My Tribe

Since moving from my old stomping ground I've been thinking a lot about the word "tribe", what it means to me, and who my tribe is. I suppose I've been feeling insecure from the move, as if moving detached me from what has been my tribe.

Then this weekend came.

It started with buying the newly released magazine "Witches & Pagans" (formerly the two separate publications newWitch and PanGaia). I read it on my way to Central New York's Pagan Pride festival. There was an interview with much beloved Pagan bard - S. J. Tucker. It discussed her views of neo-tribalism and what it meant. It really spoke to me because she's kind of a nomad, wandering from festival to festival and relying on the kindness of her well-spread tribe. It got me thinking about my tribe spread throughout NY.

Pagan Pride was wonderful. I was once more able to see all my friends from the Mohawk Valley Pagan Network and my grovemates from Muin Mound. It was great to feel that connection at the festival and thus feel a part of something bigger than me. I've always taken a kind of comfort in that. At a workshop/round-table discussion on forming Pagan community, I listened to various people complain about isolation and the lack of socialization within the Pagan community.

Before leaving I decided to walk the labyrinth set up by the entrance. I felt as if I needed a walking meditation. Before I entered the loops I opened myself to the three realms, grounding myself in purpose. As I walked my mind once more turned to community and tribalism. My worries floated away and I realized that the distance between us didn't matter. (It is a short distance really!) I let go of my desire to form new bonds with a Pagan group near my new home. They didn't feel exactly right for me and my interest was purely born from my insecurities. My mate even commented to me that I have a good thing going on with my grove and MVPN. Why complicate it with more rituals that I have to work around? It is just a short drive (little over an hour) to either group and the trip is so worth it. To see the faces I've grown to know and love, to be hugged, to be congratulated on my various triumphs, and to feel like I belong is a wonderful thing.

And we always have the internet, don't we? I think technology plays a large role in neo-tribalism. It allows us to stay in touch so that, when you really think about it, it's as if we never were apart.

A lot of my ramblings are probably obvious seeming to you readers, and I apologize for that. Sometimes the most obvious things require struggle to comprehend.

I got a message from my mentor today. My dedicant program, the first step in ADF, has been approved! I'm very excited about this. I worked on it, here and there, for three years. The last six months have been spent revising a few essays on and off as I dealt with life's various changes. Finishing it officially feels really good.

Now the question becomes - what next? A part of me wants to take a break and focus on my blossoming career, my upcoming marriage, and my hearth religion. Another part of me is thrilled to start another study program - perhaps the artisans' guild study program or the initiate's program...

More thoughts on this later.