| Pagan Manners |
| 1. Never assume that you are invited to a ritual or a nonpublic gathering just because your friend is invited. Have your friend call the group doing the event and ASK! (or call yourself). 2. When participating in a ritual led by a group of which you are not a member, ask ahead of time what will be done. SHould there be something in the explanation, or in the set-up of the ritual area which bothers you, just quietly don't participate in the ritual. 3. Ask the person(s) officiating at a ritual before you place anything in the ritual area; wear clothing or tools which might be considered unusual; or add private energy workings to the ritual being done. 4. Never just walk out of a cast ritual circle. Ask someone in the group sponsering the ritual to cut you a door if your eally and truly absolutely have to leave. 5. Don't make comments on the ritual, its leaders or the amount or quality of the energy raised during the ritual unless such opinions are asked for by the leaders. Save it for your friends, privately, after the ritual is over. 6. Vegetarians, Vegans, Strict Carnivores, Diabetics, and any others with very strong food preferences: no one minds your asking quietly and politely "Which dishes have meat (sugar, spices, hot pepper, etc.) in them?" When planning a meal for mized Pagan/Wiccan groups, it is strongly suggested that at least some of the dishes be vegetarian, sugar-free, relatively non-spicey etc. At all times, within and without the ritual context, always provide an alternative to alcholic beverages. 7. While many people have become far less secrative about their membership in a Pagan group, it is never, EVER, permissible to "blow someones cover". Do not ever call a friend or acquaintence by their Pagan name or mention their membership in a mundane situation. It is also bad manners - and a symptom of social climbing - to call an individual by his/her mundane name in a Pagan situation. It always reminds me of an extra calling John Wayne "The Duke" at a local bar. 8. Whether you drink, take drugs or indulge in other similar behavior is completely your own business. It is always wrong to urge such behavior on the world. 9. The laws of the land should be obeyed whenever possible and within reason, for in the main they have been chosen with wisdom. 10. Have pride in thyself, and seek perfection in body and in mind. For the Lady has said, "How can thou honor another unless thou give honor to thyself first?" 11. Those who seek the mysteries should consider themselves as select of the Gods, for it is they who lead the race of humans to the highest of thrones and beyond the very stars. |
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