So, what now...

After the open circle I attended collapsed, as all things do in time, I wonder which direction I should take my practice.

There's the solitary way, that I do at home anyway where I can do what I like when I like...but that would be a tad lonesome and can lead to stagnation if done all the time. So, it is time to contemplate who, what, when, where, and why again. It's quite exciting. I think about the small covens started by people haphazardly. Mixed up drama with a tad of tarot and tea leaf reading. Singular people on soapboxes to deminish the confidence of those who look to this "leader" and feel regret and embarrassment. Quickly opening up to those you aren't ready to trust. Crazy times. Crazy people...

Is there any way to keep drama out of a coven? Probably not all the way, but I'd like to think that if a coven or circle forms, we will try and work through problems instead of flinging feces in each others' faces. I'd like to think my friends are worthwhile and mature enough to not take themselves (and others) too seriously. An ounce of prevention is with a pound of cure... or is it an ounce of pretention is worth a pound of manure? Eh, both work equally as well. I feel a little bit like a youngster again. It's kind of fun. :) The end of one thing and the start of something new. Quite exciting.

Broken Circle

Ok, it sounds worse than it is. After 9 years, our chapter of CUUPS (Covenenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) is no more. It dwindled down and due to a hiccup in the bylaws, we couldn't fullfill our obligations for the upcoming year (i.e. we didn't have enough people to have a Council of Elders basically). Over the past 9 years, this group grew and shrank until last year when we decided that a haitus was necessary. If we thought we could continue this group, we'd start over. Well, we did. With new bylaws and a new sense of togetherness. With that said, we didn't have the rallied support of the previous year when people said "No, stop! We want to keep CUUPS!" "I don't want it to go away!" "I'll help!" Those people disappeared to other groups or just forgot to show up. Now, our little group is disbanding.

"But, this is not the end. It is not the beginning of the end. It is the end of the beginning..."

Ok, I can't remember that movie I just quoted...oh yes. Millenium. So, now my energies that I directed toward our little group, an eclectic open circle basically, can now be directed elsewhere. So, I don't have to worry about being on the Council of Elders. I don't have to worry about that at all. Now I have to ponder on the fact that I have to spread my wings and fly elsewhere...like those others that left before me. I'll meet other people. I'll focus more on my Craft with others that want to focus as well. It's a good thing. I really thought I'd be more upset. Maybe that comes later. Now I can help form a new group without as much politics. Something of equality instead of follow-the-leader.

Not the most exciting post, I know. But, I figure CUUPS deserved at least this. It was good to me. It supported me when I needed support. It was always there, even if I couldn't make it to events. I just knew it was there. The people of CUUPS, though a motley crew of ages and styles, I will miss. It was just time to say goodbye to the old and start anew.