Copyright 2007 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
Heritage and European Paganism
An issue dividing Heathenism and , to a lesser extent Paganism, is the issue of exclusivity by heritage. While most groups are open regardless of heritage, there are groups who restrict themselves by ethnicity. There are Heathen groups who will only accept people of Northern European ancestry, and Pagan groups who accept only those of specific Celtic heritage. There are several sides to the argument. Some regard cultural integrity as part of their spirituality, while others say that spirituality must abide regardless of ancestry. Some regard an exclusive policy as the prerogative of a group, and others call it bigotry.
We need to look at this matter objectively. Can spirituality and cultural exclusivity coexist, or do they cancel each other? Is an open policy going to “water down” the cohesion of European-derived traditions? Is an exclusive policy just another example bigotry? If and when does exclusivity cross the line from heritage to racism?
Here are a couple of examples outside of Paganism that provide a starting point for our discussion.
There was a Chinese-American fellow named Sam whom I knew some years ago. Sam was a genuinely good man. He was the kind of person whom most of us would want as a friend. One thing that Sam had was a secret. Among the things he inherited was Chinese boxing, or “Kung Fu.” His family taught him, and he enjoyed it thoroughly.
I had asked Sam about taking lessons, and he always declined politely. Sam offered to send me to another teacher whom he regarded as being equally good as himself. Sam was a bit embarrassed about his reason for refusing to teach. He was afraid it might make him seem racist. Those of us who knew the man knew that he was no racist. Sam took people as he met them.
The reason Sam gave was that he considered his Kung Fu more than just another martial art. Sam regarded it as both a family and cultural heritage. He felt that this one thing was to be shared to a more exclusive group because it was a cultural and family heritage. Sam’s only students were of Chinese ancestry. More specifically, their ancestry was from the same Chinese province from which his family had come. Sam felt that his Kung Fu was as much about Chinese heritage as it was an art.
My reply to Sam surprised him. I told him I thought it a great thing that he kept his culture alive. Most important was that he did it in a way that was significant to him and his heritage.
Some years later, a similar thing occurred. I had been discussing occultism with some European acquaintances for a while. They spoke of things as if they had personal experience, rather than book knowledge. The conversations were always fascinating.
I was surprised one day when one of the fellows asked me to meet him at his office. Several of the others were there. “Hans” told me that he saw in me a talent for esoteric work. He felt that it would be wrong to let this talent run loose. An offer was made to give me some basic instruction in their type of magickal work. “Hans” explained that the basics would carry me through. He also told me that I could never become a member of his group. Membership was limited to members of a specific European ethnic group. All they asked in return was that I share my Runic knowledge with them.
I accepted the offer, and received instruction. This was not the usual occult “secret order” thing. It was a group of people who liked to study and practice occultism together. The things I learned were priceless. However, it was only the basics. As with Sam, the occultists saw their work as having ethic ramifications.
There are Heathen groups who limit their membership by ancestry. It may surprise you that some Wiccan groups do the same. I am aware of Irish Tradition covens who accept only those of Irish ancestry, for instance. I have heard that a few Scottish, Italian and Welsh groups which are also exclusive. Reasons vary, but most of them claim that their work is both spiritual and cultural.
Most of my dealings over the years have not been restricted by ethnicity. Covens and esoteric groups I knew tended to accept folks on criteria other than ancestry. The same for jujitsu clubs and the like. A person’s suitability is in things other than race, ancestry, etc. I’ve worked with magickal groups that included all kinds of people. The ethnic mix in no way diminished the magick.
The question I have been asked is this: is it racist to refuse people entry to a spiritual group based on ancestry? Can cultural exclusivity coexist with spirituality, or do the two cancel each other? If so, then where is the line between heritage and bigotry?
In my case, I am one of the folks who take people on their own individual merits. My own life experience has taught me that race is not as important as character. The few personal students I have taken were accepted because of their character. My opinion is that this spiritual path is available to anybody. I do not own it, and cannot keep it from folks who want it.
