Paganism

The words “paganism” or “pagan” often conjures up negative images for a lot of people. However, this subject is largely misunderstood. In order to truly understand and appreciate paganism, it is important to learn the real story as to what followers practice and why.

What Is It?

Simply put, paganism is a religion. However, its values and beliefs are what continue to make it stand out among the rest. A person that practices paganism is known as a pagan, who is wholly devoted to a spiritual way of life. From human beings to animals and insects, all living creatures as well as the Earth and its resources, are sacred. There is also the belief in the “Divine,” whether it is something that can be seen or not. This spiritual love of Nature and all things Divine is shared among all pagan practitioners and they often operate within a very tightly-knit community.
What may come as a surprise to many not familiar with paganism is that there are different types of traditions practiced. A pagan may believe there is one Divine driving life force that is neither male nor female, while another might place their faith in numerous gods and goddesses. Other paganism practitioners follow the idea that there is a Divine couple (male and female) in charge of their spiritual experience. This latter belief is especially true when applied to the celebration of the seasons using the wheel of the year.

The Wheel of the Year

The practice of being one with the Earth in paganism is so highly regarded that believers live according to the seasons. Also known as the Gardnerian Wheel, this is a special symbol that a pagan uses to illustrate the different seasons and which ceremonies and rituals should be celebrated accordingly. The wheel is broken up into four solar quarters: two equinoxes and two solstices. There is also an additional four Celtic festivals. Each quarter signifies the changes in the life cycle as well as the transformation in the lives of the God and Goddess couple that paganism reveres.
February 1st and 2nd marks the Goddess’s transformation from a child to a young woman (maiden), while her male counterpart (God) reaches manhood. March 21st signifies the spring equinox and the God impregnating the Goddess, who has come down to the Earth. May 1st represents the marriage between the God and Goddess. June 21st symbolizes the greenery of the Earth, thanks to the “Green Man,” who is the God of Nature. July 31st signals the harvest season beginning and the loss of the God’s strength. The second harvest season begins on September 21st, which also signifies the God’s death, his transformation into the Holy King and his journey to the underworld. October 31st is widely known in paganism as “All Hallows Eve” and marks the Goddess’s journey to the underworld. The rebirth of God occurs on December21st.

Modern Paganism

Neo-Paganism, as it is known in its modern form, still upholds the idea that Earth and Nature are divine but also incorporates certain aspects from not only the traditions of old paganism (before the influence of Christianity) but other contemporary religions. The purpose of this is to create a more current approach to paganism that can be applied easier to a person’s spiritual journey in today’s world.

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