Omicron is Taking a Toll On Pagans, Who Depend on Conferences for Community | thebereancall.org

TBC Staff

Pagans are a decentralized community, comprising largely independent, small temples, covens and kindreds, with many people operating as solitary practitioners, without even a common doctrine to bring them together.  

What they do have is conferences. “In person events are our crossroads, agora, United Nations, Brigadoon, block party, state fair, and more. Friendships and alliances are created and deepened. Issues are explored and sacred techniques are shared,” said Ivo Dominguez Jr., an elder in the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, in a statement to Religion News Service.

Dominguez is the founder of the long-running conference Between the Worlds, normally held in Delaware in conjunction with the appearance of certain astrological configurations. After canceling their April 2020 meeting, Dominguez and his fellow organizers were hoping to gather later in January, but omicron has forced another postponement, to 2023.

Some upcoming winter conferences are still moving forward. ConVocation in Detroit has not announced a cancellation of its February event, but the board is watching the situation.

Some organizers say they have little choice. Paganicon, one of the largest indoor pagan conferences, held in St. Paul, Minnesota, is still planning to open its doors in mid-March, according to Becky Munson, its director of programming and treasurer of Twin Cities Pagan Pride, which puts on Paganicon.

“The pandemic has been hard on Twin Cities Pagan Pride. We need this event to go forward, or the consequences could be the end of us,” said Munson.

https://religionnews.com/2022/01/19/omicron-is-taking-a-toll-on-pagans-who-depend-on-conferences-for-community/