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The plan is for the schedule of meetings below to overflow as our membership increases geometrically. The current reality as of early February 2001, is that there is one on-line support meeting, Thursday nights, from 9:30 to 11pm Eastern Seaboard Time, in the Nine Step Pagans Yahoo-Groups chat room. This chat room is configured to allow in only those who have subscribed to the Nine Step Pagans group at Yahoo. I will explore other options as need presents. Subscription is an easy matter. Use the links to our site at Yahoo Groups scattered through these pages, or enter your e-mail address at one of the subscription links also in these pages. You will receive an e-mail asking you to reply for confirmation.
Don't let the multiple categories of types of meetings confuse you. Its simpler than it looks. Below the schedule table, I'll first describe "generic" support meetings, and explain the system of tags and types on a separate page for those who are interested.
| Day | function | faith | issue | topic type | space type | place | time |
| Thu. | support | multi-faith | multi-issue | 9 steps | internet chat, text | e-group chat room | 9:30 PM, |
Support meetings constitute the flesh and bone of Nine Step Pagans. They are moderated, and structured in such a way as to create the best possible setting for people to share their "experience, strength, and hope". The underpinning of this structure is the observation of the 3 Principles of Confidentiality, Focus on Self, and Mutual Respect:
Confidentiality.
This may be the most important guiding principle of NINE STEP PAGANS meetings, allowing members to share sometimes embarrassing facts about themselves without fear of becoming a subject of gossip or retaliation in the larger community, or having hurtful matters reach the wrong ears.
Focus on Self.
It's all too easy to focus on the mistakes of others, or on philosophical abstractions, while avoiding the unpleasant facts about oneself that brought about the need to attend meetings in the first place. This is one setting where being "self-centered" is appropriate and helpful. Others will learn more from your story than they will from advice or instruction. (See "Mutual Respect")
Mutual Respect.
The success of the meeting will depend on people feeling secure enough to share the good, bad, ugly, and beautiful parts of their lives, faith, and behaviors without fear of being shamed, judged, or ridiculed.
The guidelines involve the practical application of the principles in meetings, including the kind of situation which would override confidentiality. To learn more about the guidelines regarding the 3 Principles, click here.
The Premise of Commonality is also key to many of the support meetings, given that there will be many differences in the issues, religious traditions, cultures, and other characteristics one should expect from a collection so diverse as "Pagan and Pagan-friendly adults." One basic premise laying the foundation of NSP, is that all addictions and compulsive behaviors have certain themes in common, even though in many ways they can look and be very different.
A person addicted to heroin will rightly say that a gambling addict does not know what opioid withdrawal is like, and a gambler, that a non-gambler does not understand the high of laying it all on the line. Yet if they are looking for health and freedom, they have both had the experience of not being able to stop a self-destructive behavior. They will need different kinds of medical attention or therapy, but they can (if they choose) give and receive support from each other in freeing themselves from a kind of slavery.
To read about these common themes and feelings, click here.
Commonality will allow people with different faiths and issues to support each other, in multi-faith, multi-issue meetings. As membership grows, it will have the option of subdividing along lines of faiths, traditions, addictions, behavior types or other categories. In addition, there will be more need for organizational, business, and blowing off steam types of meetings. This is the reason for the labels in the schedule above, allowing for different functions, faiths, issues, and topic types to be specifically represented at various meetings, to allow for the constructive use of diversity as we grow.
