I moderate a newly formed regional pagan (online and live meetings) group, and am wondering what sorts of topics would be good to start with to open up dialogue. Any ideas?
2006-10-05 22:36:26 · 9 answers · asked by Apple A 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
With Samhain around the corner, you could discuss the origins, different traditional observances, and how to dispel the myths that are tossed about especially this time of year.
Blessings )O(
2006-10-05 22:43:35 · answer #1 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'd start out with dispelling any of your members' illusions that they may hold. I recently went to a pagan gathering wherein three groups showed up- and there were a lot of odd misconceptions held by various members. This can be done in a quiet and non insulting way. I taught a class on divination, and I know that one of the things people are really often misled about is the history of tarot- so I gave everyone a handout. If anybody wanted to say "No way, they're from Egypt!" they could come up to me later in private and we could sort that out.
Once everybody is on the same page, there are all sorts of good conversations that can be had. Samhain is coming up and that's great, but how about discussing El Dia de los Muertos? If you have kids (or kids at heart) in your group I'd reccommend for one of the local meetings showing the movie adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "The Halloween Tree." It explains some cultural comparisons quite well. Also now that it's getting into baking season, everybody loves a good recipe swap. Of course, the recipes would be best to tend to the pagan related, like mead, wassail, natron, incense blends, or anything that is typical of the culture you draw most of your influence from.
Other good conversation starters are:
What are some good house blessings?
Have any of your spells or rituals ever failed and what happened?(this is a good one to get some actual analysis going. WHY did it fail and what can be done better next time?)
Do you have a patron deity? How did you come to this arrangement?
What music inspires you or says something about your faith?
Do you dress up for ritual? How, and what is the significance of your ritual garb/items?
If you have creatively inclined people, you could have a call for art for your webpage, or poetry for rituals.
I guess this is getting a bit long winded. Anyway, good luck and have fun with it.
2006-10-07 03:53:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Considering the season, how about--
What do you feel happens after death?
Do you believe in reincarnation?
Do you feel that souls reincarnate in groups? Why/why not?
Do you honor your ancestors? How?
Who do you feel decides which life we incarnate into? A deity or ourselves?
Have you ever done channeling?
What were the original practices in Ireland concerning Samhain?
Do you celebrate Samhain on the 31st/1st or according to the moon phase or something else?
Is Samhain your new year? Do you have any resolutions? What have you acheived in the last year?
Is anyone celebrating a holiday other than Samhain?
Do you believe in ghosts? If so, what are they?
What is an old soul? Does anyone feel they are a "new soul"?
Did you grow herbs and dry them this year?
Describe Summerland?
Where do animal spirits go when their body dies?
What are your religion's funeral rites? Burial, cremation, etc.?
What moon phase were you born under? Do you feel a closer connection to that phase? Answer can be found here:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html
Now is a good time to gather natural things for projects this winter. What can we gather and what are some good projects to plan to use them for?
2006-10-08 02:08:15 · answer #3 · answered by amberdawn 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are so many topics to choose from. Holidays, traditions, mythology, deities, books, daily rituals, altars, tools, dreams, totems, ethics, elements, rocks, meditation, world tree, etc.
Personally, my favorite topics involve our deities and mythology. Other questions I remember well were "What defines a warrior?", "How do you most resemble your main deity/ies?", "Do you have an altar and if so, would you want to share about it?", and "What defines an elder?". I also remember a very good thread on the meaning of sacrifice in various paths and another thread asking what your expectations would be for joining a group or taking classes in your path. Oh yeah...one more..."How has your favorite myth influenced your life?". I could probably go on and on answering this question. Hopefully I've given at least one idea you may be able to use. Good luck!
2006-10-06 02:52:55 · answer #4 · answered by Witchy 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations on your newly formed group :) Our local group usually gathers and talks about the sabbats, altar tools, crafts, books, how we came on our paths, divination - just to name a few topics. Good luck!
2006-10-06 20:52:58 · answer #5 · answered by fuguee.rm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To start off, just the basic stuff... if it's already up and running, start off with Samhain and what different Traditions and Solitary Pagans do for that holiday.
2006-10-06 01:47:36 · answer #6 · answered by Kithy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
hard Vs Soft polytheism. A great debate and discussion topic! Mail me thru the contact page, for more details!
2006-10-07 18:14:02 · answer #7 · answered by AmyB 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever sabbats are coming up, help with spells, having to deal with people trying to "save" us by converting to Christianity, and general home and hearth stuff.
Blessed Be and Bright Blessings to you!!
2006-10-05 22:43:09 · answer #8 · answered by drewsilla01 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
what are pagan's
i seriously don't know? Could you tell me and perhaps i could answer the question?
2006-10-05 22:40:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