Communities Night a chance to sample varied traditions

By Roya Camp
New Thought News Service


Dozens of Parliament participants boarded trams and buses or walked in groups to two dozen churches and meeting places Friday evening to take part in Communities Night, an event that gave visitors the opportunity to learn the traditions of various spiritual communities.
Hosts included Melbourne-area Baha'i, Jain, Brahma Kumari, Quaker, Sathya Sai and other groups.
Megan Carlisle, a youth raised in the New Thought movement, was one of about 50 guests who attended the pagan program hosted by 10 Melbourne-area residents in a space also used by an area Unity church. Other guests included pagans from the United States, England, Ireland and Scandinavia.
The group shared a potluck dinner and took part in a ritual that included the calling in of the directions, singing to the elements, a candle-lighting for the God and Goddess, the casting of a circle, singing, story-telling and dancing. Pagans from Masachusetts played a harp and sang ballads.
"The experience felt very validating of feeling the presence of us as a people at the Parliament, us as a global community at the Parliament and being on the same playing field as other major religions," Carlisle said. "There was also a sense of global community, because pagan people are very open to each other. It was like making instant friends from all over the world because of this commonality."
Rev. Keith Cox attended the Baha'i event, which highlighted the faith's presence across the globe. 
"The entire evening was filled with music and dance, showcasing the heritages of Samoa and Polynesia, the Middle East, Native America and Australia," Cox said. "It was spectacular. It was a musical celebration equivalent to an inaugural ceremony."