The Care For Our Own
For years now there has been the debate within modern pagan communities about supporting clergy and elders. This has become a bigger issue lately as first, second and some third generation clergy/leaders/elders reach retirement age (or contract a sickness) and are no longer able to support themselves.
In some cases they are lucky, maybe they have a supportive family, maybe they have very good medical coverage, maybe they are gifted with a supportive network of co-religionists who are there to help things along. But often, these leaders are stuck in situations where they can’t support themselves and don’t know where to turn to in their spiritual community for help.
A current example is the case of Lady Galadriel a founder of The Unicorn Tradition of Wicca. Who has severe cirrhosis of the liver and needs a transplant. Lacking healthcare coverage a local shop owner and friend has organised a campaign to raise the money needed for her medical care, The Bionic Priestess Project.
Lady Galadriel
Photo from www.bionicpriestessproject.com
In an open letter to the Pagan community Donna “Ariell” Passaro explains why it’s important to support Lady Galadriel in this time of need.
“If we are to continue to grow and flourish as a community, we must take care of our own. Because we are a community, when someone in our community is hungry, we have a responsibility to help put some food on their table. When someone is cold, we have an obligation to help them find a coat. And because we have an unpaid clergy, I firmly believe that when our Elders become sick and infirm, or have legitimate urgent needs, we have an obligation as community to come to their aid. They have given to the community, and the time has come for the community to give back. It is just, quite simply, the right thing to do. It is a balanced exchange of energies.”
Maybe it’s time we took a look inward at how we treat and respect our leaders, elders, and clergy and think about how we can give support to the people who build our communities and enrich our lives. This doesn’t have to mean paid clergy, but it should mean plans to support people in times of crisis.
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