Any Pagans from England?

Hello,
Any mature Pagans out there living in England? Sooooo tired of being the only one around here. Also, I've been in the Craft for many years, and so if I can help at all, with any basic questions, I'll try and answer them. (I did say 'try' lol)

 

nope, no pagans from england. keep searching

 

Me

Southampton born & raised. Pagans are suprisingly well catered for around here.

 

I live in the land of oppression and persecution, so I am willing to relocate

 

Pagans in England are lucky pagans indeed....lucky bastards lol...

 

Hey, its only those who live down south, near london say, who are lucky! All the events are happening there..... everything is there...... *sob*
I'm from the north, and theres nothing.... not a sausage for us Pagans.
Its great if you've a car, and lots of pennies for petrol (gas).

 

Pretty sure witchvox and 'children of artemis' have listings for events and such all round the country. Certainly the beauty of nature and open mindedness born mostly of apathy seem nationwide.


Oh yeah, you guys can swing by any time. More the merrier.

 

So walking the same ground as your ancestors is nothing? Living on the land of your ancestors lore is nothing?

Fuck a city and fuck its events...apparently being pagan means something different to you.

 

Very good point. My ancestors did come from distant* lands, so in a way I can understand feeling far from 'home'; I had chance to visit Loch Loman and it was wonderful without even truly knowing how it was linked to my heritage.

That said much as I want to connect my ancestors they obviously had good reason to migrate so I respect that. We've been here a few generations now, and it's the only place I've lived. So whilst not being ancestral per se it's come to be my place in the universe [by whatever definition]. There also seems to be something of a collective unconcious to the land (native plants still flourish, stones circles still stand, place names echo their historic inhabitants ... the list goes on) which probably helps.
So for all my desires to travel the world I am so grateful to have the comfort of 'home'.

I do appreciate being able to touch base with fellow Pagans, but know that isn't such a big deal in the grand scheme of things. People come and go, events last a few days. So really if you can't make the best of where you are then I doubt you'll magically# find contenment anywhere else.

*Well Wales/Scotland/Saxony to Hampshire is pretty much a day trip by our standards, but still.

#pun possibly intended.

 

Distant lands lol.....My family has come across more than that span in our migrations though the american southeast =P

I wish i were a days drive from my ancestoral home....I have never been on my ancestors soil....and i know that the emotion will be overwhelming the first time...

Im 5000 miles away..other side of the world...none of our stories, myths, legends and heroes were in this land....I am proud of the homeland of my most recent ancestors, but, religiously, i long to be in the place of my gods..

 

Well yeah, when you put it like that, lol.

Not that I truly know where half* my ancestral homes are but I doubt they're far away. Seems like nobody is one for wanderlust, still in a way it's nice to be so settled.

That is a shame really. Hopefully one day you will be able to visit, it is a beautiful place ... when it's not raining.

*literally; my maternal grandmother's respective heritage has yet to be accounted for. Paternal grandmother has implied she has Scottish blood, but we've no proof yet.

 

Actually, I think you mistook my meaning, when I complained that the nearest pagans/events are a long distance away. You're quite right, I totally agree that Paganism is in the heart, not in a location. Cos of course, Paganism is within and deeply intimate; at least to me.
It just gets lonely being solitary sometimes, the need to get out and share moments with other Pagans is strong, and its virtually impossible to afford to travel several hours to an event. Knowing others locally would be great, cos we could all pool together, hire a bus maybe. That's what I meant

 

There is never anything within 2 hours from where i live...im out in the country...we will travel for 4 hours...to pow wow with the indians...but...30 minutes north or south there are always little 8-10 people get togethers at bookstores...

If i were in England, it would be no thing for me to hit up events in Scotland, Germany and France at least....I would make a point to go 18 hours in all directions...I would probably make it to a megalith once a month....and to the Highlands a few times a year...if that wasnt where I was living already...

Its amazing how differently we all reckon distance...

 

Yeah I've noticed that too, seems like the mindset is proportional to the size of your mother country. As America is massive and they think nothing of long road trips. Where as nobody I know can to the length of England without having to stop for the night so it seems rather ambitious.


Despite getting air/car/sea sick I do quite like to travel, survived a coach ride from Southampton to Berlin, so hell it can't be too bad. Long as I can curl up and sleep in the back then I'll come along for the ride.

Though I'm still pretty solitary at heart it is nice to meet up with other people sometimes, or just to know you aren't the only one around. Takes a little research but once you're open to it then it's amazing how much actually is on your doorstep.
Or you could just go here http://www.witchvox.com/xvn.html get the drop down menu from 'world' to come up and knock yourself out.
How about http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_index/xgroups.html for starters?
According to that I can choose between 'technopagans UK' (Irish-welsh Paganism with a modern twist), an occult study group, a neo-wiccan coven or 'Pre Gardnerian Traditional English Wicca' all within my home city. Which is pretty damn sweet.

Children of Artemis have some events listed too http://www.witchcraft.org/gatherings.htm

So there, no excuse to feel lonesome.

 

Thanks you guys, I've just joined them. I'm so poor, that's my ONLY reason for not travelling about, *honest*
I will try to get someone to let me share a seat in their car, and that'll only cost petrol. Wish me luck, there's plenty of weirdo's out there.

 

I forgot about fueling issues there..I hear that your gas costs much more than ours....guess thats a good reason not to take long trips...

 

Sure looks that way, public transport isn't so hot either. Though we seem to be getting by for the most part.

You're welcome Silver, good luck finding new friends.

 

It amazes me about how small the places are in Europe...you can drive from here where I live...to Seattle, Washington, and that is the same as if you drove from Hadrians Wall to Tel Aviv, Israel....and they say Europeans are more well traveled than americas lol

Imagine all the cultures you would pass in that journey to Israel....and thats about as many as you would come across here on a trip to the west coast....Thats one thing about most Europeans thinking we are the same over here...

Off topic...just thought I'd throw that in...

 

Yeah, travelling is my dream... *sigh*
One event I wanted to go to was about four hours on the train, several buses, and then the cost of getting in (although that was cheap). I'd have needed a couple of hundred pounds before food, spending etc.
If only hitch hiking were safe..... I'd never be home!! lol
You're lucky where you live, Im happy for you.

 

Methinks the topic is wandering, somewhat. The Silver Salamander is reporting in to Olde England Pagan.


Heron, I am none too sure you appreciate the UK's reality is somewhat different to your misty ideal. A strong torch of Wicca was passed to the US hundreds of years ago, precisely because of the oppression here.....in the land of your ancestors......and little changes; the dagger of oppression simply changes hands.

You live - for the moment - in a true democracy. The rule of heredity Kings was cast out of your land by your (farsighted) forefathers. Here, the people do not, though many believe they do so, because of a powerful, pervasive media.

We are seekers of truth, and the truth in my words - and years roaming this world - is for the true to know as true.

We are the light in the dark of the world and the minds of men.