Announcing the New Fellowship of Northern Traditions Online Community!
Happy Summer everyone! May the warmth of Sunna find you well.
The Fellowship has an exciting announcement to make: The new Fellowship of Northern Traditions Discord server is officially live!
If you’d like to read about what the server offers, what led us to make this decision, and more, read ahead.
Join us around the digital campfire, to help fund gathering around the real campfires.
Background
Our focus as a nonprofit has always been, and always will be, in-person events where pagans can gather to forge friendships and honor the gods together. However, for many years, our members have been having lovely discussions every day in the Patreon-exclusive Discord server of Jacob Toddson, one of the founding Fellowship Leaders of the organization. The gatherings that would eventually evolve into this non-profit organization began under the banner of his YouTube channel, and the Discord server was one of the perks of his Patreon at the $5 per month tier. His server has served as a wonderful place for friends who have met at gatherings to chat, as well as a place for pagans to ask advice and have discussions with other pagans about spiritual topics. So many places on the internet of today are plagued with negativity, conflict, and general unpleasantness, and the online community that has been built over the years by this community feels like a breath of fresh air in comparison.
The Thought Process behind a New Online Space
Simply put, the existing online space does not support the non-profit, and the new Discord server will. As you probably know, our dream as an organization is to purchase land on which to build a hall. So far, our GoFundMe has raised nearly $25,000 towards this goal. We are indescribably grateful to all who have contributed. That being said, donations to the GoFundMe have slowed down as time has went on. When the time comes, the hall land can be purchased outright or bought using a loan – the latter option requires proof of revenue streams. The leadership realizes the need to create new streams of funding for the dream of the hall, and Jacob offered to dismantle his server so that we may create a new server that supports the non-profit instead. Whenever we think about new ways to fund the hall, we focus on how we can give something back in return. Merchandise in our store and the publication of books, such as last year’s Rituals of the North and the upcoming Glimpses at the Gods are both part of this effort. The new Discord will serve as another source of income to support making the dream of the hall come true, while providing a place where pagans can have friendly discussions online.
The New Server
The new Discord is the same cost as the old one did - $5 per month, with an added money-saving option of $48 per year. Again, the big difference is that now this fee supports the hall. What benefits does the server offer besides being the best place to talk to other pagans online? Here are a few:
Weekly discussion topics
Voice chats
Some free meet-ups will be exclusively planned through the Discord, rather than through the website. Gatherings will still be organized through the website – so if online communities aren’t your thing, have no fear. You’ll be able to attend the gatherings without being in the Discord. But this more private online community gives us the opportunity to organize some smaller, more intimate meet-ups like hiking trips and Ren Fair meet-ups.
We really can’t overstate what a wonderful online vibe we’ve cultivated over the years. If you’ve been discouraged by online pagan communities in the past, give us a shot. You will not find any ego-tripping, political arguments, discrimination or hate with us. It’s truly an awesome place to ask advice, discuss mythology and your personal spiritual experiences, and forge bonds with people before you meet in person at a gathering.
We hope to see both old friends and new faces in the new online space. We are excited to make this transition, which will be a key part of funding the hall, while giving much in return to our community for those seeking an online space. Our sincerest gratitude and warmest welcome to all who join us! Hail to the gods and hail to this community!
