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Praxis
There is much benefit to discussion and self-work. However, this community is an explicitly feminist community that looks to spirituality and community as an avenue for change. In light of this, we are committed to praxis, the practical application or exercise of a branch of learning or belief. Community members will discuss and apply the ways that we work within the world and our communities as an extension of our political, spiritual, or intellectual growth and development.
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The Story of Stone Soup
Once upon a time there was a great famine in which people jealously hoarded whatever food they could find, hiding it even from their friends and neighbors. One day a wandering person came into a village and began asking questions as if zie planned to stay for the night.
"There's not a bite to eat in the whole province," zie was told. "Better keep moving on."
"Oh, I have everything I need," zie said. "In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you." Zie pulled an iron cauldron from zir wagon, filled it with water, and built a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, zie drew an ordinary-looking stone from a velvet bag and dropped it into the water.
By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come to the square or watched from their windows. As the person sniffed the "broth" and licked zir lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their skepticism.
"Ahh," the individual said to zirself rather loudly, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat."
Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. "Capital!" cried the soup-maker. "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king."
The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for all. The villagers offered the newcomer a great deal of money for the magic stone, but zie refused and instead gave them a stone, as a gift to reward their own hospitality The moral is that by working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved.
Spiritual collectives can be like commune farms: they sustain us, they keep us well fed and whole so that we can continue on in the other aspects of our lives. We each bring something different to the collective, that perhaps might seem meager to our own judgmental eye, but blended with the other talents and gifts of the group makes for a heady magickal mixture.
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