A. The fundamental character of the group.
In broad terms, we are non-hierarchical, and non-commercial. That means that you will not be paying the high priest $ 500 for introductory lessons, because:
- The only thing that you will be asked (or allowed) to pay, is your fair share of expenses.
- All work done for the Shrine by its membership, is done for free.
- There is no high priest.
We have no clergy, nor do we desire any. We are a circle of equals. We do not speak of teaching, or initiation, but of discussion. What we do have, at any given time, is a moderator, whose sole job is to maintain a reasonable semblance of order, albeit a very loose and non-conformist, and yet cohesive, order. We are to respect each other's rights, and to stand up for each other, when others fail to do so, themselves.
We are exclusively a group for Pagans born after 1956, with definite cultural roots, and no concessions offered to Assimilationism, or its latest incarnation, the mis-named 'Multiculturalism'. Those roots lie in Greece, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, ... in general, those nations that grew out of the debris of the Roman Empire, or extricated themselves from it. It is a lot of cultural territory to cover, and more than enough to keep us occupied. So, you will not see "eclecticism" practiced here.
Nor will you be attending any of our rituals, because we never hold any. All of that chanting and invocation is not for us, and we're not sure that it is healthy. We see people taking themselves, and what they do, way too seriously. Reality check. Which of these two statements are you more prepared to believe out of me?
- "I am the High Priest of the goddess Aphrodite who travelled through many planes of existence on one mystical journey after another, before becoming a conduit for Her wisdom into this world."
- "Look, I'm just a grad student from Naperville who feels drawn to his deity, hasn't found what he is looking for, and has some ideas about to pay our respects to, and draw closer to her. Drop by, and let's see what we can work out".
If you said "statement one", please tell me that you were being sarcastic! Once, as a group moderator, you honor the Hellenic dictum of "Know thyself" and dwell on just how short of godhood you and the rest of those around you fall, all the dark chanting and self-important mysticism just seems silly. Who are we kidding? It's not what we're here for.
So, what takes the place of ritual?
Festival celebrations in honor of the gods. The sacrifice (which is not about killing animals, but is a dinner held in honor of one's deity, of which the deity partakes in a symbolic fashion). Theatrical performances that express our faith, both interactive and traditional, both old and new works. The symposia, at which we partake of wine or whatever else needs drinking as we read poems and stories we have written, discuss philosophy, trade recipes, show each other our artwork ... and talk, just talk - freely, openly, and without hysteria, credulity or fanaticism.
What you will not encounter at these are New Age topics. Those who come wishing to discuss past life regression, astrology, alchemy, spell casting, or other fringe topics will be politely, but firmly, told to leave. This is a place for reason, and common sense, no less so that at a "mainstream" religious gathering.
In that spirit, let us say that what you see here, is not offered to you as a religion, but as an idea of what a religion might be - an idea subject to revision. For this reason, it is not our ambition to get as many warm bodies in here as possible, though we would like to keep our guest list full for the festivals. The symposia, and full membership are for the well educated, and intelligent. (You should be in college, or be a college graduate, at the very least).
This is to be a place where, while you are expected to think about what you say, you should feel at ease. Ours is not a group for those with bad attitudes, uncontrolled psychiatric problems, anger management issues, or those who need to be lead or validated. Civility, within bounds, is a given, but love has to be earned.
"Where does the worship in all of this lie?", one might ask. "These seem like secular activities". The worship lies in the spirit in which these things are done. It lies in the symbolism of the occasion. It lies in the private moment when the worshipper encounters the deity alone, in the quiet solitude of the sanctuary, unhindered by the "guidance" of those so convinced of their own importance, that they would not let her encounter the Divine in peace, given a choice.
So, please, read on. This will be different.