The Small-Town Pagan's Survival Guide: How to Thrive in Any Community
Bronwen Forbes
Language: English
Pages: 264
ISBN: 0738726222
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Are you living in―or moving to―a small community and wondering how you'll fit in, connect with other Pagans, and live your beliefs in peace? This wonderfully unique book is filled with ways to nourish your Pagan soul in small towns, suburbs, and any place outside the city limits. Along with Bronwen Forbes' own experiences, Pagans from close-knit communities across the country offer hard-won wisdom and advice on all aspects of staying true to yourself and your spirituality.
―Starting a coven or study group
―Getting along with non-Pagan neighbors
―How to find and make ritual tools
―Celebrating the Sabbats
―Home decoration
―Dating non-Pagans
―Following Pagan etiquette
―When and how to reveal your beliefs
―Raising Pagan children
After reading the book, join the discussion online at
groups.yahoo.com/group/smalltownpagans, where you can make more enriching connections.
I’m not a feminist, but to hear from the people we passed, “Women, we honor you, women we love you” was so empowering. I’d never heard that, and it was very powerful. The men were literally in awe of us. It was the least afraid, most spiritual moment of the week for me. That’s when I felt I was in the right space spiritually for me. BF: What did you bring back with you from that festival? AC: There was a workshop on making ritual items out of clay. Most people were making Venus of
harvest decorations. They seemed to be very popular. Although I am not the type of Pagan to be offended by a nativity scene set up on the courthouse lawn in December, I have to smile when that exact same spot has scarecrows and pumpkins parked on it in September. If my city officials choose to decorate for Mabon on my behalf (even if they have no clue that they’re doing so), the least I can do is appreciate their efforts! Because we have a young child, and just because I like to
knife, I spent just about one hundred dollars—cookies, salt, and POM juice included. Other Shopping Opportunities If you just can’t bring yourself to shop for ritual and altar items at Walmart, don’t panic! Check out garage sales, flea markets, junky little antique stores, and estate sales. Go on an altar-piece expedition at the nearest Goodwill or other thrift store. With a little time, effort, and patience, you’re very likely to find exactly what you want for next to nothing—like my
tomatoes is not only a common hobby in a small town, it’s practically a requirement! A.G. is not the only one who prefers a less “crowded” spiritual practice. Other survey respondents also had great ideas about how to express their spirituality daily, weekly—even monthly—without help from anyone else: Daily devotionals on my balcony, and I’ll be doing a fire in my pit today in the backyard. I’m usually pretty quiet. I’m solitary, so most of my work is done in my home or on my property.
—kathleen, from a town in north dakota Living in a small town is much different from being in a city. In the city there tends to be lots of kinds of people all mixed together, and you’re bound to find somebody else like you. In a small town it’s not like that. Everybody knows everybody else, and people tend to all be very much the same. You might feel like an outsider, especially when you’re still new to the Pagan lifestyle, but don’t let it get to you. There are others around; you just