You Need to Show Up

The recent rush of people starting out on their nature-based spiritual path has caused a traffic jam. A beautiful traffic jam but also a frustrating one. Unlike previous generations, there are now a significant number of resources for beginners, be that in a pagan tradition or secular spirituality within nature itself. You can find “witchy” books that are essentially chicken soup for the soul, only it’s actual chicken soup, in or near any bookshop. In good weather, drum circles can be found everywhere, and most likely you can find a solstice celebration of some sort without a few hours drive of your home. Beginners have never before had such a vast ocean of resources to choose from.

Compared to how many are seeking, few seem to utilize them.

In my work with various organizations, both locally and globally, I have found this issue is faced across traditions, regions and even ages. The masses enjoy a cute meme, a little TikTok and the “idea” of events. A slightly smaller number of people enjoy attending virtual meetings and forming a legitimate community online and from the comforts of their home. A small minority of people take the effort to show up.

Across the globe, organizations, churches, covens, groves, kindreds etc. have been hosting events for all experience levels. Across the global there is a record level of interest never before seen, or so I’ve been told. I’ve also been told, as well as seen firsthand, that there are not record levels of attendees.

“We should have a witch’s ball and all the baby witches could be coronated into the covens!”

-Actual suggestion by a non-attendee

I am an active member and volunteer for a few organizations which host in-person and virtual events, of various traditions, on a regular basis. We are always being asked to do more. Consistently, we are asked to teach another class, lead another ritual, host another meetup. We are asked these things by people who do not show up. I enjoy hosting these events and the kinship of my fellow members. Even when it is just our core group, I will continue to work for our own spiritual growth. However, it does annoy me when I am routinely asked to do more by people who, quite literally, do nothing at all.

I will gladly host a class or ritual online for people that are unable to attend in-person events. I will gladly alter my classes and events during a pandemic or inclement weather (I write this from the comfort of my nice, warm home during an ice storm where, shortly, I’ll log into Zoom for weekly service). I support online workshops for those same reasons. It also is nice to have the option when someone is sick, cannot travel etc., to have virtual events. I love our online community as I do our in-person community. The participants are active, show up, engage and even will lead virtual events for the group to gain from and enjoy. THEY SHOW UP. The masses do not.

Even solo practitioners drive 5 hours and spend the night in a tent or hotel room from time to time. It is part of growth. At a time when classes and events are so easily accessible, I find it upsetting to routinely see so many people requesting that the doers do more.

The uncensored reality is that sometimes you’ve just got to get up off your behind and put in the effort. There are 13 full moons, 13 dark moons and 8 sabbats a year. There are 34 events whose dates are known ahead of time, for anyone who so pleases to attend virtually or in-person. Groups big and small around the country and even the world host events both in person and online. Yes, for an event there might be a reason not to go. You could be sick, need to work, exhausted, injured, there may be an entry fee (sometimes but not always that’s a red flag) and you don’t have the means. But let’s be honest, there is not a reason EVERY single time. Not wanting to go is a valid reason to not go, yes. This is aimed at the masses that say they want to have events, meet other practitioners and increase their knowledge. We need to actually show up. Not always, but at least on occasion.

Finding events is not as hard as people think. It’s new water to navigate. I recommend looking for local metaphysical, rock & gem and occult shops. Any of the three, follow them on Facebook and visit in person. Look for events, ask a clerk if they know of local groups. See if the local groups are on Facebook, follow them and look for events. Around a sabbat, google “X near me” and begin to find groups. See if they have any requests for when you show up. Reach out to the organizers and start showing up. Find what you like and dislike. And grow from there. For open and inclusive events known to be safe, I not-so-modestly recommend looking for a Unitarian Universalist Congregation near you.