Membership

We are very thoughtful and careful about how – and who – we add to the group or take on as students. Our getting-to-know-you process is designed to make sure that you can make an informed decision – and so can we.

You should know:

  • We are a small group expecting to add no more than 2 new students in a given year. We want to grow slowly and sustainably.
  • There are many wonderful, fascinating, amazing people out there. Only a few will be the right fit for our group at this particular time.
  • We are in a building phase: Phoenix Song is a relatively new group. However, we are looking for people interested in making a long-term commitment to a deep working group.

You might be a good fit with Phoenix Song if some of the following appeal to you:

  • You are interested in a small group (our ideal size is 5-8 people) who also spend some social time together outside of ritual and formal group events.
  • You want an emphasis on mature religious commitment and practice.
  • You are intellectually curious and value critical thinking.
  • You enjoy discussing both theory (why we do something) and process (how we do it).
  • You regularly spend some of your free time reading, writing, making music, or creating art.
  • You appreciate clear communication, work to improve your own skills, and dislike drama.
  • You’re interested in traditional crafts (knitting, spinning, woodwork, baking, etc.)
  • You enjoy being around people with varied interests, and a desire to talk about them and the world around us.
  • You like to dig deeply into different kinds of learning and understanding – you’re not content with easy answers.

Practical requirements:

  • You must be at least 21.
  • You must be sufficiently local to Phoenix Song (western Maine: town provided in email), and expect you can attend almost all of our gatherings.
  • You have or can arrange reliable transportation to group events (this may include getting a ride from another group member, but you must have a reliable back-up plan.)
  • If you have a diagnosed ongoing physical or mental health condition, it must have been stable for at least 6 months, and you must have access to appropriate professional support.
  • You must be able to check your email regularly (every 3-5 days) for group information.

Member expectations: we expect that…

  • You have a life outside the group which includes other responsibilities, commitments, relationships, and interactions. We want to be part of your life, but not your whole world.
  • You are comfortable working with people with a range of ages, genders, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and preferences. (You should also be okay with the fact that our HPS is in her 30s.)
  • You’re interested in what you see here, and the described work, style, and structure of the group. We’re flexible about some specifics, but we have a clear focus for what we want to do together (and how)

We are an initiatory group, and initiatory work can demand a great deal of time and attention during some parts of the process. If you are already planning major changes to your life in the next year (having a baby, finishing college, making a major career change, etc.), we may ask you to wait until your life is a little more stable to be considered for training and membership.

Timeline:
We don’t want to waste your time – but we also need time to get to know you! The specifics of the process are available here – but an overview is helpful.

  • We begin by asking you to introduce yourself to us.
  • If there’s even a possible fit, we will arrange to meet you in person for a conversation over a cup of tea. This may take a few weeks to arrange.
  • If you are interested, and we think you’re a possible fit for the group, we will invite you to a series of discussion evenings/intro classes and to a few rituals and social events. These will take place over 3-5 months.
  • If this goes well, and we feel there’s a good fit, we will invite you to join us as a Dedicant in the group.

Dedicant year is intended to make sure we’re a good long-term fit for each other, and that we work well together before making the commitments of initiation. It also helps you make an informed choice about our tradition and practices.

If at any time you decide that we are not the right place for you, we simply ask that you let us know (preferably at least a few days before our next planned get-together, so we can change plans if needed.)

Regardless of prior experience, we require a prospective member work for us for at least a year before considering initiation in the tradition.

Still interested? The specifics of the process are available here (including our introductory letter request.)