Daughters of Eve
Name: Megan Henry
Location: Philadelphia/New Jersey
Website: Working on it…
Social Networking Site: Facebook
How long have you been a Wiccan/Pagan? What drew you to the path?
For about four years. I started out going into Wiccan. That was the most available at the time. Although I have grown away from any organized religious practice and now am immersed into more of a shamanistic practice. I found any organized religion a bit too dogmatic and patriarchal for my tastes.
How has the path change you? How much of you stayed the same?
I have changed in the oddest of ways. Having been raised Catholic, in a Baptist home….yea…and some of y’all will understand all of that! LOL. I have to say that ever since I have taken a pagan path, I have become more Christ-like. Strange, but true. I find that, through paganism and being a solitary practitioner, that I am asking the hard questions about myself, my immediate world, and the world around me, as well as my place in it. Not only does paganism challenge you to ask the questions, but what I LOVE about paganism is that it challenges you to experience and live your beliefs…to find out your OWN answers and live by them. You are also allowed to change and thus, change how you live. I learned how to not judge myself and thus, not to judge others. I am still learning that hard lesson. The biggest difference, though, is the living what you believe. Not all pagans do this…they are like anyone else. It is just that paganism puts you to experience your beliefs and as you experience them they cease to be beliefs and become truths. I’ve seen bits and pieces of this in organized, mainstream religions, but not to the extent that I have found in Paganism. I just love it.
I am still my “self”. I am more joyous and react to issues that come up in a different way. I have a lot less anger around me and that is a wonderful thing.
Name one misconception of being a black Pagan/Wiccan that you personally feel should be addressed within the pagan community and within the black community.
I have been fortunate to have found a wonderful community of pagans in South Jersey who never made me feel outside their circle because of my race. In fact, they welcomed my difference because they wanted the opportunity to hear my view and share my perspective with them. There are a lot of misperceptions about black people in all white communities. South Jersey is particularly ripe with racism and in very subtle ways. Some of that spills over into the pagan community. It becomes tempered but, on occasion, I do get odd looks from people or they assume that I am associated with an African pagan practice. I had a friend who continually thought I that I should look into the Yoruba practice. I did, as I am generally open and found that I didn’t like it because it was too patriarchal and too formal for my tastes. Too many rituals and rituals where women cannot participate or vice versa. However, do note that I am definitely a devoted solitary. I love being a solitary. So, my mindset, I think, is slightly different than others who prefer something more organized and communal. So, I think I’d ask those who are not of color, that they not assume anything about us, like they would a white person. Just as an Italian may be drawn to a Celtic practice and that is accepted…it should be accepted that a black, Asian, or Latino may also be drawn to practice that is not connected to their heritage in this incarnation.
The black community. Weeellll…I think that there are many who are in the closet about what their true beliefs are. As “out” as I am about my beliefs, I have to say that if I am around folks who are of the mainstream religions, particularly “Christian” that I will keep my thoughts to myself. These days I am just not up for a pointless argument about it. I’d like to think I pick my fights judiciously. So, when I am in the company of the religionists (my term only) I will either say nothing or voice my opinion in a secular way. I think I have a bizarre fear that they may gang up on me and try and lay their hands on me to exorcise Satan out of me or something. Whew…the thought!!! I’ve been in services where they just might do it!!! LOL!!! However, I wish the black community was more open to the idea that we are a VERY diverse people and instead of assuming what a belief system is because of what a book or a minister says, to find out for themselves what it is about. Unfortunately, the purpose of many mainstream religions is about control and ego.
How should the black pagan community combat this?
Continue to grow, learn, and experience your belief system….so it is a truth and less a belief. Doing this alone you will stand out from the rest and people will approach you (as is what happens to me) and begin to ask you questions. Some questions are as simple as “how is it that you look so joyful most of the time?” Other questions may be more in-depth. But become prepared. Also, be open. Some people, even ministers or leaders in the mainstream faiths have something worthwhile to say outside of prepping for the collection plate. So, as we ask them to be open, we also must be open. There are enlightened ones in all faiths…and they NEED to be right in the midst of all confusion happening in the large religions. My experience, so far, shows me that most people are not ready to tackle the responsibility that comes with a pagan or indigenous path. I am in awe of what is asked…and I grope forward daily to find my way back to Source every day.
As an individual; what do you inspire to do to combat misconceptions of black pagans?
