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Paganism's Next-Gen: An Awakening

Recently Witch School has taken an additional step beyond its education to the masses and has started to become a little more mindful of the up and coming generations and how to reach them. When I first joined Witch School in 2005, at least as an employee, there was not anything being generated towards myself or my peers. Luckily, this is all about to change.

Sometimes in our quest for spirituality and journey to understanding ourselves and the universe, we often forget to look at the changes that really take place within our own families and the family that exists from our spiritual realms. Have you stopped often to think about teaching your children, grandchildren, or even those that look up to you? Would you even guess that some teens may even look up to you for your involvement in Paganism and how open you are? If you haven't, you may want to start now.

Witch School has opened a group here on Ning, and created a My Space specifically aimed at the next generation of Paganism and giving to them what we never had. We are giving them the ability to pursue the knowledge that took us years to gather. To those that are lost in the halls of high school and think they're "different" or "weird" or just not "normal" because they have a love of things most of their friends don't, or that they have "things happen" to them that others may not experience. Witch School wants to cast away those shadows and show them what they've been looking for, and it can not do it without you.

If you have sons or daughters that are teenagers looking to learn, or if you know some of your son's or daughter's friends are into Wicca/Paganism and other things metaphysical, let them know that not only are you there for them, but that Witch School is as well. This is going to be the first steps on an actual, organized approach to the future of Paganism through teens.

Witch School and the Correllian Nativist Tradition are honestly at the forefront of bringing Wicca/Paganism to the next generations to come. Help us do this by doing your part and realizing yourself to be the teacher you always were or wanted to be. Remember the time you wanted a teacher and had none. Do not bar them from having this gift. Even if they do not follow the Correllian path, having them know about Paganism in its many forms and carrying that knowledge with them will allow them to touch others and share the Spirit that brings all of us Pagans together. Keep this in mind.

Blessings,
Tony

Witch School Teens: www.myspace.com/witchschoolteens

Pagan Teens: http://witchschoolinternational.ning.com/group/paganteens

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Permalink Reply by Rev. Lilith on April 7, 2009 at 3:30pm

gorgious message tony!!!! welldone!!!

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Permalink Reply by Tony Jenkins on April 7, 2009 at 4:02pm

Thank you Reverend Lilith. Hopefully this will be a calling to the inner spirit of all parents, teachers and guardians of our ways of all paths and wake them up to that we no longer are living in the past, but that our spirituality is being created and reborn every day by the steps we are taking. It is vital to carry this into the future, and let younger generations know they are held in esteem in our circles, that they can and do have a voice, and that it should be heard. They are prominent leaders in their own right, those that stand out and can take the reigns. We need to really reconsider our attitude towards this group in the last few years. I was a teenager once, I saw this all for myself. Now I have the chance to change it, thanks to Witch School and its staff. We all have the ability to change this view, the world, and the Pagan Community of tomorrow. We cannot do this alone, and everyone that reads this are those that will be teaching me, teaching their own, teaching those that come in honest, genuine interest.

Thank you again for your compliments. They are greatly appreciated, but do not forget to compliment yourself and those others that agree with this vision of Witch School and the world of Paganism at large.

Blessings,
Tony

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Permalink Reply by Wren Silverleaf on April 8, 2009 at 11:45am

Hi Tony. I really like what you said and I strongly agree as an adult and mother, I have a responsibility to lead by example. As a member of the Correllian Clergy, I have an obligation to teach those who seek knowledge.

What you said about doing your part and realizing yourself to te a teacher is something that I became very aware of when I became a parent.

My son is years away from being a teenager, but I know the time will come quickly. What is done now will build the foundations that will help teens in the future.

Let me know how I can help.

~Laura

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Permalink Reply by Tony Jenkins on April 8, 2009 at 9:58pm

At this point in time Laura L, it is only paramount that parents recognize that their children are or will one day be potential Pagans in their own right, and possibly the leaders and forebearers of the generations to come after them as well.

Tending to your own children comes first and foremost, but if you know of other teens that are interested that may come to you seeking knowledge, indulge them if their parents are all right with it. Or if you have friends that have teenage sons or daughters, talk to them about it and ask them to consider enrolling them in Witch School and giving them an education.

Social networking has done a tremendous amount of work through itself for many media outlets in promoting products, artists or information. Witch School is now doing this as well, but one thing that cannot be replaced is the personal, face to face communication of the Pagan Community, nor the fact that leaders are needed and individuals must stand out and be recognized within a movement for it to have some sort of growth. Even if not at first, later on the teenagers that rise to the challenge of taking this idea from Witch School and running with it, will actually be the first teen Pagans that are really paving the way for the future of teenage Paganism in the world of today as well as tomorrow. So we shall only have to see where it goes.

First we must reach them, and knowing teenagers are always all over the place, some of the best places they can learn about us and Paganism from is within their own homes. Hence my calling to parents and even teachers that run their own metaphysical shops, or have their own little orders, or shrines, to teach and pass on their knowledge to these teenagers. Listen to what they have to say, know that they are saying something important. We cannot afford to be too high above ourselves to listen to the wisdom a teen, or even that of a young child presents to us. They are our future, and our ways will live on and evolve through them.

Witch School will be leading this new calling for teen Paganism. I have a belief that with enough support, Witch School and all those that help it really will be setting the foundations for Paganism in the future, regardless of the names it will take or who will practice it. We just have to finally realize to do this, the Elders must pass on this knowledge to the younger generations. We cannot sit around and keep this all to ourselves, thinking our traditions, orders and secrets will always be "ours" and "ours" alone. It must be shared, otherwise we won't have a future to even look forward to.

Or so, that is my thinking. Others may disagree, and this is bound to happen, as it always is and shall be.

Blessings,
Tony

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Permalink Reply by Rev. Nikki Boucher on April 10, 2009 at 1:43pm

I think that Witch School making these groups is awesome. I am very open with my children about Wicca and Paganism. They attend ritual with me, and know of the whell of the yer and what each Sabbat represents. We have alot of conversations about what this path means and why I have chosen it and many other topics. It is awesome to see that we are going to be helping all those teens who do not have anyone to share with them this beautiful religion and all that it entails.

Many Blessings,
Rev. Aieowyn

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Permalink Reply by Tony Jenkins on April 13, 2009 at 5:54am

Of course! This is why it is important that parents, grandparents and even young adults take part. Those from 18-24 especially can be prominent figures and role models, mentors and friends to those younger than themselves and help them get on the right path and figure out where they see themselves going. If they want something other than Wicca, we can show them all sorts of Pagan paths and witchcraft practices. Or if they do want to learn Wicca, and the Correllian ways, we can do that as well. However, Witch School is universal, and even when it comes to Wicca acknowledges there are several other traditions. Witch School is universal also in its approach to teens and what they want to learn about, no matter what it may be. It's going to be a time-consuming effort from all of us, but the fruit our actions bear will be wonderful, and someday produce their own in return.

Blessings,
Tony

Rev. Aieowyn said:

I think that Witch School making these groups is awesome. I am very open with my children about Wicca and Paganism. They attend ritual with me, and know of the whell of the yer and what each Sabbat represents. We have alot of conversations about what this path means and why I have chosen it and many other topics. It is awesome to see that we are going to be helping all those teens who do not have anyone to share with them this beautiful religion and all that it entails.

Many Blessings,
Rev. Aieowyn