When Ego collides with Spirituality

Within the neo-pagan community I have come across a lot of people who like to dress a very particular way, and while I’m all in favour of self-expression, a person’s fashion choice in no way reflects the depths of their spirituality. Your sense of style does not make you any more devout and this is why certain groups, like nuns for example, choose a rather plain and modest sense of dress.

There seems to be an arrogance amongst a chunk of the neo-pagan community, who consider themselves to be more spiritually evolved than anyone outside of their particular clique, moreover, to be part of their clique you too need to have a similar aesthetic – mere jeans and a jumper simply do not cut it when dancing around a ceremonial bonfire! But the clothes do not maketh the man and this kind of spiritual elitism should have no place in true spiritual communities – it is pure ego and attention seeking. I wonder if such individuals have felt so unseen and rejected in their everyday lives, that feeling a part of something different makes them feel special? I do understand this feeling as I have had a life where I have been either mocked or knocked for my beliefs, but still I prefer to keep things real, to keep my feet on the ground and connected to the very earth these neo-pagans claim to worship.

I am lucky enough to know people with their own personal sense of style who are also lovely, spiritual, individuals. But the two are independent of one another - your sense of style has no real reflection on your belief system, or at least its depth.

Our ancestors would not have had time for fancy clothes - life was hard, so hard that it kept things in perspective, and I feel that perspective has been lost. The solstices were indeed times of celebration, but I feel the core of those celebrations has been forgotten today, it has become commercial and focused on ego driven entertainment. The most recent solstice here in the northern hemisphere was Lughnasadh (Lammas), which was traditionally the time of the first harvest, a grain harvest to be precise, and in times gone by the celebrations centred around baking bread. This year saw one group having a huge bonfire during a time of drought, but not a loaf of bread in sight! I’m not sure a single event focused on grain and bread, instead they appeared to be mainly full of people focused on their appearance. I make no secret of being a bit of “Plain Jane”, mostly at home in my jeans, jumper and a pair of walking boots – does this make me less spiritual than those who choose to wear floaty dresses and have fancy hair do’s?

Solstices, and other points in the turning wheel of the year, are an opportunity to give thanks to and show respect to Mother Earth for everything she provides. Yes, there can and should be celebration, but not at anyone or anything else’s expense. I would love to see such gatherings be less ego centred and more focused on a grounded celebration of nature, and which feel more inclusive. As it stands, I feel many neo-pagan communities exercise a degree of exclusivity that is off putting to many, not to mention open to criticism or even ridicule, that does nothing to change the mainstream perspective of alternative spiritual beliefs.

The very essence of pagan belief systems seems to be lost under layers of fabric and face paint, let’s see some sense of perspective return, let’s not have neo-pagan communities that feel exclusive and almost dependant on a person’s sense of fashion, let’s promote true earthiness and build communities of earth lovers, who respect the ground they walk upon and are not just focused on elaborate shin digs!