To continue to grow as a soul. To make better choices in all aspects of my life, to not judge and learn what real love is all about. I don’t need to step out and make a spectacle to garner attention to how different I am from the majority. I can just be. That is all that is needed.
Is there a message in your future project of African American Pagan documentary that you want the viewers to grasp? What is the message?
I’d like to tell “our” stories and experiences of how we began this path and the journey. In one of my meditation groups I had a woman (Hispanic) listen as about 12 people shared how they started on their path. The stories were amazing and very diverse, most had a catalyst of some sort, usually a death of a loved one (as was my case), to intense psychic awakenings or spiritual activity. This woman, who was last to speak broke down crying because she had begun to hear voices, sought out psychiatric help and they found nothing wrong with her, sought out medical help (auditory issues) and found nothing wrong. Some of the stories she heard were exactly what she was experiencing. She wasn’t crazy (I don’t like to say crazy. But, it is quick and to the point) …and it turned out she was experiencing a quick and intense awakening. She found her support there for a few months and then decided to pursue a shamanistic practice. I happened upon her months later and she was so much more at peace. My point is that although our experiences are similar, the difference is in the details…the colorful details of our people.
One other instance for me, was when I first embarked on this path, and at the time I embraced Wicca. I was pretty much out with it, and I work at an office, and my department had hired a temp for a few weeks. She was a black woman, and although I had not spoken about it, this woman perceived that I was of some sort of pagan path. I didn’t wear anything at the time, so I think she picked up on it psychically. I remember she said to you “you are brave for being out”. I asked her what she meant. She replied…your religious path. I stopped dead in my tracks…I turned around and asked her what she practiced, and she said she was a witch, and practiced Wicca for years. We were the same age so we spoke about it in depth. Her story of living in Harlem with her three children and how she had and continued to hide her practice for fear of reprisals in the community. I believed her, too. Our people live in tremendous fear, planted by the mainstream religions, i.e., Satan, demons, etc. Not to say that those energies do not exist, however, in general it is just the “evil” within that particular soul that is in confusion, not an outside entity. So, our community lives and perpetuates fear, plus the fear from the religious organizations that if people were to actually take responsibility for their own actions, and KNOW the God within…their structures and organizations would most likely be empty, they’d have no money. LOL!
The message I’d like to bring to black pagans is that…they most definitely are not alone, and they can, if they choose, to reach out to other black pagans for support if needed, that we can also write books, make CDs, step into the hyper new age arena with a spiritual message that ALL people could identify with and learn from. When I go to some of the spiritual expos I am so disheartened when I see no representation or maybe one or two black or Latin speakers. Our history here is so amazing…I mean our people survived slavery! Yes…we are still here, and that alone, coming into this incarnation as a black person affords me a genetic make up to withstand all sorts of trials and tribulations. This alone can be shared with those who are not making it, or the struggle is so burdensome to them they are sinking (or perceive themselves to be sinking). I told one fellow who comes to me periodically for advice to “pick your behind up, stop whining, and move your ass!!!” He was shocked as he had never been spoken to in that manner. He later thanked me and laughed very hard and said…”you know what…that fucking worked!!!!” He still struggles with many issues, but from that he knows he CAN change his own life…sometimes by just moving his ass. And who talks like that…except some of our folks!!!! LOL!!! I didn’t grow up in the ghetto, but my cousins did so I picked up a lot of the vernacular, lest I get beat up. LOL.
Our lives are colorful in a way that others may not understand, and as pagans we can share that color and help anyone move forward. I believe that is ultimately the only reason we are here. To help ourselves and others move back to Source. Nothing is as important. Not a career, not money, not a house, a car, fine clothes, sex, a husband or wife…or even children. Our only purpose is to get back home….our real home.
What type of audience do you feel would benefit from the documentary?
I believe anyone who is open to another perspective would benefit. I would like black pagans to be able to use the documentary to connect with each other. New pagans to get some answers as they struggle to find the answers within. And those outside paganism to realize that we are not Satan or demonic and that paganism isn’t what they assume they’ve been told it is. At the least it would be a very enjoyable series of stories…hopefully ending with people asking more questions than when they started. it would also be nice that black folks who see it will be able to contact another black person to discuss or help with whatever issues they are going through. In our culture it is perpetuated that only white people have the answer. Well, they don’t…not even for themselves. Ultimately, we have to find our own answers, but the path to that realization becomes very, very interesting. And then, the magic happens when you see that Source works through EVERYONE!!!!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am an eclectic, solitary shamanistically bent. Always evolving. I am also a musician (opera singer now a jazz something singer) working on a CD, I have a very tiny, tiny intsy wintsy body work practice (energy work, not massage), I am a life coach (really good at that), and I work 3 days a week at a law firm. What fun!!!! I also started teaching voice at a cultural center. I am good at that…
What was your religious/spiritual background prior to your current path?
