Rochester's Mystical Realm: The Heartbeat of the Pagan Community
By:
Jay Schading and Georgia Pressley
Highlighting the Rochester Pagan Community
HENRIETTA, N.Y. – Paganism has been around for centuries. It has an unfortunate history of misrepresentation throughout the ages, and for a while, was an underground religion. In Rochester, N.Y., Paganism is flourishing. From open covens and space for public rituals, to Chaplains at local schools being resources for students, Rochester houses safe spaces for anyone of the Pagan religion.
Paganism is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of paths one can take – Wicca, Druid, Alexandrian and Eclectic to name a few – similar to denominations of Christianity.
Paganism is a polytheistic religion, whereas more common belief systems are monotheistic. For many, to be pagan means to connect and honor the natural world and all the energy that flows through life.
“We believe in more than one god, or we believe there's one great divine power that we can relate to through the archetypes of many different gods,” said High Priestess Rauncie Reynolds. “We believe in honoring nature. We don't have a hierarchy."
Reynolds, Pagan Chaplain at the Rochester Institute of Technology, has been servicing the Rochester community for about 20 years and has been a pagan for double that time. As a chaplain, she provides spiritual support to those outside of religious organizations. Reynolds considers herself an Eclectic Pagan – which pulls different rituals and beliefs together from different paths of Paganism – and focuses on the path of the Living Tapestry tradition.
Sean Watson, Pagan Chaplain at the University of Rochester, was recently ordained a Percent of the Living Tapestry tradition. They began their journey under the guidance of Reynolds, and have considered themselves a Pagan for over 20 years.
“[The Living Tapestry tradition] is living because of the members that make it up,” said Watson. “The tapestry idea is that we are all woven together, each a thread… We have these core beliefs, this shared community, but it is what you will make of it.”
In contrast to ‘traditional’ religions, there is no one specific book or scripture that pagans follow. Instead, pagans often use artifacts and methods to guide their spiritual direction: tarot cards, crystals, shadow work and following the Wheel of the Year to name a few.
“There's no book of pagan. There is no Bible. It's ‘This feels right.’ I am going to engage [with my path] in this way until it doesn't feel right anymore,” said Watson.
To Watson, being a pagan means to create a path you can follow, but know that the magic within the religion doesn’t have to come from outside resources.
“I have an altar right here in my office, but I don't need any of that,” Watson said. “I've had students previously come to me and say ‘Oh, I live in the residence halls and I can't have incense to cleanse my tarot cards. What can I do?’ I respond with ‘just think they're cleansed.’ You are the power, [the items are not].”
High Priestess Shelly Stodd of the Daughters of Gaia Naos coven in Rochester has been on her journey for well over 15 years. Varied from Reynolds and Watson, Stodd’s paganism path follows Wiccan beliefs.
“Gaia is traditionally, in mythology, Greek. But she to us is the All-Mother. She's the goddess of Wicca. She is Mother Earth,” Stodd said. "Wiccans don't believe in heaven and hell either. [We believe in] harm none and do what you will."
Like many other paths of Paganism, Wiccans also follow the Wheel of the Year. Beltane, often celebrated by all paths of Paganism at the end of April, is what Wiccans believe to be their creation holiday.
“Wicca is a fertility religion,” began Stodd, “so we celebrate the union of the God and Goddess getting together.”
The Wheel of the Year highlights many different holidays. Some are more minor than others, like solstices and equinoxes, and then there are major holidays, like Beltane and Imbolc.
Alongside annual celebrations, other uncommon celestial experiences aid pagans in their spirituality.
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse passed through Rochester, providing all a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Solar eclipses provide Pagans time to do more personal rituals within the extravagant celestial event.
“For most Pagans,” Reynolds began, “this particular type of eclipse is a time to do inner work, to meditate, and to write in your journals. It’s time to set intentions so when the sun comes back out, it’s a time for transformation.”
Reynolds set up a booth at the Gordon Fieldhouse during RIT’s Eclipse Fest for the Pagan community to come together in celebration, as well as exposing Paganism to others.
For Stodd and the Daughters of Gaia Naos, their coven focused on personal rituals and celebrations individually.
“We're not doing much of anything [in terms of group celebration] because the magic is coming from the moon and the sun,” Stodd said. “It doesn't need to come from us. We want to be in the middle and experience it, whatever comes.”
The history of Paganism in Rochester is under documented. Much of the past was chronicled through word of mouth out of fear of repremandment and hate. Until roughly 25 years ago, Rochester pagans commonly practiced underground.
“Part of the traditional statements in the way of our path involves secrets and to not share on the outside the names of those who are in the circle,” said Watson. “As I have moved through and been more public in my own space, there's a lot more people [coming forward about being Pagan.]”
Local store Mythic Treasures off of Jefferson Rd. in Henrietta, N.Y., is a safe space for pagans to come together in celebration. Reynolds is a prominent figure at Mythic Treasures, offering professional tarot card readings, hosting community rituals and hosting workshops.
“To be a witch is to know yourself,” Reynolds said.
