Taking a peek inside pagan groups at RIC, URI

By Peter Larrivee

The word "pagan" may conjure images of arcane rituals or black magic performed at night by people in long black robes, but those who follow such a path might not fit the stereotype.

One would not expect about a dozen pagans -- dressed mostly in jeans and T-shirts (in bright colors) -- to meet in a brightly lit hallway at Rhode Island College, once a week in the middle of the day, and to discuss relatively mundane issues.

Some come because they have friends in the group, or they are looking for something different. Some don't come, because they are avoiding other members. The complicated and convoluted reasons for the disagreements between members appeared to be an obstacle all were eager to overcome at a recent meeting.

"Check attitudes at the door," said Bonnie Cyr, one of the organizers of the group. She is a member of the Army and describes her family as conservative. She is studying music at RIC. "Solve problems outside of pagan group."

Dan Quiray, considered the de-facto leader of the RIC Pagan Group, said, "I'm glad we're becoming a real group. So we can set some rules. Like, 'no one talks when I blow the big horn.'" He held up a severed bulls-horn that has been hollowed out and turned into an actual instrument.

On this day, Quiray made his grand entrance 15 minutes after the meeting began. His Salvation Army bag was covered with Nordic runes, an ancient form of writing. From his ear hung a tiny silver Mjolnir, the legendary hammer of Thor, and his jacket was covered with patches of pentacles, (the five-pointed stars within a circle often associated with witchcraft.)

Quiray stands out the most among the other members, which may be why he has taken on a leadership role. He spearheaded the successful effort to get the group recognized by the Rhode Island College Campus Ministry, with the possibility of even having a budget for the group if the Student Parliament approves. The group will hold officer elections for next year soon, assuming everyone can get along.

"We're so busy fighting amongst ourselves," Cyr said. The infighting seemed to be the main topic of discussion at this particular meeting.

"People will split off from covens, and form new covens or join new covens . . . and badmouth the others," said Candice Christiansen, another music student at RIC, when discussing the problems caused by the infighting between members of some Wiccan and pagan groups.

"It's like the Red Sox vs. the Yankees," Cyr said. "It's ridiculous!"

"We want to try and bring them together," said Jon Brennan, another group member and a music major at RIC. Brennan has been active in the pagan community, sometimes holding rituals at the First Unitarian Church of Providence.

They spoke of drum circles, bardic circles, a full-moon ritual and, of most immediate importance, their table at the Student Events Day.

"It might be a good way to show the [newbies] what dedication is all about," Cyr said. She turned and tapped on the glass. "Hey! We're pagan group! You know?"

Well into the meeting, the group finally started brainstorming for the Student Events Day. One idea suggested as a topic was "The difference between a pentagram and a pentacle, and how it's not satanic." Other members discussed handing out fliers and basic information to let people know that the group exists, and that students with different religious beliefs have a place on the RIC campus.

 

The University of Rhode Island has a different kind of group for people of different faiths. The Eclectic Spirituality Association is a small organization, started in the late 1990s and made up of people from all kinds of different faiths.

The president of the organization is Stacey Barrie, a biological sciences major and a Unitarian from Smithfield. "We've had all different kinds in the group," Barrie says, naming different faiths like Druid, Egyptian, Greek, Wiccan, Pagan, Unitarian, Jewish and Catholic. The ESA is a place where different ideologies meet to better understand each other, she says.

Their meeting in a small conference room at the Memorial Union building at URI consists of four people. "Most who were interested either graduated or came down with senior apathy," said Juliette Nash, the group's secretary.

On their agenda was, among other things, setting an agenda for the future. Even more important was attracting new members for next year.

"We've been thinking of changing our name because it seems that nobody at a state university knows what 'eclectic' means," Barrie said.

The four brainstormed ideas about a recruitment party to attract members.

"Make sure 'free food' is in bold," said Adam Lenrow, a self-described Jew-nitarian.

"And let's use third grade words," said Barrie.

"I know!" said Lenrow. "Let's just call our club 'Heretics'.

"People believe we're all pagan, and dance in circles, etcŠ" said Barrie.

Some of their ideas revolved around discussing the different kinds of spirituality in society and the media, like a discussion of religion in "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars."

Unlike the group at RIC, the ESA does receive funding from the URI Student Senate and with only about as much trouble as any other student organization.

"We do the relaxation fair every year," Barrie said. "We used to do a workshop with crystal healing, energy fields and auras."

There was some debate this year about donating the money from the relaxation fair to the Tsunami Relief Fund instead of the animal shelter they usually give to.

"We're kinda doing it from scratch," said Liz Dellabadia, the group's treasurer.

Finally, the meeting fell apart as the members brainstormed about solstice parties, equinox parties, field trips, stargazing, a movie night and a discussion of cults. The meeting ended with two big goals: to find a new name and, with luck, new members to fill the ranks.

 

For more information

Rhode Island College Campus Ministry

Wikipedia Links: Paganism; Wicca; Mjolnir

URI ESA

Alternative Religions Education Network