The First Pagan Internet Conference Thursday March 16, 2000

<Umbria> The co-owner and Reviews Editor of The Wiccan/Pagan Times - Boudica... <|boudica|> Thank you, and thank you all for being here this evening and putting up with the bouncing around <|boudica|> This evening I would like to discuss <|boudica|> <*> Art, Literature and Music - Defining and Redefining our Community <|boudica|> <*> One of the biggest issues facing Earth Religions and the many diverse paths of this complex belief system is identity and community. <|boudica|> <*> Because of the nature of our Religions, we do not have a set in stone identity. It is the nature of our beast. <|boudica|> <*> We do not have a set institution that totally represents us, nor are our leaders elected or appointed by the general membership. <|boudica|> <*> Most if us do not belong to any kind of organization that we have established to represent us. <|boudica|> <*> This is what makes us different, what makes us unique and allows us our individual expression which we hold so dear. <|boudica|> <*> However, we can, and do, become identifiable when we choose to be part of our community. <|boudica|> <*> Our interaction with each other, our communication with each other on a community basis is how we can and should be recognized on a National and International level. <|boudica|> <*> What empowers a particular group over another? <|boudica|> <*> It is the ability to join together as a community to address issues concerning that community and by the power of numbers and presence, being able to communicate these issues and concerns to the proper authority in a clear, exact and concise manner. <|boudica|> <*> Let us look at the definition of community: 1. A group of people residing in the same locality under the same government.  2. A group having a common interest  3. Common ownership or participation. <|boudica|> <*> We can actually fall into all the above categories without compromising our individuality and provide ourselves with representation. <|boudica|> <*> How can we see ourselves as a community? All communities have a culture. This is reflected in the writings, music and art of each community. <|boudica|> <*> In some instances, it is the defining factor of those communities. <|boudica|> <*> I am going to present you all here with the cultural face of the Earth Religion Community, and allow you to decide for yourselves if this isn't probably the second best way to define our community. <|boudica|> <*> Many religious communities define themselves by the writings of a book, or collection of books. <|boudica|> <*> We see this in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism just to name a few major religions. Christians are even referred to as "The People of the Book." <|boudica|> <*> Earth Religions never really relied on the written word. <|boudica|> <*> Oral tradition has been the mainstay of many Earth Religion paths and it is only the past century that we have seen the collecting, printing and the distribution of many oral traditions as written word. <|boudica|> <*> We have also seen more and more writers on the subject of Earth Religions in the past 50 years. <|boudica|> <*> With many thanks to brave individuals who have taken a chance on publishing material that at one time was considered illegal and risky, we now have volumes of material on the various spiritual paths, some of which have become important texts. <|boudica|> <*> And we have seen the outstanding writers of some of these volumes become respected elders and considered leaders within our community. <|boudica|> <*> Doreen Valiente, Stewart Farrar, Margot Adler, Scott Cunningham, Starhawk, Silver Ravenwolf, Isaac Bonewits are all easily recognizable names of people who are considered movers and shakers within our community who were introduced to us through their writings. <|boudica|> <*> Though they are not representative of the entire community, they do have an influence within certain segments and as such, are considered representative. <|boudica|> <*> Literature is probably the most obvious illustration. We have a developed culture much deeper than that. <|boudica|> <*> In the 60's, Christian music shifted from the folk music they were experimenting with to the soft rock sound that has come to define Contemporary Christian Music of the 70's to 90's. <|boudica|> <*> Today, Contemporary Christian music crosses almost all music genre, even into modern heavy metal. <|boudica|> <*> There are even crossovers to the commercial market. Everyone knows Amy Grant, who had her roots in 1980's Contemporary Christian music. <|boudica|> <*> Up to a few years back, most "Pagan" music relied heavily on traditional sounding chant, renaissance music, folk music and material that could be adapted, such as new age music. <|boudica|> <*> Though many of us make our own happy sounds, we do find a need to fill our spaces with sound when we can not. <|boudica|> <*> The concept of "Earth Religion" here is most readily seen in the diversity of music. We really can not classify this music as "pagan" <|boudica|> <*> There have been singers that perform traditional world music, like the Celtic sounds of Enya or Loreena McKennet. <|boudica|> <*> Drumming finds music by groups like Gabrielle Rothe and the Mirrors or Micky Hart filling a need for both ritual and meditation, along with Native American drumming and Oriental drumming. <|boudica|> <*> Native American flute music and Zen flute music has been known to attract our ear and find its way into our diverse paths. <|boudica|> <*> But we are now beginning to see a new trend. <|boudica|> <*> Music for the past few