While in the hospital, one of my friends came to visit me and we were talking about being Pagan. I don't exactly remember what exactly we were talking about as I was on some pretty powerful painkillers at the time. However, my roommate in the hospital no longer wanted to be in a room with me because of my religious preference. She was unable to make a move to another room due to the lack of beds and decided to keep the curtain between us closed at all times. I did not know whether I should be offended or thankful. I happen to like my privacy so the curtain being drawn really was not a big deal to me. What happened later during my course of stay at the hospital did make me think about my religious preference and hospitals.
Once it got "out" that there was a Pagan on the floor, I began to recieve vistors of people I did not know wanting to lend their "spiritual support". They were all women and I would guess they were at least in their 60's as they looked the same age as my mother and mother in law. When they would enter the room, they completely ignored my room mate and immediately come to my side of the curtain and come to talk to me. They always asked permission to pray for me, which I always accepted. I will always accept any kind of energetic gift of getting better when I am ill or need help. I do not care whether or not it is a prayer, candle ligthing, spell, reiki, or other type of gift. If it is given, I usually will not turn it down. What matter if its my Gods or yours? I would offer someone the same spiritual support that was offerred to me.
Right now I am only aware of one Pagan Minister that has been accepted within the hospital setting within my local communtiy and it was not for the hospital that I was seeking medical treatment. My friend Etain has been accepted at Genesys Hospital as apart and their only Pagan Clergy. This made me think about how a there is a need at large for other Pagan Clergy are needed.
Do I think my unexpected visitors were trying to pray for my soul? Possibly.
Do I think their prayers were for my well being? Most definitely.
Do I think they were trying to convert me? Not at all, as many of them were in the room less than 5 minutes.
Do I think they were seeking me out? Most definitely. Why I think that is because not a single one of them stopped by my room mates' bedside to pray with her.
I have no idea where I am going with this blog. I guess I would like to see those that are Pagan Clergy, offer their services to hospitals for other Pagans. It would have been nice to recieve spiritual support from my own peers than those of another religion.
I do want to extend my thanks to those that did stop by to see me while I was in the hospital. Many thanks to my Coven Sister Katherine for aiding me in my time of need when I was physically unable to take care of myself. Many thanks to my friends T.S. and JG for the gifts of word search, romance novel, and Burts Bees chapstick to keep me going while I was in the hospital and out afterwards!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Litha! And many blessings to my friends and family celebrating St. John's Eve that are in New Orleans. May the Summer bring much light to our lives as well as warmth!
Here is also to a recovery from a very long trip to the hospital! (The bloodsucking nurses were not very kind with the needles!)
Sincerely and Blessed Be!
Crystal
