A Place For Men.
We have our Homes, and our Jobs, but most men today don't have a place to "get away."
The trend of Mens clubs, and Mens only events slowly dying off is taking it's toll. There was once a nearly unlimited amount of places and themed options for men to gather together, and to shamelessly just be men. From hunting clubs, to bowling teams, and even church groups, these gatherings are getting harder and harder to find. In many cases they still exist, but have changed from positive gatherings into some deranged form of identity based self loathing groups. There are less and less places where men of any belief, background, or location, can go to vent the pent up anxiety and frustration from their daily stresses in a healthy and natural way. There is one social demographic group that is growing rapidly now just as these spaces are fading. Ironically, there is a trend of “Pagan” mens spaces just starting to grow. There is more than just a little irony in this, there has never really been a gathering place for “Pagan” men, who aren't LARP’ers. Now we see these spaces popping up as the Pagan Revival continues to grow. This is why the basic mission, and the societal role of “The Grove of Odin Inc.” is so vitally important. We can not let more good men fall victim to the decay of our societies.
This was the case with many of the Church based social clubs. They all played vital roles in the actual structure and health of the local community. Now their communities and social fabric are suffering for it. Unfortunately according to the Men who have fled from them, they were once groups where men could meet with other local men, mostly who attended the same church, and plan camping and hunting trips, golf games, and bachelor parties. They would also discuss, and adopt roles in community projects. Because they either had the same religious beliefs, or community and social standards they got along great, had fun, and left politics out of it. They would even use these meetings to fix community problems before they became political issues. Those places are fading fast.
There are dozens of reasons that men have given for no longer attending the “Mens Bible Study” or other mens only groups locally. The biggest reason for the Sacred Grove, and Lodging on the property, is for My fellow Pagans. We are already isolated and outcast enough for our spiritual beliefs, especially if they are obvious either from our tattoos or appearance, or just otherwise publicly known. We get generalized as racist, violent modern vikings, or the worst is Satan worshipers, and it happens to most of us on a regular basis. Any pagan can testify, that they can see the way that a cashier awkwardly looks at them, after glancing at their tattoos, or the waitress who brings you your food at a local cafe. When it happens it's almost always a negative reaction, and it's only been getting worse. Because of the long lived general public ignorance of the beliefs and traditions of Norse Germanic Pagans, and even Wiccans, it has made it exceptionally hard to integrate into most social groups. We need our own space.
I'll say it again…
“We Need Our Own Space”
Even the famous Fraternal lodges, like the Elks, and the American Legion Mens clubs, and the Lions Club, have all lost huge swaths of their members over the last 3 - 4 years. This is mostly because of internal politics. They are simply leaving, because they feel unwanted, or unneeded, and there is no appreciation, or lifting them up for positive things any longer. It's all meetings about toxic masculinity, and why they should hate themselves for being straight men, or for just being patriotic. Men everywhere are being put down simply for being men. Especially so if they are straight men, or even just conservative men. The toll of this constant rejection, and othering of masculine men, has caused huge spikes in mental health issues in what would be otherwise healthy men.
These are the guys that need the Grove of Odin. They need to know that there are people, and communities out there who will appreciate their skills, and knowledge. Places that they will be recognized for their positive deeds, or otherwise just be respected as a man. This is one of the most important things that could be provided right now. If you know a man that is having any type of identity, or existential crisis, then this group in general, and access to its gathering place is exactly what they need.
The first location that we want to build will be in Appalachia, somewhere either inside of, or just north of the Great Smokey Mountains. There will be a gathering hall, roughly 3 - 4 cabins to start, and a tent camping area. This particular area was chosen because of many different factors. The most important factors, first it's large and unmatched views of beautiful untouched natural surroundings, second is fairly moderate year round weather. The cabins on location here will also be available to rent short term, when they are not in use for our Pagan religious festivals and gatherings. This will allow us to afford it's maintenance, and growth, along with providing some type of guidance for certain cases who are in serious need of help with mental health, who may not have otherwise been able to afford the “mental health” get away.
Help The Grove, To Help Men Everywhere. https://www.givesendgo.com/PaganSacredGrove
#MenMatter