A new 91原创 religious group has sprung up on Facebook and is hoping to meet more in person as COVID-19 restrictions ease 鈥� the local pagan community.
Stephanie Windle moved to 91原创 recently from the Sunshine Coast, where she had organized the Sunshine Coast Spiral Dance group for some time.
She was hoping to find some local organization to join.
鈥淚 noticed there were none in 91原创,鈥� Windle said. So she started a new 91原创 Pagans Facebook group, and was surprised at the response, gathering more than 20 members in just a few weeks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to get to know people and know the area,鈥� she said.
Windle said that paganism is a nature-based spirituality that centers around natural cycles like the phases of the moon and the seasons.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of an umbrella term,鈥� she said, noting there are many ways people practice the religion.
Although it鈥檚 an old religion, it鈥檚 constantly evolving and changing, Windle said.
One thing it has in common with almost every other faith is that members like to gather together, and the pandemic has put a serious crimp in those gatherings.
On the Sunshine Coast before COVID-19 hit, Windle鈥檚 group organized bi-weekly coffee socials and holiday meetings.
鈥淲e became a heavily digital-only community,鈥� she noted.
As restrictions have eased, the local pagan community in 91原创 is going to be 鈥渉alf and half鈥� she said, with online events mixed with in-person, and hopefully transitioning more to in-person events as more people are vaccinated and the pandemic eventually recedes.
The end goal would be to have a permanent physical premises for a local group, but as they are still a new and small group, gatherings will be in coffee shops, parks, and member鈥檚 households, Windle said.
She鈥檚 also hoping the group can start doing some community outreach work, such as volunteer clean ups in 91原创 parks.
鈥淚 want us to be a part of the community and to be present,鈥� she said.
Popular culture has conflated paganism with Hollywood-style witchcraft, which Windle said is far from the reality of their group.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 fly on broomsticks,鈥� she said. 鈥淎lthough sometimes we wish we could, we could save on gas money.鈥�
READ ALSO: Safety and community key as Fort 91原创 church prepares to welcome worshippers
Have a story tip? Email: matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on and follow us on .