years being created within the community by the community, and music with specifically "Earth Religion" themes. Music that is specific to our community, that addresses everything from fairy working to circle working to honoring the God and Goddess in a contemporary way. <|boudica|> <*> We have a newer field of "crossover" music more in line with our general belief system, with a modern sound, recorded in a professional, up to date format. <|boudica|> <*> DreamTrybe (formerly known as Velvet Hammer) comes to mind. They have a contemporary sound while keeping their lyrics spiritual in nature and open for all beliefs. <|boudica|> <*> We also have Elvendrums, which picks up on the beat we love, addressing lyrics geared to the mystical realms. <|boudica|> <*> We have a long way to go before we see the crossover to mainstream commercial music. <|boudica|> <*> But if the evolution is on a similar path with how Contemporary Christian music progressed, one day we may see earth religion bands in the top 100, or see the private label producers of today's earth band musicians next to Arista in the stores. <|boudica|> <*> Finally we see a tremendous movement in art. Nothing has done more for art in our community than the web. The web has given a whole new meaning to the word "community" for us. <|boudica|> <*> With the dawn of pagan/earth religion web sites, came the need for graphics. All sorts of graphics were designed to enhance the picture we created with Earth Religion web sites. <|boudica|> <*> All the various organizations, traditions and paths have graphics that express how we see ourselves, our spiritual paths and how we want to be seen by the outside world. <|boudica|> <*> We are also see the fine arts making their appearance on the net. Sites presenting images of the God and Goddess from the various pantheons, with their various faces. <|boudica|> <*> Images of elementals and their many forms. Delicate images of the Fay and the powerful impact of Mother Earth in all her majesty and glory. <|boudica|> <*> Using conventional mediums, like oils or pastels or watercolors, the images have been scanned and presented to us on the web. <|boudica|> <*> The variety of paths is no where so beautifully illustrated than in the different faces that grace the imagery of the Goddess. <|boudica|> <*> From the Goddess 2000 project where Abby Willowroot has offered a community vision of a "Goddess on every block" to the crossover images of the 4 Watchtowers/Angels by Hanna Shapero, we are seeing art which is defining and redefining our images of God and Goddess worship and Earth Religion. <|boudica|> <*> And we are also seeing images of ourselves, and how we are redefining our Spiritual Community. <|boudica|> <*> Yes, we have culture. This culture definitely gives us a common interest, part of the definition of community. <|boudica|> <*> The Internet bringing us literature, music and art, giving us all a common locality, participation open exchange of ideas, and identity. <|boudica|> <*> Here is real magic! We have community. We have identity through culture. What we have to do is convince ourselves we have this. <|boudica|> <*> Then we have a basis for group participation, like what we have here today. Working together follows once we accept community and ourselves. <|boudica|> <*> We have no place, no identity without community. <|boudica|> <*> Even the solitary must work within the community in order to be assured their religious rights as an individual. <|boudica|> <*> We are taking the first steps towards building our own community. <|boudica|> <*> Let us start with the basics that others seem to have overlooked... tolerance, culture, working in harmony with the earth, and above all... love and trust. <|boudica|> <*> I would like to than "Robin" of the Mystical Internet site for use of the most wonderful program IRCQUOTE. <|boudica|> <*> This program was written by one of our community for our use, and has been around for a number of years and available for free. <|boudica|> <*> It is probably the best tool for IRC I have ever found, and I would like to plug Robin's original software here, if I may <g>. <|boudica|> <*> http://www.mysticalnet.net/mysticalinternet/software/irc.htm <|boudica|> <*> Thank you one and all and Merry Meet Again. * Lunah` applauds * whtowl5 applaudes * mercyn claps wildly!!! go boudica!!! * teenage_leo claps and says very clear! good job! <Nate_GAR> good job! <Kekky> Bravo Boudica....Many Thanks * SianaRaven applaudes * CaIIisto applauds * BwR smiles aprreciatively... <ArwenNightstar> laughing. That was lovely! I am glad someone chose to look at the way Art connects us. Do you see a need for..say..pagan art therapy? * Sylvan_SilverNight smiles and nods. "Well spoken, Boudica." <FireArch> I like what you had to say about community. Well put!!! <LadyZauberin> clap CLAP CLAP * ArcanusGW applauds * AnufaEllhorn enjoyed a lot * Zhaan420 applauds * BlueDreams has to think about this one a bit, but thank you for the presentation * maia2 applauds * Lyla beautiful <FireArch> Arwen: *GIGGLE* <Nate_GAR> wonderful <Jehana> Thank you. * WinterDreamchaser appluads <ArcadianStormcrow> Interesting topic.... <CnmRain> Very Nice! ***claps*** <Renzaryk> Thank You, Boudica! Many thanks on your insights of community. Lovely! <zurvon> zurvon i have a question?? <teenage_leo> great job boudica <|boudica|> yes zurvon <|boudica|> thank you all <zurvon> zurvon is there a way to try and organize the pagan community?? <ArcadianStormcrow> Like herding cats, zurvon - but we try anyway.... <Mer_La> nicely put together  <dragonshadow> thank you boudica <snail-o-mancy> Very good boudica