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Finding my community....finding myself

1/15/2017

4 Comments

 
When I was new to Paganism, all I had was books.  I read about practicing, I thought about Paganism as a religion, and as a lifestyle, and as spiritual practice. I thought about magick and witchcraft. All I had were words and thoughts. Alone I could never quite transition into actual practice, it was all just theory. 

I discovered the St. Louis Pagan Picnic and went alone and feeling both filled with wonder and completely befuddled.  Were there really this many other people who thought like I did?  Who connected to this stuff I had read about and felt so totally out of place in this world because it resonated with me so much?  Where did they all come from? I sat in on a workshop on Reiki.  I'd never heard the word before in my life.  All my books had been on Wicca.  When it broke up I approached the teacher and started asking questions.  Total n00b questions.  I didn't know anything and I wanted to know EVERYTHING.  In a few moments they had me laying in the grass, with one person at my head and another at my feet and someone holding a crystal over me.  I felt like I was floating in a dream leaving that workshop.  I found CD's of Indian bellydance music I never knew existed. I found more books.  I found and bought my first pentacle.  In one day I knew that I couldn't just read about it anymore.  I had found home. 

Years later, I was at a dinner with my coven and we went around the table to each say a few words about how we had found our coven and each other.  As each person's story started I heard the same words "Well one year I was at Pagan Picnic...." so many stories started that way.  I marveled at how many lives could be touched by this one event.  Not just touched in a small way.  Really changed. 

For 25 years now people have been coming to the St Louis Pagan Picnic.  Over the years the number of miles people travel to attend has expanded beyond what those who founded it could ever have dreamed.  Every year people find their spiritual path, someone meets their future best friend...someone finds their future coven.  Those who have been in this community for decades embrace friends they have not seen in years.  These moments are the true legacy of the Pagan Picnic. 

I'd like to invite you all to share your story.  If you found Paganism for the first time, if you realized for the first time that what you had been dabbling in was actually your real path, if you found your coven, your partner, your best friend, if you found yourself.  Share that with us. To commemorate 25 years of Making Magick Together, we would like to hear your stories.  So please tell us about how Pagan Picnic has impacted your life. 

We will see you on June 3rd and 4th 2017 for The 25th Annual St Louis Pagan Picnic. 
4 Comments
Sandy crow spirit Felty link
1/16/2017 06:50:47 am

My husband and I found the pagan picnic years ago when we lived in St. Louis. we loved going and took our children when they were young. For whatever reason we missed it one year, and then the next, and forgot about it for several years. We moved away from St. Louis and carried on with our lives. Several years ago(maybe 5- 6) we ran across it again and remembered how much we enjoyed the booths, food, and especially the workshops. We are knowledge junkies so that was a huge draw for us. We also feel that we need to give back to the community and help others to find the wisdom they seek as well so we started teaching workshops as well. We truly feel like part of the community and hope to see you there. And maybe at a workshop.

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Beverly Willow Song Medley link
1/16/2017 11:57:40 am

My husband and I attended Dances of Universal Peace several years back and found out about the Pagan Picnic. We attended the picnic several times and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We loved the vendors, the music, the food and the people. We have since made many friends. We are now practicing pagans and I have found home.

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Elizabeth Baum
1/16/2017 12:39:17 pm

I was first introduced to the Craft as a child and through my teenage years I met others who were like-minded. I read books, practiced spells and learned as much as I could. Eventually I found an online coven and while it was very helpful it its own right, it still didn't help me feel connected the way all the books said I would be. I introduced my daughter to the Craft when she was old enough to make a choice and she also read the books with me and we would practice doing our own rites together but we still needed a little bit more. In 2012 we discovered the Pagan Picnic. We went together and were both filled with awe at the number of people who were there. We experienced our first live ritual together and it was truly amazing. Since then we have met other groups and formed bonds with other like-minded individuals. We have attended every year since. Thank you Pagan Picnic for all you offer to the community. Many who desperately need to feel connected and feel like they belong have found their path in large part because of you!!

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Angel Bostick
3/20/2017 04:06:18 am

These stories are the reason, I love and volunteer for Pagan Picnic! I have a plethora of stories and tales all based at Pagan Picnic. But my favorite is The Nun. Meeting that lovely, wise Sister is my favorite Picnic moment! I was running around doing my walk, checking on folks, enjoying a moment of music or a melodic voice, popping an eye on the workshops, saying hi and giving hugs and talking to strangers. Ya know how it is. As I was on my walkabout, I saw an older nun, with some Books and just felt that pull to go speak to her. So I did as I was told and said hello and asked if she was enjoying herself. Well, we hit it off! She has been coming to Pagan Picnic for 20+years. She loves books! She even shared with me a very beautiful story she shares with her novices she learned in her various studies. This woman was Goddess of Wisdom and kindness and of such an open Heart! I adored her. That is why I love Picnic so much. The open hearts, open minds, the laughter, the joy, seeing old friends and meeting new ones, dancing in the rain, ice cold lemonade with the mint in heat of the day, EMPINADAS. Yeah, moments like that make it all worth it. Community and Magickal "Ah-ha! Moments.

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