The Runes are not guided by ancestral preference. As an analogy, look at a dollar bill. It represents an amount of value. The bill itself is intrinsically worth only a few cents. What it represents is an essence, a value, and an amount of that value. It is one dollar, and will be one dollar regardless of who holds it. It will not be less than one dollar, no matter who has it. A dollar bill will not be one dollar for an Irish man, but only seventy-five cents for a French woman. It will not be more if the holder is a public official, or less if the holder is Gay. The dollar spends for them all equally, and it spends in the same amount every time.
What is the essence behind the dollar? What is that value? It is the same as the essence represented by the Fehu Rune. That’s right: one dollar’s worth of Fehu. As with all Runes, the power works for all who use it correctly. The Runes do not look at distinctions such as race, gender, education, politics or sexual preference. They work, regardless.
The majority of us do not apply a policy of cultural exclusivity. Others do. To be blunt, there are folks in the majority who are quick to brand such people as bigots or racists. Are they? Or are they blending their spiritual beliefs with cultural cohesion? Our conventional society (USA 2007) would apply the “politically correct” standard, branding them racist if they are White and “culturally aware” if non-White. That is the double standard of our day. We need to step outside the narrow confines of “political correctness” and take a more reasoned view. If it is cultural awareness for non-Whites to enjoy a degree of exclusiveness, why not those of European ancestry?
I think we find a precedent in Sam and “Hans.” Sam regarded his thing as a family trust and a way of maintaining his people. It was not for others because its significance to him connected directly with his heritage. Were he bigoted, he would never have recommended the other teacher. He would have tried to dissuade me from further interest. Instead, Sam made the recommendation and explained his reasons.
“Hans” and his friends saw their esoteric studies in a different light than most. They preferred to keep it among themselves. Being the kind of people they were, they offered me a gift without abrogating their groups’s cultural integrity. Bigots would not do that. Hans and his friends were motivated by something higher than self-interest. They saw that training me would be for the greater good. However, they also felt that admitting me as a member would be impossible.
Any group has a right to determine its membership. The group is made of people of a like mind, and so can choose folks it feels will fit its goals. This goes for Heathen and Pagan groups, as well. It is perfectly alright to be open to all, or to be exclusive, or folkish. Such does not diminish the potential for spirituality. So long as the exclusivity does not descend into hatred of others, spiritual progress is available. Hatred closes the gates of spirituality. A hate-filled group becomes a spiritless band of angry people. Fortunately, most exclusive groups can keep their cultural standards without losing themselves.
Whether a group is exclusive or open, we need to remember that this is a big world peopled with billions of individuals. All of them are people who embody the same abilities to think, feel and act. Culture is a tool to enhance humanity. It should not be a weapon for attack, but a place to grow.
Those of us who take an open view of things need to rethink our opinion of those groups which remain culturally exclusive. Though a few might exhibit bigotry, most are merely expressing their spiritual choice. They are using their freedom to worship with those whom they prefer. Whether any one of us agrees with their choice or not, we do the Heathen thing when we respect their right. We are good Heathens when we allow them their choice without condemnation. After all, the thing we oppose is hatred, bigotry and them mistreatment of others. Are we not equally bigoted if we pillory those whose views differ? A part of an open policy is to allow other viewpoints.
We should expect that our views are respected, as well. We choose to offer our ways to all comers. This does not diminish the teachings in any way. Consider that most readers are already practicing in lands that differ from their traditions’ places of origin: The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other English-speaking countries. Often, we are working in a language different from that of our Heathen and Pagan forebears. Despite these differences, our work is as vibrant and powerful as that of our ancestors.
We should not let the “politically correct” norms of our current society dissuade us from doing the right thing. In this case, the right thing is to respect the choices of others. So long as their way does not deride or hate, there is no wrong. It is a matter of fairness for us to respect the choices of others, even if we disagree or do not understand them.
