Being a Pagan Resource for Teen Seekers

[sunflowerp]

Many Pagans began their spiritual quests in their teens - yet the standard community attitude about teen seekers has for years been, "Too risky, let's not go there at all - besides, they're probably too young to be serious about it." Some of those who voice this attitude are those who came to Paganism later, and as teens were uninterested in spiritual matters; they measure teens by the standard of themselves as teens. Some figure, "I had to fumble through it with no guidance, so why shouldn't they?" Many envision hostility and lawsuits as the inevitable result of any interaction with teens. The supposition is that the kids can wait until they're old enough.

Trouble is, that's not how it works. The process of establishing individual identity, keynote of adolescent development, cannot be put on hold - and that includes the establishing of individual spiritual identity in youngens that are so inclined. The kids will keep seeking, they'll keep reading whatever material they have access to that relates to their path, and if they can't find good resources they'll settle for bad ones - they can't be stopped, any more than they can be stopped from growing up (which in fact is exactly what they are doing with their seeking).

So the bottom line is that we MUST "go there". If those of us who are ethical and reliable won't stick our necks out, the unreliable and unethical certainly will. Instead of envisioning worst-case scenarios of conflict with hostile parents and backing off altogether, we need to consider all the scenarios, not just the worst case; we need to consider what the actual risks are, in what situations, and what can be done to minimize them. Those of us who have already been acting as resources for younger seekers will have much to share about what works and what doesn't.

The common ground of this discussion is that we all believe that the whole Pagan community must serve as a resource for the young Pagans and seekers. We may disagree about many other things. Those other things may influence what we think should be done, and how. Debate, including heated debate, is encouraged - but keep in mind that we ultimately have a common goal; if we're preoccupied with "winning" an argument, it's not our debate opponent who ultimately loses, but Paganism's next generation.

Seems to me that's all the "ground rules" needed (very similar ones worked just fine when I was moderating discussion bases on the old dial-up BBSes - I like things loose). Feel free to ask questions if you have 'em.

Oh, and the name of my LiveJournal space? Pure coincidence, I assure you; when I was setting up a few weeks back, I picked it without much thought (beyond, "I can always change it later") from one of my favorite buttons.

Let the discussion begin!

Sunflower

Comments

Pagan Orphans

[morningdove3202.livejournal.com]

I think when we are trying to reach out to the teens who are very much isolated from the adult pagan community, aka "Pagan Orphans" there are two issues.

1) Dealing with the emotional: the isolation, the pain of family misunderstanding you, the pain of not being alowed to study, the blatant lack of religious freedom
2) Teaching at an age apropreate level, with age apropreate expectations for Teen

I run an elist, that sunflower moderates called "Pagan Orphans" (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PaganOrphans/ ) and it's been very sucessful in the past year. By sucessful I mean that there is a core group that realy does talk to each other and ask questions. For the longest time the list was very silent, and I added a few things. I used the calender to send out automatic messages on the holidays and full moons with a short "sound bite" on that event, then I added some auto messages with writing activities, like "take a walk in nature and tell us about what you see, how is it different than your last walk? Notice the chainge in the seasons" and things like "watch the full moon and write a poem and share it" things that any teen could do with out a pagan book, but still realy have an experience with it. I wrote a very special prayer for pagans orphans and added that to my auto mesages, and found some fun online pagan quizes to share as well. Little 15 minute tasks with very little commitment involved. I invited rhaevyn as a moderator and she added daily quotes to ponder and info about pagan religious festals, and even astrological info, some of which I added to the calender. I keep building on this calender, and though it will repeat, as new people join, new people will add their POV and make it differnt. Both the calender and Rhaevyn's input stir up alot of discussion. Then Sunflower showed up and she realy impressed me with both her willingness to answer random questions, and with the depth of her answers. All together we add just a little bit of structure for Pagan Orpahan to begin their study of Paganism with. Also a key to sucess is not depending on books...which lead me to find some great online sources, like www.wiccaforbeginners.com and www.maidenmoon.com and "All One Wicca". Now many of these pages require one to say you are 18 to read them, and I don't encourage anyone to lie, but to sit down with their parents and read the beginner page. I don't ever ever cross the line of going agains one's paret's rules. I even encourage teens to talk to their parents when they are ready. I invite parents to join the list (only one so far has joined) to see what we are like. And I state that I would be happy to remove a teen from the list if a parent would request me to do so. Also upon joing I have a disclamer that says "By joining this list, you are acknowledging that you are indeed a NeoPagan and that not I, nor any of the moderators have converted you to any NeoPagan* faith, and that you are here of your own free will." I feel that it's a shame that pages like www.wiccaforbeginners.com feel they have to have the 18 or older password, but the legal issues are real concerns. It's definatly a double standard. I know I walk a fine line, but I strongly feel that Pagan Orphans need to know they arn't alone and that there are Adult Pagans who do care!

Blessed Be the Pagan Orphans!
Dove