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Contemporary Paganism: What It's All About

What exactly is a Pagan?

I’ve chosen a Pagan path…where do I start?!

What is magic?

Pagan perceptions of the God and Goddess

Why do people feel the need to humanize deities?

Learning the Basics

Many people have heard the word witch and Pagan, and some the word Wiccan, Druid and Heathen. But what do they mean? There are alot of ideas about the meanings of these words, but are they correct?

I'm not going to go into detail on the various types of Paganism out there this - is simply an introductory guide. For a definition on a particular pagan path you can check either the link page or search the internet. Here I will talk about my own definition of Paganism.



The connotations of the word "witch" and “pagan” are obvious enough. However, what should be equally obvious is that such wife’s tales simply aren’t true. While there is much variety in the form that Pagan beliefs take, there is a commonality that exists in the personal characteristics of the Pagan community – from a sense of humility, personal responsibility and consideration of others to a strong community spirit, ecological awareness and a carefully chosen natural lifestyle.


I very much believe that Paganism should be a way of life rather than an over-processed fad religion. Today there seems to be so much emphasis on ritual and pomposity that many inexperienced Pagans miss the point of it all, and therefore miss out on a beautiful way of seeing the world. The most important fact that I can stress to someone investigating Paganism for the first time is the down-to-earth approach to life that true Pagans hold. This lifestyle doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with religion at all as it pursues a more biological existence that was more commonly experienced by our ancestors in comparison to society in the 21st century society.

I am a Pagan living a Pagan lifestyle. I live in a large city, but I still make time for walks through the local parks and I pay close attention to the seasons and the world around me. I study ancient civilisations and love to learn about other’s beliefs (both contemporary and historical) in an effort to become more aware of human nature and the people around me. I would never intentionally hurt anyone or anything. I will always go out of my way to help others and try to be as considerate, patient and kind as possible. This is what it means to me to live as a Pagan.


So in a nutshell, how would I describe Paganism? This is a question that can only have a personal answer, and that answer will differ depending on who you ask. I believe that nature is the crucial factor that binds everything together. Even in a modern world, we depend on nature for our very lives, and therefore I think that nature is worthy of our respect. I see no need for deities, male or female, and instead choose to see the divine inherent within nature itself. I also believe that nature is a careful balance, and that it will therefore create balance within my life (so the good will always balance out the bad, people will get what they deserve in life, etc). I believe in going back to the basics of what true Paganism is, and irrespective of spiritual beliefs Paganism is living with nature. This is what makes me a Pagan.




 

 

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