Willow Dragonstone Community

Progressive Pagan Group of Faith, Family & Community

Conflict Resolution Within WDSC

In many pagan covens and communities, there is little to no recourse when it comes to dealing with leadership. The High Priestess or High Priest has the final say and there is little to nothing anyone can do about it. Although there is a psychological need for someone to be identified as absolutely being in charge, in this time, there is also a need for accountability and recourse. In 2017, Willow suffered through a very serious split. Having learned from the pain and conflict, Willow has revised it’s stance on Conflict Resolution. Below are the steps REQUIRED for anyone to say they have actually tried to reach conflict resolution within Willow.

  1. READ UP: Go RIGHT NOW To Peer Conflict Resolution page. Complete all the exercises recommended to help prepare you for conflict resolution.
  2. DIAL UP: Dial your mental and emotional reference to the following pagan views on conflict:
    1. All conflict is created equally between all parties. It is rarely the case that only ONE party is AT FAULT. In fact, taking the view of who is WRONG or AT FAULT is likely to create an atmosphere that is not conducive to conflict resolution. Further if you choose to take a hard stance that all of your problems, emotions, and thoughts are the responsibility of others, you are not likely to find conflict resolution, EVER.
    2. Personal Responsibility is the spiritual setting for all conflict resolution. You must be prepared to find in yourself your own bias, triggers, or issues and name those if you plan on having true conflict resolution.
    3. Review again the ways that small spiritual groups may cause you to face past inter-relationship issues.
  3. CHECK UP: After the review, identify what past inter-relationship issues you may subconsciously be manifesting with this conflict. Run your issue by someone you trust who tells you the truth about your personal bias and motivations. Is this really someone else’s doing? Or is this a manifestation of an issue that you alone can solve because the issue is IN YOU alone.
  4. SPEAK UP: Do not assume that if you are uncomfortable or have a problem, that the person you are uncomfortable with or have a problem with knows. There are no mind readers in Willow. If you fail to bring your problems to the person in question in a timely fashion you can absolutely expect that resolution will not be forth coming.
  5. MEET UP: Arrange IN PERSON to resolve the issue ALONE. Utilizing the previously referenced Peer Conflict Resolution page and the instructions on setting up a meeting, arrange to meet the person you have conflict with IN PERSON and IN PRIVATE. Do this before you gossip or complain about the issue with anyone else in Willow keeping in mind the Oaths and General Membership Agreement you have entered into or will be expected to enter into should you join Willow. Remember that paganism demands personal responsibility and the time to take the steps toward personal responsibility is right now.
  6. PREP UP: If you are worried or concerned you can reach someone in the Family Coven or Inner Circle: Dia Crabtree – craftydia@gmail.com; Tony – tonycrabtree42@gmail.com; Jax – jkgilbert18@gmail.com; Nathan – puckettnathaniel.np@live.com; Katie – ktpuckett@hotmail.com; Kathy – kathleen_hyde@yahoo.com; Van – harpevan@yahoo.com; Tina –tinyangel3d@gmail.com. These persons will walk you through the Peer Conflict Resolution  page exercises in preparation for your MEET UP. However, at this stage the MEET UP must be in person and private.
  7. MEDIATE UP: You met in person and nothing is resolved, you can go to anyone in the Family Coven or Inner Circle: Dia Crabtree – craftydia@gmail.com; Tony – tonycrabtree42@gmail.com; Jax – jkgilbert18@gmail.com; Nathan – puckettnathaniel.np@live.com; Katie – ktpuckett@hotmail.com; Kathy – kathleen_hyde@yahoo.com; Van – harpevan@yahoo.com; Tina –tinyangel3d@gmail.com, and have them go through the steps of  Peer Conflict Resolution  with you and the other party. Then they will mediate an in person private meeting to seek resolution.
  8. STEP UP: Should that not resolve your conflict, you are welcome to ask the person to pay to have a professional mediation or counseling session or take your concerns to any elder.