On Saturday I will be attending Laramie Pagan Pride Day in Washakie Park. LPPD is an event hosted by local Pagans in an effort to educate the non-Pagan community about the truth of our practices.
Paganism encompasses a wide range of religious beliefs. Most Pagan beliefs are based on the fact that there is good and evil, positive and negative in all things. We practice magic and perform rituals. There are no blood sacrifices in our rituals and we do not pray to a red-horned devil or any embodiment of pure evil.
I call myself a Witch. Not to frighten people or because I think it sounds cool, but because my beliefs do not fit nicely within a neat little package.
Being Pagan in Wyoming is especially difficult. Recent data shows there are roughly 5.8 people per square mile in our lovely state, so it may be weeks before I run across someone with similar beliefs and ideas.
There are Pagan Pride Day events across the country. The idea was put forth by the Pagan Pride Project which is dedicated to the advancement of religion and the elimination of discrimination on the basis of religious preferences, according to their website.
Though the event it open to all, it has been my experience that much of the community is not interested in attending, so it becomes a day for area Pagans to find each other. Although there are a few active groups around the state, they are not always accessible to more rural Pagans.
LPPD is also a good event for people to attend if they are curious about things we do. Most Pagans aren’t afraid to answer questions. Pagans do not proselytize. It is not our intention to seek out wayward souls to convert to our way of thinking. However, some of us will take on students willing to learn.
I am looking forward to this year’s LPPD. I can’t wait to meet new people and learn new things. Like LPPD I am always growing and evolving.
