Growing Up Pagan, Interfaith, Government Proclamations and more!

I know it’s been a while since the last Living Reciprocity, it’s been a busy few weeks, including a large (by our standards anyway) Beltane gathering at our home.

It was a great time, with two very powerful rituals, a maypole, and some great drumming capped by time around a bonfire. Add to that some work and freelance obligations and I hope you can all understand my slacking. I get a slight break now as we will not be doing Litha/Midsummer until June. Although June is rapidly approaching isn’t it?

In this months column I have two fantastic interviews that I hope you will all enjoy. Although as usual one is an Everyday Spiritual Warrior and the other is a Pagan In Business, both are doing astounding things for the pagan community. If you care about the future of the pagan community, make sure you read on!

Everyday Spiritual Warriors

This month I am pleased to bring you the work of Robert Keefer, priest of the Crossroads Tabernacle Church in Tecumseh, Michigan. I have the great pleasure of knowing Robert personally, and can attest to the absolute passion with which he dedicates himself to his Wiccan path. Robert took it upon himself to make sure that when it came to the National Day of Prayer, the prayers or Wiccans and pagans were not ignored in the State of Michigan.

What did you do to call the attention of Governor Granholm to the Pagan/Wiccan faiths?
I wrote her a letter. In today’s society of instant communication, people sometimes forget the power that a letter can have, especially a carefully crafted one. I was inspired by the group called Jews on First, who created and maintain www.inclusiveprayerday.org as a part of their campaign to encourage truly inclusive Day of Prayer celebrations. As a part of their campaign, they encourage people to write to their Governors and the like. I felt that by writing to her as a minister of a Wiccan church I could help to drive home the point that there are religious groups that deserve similar recognition as the more main-stream faiths. So in my letter I introduced myself and Crossroads Tabernacle, and included some documentation that described Wicca as an overview.

What was her response?
Within a couple of weeks the church received a fairly large packet in the mail from the office of the Governor. I opened it, expecting a generic “thank you” letter of some sort and some publicity photos. Instead the packet contained a signed and sealed copy of this year’s Proclamation; the same sort of copy that her office sends to other churches and organizations.

 

 

Were you surprised about the reply?
Quite! This was the first time to my knowledge that a Wiccan church had received this sort of recognition from a Governor; and all it really took was a letter. The intersection of faith and government is a delicate and touchy matter, and while I feel that “freedom of religion” shouldn’t mean “freedom –from- religion”, it’s important for the Government to make an effort to recognize all faiths equally. So I think it’s worth noting that not only was the church included in the state Government’s activities (such as they were), but that it took very little effort to do so. That’s encouraging.

Is this the first time you have attempted anything of this nature?
Earlier in the year the NAMES project brought panels from the AIDS quilt to Jackson (Michigan) for display. At the close of the display they held an interfaith prayer service, which I was invited to participate in, along with the local Universalist Unitarian church, a Jewish Synagogue, a Baha’i group, and others. That was my first real bit of public interfaith work.

What sorts of responses to your efforts have you received from the Pagan, Christian or political realms?
Well as I mentioned earlier, I haven’t been doing this sort of work for very long. But the reactions I’ve gotten have largely been very positive. Not everyone is happy to see a Wiccan participating, of course, as there is still a lot of misinformation out there. However, almost everyone I’ve talked to has been friendly, if curious, and usually full of questions! It’s been very enlightening for me.

It’s my hope that once I’ve “broken the ice”, so to speak, with these interfaith groups and activities, that other Pagan groups will be encouraged to participate as well. We are no longer best served by hiding in our Covens and Circles, only coming out in public for events like Pagan Pride Day or Convocation. If the Pagan faiths want to truly thrive in this country, then they need to participate in the religious fabric of their communities.

Is this something that you were encouraged to do by the greater Aquarian Tabernacle Church?
Interfaith work is an important part of the mission of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, as well as my own. They’ve always been very supportive of my personal ministry, as well as the efforts of Crossroads as a whole.

As a follow up, I understand you also participated in a Interfaith Prayer gathering at a larger Metro Detroit area church. Tell me about your role in that event.
I attended a gathering for National Day of Prayer and Meditation that was held at Big Beaver Methodist Church in Troy (Michigan). The members of the Troy Interfaith Alliance did a great job, and the service was beautiful. They were a bit disappointed I didn’t stumble across them earlier, as they had already settled the program for this year by the time I found them, making it impossible for me to participate except as a member of the audience. I’m certainly glad I was able to attend, however! I had the opportunity to introduce myself and the church to a few people, and hopefully disperse some misinformation about Paganism and Wicca.

