The Ravens Nest

Why Answering To Someone Else’s Standards Can Be Foolish

Author’s Note: Before I begin, I finally decorated the altar for the Yule Season. I know, it’s just a tree but, when operating on a small scale such as this, every symbol, every thing you put down has to be toward maximizing what you have.

I was asked on Twitter awhile back (damned if I can find the tweet) how I could be a minister with Universal Life Church Monastery and be a Heathen.

My simple response was “How could I not?”

The one thing that got me thinking was that I never once received a response.

For me, the answer was simple. I don’t have the money to go through an expensive seminary, there are only two organizations of which I’m aware that offer those kinds of programs, perhaps three and I know one of them will make me swear an oath to an extreme identitarian belief that I can not and will not swear to for any reason. Also, I have to question the notion that I can’t be both of a Heathen faith and a minister with ULC Monastery. It simply does not make any sense.

The interesting aspect of this short and sweet interaction was that it wasn’t a direct challenge. I’m aware that ULC Monastery does offer some things to which I don’t agree, however, ULC Monastery does not hold me to those elements. To give you an example, they do offer a Queen James Bible. I would personally never purchase one but I will not stand in someone’s way of purchasing one. I’m more live and let live and ULC and ULC Monastery does take the approach that the ability to minister to others, perform legally-recognized weddings, funerals and other services should be open to everyone. That, I happen to agree with. They really leave the ministry itself to the minister within reason. Being the live and let live kind of person I am, that was one of the reasons I sought ordination with them.

Tribe of The Greyhorn Pagans is a group of us that does have a small and established hierarchy and, at present, we are working on becoming a religious organization, advocating for our members, their rights inherent from birth and their ability to self-determine by way of the words in The Havamal among other sources. Being a religious organization, not a religion itself, means that we do need to have some means of carrying weight in the way of documentation that allows us to be recognized in a genuine way.

With that, I’ve noticed in ULC and in ULC Monastery, there’s very very little in the way of literature or representation of the Heathen/Norse Pagan/Asatru belief in there. I don’t know the reasons why and won’t speculate, however, I will proffer the supposition that we are in the minority more so than not, so there could be either little in the way of demand for that or there could even be an established fear that refuses to go away.

As you know, I won’t approach them and make demands before joining. I will, however, join and then attempt to educate others and possibly create that kind of demand for that type of literature and education. This isn’t forcing a behavior, not at all but it’s me being in association and directing others where to obtain literature and then discussing it pertinent to the practitioner’s end. This will take time and energy that I can put in and, perhaps inspire others to do the same. Others such as and more to come in the Tribe are doing much the same. I’m definitely not alone. We genuinely want to be the change we want to see and are operating as such.

and I also hold press badges in order to write articles for The Visionary, however, holding our own substacks have kept us writing here respectively. That being said, we can operate on an official capacity in order to inform you about pertinent events in life in general as well as gaming, spirituality or just getting our own thoughts out there and perhaps showing you one fact that you may not be aware of at the time.

That fact is that, in our encapsulated lives these days, we’ve become disconnected from each other. Almost entirely. The technology that was marketed to connect us has simply formed us into our own bubbles and the recent four years have made us all realize just how much of a bubble we’re each locked into at any point in our lives. Despite that, despite your feelings of isolation, you’re not alone.

On a personal level, I know there aren’t many of us Heathens around and, while that’s my focus, I’m not averse to an interfaith ministry, especially when it comes to the individual. What is the alternative? Conversion attempts? Denial of service? Not really my particular speed. Learning and practicing the use of tarot, oracles and the runes, taught me that sometimes, there are people from all walks that will need advice at some point and telling someone, “Sorry, bro, I’m a Heathen, I can’t help you” is the absolute least helpful thing that I could do for them. For me, that is not an option.

To summarize, and I’m sure I’m missing some salient points here that still need addressing, however, it comes down to adding a little weight to what it is we try to do. Not many want to listen to the street preacher on a traffic island but those carrying some type of credentials, that’s something of added import. Also, being that there’s very little in the way of us, this is a great opportunity for us to present the religion without political ideology or agenda in any form. Giving people something to think about rather than browbeating them tends to work a little better. Not always, but sometimes. Having someone operating in an interfaith capacity can provide comfort in times of difficulty. Being able to perform weddings and funerals as I can and would takes some of the burden off of the people involved. While I don’t know what the going rate is on people to officiate, I don’t think anyone’s going to turn down something like fifty bucks and maybe food at the reception or at the celebration of life.

Some simply would not accept a Heathen presiding over those events for them and that’s something I understand and won’t force. I wouldn’t expect someone who is Muslim, for example, to approach me to perform any of their religious services. I also wouldn’t expect the Seventh Day Adventist or the Pentecostal to approach me to perform a religious service as well. However, that does not mean I wouldn’t be open to helping those people.

My point is, traditionally, religion can and has been used to bring us together. That’s my real focus. For those insistent to remain divided and encapsulated, I leave them to it, there’s nothing at all I can do to change their minds until they’re ready to have that information to think about and then decide for themselves where they want to go.

To wrap, I want to inspire hope, foster a little more unity and to show people that they’re not alone. That’s all. I am always looking for people who want to step into their own power again, to drop being a victim and begin being a victor. I always look for the people who keep getting beaten to their knees and just keep getting up in defiance and pushing forward, relentlessly. To me those are admirable qualities in people but it’s never going to be about me when it comes to ministry, it will always be about you, the human being standing in front of me, the person seeking a truth that corporations, politicians and some of the ecumenical establishment can’t offer. While I can’t offer you the truth, all I can do is aid you along your path and cheer you on as you find it.

So, how can I be a Heathen and a Minister with ULC Monastery?

I ask you, again, how can I not?