I've been doing a good deal of pondering on living the Pagan priesthood. Many of the ideas commonly expressed in the Pagan community tend to pigeon hole the priesthood into acts and roles, i.e., someone who officiates at a ritual or serves a deity. While these elements are part of my life, for me, becoming a Pagan priestess** means living a lifestyle that engages the total personality, in the same way as the life of a monk or a nun. If the life of a Pagan priestess is envisioned as threads attached to a loom, there are four key strands that must be woven in to produce a priestly tapestry.

The first strand is that of calling. There comes a time of realization in each priestess-to-be's spiritual life that there must be more to their Pagan commitment than casting a spell or making incense. This call manifests in attraction to a deeper spiritual life, a sincere desire to establish a dynamic and ongoing relationship with their deities, and the personal dedication necessary to fulfill the oaths they will make.

The second strand is that of learning and education. This is a lifelong effort of research, reading, absorbing, and then putting that knowledge to work. Topics can be practical, such as crafting a ritual, or spiritual, such as writing prayer chants, any topic that resonates with an individual's purpose, path, and spirituality. In order to walk the walk of a priestess, each must have the necessary knowledge, which means becoming a spiritual scholar.

The third strand is that of service. A priestess swears an oath of dedication to a particular deity. Serving that deity becomes an integral part of their life. This service manifests in ways big and small, from keeping fresh flowers on a household altar, to writing a book review to share with other Pagan readers, or teaching a class for a local circle. Any of these, and more, can be done to serve a Deity and the wider Pagan community.

The forth strand is cultivating an active interior life. A priestess is a spiritual being; part of her time is spent in prayer and meditation. This cultivation of inner spirituality can, among many other rewards, deepen relationships with patron deities, bring centering and focus to life purposes, and, in an ongoing process, reveal insights that generate personal change. An active interior life leads to consciously being present to each moment of life. That act of presence focuses thoughts, prayers, and actions on an individual's spiritual path. Presence helps those following the way of the Priestess consciously