Written over four years ago, this piece is still relevant today.

We have entered a new millennium (an arbitrary date established by the Church to mark each thousand years from the supposed birth of Jesus). I suppose we can rejoice in the fact that we have survived another thousand years as a species. But should we rejoice that we have progressed on the time line of history chronologically but we have not progressed, as a species, spiritually, economically or as a society as a whole?

I believe we can all see the changes that are taking place among many. Writings in Paganism are becoming extremely popular and even “mainstream”. The growth in the numbers of people embracing Wicca and Druidism and the other “Old Ways” is phenomenal. Traditional “artifacts” depicting Green Men, dragons, faeries and other ancient archetypes can be found in most garden and gift shops as well as the “New Age” stores. At least many more are becoming aware of their surroundings and their interactions with nature and the other residents of this planet.

Pagans have become public in their deeds to provide service to those in need. Pagan food banks have sprung up, calls for healing have gone out, Pagans have become more politicized.

There has been some discussion over the term “Pagan” lately. The word was used as a “put down” by the upper class and by Christians in general. The New World Dictionary still defines a Pagan as “not religious, heathen”, “not Christian, Moslem or Jew”. Originally both “pagan” and “heathen” meant a country dweller. More than likely the “country dweller” was one who embraced nature and the Old Ways and was belittled for that belief as Christianity became dominate. Today, although many of us may in fact be “country dwellers”, Paganism has become redefined to reflect the belief in these traditional ways, although there are very many different and distinct belief systems out there that are lumped into this category.

Tolerance given to those of us who adhere to “alternative” religions has gotten better in some parts of the world but is still lacking in many other areas. People are still being killed in Africa because they have been identified as “witches”. A recent cross burning in the United States was directed towards a Wiccan couple. Wiccan’s invited to give invocations before government bodies have been demonstrated against as followers of a “false religion”. Movies still portray witches as being evil and followers of Satan. The recent announcement of President Bush’s “faith based charitable choice” legislation sounds good until one realizes that this could be used to make a federal designation of which religions in the United States will be recognized. A back-door tactic to legislate the religious practice in the United States.

Our environment will again be under attack by those interested in exploitation, profit and refusal to change. California has undergone an extreme energy crisis lately which reflects the refusal of many of us to do with less so that more will be available in the future. Our total dependence on technology and cars, and fossil fuel supplies to power them, is destroying our planet. The President’s response is to drill for oil in the few remaining nature preserves left instead of seeking to create alternative and earth-friendly power sources.

So, where are we in the world?

We have made progress. We have made an impact on our lives, the lives of people around us and upon our environment. But we are a long way away from becoming accepted and making permanent changes that will ensure a quality life for our descendants and a quality world to grow in.

What we need to do now (my opinion of course!) is to work together more than we ever have to make these changes happen. We need to become more vocal in local issues, more visible in our disgust with hatred and intolerance. We need to address falsehoods in the media by writing calm, reasonable and fact based responses to erroneous articles and those off the wall letters to the editor. Support each other and support others who are being discriminated against—Pagan and non-Pagan alike—for this is an issue about human rights and the rights of the earth which belong to every individual—not just a few or a “class”.

Many writers today are putting out garbage which claim that their book is yet another Wiccan Handbook or the channeled directives of the Ascended Masters. There is no such thing (sorry if I step on any toes!—these are only my opinions). Of course we all need some help in approaching our spirituality but some of these books indicate that we can make our Gods do what we want! Many “spell” books are written to provide one with the means to force issues to our way of liking without regard to others or without the need to examine the issue to see why it is the way it is. Be selective in what you read and follow. Remember there is no “one way” or “right way”.

Carry on with your traditions and make them available to your children.

But start doing what you can now. The next few years will be critical for the survival of humans and animals alike and we no longer have the luxury of time.