind not just for “you” the individual and yet for “you” the individual. There is a community bigger than you out there; please be gentle with it.
- That circle you are connected too is part of a larger community! That Highpriest and Highpriestess they know all the other Highpriest’s and Highpriestesses in the area and most if not all the Elders. Keep in mind, that once you burn bridges in one circle…it will follow you. It is inevitable.
- If you feel that the circle you are in is doing something “unethical” well I can understand why you would leave. However, do not post it on Facebook or Twitter go to the people involved and sit down and talk to them about it. You might come to understand that your viewpoint on the situation was skewed; or maybe you will see that your ethics and theirs do not congeal but it is never ever okay to be cruel, slander, or try to tear apart a person. It is totally against the ethics of our path. Leave gently, and find the right group for you! b
- Never ever go to a circle drunk, or stoned or even on prescription medicine that alters your state of consciousness. Do not go to circles bringing alcohol or firearms. Most of these people running public circles are doing all they can to keep it open, and that means they have to keep the law. Would you go to a church of another denomination and bring beer or guns or dope? No, so why would you expect your church (and that is what a circle is) to let you do that and turn their head? Remember that, a circle is a church …your church so act that way.
- A lot of groups offer training programs, and have Highpriestesses or Elders or Clergy that teach. These classes cost money out of the facilitator’s pocket. These classes take time, out of the teacher’s world. These people felt CALLED to teach you. They have years and years of experience (usually ten or more) and they have learned things they want to share with you to make your path easier. However, they are not going to spoon feed you. They are not “at your beck and call” they have lives also. Did you know that they all work jobs, and have families, and relationships, and children or grandchildren of their own? It is okay to ask them questions regarding your class homework (and please if you take a class do the homework) and the day to day lessons else you are wasting your time. It is okay to go to them for counseling if you have personal issues.
It is not okay for you to expect them to just wave a wand,
and you be where they are at (it is more insulting to them personally and your
spiritual path than anything). In fact,
it is impossible! YOU have to put in the
years and years of training (and I do not mean two) and constant practice. YOU should listen to them because while they
do not know everything they do have your best interest at heart and you might
be surprised to see how much they worry for you and pray for you, and think
about you while putting together that lesson plan and trying to find a way to
connect and reach you so that they can make your path easier. Teaching
is a calling and not all can do it.
So be nice, give them a break, and be realistic. You are not going to be a Highpriestess
tomorrow (unless you cheat and give yourself the title) but remember this is a
path that is steeped with traditions, you are taught them, you pick the ones
that work with you, and you hand them down.
That is why they call it a PATH and why there is one. Someone, allot of someone's, walked it before you got there.
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“To those who went
before me and taught me…I thank you. To
those who come behind me, and I share my energy with, I pray I make your path’s
easier.”
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Now I am sure you all can think of other rules of etiquette that if you
are outsider coming in to your area that people ought to know. I have not written up clergy or Highpriest
and Highpriestess “codes of conduct” yet; but trust me I am going to share a
few because I think they are important and I like to know rules and “ways of
doing things” in other parts. These are
not “social pagan festival rules” I know you all understand that festivals are
a whole different kind of hunting dog.
I also want you all to know I have been new to a few areas. I have stepped on toes unintentionally and have learned from mistakes and years of experience some of these things I am sharing with you. In fact, I have to go into other people's circles and areas all the time; and I try to mentally remind myself to observe respectfully. To be quite and see their way of doing things and if you know me that is HARD for me to do. Etiquette is different for every circle, every grove, every coven, every church but GENERAL rules they don't change and what does it hurt to be more respectful than necessary? It might just help you make a new friend or get an ally or two.!
PLEASE post below and share some rules you can think of you see people breaking
in their eagerness to join and please state it gently, let us be nice, for what good does it do to
harm another?
Lastly, but most importantly, thank you for the gift of your time!