Did they seem to accept you as clergy, or was that not a goal you had in mind?
I don’t think it every really came up. I was introduced as “Reverend Keefer” a few times, and no-one seemed to challenge it. But then, there was a lot of clergy of various faiths in attendance, so it was almost a given, really. The ATC tends to use a uniform similar to a Lutheran Vicar for public ministry work; while I’m still assembling the outfit for myself, I did attempt to emulate it as closely as I could (keeping in mind that I was coming straight from work in Toledo!), so that probably helped. Appearance goes a long way towards projecting the message you’re trying to get across, and I find that if I look “ministerial”, people are much more willing to acknowledge and accept me as such.

Tell me a bit about the overall ATC; it’s goals and projects, what type of pagan path is it?
The Aquarian Tabernacle Church, or ATC, is the largest Wiccan church in existence, and the first to obtain 501c(3) status from the IRS. There are branches of the ATC in Canada, Ireland, Australia, and South Africa, as well as many affiliate churches in the US. The ATC is based on English Traditional Wicca (which is similar to the British Traditions with a greater emphasis on community service and support), but is also very eclectic in its liturgy and rituals. The ATC’s primary goals are to provide an open, welcoming place for Wiccans and Pagans of all sorts to gather in celebration and worship, to study and learn more about their chosen faith, and to provide the sort of facilities, programs, and services that are so common to the more mainstream faiths but often denied to us. In addition to the two major festivals they hold each year, the ATC’s major public projects include Spiral Scouts, which was created as a more inclusive answer to the mainstream scouting programs, and the Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary, which has been authorized by the state of Washington to grant Theological degrees for several years, and is a central part of their goal to “professionalize” Wiccan clergy by ensuring that they have training not only in ritual and theology, but also in counseling, prison and other public ministry, and the administration of running a church.

And your own church, Crossroads, what is your mission and goals? Does it mirror the larger ATC?
Almost exactly—which is why I wanted to become a part of their organization! I wanted to supply a place where people could gather to worship, and where work could be done to ensure that Wicca was accepted by the public as a faith that encourages growth and does good works; the same goals that any other church has, really.

How did you come to be part of the ATC? What lead you to be motivated to start a Wiccan church?
I was lucky to have very understanding and open-minded parents, and was able to study and practice Wicca at a very early age (14 or so). I’d felt a calling towards religious service before then, but was unable to determine how best to honor that call; I think now that was because I was following the wrong path at the time as a Christian.

A lot of Pagan leaders will tell you that they came into leadership reluctantly. It was different for me. Being able to serve others through leading ritual, or counseling, or teaching, or otherwise helping others to deepen their own spirituality helps me to deepen my own understanding of the Divine.

I came to the ATC through researching Spiral Scouts for a friend of mine who wanted to enroll her son in a program that was more inclusive than mainstream scouting programs often are. I introduced myself to them and my goals for my own ministry, and realized that their goals and mine were closely linked. What sealed the deal for me was my bookshelf; I realized that a significant portion of the books that were central to my studies were either a part of the ATC’s reading list, and/or were written by ATC members and affiliates!

 

 

Tell me a bit about yourself.
Well, let’s see: I’m 34, and have lived in Michigan all of my life. My fiancée Erika and I live with five cats, whose hobbies including eating us out of house and home, and knocking things off shelves. My day job is as an IS Security analyst for a healthcare organization in Toledo, and my hobbies include games of various sorts, messing around on the computer, reading, and Early and Non-Western musicology.

Lastly, any ambitions for next years National Day of Prayer?
I’ve already spoken with the Troy Interfaith Council about participating next year in their service, and they seemed delighted with the idea. I think it would be neat if the local Pagan groups could be a part of that in some fashion; I’ve only just started musing about how that would work. We do have a year to work out details, however!

Make sure you take the time to contact Robert and your local Aquarian Tabernacle Church to tell them you appreciate this outreach work.

Pagans In Business

Dawn, our chief here at Witchmoot told me about a great children’s book she is in the process of reviewing. As the father of four I have a soft spot for children’s publications (just as the staff of Broomstix) so I asked Raine Hill, author, for an interview.

You recently came out with a new book, can you give me an overview?
“Growing Up Pagan: A Workbook for Wiccan Families” is geared towards children being raised in Wiccan households, non-Pagan families who would like to teach their children diversity, or simply the curious. The book is a first of its kind, full color inside and out and is packed with beautiful illustrations, mythology in children’s story form, crosswords, word seeks and other activities, How to Build a My First Altar, a Final Test with a Certificate of Completion that the child can put their name on and hang on their wall, plus much more. It has been released to rave reviews, so I hope anyone with special Witchlets in their life will check it out!

 

 

What inspired you to write it?
After attending many large Pagan festivals, gatherings and otherwise being involved in the Pagan community for years, I have constantly heard the very legitimate complaint that Wiccan children simply do not have access to many books based upon the religion in which they are being raised. I feel it is imperative that children of Wiccan families enjoy the same benefits that children of other religions have enjoyed for generations – including having their own books of their Wiccan religion.

