| |
 There
has been some, well, interesting talk as of late about
what SIPA is, what it isn’t, who’s involved,
ect. So to clear up some confusion I felt it was time
to write about the organization known as SIPA-the Southern
Illinois Pagan Alliance.
As
many of you know, Don Elwell spontaneously created SIPA
in September of 1998 to have an association to be affiliated
with while he debated our friend and yours, the Evangelical
Presbyterian minister Burke Shade. Don created it and
then moved on to other projects, leaving the organization
in my hands to make it sink or swim. I chose to make it
live. With the help of a handful of dedicated individuals
we not only gave SIPA life, but helped it grow.
SIPA
is NOT a coven, nor will it ever be a coven. We do not
mean to take the place of either individual or coven work.
In fact, covens and circles have formed from connections
made through SIPA events and the networking efforts we
strive so hard to do!
SIPA
is a networking, organizational and action oriented group
that hosts many open events and rituals, including the
8 major sabbats as well as smaller rituals such as remembrance
vigils such as the 9-11 circles, healing circles,ect.
SIPA does want to provide experiences in various group
rituals and events for those interested in participating.
SIPA also strives to provide safety and an organization
to provide support in the public realm when needed by
regional pagans. This would be in the form of support,
defense and a respected and well known organization to
be affiliated with.
Who
runs SIPA? There is a board made up of about 8 or so people
who plan and organize rituals and things like the newsletter,
the website, listserve, fund raisers and other events.
This is a small group that makes the major decisions but
these decisions are made by the GROUP, with input from
the community taken very seriously, and not by any individual
person.
Why
do you see the same faces participating /running the rituals?
This is simple, and unfortunate in many ways...these are
the people who have been willing to step up and volunteer
their time and energy. There seems to be a limited number
of people willing or able to step forth and take an active
role. Believe me, to find volunteers, especially NEW faces
and new people, is sometimes like pulling teeth. When
few step up to volunteer, we fall back on the “tried
and true” and also we fall back on the people who
have put the most time and energy into SIPA to represent
the organization at major events. This is not to say we
don’t want new people to participate(PLEASE....WE
DO, WE NEED YOU) but we do have to work with what we have,
and when new faces volunteer, we try to give them preference!
What
kind of people make up SIPA? I have heard that we are
primarily a college aged group...this is simply not true!
Sure, many folks involved in SIPA and that come to SIPA
events are college aged, but many are not. Look around
at the next event...I promise you will find children,
teens, people in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties,
sixties...and it keeps going! For example, Raven is around
20, I am 28 , Don is 51!...and that is just a sample of
SIPA folks! We are made up of people from all over the
country, from every socioeconomic status and education
level. We are made up of men, women, transgendered folks,
heterosexuals, homosexuals, bisexuals...black, white,
Hispanic, Asian...the list goes on.
We
are Wiccan, Pagan, Native American, Eclectic, Buddhist,
Ceremonial Magicians, healers, herbalists, diviners, mystics,
shamans, psychics...and on and on.
We
are made up of beginners and adepts and everything in
between. We are solitary, coven mates, or somewhere in
between.
Some
folks are students. Many hold jobs in places like offices,
grocery stores, coffee shops, retail outlets, at home...even
at our own businesses! Some are doctors, lawyers, therapists,
artists, and more!
We
are single, married, divorced, celibate, mothers, fathers
or childless. Many of us are pet owners.
WE
ARE DIVERSE.
SIPA
was created to build community in this region. We are
not here to hurt anyone or take anything away. We are
here to build upon personal spirituality and help people
on their personal spiritual journey. We are here to support.
SIPA tries to provide what the community wants and needs.
We are diverse in so many ways yet so similar.
I
want to encourage folks to give SIPA a chance, check out
our events and ask questions! Voice your ideas! And get
involved to the extent that you feel comfortable and are
willing to be involved! We need you! We want you!
And
please know...SIPA is trying its best to be a positive
force in this area. We need all the help we can get!
Blessed
Be! |