I was raised Catholic. But my home life was Christian Baptist. My Catholic experience was just awful. The racism was so thick growing up. We’d go to church and the place would be packed with people, but our pew would be empty!!! No one wanted to sit next to us. But, we went anyway. The strength of black people!!!! When I got out of catholic school, which ended Catholicism for me and my family as well. The story of why I was raised Catholic is that my mother couldn’t get pregnant and an Italian woman offered to do a Novena for a couple of months or so. She asked that if my mom got pregnant that she raise me Catholic. Well, that did the trick. A month after the Novena, my mom was pregnant with me. So she kept the bargain and raised me Catholic. I spent years actually believing much of what the indigenous religions belief. I have no idea where it came from; I think it is past life remembrances. At one point I completely immersed myself in Christianity and even studied 6 years with Jehovah’s Witnesses. That was the last straw I think. That made me physically ill. Then I had a catalyst and my soul would not be denied. I screamed out to God…who are you? And it showed me who it is. It was magnificent. And I’ve been connecting myself to that energy ever since. Questioning, getting answers…experiencing …
How would you “label” your current path (Ifa, Wiccan, eclectic, Hellenic, etc.)?
Eclectic. I have a base in Wicca, I just don’t identify with all the ritual, and what I call party favors (statues and whatnots) etc. For instance my first Wicca ritual everyone took out their knives and things, and I used my finger. LOL…everyone just stared at me. I replied quite naturally that I don’t need to use anything to channel my energy…it is within me and my finger is enough. (Gasp!!!!) I am also very shamanistic I completely connect with the energies of animals, plants, universal energy. But I do love Wicca, there are such great spiritual ideas in Wicca. Love it….I’ve just morphed.
What deity (deities) and/or pantheon do you work with ( or the most)?
I work with what I call “Source”, the energy what many would call God. It is neither male nor female, although I very much so connect to female energy, and am an avid supporter of women’s liberation from themselves. It is all…is the best way I can describe it.
What are your practices? Solitary? Do you belong to a group/coven?
I am a solitary. I had a bad experience with a so called coven…and that was the end of my Wiccan days. I mean the idea that someone thinks they have power over another, or has more understanding than another because of years of practice….well that experience showed me the complete opposite. There are those who have been practicing any particular path for years and don’t know more than my puppy!!!! Yikes!!!
Even though I am a solitary, I do belong to a spiritual group. We meet once a week, and it is different in that it focuses on everyone’s sovereignty. We created a safe space to share anything and everything. It is so wonderfully different. So when I feed the need to be in the company of others or have questions…I go there.
Were there a community of black pagans that helped you along your path? In the beginning? Currently?
No…it would have been nice. I’ve met black pagans as individuals in my travels, usually in a metaphysical store and had the most AMAZING conversations. There is a black pagan community of sorts happening in Brooklyn, NY. I’ve not been able to connect with them. We have so very much to contribute to the pagan community and the global community as well. I meet them here and there. Usually 2 -3 a year. I’ve not been able to engage them, but I am going to put forth a stronger effort.
What advice would you give to “new” black pagans/Wiccans upon the path?
Do as ye will, harm none. That is the most incredible phrase ever…if you really think about it, and put it into practice. There is not much more that you need. It does need some discussion though. For instance, some people think that saving is helping…saving is an invasion. As you move forward in your spiritual growth you learn that some souls NEED to experience difficulty to truly learn a lesson. Saving a person robs them of that experience (thus I think that is one reason why people get resentful if you “help” them). Even really awful experiences. I tell people that unless a person explicitly asks for your help…step off!!!! Respect their souls!!!! It seems to be particularly difficult for psychics…but I think they get a bit caught up in their ego too. Gotta love ‘em, though.
Are you a pagan and/or Wiccan of color? African traditionalist, regardless of ethnicity? Email [email protected] if you’d like to be featured in DOE Q&A.
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