September 27, 2011

Peace Park was filled with workshops, vendors and music Saturday afternoon for Mid-Missouri’s ninth annual Pagan Pride Day.

“The purpose of the event is to provide information and education about paganism and to promote tolerance,” Mid-Missouri Pagan Pride Day Facilitator Taz Chance said.

A group of vendors were set up throughout the park, each of which had sponsored a workshop. Workshops ranged from “Healing with Stones” by Rev. Lady Kestryl to “The New Witch-Hunt: Confronting Islamophobia,” presented by the Peace Nook.

Chance said the workshops were all focused on different aspects of paganism or tolerance.

“We’re in the process of changing from a street fair focus to an educational focus,” Chance said. “Our first year out doing that has created a smaller event.”

She said some vendors were disappointed about a small number of customers, but participants were very excited about the workshops. She said she felt it was going well and that she was prepared for the smaller turnout.

Chance said for many of people, coming out as a pagan through participation in the community is a big step.

“There is still a lot of discrimination toward people not of major religions,” Chance said.

She said she thinks this discrimination was furthered by some presidential candidates who are extremely anti-anything not right-wing Christian.

“There is a lot of talk of people going back underground for fear of being persecuted,” Chance said. “This event is important for people to come together.”

Columbia resident Jim Murrey, who attended the event, said the pagan community in Columbia is small, but great. He said because of the small size, it is important for members to rely on one another and work well together. But he said the community is also extremely diverse.

“Paganism is an umbrella term that encompasses different paths of earth-based religions,” event volunteer Heather Shawver said.

She said one thing that is mostly consistent throughout paganism is an animistic tradition. Similar to the way some things that apply to all Christians, animistic tradition a uniting trait for pagans.

Murrey said there are at least as many denominations of paganism as Christianity, but that it is not a dogmatic religion, meaning there is no book that tells pagans what to do.

“Paganism to me is primarily an acceptance and a belief in more than one deity,” Murrey said. “It is not a monotheistic religion.”

He said another consistent aspect of paganism is a belief that spirit is manifested in nature and there is reverence for the earth.

“Our concept of divinity is not that divinity is separate from us,” Shawver said. “It is in the tree over there and the sky above us. But it is not about worshiping the earth.”

She also said pagans tend to follow agricultural cycles of the year as part of tradition.

“What I feel personally is if you really want to feel connected to the earth, plant something,” Murrey said. “Put your hands in the earth.”

Shawver agreed.

“It’s the most pagan thing you can do,” she said.

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