Be the Change

Be the change you want to see in the world. ~ Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

I found this quote in a little gift book we are selling at work. I find it very relevant and inspiring with regards to how I have been feeling lately.

First, a little bit of background. For several years, I have been quite exasperated with people who use the fact that they are Pagan as an excuse for outlandish appearance and foolish actions. Lately, I have become almost totally fed up. I can't even count the number of giant pentagrams I've seen people on the subway sporting. (How would you feel if someone wearing a 10" cross sat down beside you? A little creeped out, maybe?) quanta, who is usually a very sensitive man, even commented that Wicca is starting to become a joke when he heard about the kid with the lipstick. So, what can I do, beyond totally distancing myself from the Pagan community? Here the words of Gandhi have provided me with inspiration.

Instead of quietly despairing about what I see happening, I should try to make changes through my own actions and writing. I hope that I already do this to some extent by showing that a Pagan can be well educated and well read and still be very spiritual. I hope that I also demonstrate in my everyday life that a Wiccan does not have to wear all black, garish make-up, tons of jewelry, or pseudo-medieval clothing in order to practice their religion.

I really don't mean to be overly harsh towards the types of people I have mentioned. But I am saddened when this subset of the Pagan movement causes the entire group to look foolish. Pagans follow legitimate spiritual paths, but rather then drawing attention to our spiritual beliefs through our daily actions, these incidents draw attention away and onto our appearances.