Charging for Spirituality: A Critique of Folkish Pagan Organizations

It's becoming increasingly common for Folkish pagan organizations to charge members for access to rituals, workshops, and other community events. While some argue that these fees are necessary to cover expenses, this practice raises serious concerns about the nature of spirituality and the accessibility of paganism.

Here's why charging for spiritual experiences within a community setting is problematic:

Commodifying Spirituality: Charging for access to rituals and ceremonies essentially commodifies spirituality. It transforms a sacred experience into a product or service, reducing its inherent value and potentially alienating those who cannot afford it. This practice contrasts with many Christian churches, which often request tithing (a voluntary contribution of a portion of income) but do not demand payment for attendance at services or participation in religious events.

Creating Barriers to Entry: Financial barriers can exclude individuals from participating fully in their community and accessing essential spiritual experiences. This can perpetuate socioeconomic disparities within the Folkish pagan community and prevent those with limited means from fully engaging with their faith.

Undermining the Core Values of Paganism: Many pagan traditions emphasize interconnectedness, sharing, and honoring the Earth. Charging for access to spiritual practices runs counter to these values, suggesting that spirituality is a commodity to be bought and sold rather than a shared experience.

Alternatives Exist: There are viable alternatives to charging for spiritual experiences. Many successful Folkish communities rely on voluntary contributions, potlucks, and labor-sharing to cover expenses while maintaining accessibility for all members.

It's important to acknowledge that in certain situations, such as large-scale events requiring significant logistical planning (e.g., renting a large venue, securing lodging, providing catering), a nominal fee to cover expenses might be understandable. However, even in these cases, efforts should be made to minimize costs and offer alternative options for those with limited financial means.

It's important to remember that spirituality is a deeply personal and individual experience. While organizations can certainly charge for goods and services like workshops, classes, or handcrafted items, they should not place a price tag on the core aspects of communal worship and spiritual practice.

Charging a monthly fee for spirituality and community isn't Aryan, it's rather Jewish.

So what does this mean - "except to the extent required by law" ??.. This sounds like as long a CBDC's are made lawful they will be permitted, but any action taken to establish or promote non lawful CBDC's will be prohibited... So this is not prohibiting CBDC's at all, it's just making them exclusive to government?

I believe the above quote is from Rudyard Kippling.

Now this is the law of the jungle, as old and as true as the sky,

And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, the law runneth forward and back,

For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

Welcome to Blood month!!

November is Blot-monaþ ‘Blood (sacrifice) month’ when surplus livestock was killed off before winter. You had fattened your pigs through mad month now is the time to slaughter, salt, smoke and store to see you through the winter.

In the Anglo-Saxon calendar, Blōtmōnaþ (modern MEnglish: blót month) was the month roughly corresponding to November.

The month was recorded by the Anglo-Saxon scholar Bede saying "Blod-monath is month of immolations, for it was in this month that the cattle which were to be slaughtered were dedicated to the gods.” ( Sherrif of Nottingham FB group)

",,Sleeping Beauty", marble sculpture, 1878
by sculptor Louis Sussmann Hellborn (1828 - 1908).
(housed at Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin Germany)"
",,Sleeping Beauty" sits slumbering in the throne chair, decorated with fantastic Romanesque ornamentation, her arms resting on the armrests; her feet are covered by rampant roses that climb up the chair, and the fateful spindle lies on the floor - Inscribed L. Sussmann, Berlin. Carrara marble, life-size figure. Gift from the artist in 1888.
,The features of the sculpture are apparently based on the Brothers Grimm version of the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. The sculpture was completed a few years prior to the premier of Sleeping Beauty Ballet."

In our hearth, we make the traditional meal for Vetrnætr, which is a boar stew. This is often referred to as the "Sacred Stew."

The sacred stew consists of the 9 sacred ingredients used as the base of the meal. These ingredients are known for their nutritional and healing properties. The consumption of this meal brings about vitality, helps to heal illnesses within the body, and is spiritually curative as the kinship of our families and folk come together to partake of this sacred meal as one body and mind to bring offerings to Lord Freyr to seek his blessings.

Below are the 9 sacred ingredients for making this traditional meal.

Boar Meat
Bone Marrow
Leeks
Garlic
Barley
Salt
Apple Cider Vinegar
Thyme
Mushrooms

How to Celebrate a Quiet Life - Daily Life in Finland
https://youtube.com/watch?v=47qBGFU-eAg&si=1rxViDb1iNIUCOyD