Hello, thanks for clicking on the link to read more about age confirmation for Ohio Reclaiming.
We have added a question to our contact form to ask folks to confirm that they are at least 18 years of age, a legal adult in the US. This is for legal and safety reasons as we are an adult-run group.
If you are an adult with children, they could be included in all-ages events since you as their parent, guardian, etc. would be involved and giving them your permission. Some events will be adults-only, while others will be open to the whole family, and we will make it clear what age group events are for when we begin to plan them together.
For legal reasons, we cannot safely include minors whose parents are not involved in this community themselves, or who are unaware or disapprove of what they are doing.
If you are a minor seeking community, please be aware that this is not just our personal stance, this is something that any and all adult-run covens, circles, etc. will require. Ohio Reclaiming is a community, not a coven, but many people have been reaching out looking for a "coven" and if that describes you, we think it would be helpful for you to know that you typically cannot join ANY traditional coven until you are at least 18. Again, this is for legal and safety reasons. We know it is not ideal and doesn't seem fair, and we wish we could help young people out more, but unfortunately this is how it works at present due to laws in this country regarding teaching religion to other people's children. Most of us were not raised Pagan, and had to study on our own or with friends our own age until we came of age to join public groups, so believe us, we have been there and we understand. Paganism and Witchcraft are minority religions and still need to fight for acceptance even when only adults are involved, and where children and teens are concerned, we need to be even more concerned and responsible. This is for your own safety and comfort as well as that of the continuation of these groups. We want to still be here in the future when you are 18 and can choose to join us as an adult!
If you come across a group run by adults who says they will allow you to join even if you are a minor and do not have a parent/guardian's permission, we strongly advise you NOT to get involved with that group. If a group does allow minors with parent/guardian permission, they will want to meet you and the adult(s) responsible for your well-being in person in a safe, PUBLIC place, never in private. Never meet up with a group in private on your own. Please be safe and responsible in your search!
If you are a minor with a parent/guardian who gives you permission to explore these things, you might ask them to fill out our form with you and explain that in the area where you can ask more questions. We will then arrange to meet you with your parent/guardian present, in a public place. You can also follow any updates on our public resources (blog and Instagram) and ask them to bring you to any public, all-ages events we may have in the future, and get involved that way. Another great option could be attending a Unitarian Universalist (UU) church with them. UU services include many religious traditions, and there are typically at least a few Pagans in any UU congregation. They also may have all-ages Religious Education classes where even young children can begin to safely learn about various world religions in a community environment.
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This page may continue to change as our community establishes new guidelines. We are still a relatively new community and are evolving as we go. Thank you very much for your interest and understanding. Hopefully this page helps you understand more of what you may encounter on your search, no matter how old you are, and whether you are seeking for yourself or your children.
Thank you!
Last updated 21 September 2021