Are you planning on writing more on this subject matter?
I have signed a contract for several books, so I am planning to make “Growing Up Pagan” a series. I would like each book to get progessively more in-depth in its teachings, but still appeal to Wiccan children and ‘tweens.

Pagan families and children always seem to need more material; where do you get your inspiration from?
Everywhere. My past learning experiences within Wicca and Witchcraft, interacting with children, nature, and the Goddess and God; even from dreams and meditations. Inspiration and ideas can literally come from anywhere.

I noted that you have also written two other children’s books. Can you tell me about them?
I wrote two books back in the ’90s for which I acquired copyrights. They are filed in the library of Congress, but I never really tried to have them published. They were based upon a character named Andy Ant who, in his adventures, learned many lessons such as sharing and not being prejudiced – he learned to see past his fellow forest neighbors’ genders, species, etc and learned how to do many things and made many new friends that he wouldn’t have made with his old attitudes.

Are you a self publisher or do you use a publishing house?
I was fortunate enough to become signed by Schiffer Publishing. I am honored that they chose my work to be their very first children’s books to be published by them!

Do you do anything else besides your work of being an author? If so tell us about it.
I own and operate a petsitting and dogwalking business in the Tampa area. My love of animals and background of working as a Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Assistant allowed me to open a small business that I truly enjoy. My husband, Cal, also works in the field of animals. He is a manager at a large chain pet store in Tampa.

How long have you been pagan?
All my life; I just didn’t realize it until the last few years, lol. It’s kind of a funny story. My mother had always been a staunch Baptist (and so assumed I was one as well), but I always considered myself “non-denominational". My husband had been Mormon, but really didn’t practice. One day I made mention to someone that he was Mormon and he said “Well, I’m more Pagan than anything.” My mouth literally dropped open. What neither of us realized was that we had both been studying different paths and traditions of Paganism for quite some time – but were still a tad afraid of telling the other what we were up to. It was like a sigh of relief to us both when we finally admitted who and what we are to each other!

What led you to the pagan path?
My story is probably much like that of most other Pagans. We just felt as if there was something missing from our lives; we really don’t fit into mainstream religions and they don’t particularly make us feel anything. This made me begin to question and to explore further. Ever since I was a child, I have been intrigued with the unknown (the occult). I read every book I could find on UFOs and many other controversial and occult subjects. I even sneaked a couple of Aleister Crowley books and Kerr Cuhulain’s material into my mother’s home. My Dad also read books on extraterrestials and occult material, so I’d sometimes read his books as well. He was a Freemason and much more intelligent and open-minded than my mother.

It’s obvious that your spirituality has affected your work, so let me ask this; is there one moment of serendipity that really confirmed in your mind that the Gods/Spirits are pleased with your work?
There were several times that I knew They were telling me that I needed to write for and teach Wicca and/or Witchcraft – especially to children of these families. One moment that immediately comes to mind is finding my publisher. The first editor to whom I sent my book proposal works for a very prominent publisher in the New Age and Pagan world. She loved the book but sadly informed me that they simply don’t publish children’s books, but that she fully expected to see it on shelves very soon. Her personal note to me was so uplifting and encouraging that I was prompted to continue my search for a publisher. I went online and immediately found Schiffer. I could distinctly hear the Goddess speak to me and She said “That’s the one.” The Goddess and God were definitely watching over the process and helping me along; I know some people with really great ideas and much talent never do find a publisher.

 

 

Tell me a bit about yourself.
Well, there is the obvious: I am Pagan and a practicing Witch of my own eclectic tradition; I am a published author of workbooks for Wiccan children. Other than reading, writing and teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Cal, and my rescued animals. I currently provide a home and love for a Colombian red tail boa (Hekate) a cornsnake (Dagon) and a geriatric chihuahua (Vidar). We used to love rock climbing (specifically bouldering) and I would love to dust off my rock climbing shoes and crash pad and slap some rock again. I could surely shed some of the pounds I’ve picked up since I stopped climbing! The mountainous areas are gorgeous and a wonderful place to meditate and just be inspired and enlightened.

Thank you for this time to speak to your readers. I have enjoyed the experience very much. Blessed Be!

If you would like more information on Growing Up Pagan, Raine Hill or her workshops and supporting material, make sure to check out her web site at www.rainehill.com or drop her an email. Make sure you let her know you read about her interview in Living Reciprocity!

Blatant and Shameless

While you are here at Witchmoot, make sure to sign up for an email subscription, so you will be the first to see new articles as they are posted.

And take a visit to my wife Spider’s ebay store at SpiderCreationsOnline.com, and find her profile on PaganSpace.

I Can’t Do It Without You!

Living Reciprocity won’t work without your help! Send me people to talk about. Send me businesses information to promote. This is a community building exercise and you are needed!

Please contact me using the comment link above, visit my MySpace page, PaganSpace or you can email me at twosnakes@witchmoot.com.