Three New hrel for the Pagan Assembly of Nova Scotia Part 2

I continued my discussion with the three new hrel of the Pagan Assembly of Nova Scotia. I find these three individuals dedicated to the task ahead of them, with the good of the community first in their minds.

Post-ordination

I asked how the new hrel felt now post- ordination. Often, when someone goes through an elevation or ordination, there are subtle or not-so-subtle changes that appear.

Brian stated that he did not feel different. “This is just one step along the way,” he said, “one of many.” To him, this is just another step along the journey that began long ago.

Karen said that she did not feel different, but that she was excited as to what lies ahead. She said, “It is daunting. I want us to grow. Now, everyone knows. I want to be there to service the needs of the community.” It is interesting to note that just one week later, Karen performed her first handfasting as hrel. She decorated her yard for the handfasting, wrote the handfasting, and performed it as well.

Gwen felt that “It was really beautiful to be in the ordination ritual.” For her, declaring herself in front of the community was an important part of the ritual.

In reflecting on my own experiences, the process of ordination is twofold: one, is to acknowledge the change in one’s own heart. The other, and perhaps the more difficult one, is to make it known in front of the land, the people, and the Gods.

Immediate plans

My next question to the group was “what are your immediate plans?” Lao-Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” I wanted to know about that first step.

Brian recalled that when his parents passed away there really was not much choice on PEI for the type of funeral services. He wants to provide both pagan and non-denominational funeral services for the community.

Karen wants to provide professional development and service hours. This includes offering a wide variety of support. Part of the work she will do to find the needs of the community.

For Gwen, her next steps are a continuation of what she has already been doing, namely, providing spiritual care for the community. For example, this would include hospital visits as a clergy person. A part of being an alternative community means that there are responsibilities to the members, and she intends to be present in that role.

The relationship with the land

My next question was about their relationship with the land. What is the work that is ongoing, and the work that has yet to be done? It is not really about ownership, in my mind, it is about partnership.

Brain, Karen, and Gwen were all a part of the selection process for the land. Ownership is not individual, it is community based, and this is a caring relationship, not just a business relationship. It is obvious that a lot of love and work has gone into working with the land.

It is interesting that in caring, benevolent communities, that at some point the land and the people who love the land become interwoven, interdependent, and identify with the land. I feel, conversely, that the land welcomes these individuals and there are a combination of spirit and divinity and deep care and understanding.

I was also curious as to what are the qualifications for a hrel in the community. For now, the current hrel are working on a PANS program that will help to grow future priests. Currently, all the hrel are from the Halifax area. PANS strives to be easily accessible by anyone on the maritime provinces. The current hrel wish to attract people from outside of the Halifax area.

Long-term plans

I asked Brian, Karen, and Gwen about their long-term plans. Brian hopes that what PANS has done in Nova Scotia can be tailored to other provinces. One could envision Pagan Assemblies in other or all the provinces.

Brian hoped for a housing co-op in the future for members of the pagan community.

Karen stated that she would like to see professional development and service hours for the current and future hrel. She wishes to offer many levels of support. One of the abbreviations used in PANS is POTS: people offering to serve. This is a part of the future that all three hrel aspire to.

Gwen hopes that by providing spiritual care to the community that others will wish to follow in these footsteps as well. I found it encouraging that each of the new hrel wanted to leave a little bit of themselves behind, be it writing, offering support, or providing an example.

Legacy

Finally, I am curious about legacy. What do each of the three wish to leave for others in the coming days, months, and years? Brian said that he wanted to leave behind “Instructions, manuals, and books. This is how you do it.

Karen stated that her legacy would be “I must lead the best possible way that I can – to lead by example.” Gwen said that she wishes to “Leave a structure that can be improved upon in the future but still supports the community.”

I will remember this ordination for many years to come. I am impressed and hopeful that these new priests will continue to do the work to offer support, to lead others, and to help shape a future for pagans not only in Nova Scotia, but across Canada. This community is already becoming people of the soil (POTS). The land and these people will continue to work and live in harmony with the earth, the community, and the Gods.

I will be back next year, Gods-willing, to return to this festival to see not only what is happening, but what has become of those words spoken, in liminal space, in front of the Gods, the land, and the community, flowing like that stream into a welcoming future.