Paganism has reached an interesting point in its evolution. Running parallel to a massive increase in the number of books on witchcraft, druidry and general ‘alternative spirituality’ is a huge increase in the number of people setting themselves up as experts in these matters. Never mind that their only qualification is that they've read half a book and bought a velvet cape, the yearning for spiritual meaning and purpose is so great and so unsatisfied that they soon have a following.
Very often, no harm at all comes from putting your trust in what these people have to offer. Some mispronounced ritual and portentous dressing up isn’t the end of the world. Serious seekers will soon lose interest and people who are interested in being seen to be against Christianity are at least kept occupied.
But when service is expected of these people, they fold. Suddenly the difference between ‘alternative spirituality’ and ‘religion’ become very clear. They are unable to do what is expected of a serious practitioner of Paganism, a person who is expected to function as a psychopomp, in both Jungian and classical terms, to help the soul transform.
Many offer their services to the distressed for a fee. This usually involves drums, drama, rainbows, white light and other unverifiable business that anyone can say they’re expert in. But when a Pagan moves from being able to contact a shaman/witch/druid herself to being isolated through illness or other circumstance, they will be very lucky to be caught and held by another Pagan at all, let alone one who has the skills and support to work meaningfully with them.
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