I’m slowly working my way through the previous Future Topics post and I guess my views on Volunteering and the Pagan Community is the next topic.
The Future – it’s in Our Hands
But what can I do?
As a part of my pagan practise, I fundamentally believe that it’s important to give back to the wider community as a volunteer. I often get up on my soapbox about this topic on various pagan email lists, only to get shot down every time, however, there is no shutting me up over this one as it’s my blog. I believe that if we are in the position to, we have a moral obligation to volunteer our time, energy and/or money ‘walking our talk’ in relation to our pagan beliefs and values. More often than not, our volunteering opportunities frequently revolve around environmental or humanitarian needs. I do my volunteering as an individual and I also try to encourage wider support and representation from the pagan community as well, often with a dismal response. Why is that?
If we say we value the environment, that we are earth worshipping peoples then act like it and do something practical and positive beyond lighting a candle on your altar and forwarding the latest email petition. Talk to your neighbours about recycling and reusing items. Install a rain tank at home and water your garden with the runoff. Re-use grey water and be sure to use biodegradable soaps and detergents. Raise some wider public awareness via organising a site for Clean Up Australia Day (a personal fave of mine) Get involved with a local bush regeneration group or the National Parks and Wildlife in your area.
Want to do more? Volunteer with a group that helps feed the homeless – not all of them are religious groups you know. Just Enough Faith are always on the lookout for more volunteers and a pagan woman I know has volunteered here regularly for years and no-one has ever commented on her pagan-esque jewellery. And despite their name, they are not religious.
No time? Then you can financially support a group that will take your donations and give you a tax deductable receipt. Too easy!
No time or money? Then you can even donate your blood. Yep, blood – once every three months. A great number of Australians who are able to donate their blood – don’t. And the stats say that 1 in three of us will need a blood by-product at some point in our lives.
Volunteering your time, energy and money to a pagan organisation is a good thing, but seriously, we know how to organise a good party/event/gathering; and we also know it’s a good thing to support organisations that ensure our voices are heard in times of discrimination and intolerance. We have plenty to say as a ’pagan community’ when a perceived intolerance of beliefs common to paganism has occurred. But not alot to say in thanks back to the wider communities that support us otherwise. So cast your net a bit wider and have a think about how you can help volunteer in your local community.
I urge everyone to take some time to think about what you actually believe in from a pagan standpoint and ask yourself if your activities in ‘walking your talk’, fall into line with your beliefs. I’m not suggesting that this is necessarily an activist viewpoint, nor that adopting activist behaviours is a must-do for pagans, but I suggest that we all should take some time to keep ourselves honest in our beliefs and practises. And to think outside of ourselves.
And lastly – don’t forget The Starfish Story……
:) I agree wholeheartedly with your views.
I dont volunteer and I know I should. Its something that will happen for me when the time comes. (I procrastinate too well)
But I am unmovable when it comes to ethical and planet friendly consumerism.
I mean sometimes we just dont have enough money to buy that hand woven hand dyed with onion skins and beetroot and herbs doona cover, or that set or organic cotton sheet set that sets a person back $200-$500 Australian dollars for a double bed set……..but we are working toward that.
I am big with Organic produce. Especially the big things like dairy (as they’re are also cruelty free usually) and grain and meat. (well I suppose that is everything isnt it :S
I am more concerned about what is going into the environment via chemicals than I am about the human bosy, but that does come a close second.
My initial thought is “what about the earth”
D when buying things or looking to invest, looks for ethical and fair trade. Which I admire him for.
I think that more people especially those who claim to revere and worship nature, should think about making time, money effort sacrifices for the Earth that is the centre of their belief systems.
It shits me beyond belief when I see a “pagan” (not wiccan or witch as some of those claim to NOT be pagan) mother with a todler, buying or dressing their child/ren in disposable nappies. I actually have a gigantic amount of guilt for doing the same (although I used cloth as well) I wasnt as aware back then and I suppose others also are not, but a “seasoned pagan” and greenie to boot, using things that the first one of STILL hasnt broken down? Wow.
This poor poor planet, and our poor poor childrens children, what they have to look forward to I worry so much about.
Ok. I ccould rant all about green ethics and this is your blog not mine ;)
By: eccentricbaker on February 17, 2008
at 11:56 pm
Thanks for your comments eccentricbaker.
