About Paganism - Introduction

Text Box: The Concise Oxford Dictionary, Sixth Edition, 1976: Pa ‘gan n. & a. Heathen; unenlightened or irreligious (person), hence ~DOM, ~ISM (2), ns., ~ISH a., ~IZE (3) v. t. & I [ ME , f. L paganus civilian (pagus country district; see ~AN); sense heathen in Christian L (Tertullian Augustine)] The word “Pagan” comes from the Latin word “Paganus”, which literally means ‘country dweller’ - he who lived in the low lands or country. The term was first used to distinguish between the upper-class city folk and the country folk who still worshipped the old Gods of Pagus. Pagus means ‘Locality’. Paganism is a nature based spiritual path or belief system. The Belief system dates back to the old Gods of Europe, Africa, Egypt and Asia, North and South America as well as the cosmologies of the ancient tribes. The revival of the ancient religions seeks to revive the ancient practice attuning to the nature by understanding nature. This is most commonly referred to as Neo-Paganism.

Text Box: Pagans seek to attune themselves to the tides of nature and reflect upon how it affects the inner self in relation to the world around them. The harmonisation with nature is achieved through the study of the Solar and Lunar phases, which are acknowledged at the turning of each season. This simply means that we attune ourselves with the eight seasonal changes, known most commonly to all Pagans as the ‘Sabbats’. The Sabbats mark the changes of season, which reflects Divinity and everyday life. Through understanding the Sabbats you can understand the changes that all life inevitably experiences with the turning of the year (or wheel of the year, as we call it). The Sabbats also explain the story of the Divine couple (God and Goddess/Masculine and Feminine energy). It acts as an allegory (symbolic story) for the Divine couple from which all life is reflected. The Sabbats are divided into two different groups. The Solar Sabbats and the Lunar Sabbats. Each group consists of four Sabbats. The Lunar Sabbats are Goddess orientated (Southern Hemisphere): Lammas - 2 February Samhain - 30 April Imbolc - 2 August Beltaine - 1 November The Solar Sabbats are God orientated (Southern Hemisphere): Mabon - 20 March Yule - 21 June Ostara - 21 September Litha - 21 December *Note: the dates of the lesser Sabbats may change by a day due to the differences in the actual astronomical events and our calendar. By understanding Pagan Philosophy it is revealed that they view themselves as reflections of nature and of the Divine. Nature itself is a Spiritual teacher. Pagans have very little emphasis on dogma and liturgy. Now it can be understood why their worship mostly takes place in open natural spaces.

It is believed that all life has and will continue to evolve. Most Pagans do not spend a lot of time on the concept of evolution. It is of some importance to know where we come from, but it is of far more importance where we are going. It should however be understood that the following of Paganism has evolved and will continue to evolve as nature and the spirit of the age changes.

The practice of Paganism can be a highly solitary experience with Divinity and the individuals own form of personal worship. However many join groups, teaching circles, shrines, covens, churches or temples to learn from and teach others and to be able to share their experiences. Both choices have advantages and disadvantages depending on the individuals needs.

*Note: Some groups allow the individual to remain a solitary practitioner after joining. Thus joining would only be for study and/or ritual purposes.

In Paganism evangelising is frowned upon, for such things cheapen the mysteries of the craft. Pagans do not force anybody to believe as they do and it is common practice

that their children are also given the right to choose their own spiritual path. Pagans understand and respect the fact that each individual has her/his own spiritual path that

they have to follow and that they

should not interfere with that path.

Most Pagans believe that all belief systems should be taught to children so that when the child is old enough they can make an educated decision on what path to follow.

Of course the ideal is for our children to follow in our footsteps, but it should be understood that, the path that suits one person does not necessarily work for the next person.

This goes hand in hand with the Pagan practice of religious tolerance and respect.