Paganism

Many people wonder, "What is a pagan?" This concise and informative article will answer this and other questions about the ancient practice of paganism.

Pagan roots

The term "Paganism" loosely refers to ancient earth-based religions that are not affiliated with Judeo-Christian beliefs and/or organized religion. Pagans believe in the inherent divinity of the earth and all of the inhabitants of the earth, including plants and animals. Traditionally, pagan beliefs are common to religions that are polytheistic and animistic. The Latin root for the term "pagan" essentially means rustic or of the country. Hence, Paganism is a term for the animistic beliefs of people who often live close to the country or the earth and follow a religion based on the cycles and rhythms of nature based on their proximity to and intimacy with these cycles and rhythms.

Neo-paganism

Neo-paganism is actually the correct term for modern day pagans who follow an earth-based religion. Neo-pagans trace the history of paganism back thousands and thousands of years. Witches, druids and practicing wiccans are considered to be Neo-pagans. Neo-pagan symbols are similar, if not the same, as traditional pagan symbols. Generally speaking, the essential nature of the divine feminine and masculine forms are equally represented in Neo-pagan circles in accordance with ancient pagan practices. The first anthropological records of symbols of the divine feminine and masculine forms are cave drawings which date back to Paleolithic times.

The role of women in paganism

In pagan circles, both the divine feminine and masculine forms are honored and valued. One of the primary pagan beliefs is that multiple deities are often associated with the male and female aspects of one main deity. Other belief systems feature a main female deity with an assistant in the form of a male consort; and others - especially monotheistic, patriarchal religions - are misogynistic in the lesser status they assign to women. Many women who gravitate towards paganism do so because of the equal footing their gender receives there and because pagan beliefs honor both the feminine and masculine aspects of creation in equal measure and find both forces to encompass the creative potential of the universe. Throughout the history of paganism, women have held seminal roles in pagan circles as priestesses and witches; a theme shared by wicca. Similarly, pagan circles give women a place of power, dignity and equal respect to men. This is a primary difference from Judeo-Christian traditions such as Catholicism and Judaism.

Pagan beliefs

Pagan religions also have a great deal of inherent freedom in their ritual structure and foundational beliefs. Paganism allows individual practitioners to explore and expand their own mystical vision of how to honor and worship their perception of the sacred essence of life. Pagan circles form sacred ceremonial spaces where the members of the circle are free to be creative and imaginative in their rendition and honoring of the sacred feminine and masculine forms.

There are pagan beliefs that are set in stone, however. One such belief mandates that pagans must live in accordance with the rhythms of the earth and act as its stewards. Pagan rituals are also generally required to be performed in alignment with the lunar calendar in order to honor the earthly and celestial rhythms which supposedly ensconce us.

A belief common amongst pagan groups is that spirits inhabit all natural objects, human beings, and other animals and plants. Accordingly, all of these natural beings should be treated with dignity and respect. Underlying this animistic supposition is the pagan belief that we are all here for a reason and serve an important purpose on the earth. Even the sun, moon, rivers, ocean, rocks and trees are believed to be inhabited by intelligent spirit-beings.There is also a strong pagan belief in the ancestral spirits which supposedly surround us. Many traditional pagan people around the world strongly believe in honoring their ancestors in order to receive their blessings and protection.