I don’t want to get all preachy on people or pagans in general about volunteering; I’m more interested in encouraging people to line up their pagan beliefs and real world actions and behaviours and doing *my* best to live by my own principles.
By: minxi on February 18, 2008
at 8:36 am
Hi Minxi,
I agree as well. I will only buy the “NP” washing detergent as it contains no phosphates – not the other big branded ones even though their phosphate levels meet government requirements. Check out how many have the big ‘P’ and how many have the ‘NP’ next time you’re at the supermarket. It’s quite scary.
I don’t each meat – only fish and only occasionally – and only Australian or New Zealand because we have a more responsible attitude towards over-fishing. I only buy free-range eggs which are more expensive and try to buy Australian made products. That’s not always possible of course, but I do try very hard not to buy products made in China or Taiwan or places like that. I won’t wear Nike at all – I’ve seen video’s of their labour practices in China. Children chained to work benches and worked until they die. It’s horrible. I won’t buy the faded jeans – they get Chinese women to manually apply the acid to the jeans to fade them – just so people can look like they’re wearing old jeans ? WTF ? Their safety standards are abysmal.
I like buying my girly bath and beauty products at Body Shop because they do community trade deals. That way I know that the people who made/ grew the ingredients were paid fairly.
I recycle and all that sort of thing but I never feel that it’s enough. I can understand when people just throw their hands up and say that there’s too much to do.
I must admit I’ve always meant to do the Clean-Up Australia day but have never quite gotten there yet. Each year I swear I’ll do it and then the date sneaks up on me and I don’t make it. I’ll try this year :o)
Sorry for the rambling – this subject is also one that pushes my buttons – I tend to get all soap-boxy. My brothers no longer wear or buy Nike either – they’re sick to death of my lectures on the subject *lol*.
Did you know that Nike (I really hate those guys) fought a case in the California courts to enable them to say that they don’t support slave-labour – and they won ! As long as they don’t say that they don’t do it they can get away with it. How freaking disgusting is that ? *gggrrr*
By: Terri_t1 on February 18, 2008
at 9:23 am
Hi T1, thanks for your comment as well. Finally, I’ve hit a topic that people will respond to ;-)
My rant here is not so much to ask people to stand up and list what they do or don’t do, but to encourage every pagan to reflect on their beliefs and ask themselves, if their day to day behaviours actually honour those beliefs and values.
And if not, how can they make a difference….?
Don’t forget the Starfish Story….even the slightest effort can make a huge impact.
By: minxi on February 18, 2008
at 9:55 am
I absolutely love the starfish story, its so different to the millionth monkey story which is often my other inspiration to action…
By: bird7 on February 19, 2008
at 3:34 pm
Hi there Bird7 – thanks – obviously you were my inspiration for posting that story here as well….it’s awesome! can you post the millionth monkey?
By: minxi on February 19, 2008
at 7:09 pm
I give blood regularly! Yay for me!
Been a few years since I did Clean Up Australia Day. Bren & I were actually planning to come to Seven Hills this year, but I desperately needed a weekend at home, and Bren broke his toe.. and those two arguments were hard to refuse.
Having tried to run a pagan event in support of a charity (as you know) I agree it is hard to get pagans interested. I think perhaps if we had chosen an environmental charity instead of a homeless charity, we *might* have had a better response. But its hard to gauge such things. Hopefully when we run it at a later date we’ll get a better response.
By: Laimelde on March 12, 2008
at 11:29 am
Hey there Laimelda ;-) I’m never too sure who reads this little blog – thx for commenting ;-)
You know, this year for Clean Up, we had THE BIGGEST turn out ever – about 10 people rocked up and we had a brilliant time.
Usually we only get 3-4 people and half of that is me and my partner.
I just don’t think pagans are any more predisposed to give to charity than any other group, and that includes environmental charities or causes! In principle, we say we are earth worshippers, but too often, we don’t actually back up our lofty spiritual ideals with grass roots action.
And you know, giving blood is awesome. So many people don’t think to do it and if you’re able to, it’s a brilliant thing to do :-D well done!
I’d suggest maybe use a free venue or tack on the charity thing onto a ritual or sabbat celebration event instead :-)
By: minxi on March 12, 2008
at 12:04 pm