Our earliest ancestors offered his or her own tribute to the ancestors, nature spirits, and deities of their family, tribe, and geographical location.  A shaman who would take care of the needs of the people would often on holy days lead ceremonies and rituals.  The shaman performed all tasks dealing with the needs of the tribe and gods they served.  Eventually as times changed the people changed, and as people grew ceremonies, rituals, and deities  changed while battles and wars became a part of life and alterations further progressed, including all agricultural excesses, lead to the need for specialization.  Some felt the call for one aspect of the shamanic path, performing religious rites while others performed healing, and some used spell casting – thus split the Shaman into four paths- the first medicine man, priest, witch, and spiritual warrior.  Over time people became invested in knowledge and literature, music and art.  These became incorporated into the shamanic path.  We have grown and matured like a tree and adapted to every century - yet many pagans today need an officiant of their faith to perform rites of passages, Handfastings, Funeral rites, and other every day religious needs.

 

     In today's world we have evolved and becoming a member of the “clergy” depends largely on the dictates and requirements of individual traditions we choose to follow.  Pagan shamans, priests, and priestesses often receive training in such things as ritual, raising and grounding energy, healing techniques, experiencing the ecstatic, divination, and opening to the sacred aspects of nature-subjects not ordinarily found in the curricula of mainstream religious seminaries.  Rarely, however, do Pagan priests and priestesses undergo any formal training in theology, comparative religion, pastoral counseling or group dynamics, and almost never within the context of an accredited educational institution.  This deficiency of rigorous academic training is seen by some people as the major cause of Paganism’s lack of credibility within mainstream religious circles as the curriculum for Pagan studies quite differs uniquely from mainstream religious texts and curriculum.  Some pagan organizations are continually fighting for recognition from federal and state legislation to be accredited, which is long overdue.

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     Being a self-employed Chaplain allows you to do Spiritual Counseling and hands on healings, as well as officiate in Rituals. Pagan Military Chaplains are in high demand. If you are interested in a career as a Military Officer, please let your enrollment guide know.  As mystic shamans we perform many tasks including:

Prison Ministry
    Prisons today are housing many pagan faiths. But, sadly there is usually only a christian Minister to oversee the entire prison. This often results in discrimination against those of our faith who are incarcerated. The Departments of Correction from all the states are now attempting to correct this oversight asks for someone with experience in the pagan tradition to "act as faith advisor in the establishment providing advice, pastoral care and spiritual welfare to prisoners, staff and their families as requested".   The chaplains will be expected to "provide for the religious care of prisoners and staff in the Pagan faith tradition."  Due to these unmet needs, Qualified Pagans applying for these positions get preferential consideration and are compensated for their time.

Pastoral Care
    We find that pastoral care gives emotional and spiritual support that can be found in all cultures and traditions.  This care can encompass counseling and sometimes end of life care and grief counseling as well as other life transitions like births and surgeries.  As a Pagan Minster you will need to prepare yourself for the types of ministry that will be expected of you.  Often, you’ll encounter cracks in those whom seek you out and staff in hospitals and other places that require you to engage in the ministry of counseling.   With pastoral training you will be given the the tools and resources you need to meet the counseling demands you’ll face.  Ministers applying for these jobs are often received with open arms because they support people in their pain, loss and anxiety, and their triumphs, joys and victories.

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     When you choose to become a Priest or Priestess it will change your life for the better in many ways.  The Autumn Wood Temple offers a course in Pastoral Care Education to further your success.  You would not be certified to practice psychiatry, psychology, or social work, however it will give you the tools and training  to help others in need.   

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     Please understand that there is no such thing as "instant online ordination." A computer cannot ordain you. Your request must be reviewed before your ordination can be done legally.  Also, although this ordination is granted based on your life experience, it will be noted that you were not a graduate of the Spring Glade Academy.  Should you wish to have a Ordination Package along with your ordination registry we request you please make a $10.00 donation to The Daughters Of Wyrd and we will send it to you as soon as possible.  Your credentials should you order them will reflect this notation but you can still register with the County Clerks Office in your area.

 

     The minimum age for ordination is eighteen (18) years of age.  Your residency does not factor into your registration, however different states have different laws - please check your County or Town Clerk's office.
Most offices do not have established registration steps for ministers.  We recommend that you contact the office responsible for issuing the marriage license to the couple to find out what registration and filing procedures they would like you to follow.  Some will charge for filing, so again check your local office for details.  Once you have taken care of any registration steps (if any) with the appropriate clerk's office, you can perform marriage! 

 

     Please we can not stress enough - be sure to find out about the legal doctrines governing your state.  We do not furnish any of your private information to any outside organization for any purpose. Your privacy is carefully guarded.  There is no charge or obligation associated with your ordination.  The email address you provide is used as part of a a record identifier and must be unique.  You must include a complete, factual, legal name.  Spiritual names and initials only are unacceptable for ordination records.  Should you legalize your spiritual name in the future we would be more than happy to change the registry free of charge.  Applying for ordination in the name of a fictitious person or animal, or the submission of a person's name without his or her permission is fraud.  To view the terms and conditions of our website, click here.

     Your ordination is for life, without cost, and without question of faith.  You are still ordained whether you have moved, married, or lost your credential.  If any of these are the case, to update your information and to find out how to get a new credential contact:

 

                                                                           LadyTreyah@gmail.com

 

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