*Sigh* This is horrible, and sadly, she is not the only one.
I think the time has now come for a look at the way we regard pagans and, particularly, teachers and “Elders” of our community. This man, as the article states, was not part of any established group – but, as the author points out, neither are many of us. And what you might call an “established” group might have only been around for about five years, or so – in which case, you’re fooling yourself about the established thing.
It’s kind of like when I get pen letters from other witches out there. “Oh, I’ve been in the Craft for seven years, I know what I’m doing” one lady wrote to me. Hell. I’ve been in since 1996, thanks to The Craft, and all I know is how little I do know about the ways and means of living on this earth as a pagan spiritual person.
I believe that ethics are good, and I encourage all pagans to sign up to this projkect. I’ve been following it, and one poster in particular struck me with what they said:
“We have our laws as Wiccans.It is not that people have never heard of the Rede, or the other laws of behavior that we have.”
And I believe that’s true – most people who are pagans of some sort or another have heard of the Rede. However, how many of us who are Pagan are also Wiccan? I can think of many who say “Oh, I’m not Wiccan, I don’t believe in the Rede” – particularly when the hex vs bind debate comes up. Or you have people who follow the Rede only when it suits them. Which makes sense, again, as Paganism as a whole is a religion of people who watch themselves. Which is fine, as long as you’re the type of person who can hold up to your ethics even when people aren’t looking. If you’re only able to Be Good when you have an audience, then are you really that good a person?
And it’s well and good that we are working to develop an ethical guideline for the broader community, but who will agree to it? If you care about such things, you will. Abusers won’t. They won’t need to – in the pagan community, you can shed and hide your identity (particularly easy to do online) in the blink of an eye. And I think it’s sad.
It’s sad when a high-profile case forces us to draft a statement of ethics that may or may not be read by the majority of the community, and certainly won’t be adhered to by the very people who seem to need it. There’s no accountability, which is a large problem in the pagan community as a whole.
You know, my Mom is thinking about starting up a business as a riding coach for individuals with disabilities. She claims to have been inspired by my work – which is totally awesome, and I’m behind her 100%. I’ve been doing some research, and the process to becoming a riding coach is amazingly complicated. I mean, I’ve outlined the entire process:
- Since we’re in Alberta, we should obtain a Alberta Equestrian Federation membership. ($35.00)
- We also have to obtain a Equine Canada Gold Sport License. ($125.00)
- And we should have a current First Aid certificate ($140.00)
- Complete the Equine Specific NCCP Course ($210.00, plus travel to Ontario, which means flight, plus accommodation for two days, plus food).
- Complete the online Make Ethical Decisions Evaluation
http://nccpeval.coach.ca/production/med/e/default.asp, which, thank goodness, is covered under the NCCP workshop.
- Purchase the Learn to Ride Western Manual, then Complete the
Western Rider 1-4 certificates and General Component certificate. (at least $85.00 per exam. Add manual price – unknown, likely <$100.00, add coaching fees (by the hour) and travel expenses).
- Obtain 20 hours of teaching experience under a certified coach. (Fee dependent on coach, but could be anywhere from $80.00 – $150.00, plus traveling and food expenses).
- Have the Mentor Coach complete a Mentor Reference form and send
it to the AEF office.
- Purchase and study the Western Coach 1 Manual and the Stable
Management in Canada Manual (these can be ordered from Alberta
Equestrian Federation) (Again, prices vary but are likely over the hundred dollar range)
- Have a Criminal Record Search completed including Vulnerable
Sectors (free, since we live in the rural countryside).
All of these ten steps? They fall under a broad basic certificate called “Level 1). Then she takes the Level 2. Then a Therapeutic Certificate. Then we can look at other certifications from there. But my point is that the path to becoming a therapeutic rider is long. And, in my estimation, is also going to set us back by at least $1800, not including additional expenses such as travel, food, tack, equipment, work attire, helmet, etc and so on and so forth. It’s expensive, but once she has it, she’ll be (at least in part) professionally liscenced.
Now, anybody can become a riding coach (particularly in the Western discipline, which retains several unprofessional elements). Heck, one of my mother’s favourite bitchin’ topics is the lack of standard in the profession. Well, this is a standard.
And where is our pagan standard? Cherry Hill Seminary is attempting to become professionally recognized and accredited. The WCC is trying to do the same, I think – but again, who are these people? Who vets the vetters? It’s all well and good to say “I’m a 3rd Degree priestess”, but what does that actually mean? If our certifications are as meaningless as the wind, then who are we do police others?
