Pagan group offers counseling for those affected by Fort Hood tragedy
Worship area for Fort Hood Open Circle. Photo by Selena Fox, courtesy of Circle Sanctuary.
I am sure clergy members of all faiths have been working very hard in the aftermath of the Fort Hood tragedy. Among them are Pagan chaplains and spiritual counselors working with the more than 150 Pagans known to be part of the Fort Hood community.
Some worship with the Fort Hood Open Circle, sponsored by Sacred Well Congregation. Others are solo practitioners.
Circle Sanctuary, a Midwestern Pagan organization with an active military ministries arm, has organized free telephone counseling and support for any Pagans, Wiccans, Druids, Heathens, Pantheists, or other Nature religion spiritual practitioners distressed by the Nov. 5 tragedy. That would include those at other military and government installations, as well as civilians.
Pagans are one of the larger religious minority groups involved in the armed forces. In 2006, Stars and Stripes claimed that 2005 Department of Defense statistics show that “more than 1,800 active-duty service members identified themselves as Wiccans.” The Military Pagan Network estimates there are over 4,300 Pagans in the military, of which over 2,000 are Wiccan. According to the last publicly available estimate of Pagans in the Air Force (2004), Wicca was the third-largest non-Christian religion in the Air Force behind Judaism and Buddhism.
For me and most of the Pagans I know personally, the warrior is more of a symbolic than a literal archetype in our development. But for many, being a warrior is a calling and a sacred trust. I read comments from many of those on social networking sites this week. Their feelings probably mirrored those expressed on just about any faith group’s site: compassion for the victims and their families; compassion for the kind of pain that would lead anyone to take the lives of so many; anger that a military man would open fire on his brothers and sisters in arms; gratitude for those who risked their lives to bring an end to the carnage.
I can add nothing to those sentiments except this: may all who need healing, find it. May all who can offer prayer, compassion and mercy, do so. May those who stand in a place of anger find a healthy and productive way to channel it. And for those who feel both compassion and anger, may they find the strength to hold both.
It is wonderful to hear that people such as those at Circle Sanctuary carry the compassion necessary to help those in need. Soldiers, regardless of religion or philosophy, whether or not you support the reasons why they are being asked to go in harm’s way, are in harm’s way generally out of motivation to make a positive difference for their friends, family, and country. That deserves thoughtful respect and support.
The Fort Hood tragedy has affected many in the military as well as those in the greater community. It has been inspiring to see the community support that has gathered to help those in need, including support from members of clergy from multiple faiths. In moments of great tragedy, the best elements of humanity can often be seen.
FTP
http://www.thewicca.ca
Can’t imagine for the life of me how Military Pagan Network can provide any kind of counseling (particuarly grief)to those who have lost loved ones in this tradgedy. Only GOD can provide grief counseling when there is so much madness in this world. There is too much madness in this world.,
Nessa,
I cannot imagine how an invisible friend can provide grief counseling.
Never the less I can see how a chaplain can provide counseling, if they are doing their jobs and not using the death and destruction as an opportunity to convert vulnerable people.
I fully support chaplains doing their jobs: atheist, Christian, Muslim, pagan, Buddhist, or what ever. I fully oppose the vultures who are using their positions as chaplains to try to gain “souls” for their gods.
Simian
I never cease to be amazed that even when a person or group of people are working hard to help take care of others in need that some folks find the worst attitude they can. I agree that “God” however you view her/him is the ultimate source. I do know that people help others with things all the time. We do not live in a bubble and only connect with the “Creator.” God does not provide grief counseling, people do. God provides the love in our hearts to reach out to others in need.
Many people do good works just because it is the way they live. Bad attitudes and exclusiveness do not benefit anyone. Name calling “vultures” is very negative. Do you personally know the people doing the counseling? If not, then how can you assume the worst against them instead of respecting them as doing the job they have committed their life to do? Please check your hostility at the door. Thank you.
Rev., unfortunately there is a disturbing, documented trend of evangelical Christian chaplains using their military posts as bully pulpits and missionary fields to try to convert those of different faiths. Like Nessa, they believe that their version of “God” is the only reality. To approach a traumatized person this way as a counselor could indeed be vulture-like. The difference: vultures are acting on instinct; chaplains are military personnel bound by rules that are supposed to prohibit this behavior.
Further reading: http://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/05/0082488
With the Mother,
MT