I have never been the type to be concerned about my age, although at times I think it is quite incredulous that I managed to get to this age in my life so quickly; time certainly flies when you are having fun.
Personally I have never thought of age as being a barrier to anything that I wanted to do. My father had instilled in me from an early age that I have the ability do anything that I put my mind to. This wonderful advice has stayed with me all my life and has been the impetus for me breaking through several glass ceilings placed before me throughout my working life.
Unfortunately we live in a youth oriented society where looking young has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. The sad aspect of this attitude about looks and age has the unfortunate power of curtailing an individual’s ultimate potential and talents at a relatively early age and thus depriving us of new skills and creative developments in many mediums such as art, writing, photography, music and technical innovation. Interestingly, this type of ageism is not only directed at today’s baby boomers which I am one of, but also at the old of tomorrow – the X & Y generations – a kind of pre-emptive negative stereotyping.
As a growing community we should recognize the perspective which is actually an ancient and indigenous perspective on aging – that with old age come many positives, especially the lived experiences and perspectives that are referred to as ‘wisdom’. There is a perception that the concept of respecting our elders appears to be disappearing, particularly with the younger generations.
Recently there had been some discussions on Facebook about the devaluing and disappearance of our pagan elders in our community and I thought that Axis Mundi would be an ideal forum to raise this important topic and to gauge other pagans’ viewpoints.
Perhaps the word disappearance is incorrect; perhaps our elders have merely become invisible by choice, having felt neglected or grown weary of the attitudes of the current pagan community and have simply left, retreated to their own private circles or have become solitaries.
I have to admit that occasionally I have felt like I have become ‘invisible’ to the community. I’m not sure if is from an age related invisibility or from ‘the not being accepted’ perspective, which could partly be related to some ageist attitudes, and partly related to my eclectic beliefs. There is a possibility that I could be leading myself down the garden path through my own somewhat distorted perceptions. But through talking to and hearing what other pagans have to say there is something amiss here and only through honest discussion can we bring our thoughts, desires and fears out into the open and bring about some positive resolutions.
I would like to state there is also an onus on our Elders not to recede into the background but to stand in their power and help break through the attitudes that are currently facing them and start sharing their experience and knowledge. It is after all a two way relationship.
In this issue of Axis Mundi we have included some articles and viewpoints relating to our older and wiser pagans and we would love to have some input from our readers. Let us know your views on whether you agree or disagree that our pagan elders are becoming the ‘Invisible Generation’ and some suggestions on what we can do the change the situation.
Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. ~ Samuel Ullman
All these new pathways of understanding that are moving me into different directions, and taking me to unfamiliar places, have made me realise that there is no turning back. I’m not really sure that an exit does actually exist in this strange world of paradoxes, even though at times I long to return to that safe warm place of ignorance.