An outsider with an overactive imagination might have been disappointed upon arrival at Saturday鈥檚 麻豆传媒映画Pagan Pride event.
There were no velvet capes embossed with stars and moons in sight, long-bearded wizards and grimoires, or even lit candles 鈥� high expectations, admittedly, for what was a humble fundraiser for the pagan community with vendors selling Celtic knot bracelets and handmade soy candles, a silent auction and workshops that included tarot reading and ritual writing.
ED Johnston, first name in caps, is the fundraiser organizer and coordinator for September鈥檚 麻豆传媒映画Pagan Pride day. The latter is a role she stepped into three years ago with the idea of making the community more accessible to those who might be interested in learning more about the earth-based, spiritual path.
Talk veered towards, naturally, clothing and what Johnston describes as 鈥渢he pagan uniform鈥� of long skirts and loads of jewelry.
鈥淪ometimes people get scared away because they feel they don鈥檛 look the part,鈥� she said during a lunch break outside the Unitarian Church of 麻豆传媒映画where the group rented a room to hold the fundraiser. 鈥淓ven with the sabbat announced today, I鈥檓 encouraging people to dress however they want to dress. You don鈥檛 have to come in the pagan uniform. Come as you. Sometimes I鈥檓 wearing a cloak and a broomstick skirt, sometimes I鈥檓 wearing jeans and a T-shirt.鈥�
The style of clothing attached to North American paganism is a product of the times when it experienced growth spurts during the 1960s and 鈥�70s when many followers were long-haired and long-skirted hippies, and again during the 1990s when Gothic fashion was very much in style, Johnston said. There are many different paths that fall under the wide umbrella of paganism and neo-paganism, but the best way to describe it is as an Earth-based religion that includes spiritual or religious practices that honour pre-Christian, classical, aboriginal, or tribal deities, including beliefs based on shamanism or magical practices. Also, some practitioners don鈥檛 consider paganism to even be a religion.
鈥淭here鈥檚 this belief that only eccentrics and weird people are pagan,鈥� said Johnston. 鈥淣ot saying we don鈥檛 have our eccentrics and weird people鈥� You鈥檒l see particularly at the bigger outdoor events, fairy wings and billy bobbers on heads and stuff like that鈥� And of course, cloaks. You鈥檒l see people dressed in cloaks and you鈥檒l also see people in jeans and a freaking T-shirt! Of course they might be wearing their pagan T-shirt, it might have a little green man on it or something, or they might be wearing a Canucks jersey.鈥�
鈥淥r,鈥� added 麻豆传媒映画Pagan Pride media coordinator Julie Hodge who joined in the conversation, 鈥渁 Tapout shirt!鈥�
Like books and their covers, it鈥檚 a reminder people cannot be judged for wearing MMA brand clothing or anything else of their choice. It鈥檚 also proof people of all walks of life identify with the highly-individualized practice of paganism. With a history that traces back to ancient times, paganism can be found in all corners of the world. African paganism, for example, can include tribal religions while in Europe, traditions can include Norse, Celtic and studies of witchcraft and Wicca.
In Canada, and locally, it鈥檚 a mystery how many follow paganism as there鈥檚 no way of keeping track.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have churches, we don鈥檛 have synagogues, we don鈥檛 have official spaces in which to worship. We tend to practise in each other鈥檚 homes,鈥� said Johnston, who only practises with groups. (Hodge, on the other hand, practises alone.) 鈥淎nd there鈥檚 only so many people you can have in your house.鈥�
麻豆传媒映画Pagan Pride is part of an international network in which pagan groups are encouraged to hold a public celebration in the name of education, networking and community. The international rules found on the organization鈥檚 website state celebrations must include a public ritual, a food drive and be held on a date between August and October before mabon, the pagan Thanksgiving. Vancouver鈥檚 Pagan Pride day is Sept. 10 this year at John Hendry Park (Trout Lake).
鈥淎s far as I know, and I could be wrong, but Pagan Pride is the only event that welcomes non-pagans,鈥� said Johnston. 鈥淢ost events are 鈥榗ome and worship if you follow this path鈥� whereas we鈥檙e trying to create a space that is about worshipping whatever path you follow, or just come and learn. We鈥檙e actively working on encouraging the public who knows nothing about paganism to come and check us out.鈥�
Last year鈥檚 麻豆传媒映画Pagan Pride celebration at John Hendry Park was snuffed out by a massive windstorm that hit the city Aug. 29. The wind and a falling tree ruined tents, and Johnston is hoping Saturday鈥檚 fundraiser will recoup some of the replacement costs, as well as some of the expenses several artisans suffered when their crafts were lost or damaged.
鈥淚t was a freak storm, the weather report never said wind warning,鈥� Johnston said. 鈥淭he three seconds I was interviewed [by the media] I talked about the irony of that 鈥� how we鈥檙e here to celebrate our earth-worshipping past and the Earth is like, 鈥楴ope, not today.鈥欌��
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