What is a pagan

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Elspode

It is a way of sort of distracting one's focus from the mundane so that the usually unseen/unfelt can creep in.

That's a great way to describe it. Reminds me alot of Joseph Campbell, whom I respect as a truly non-specific thinker on spirituality.

[Elspode]

I consider Joseph Campbell, above all other authors and scientists, to be the most spiritual non-religious person ever. His obvious enthusiasm and truly deep understanding of what makes Man, as a species, tick on the iconic level was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Much of what I think about my place in the world and The Universe is informed by Mr. Campbell's stupifyingly insightful work.

Originally Posted by Flint

That's a great way to describe it. Reminds me alot of Joseph Campbell, whom I respect as a truly non-specific thinker on spirituality.

Did you read the Faces of God?

[Flint]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Did you read the Faces of God?

I think I have that one, somewhere. All my books are in boxes until I build library shelves in my home office. We gave up on stand-alone bookshelves, it just isn't practical to try and find a place for multiple bookshelves, and then still have books stuffed in drawers, on shelves, stacked up elsewhere.

Regarding Joseph Campbell I've watched the Bill Moyers interviews about a billion times, and I read the companion book, The Power Of Myth.

[Stormieweather]

I'm interested in learning about Paganism, specifically Wiccan, also. I know very little other than there are goddesses involved, various rituals, and observances of holidays such as the solstices. So Elspode, Wolf and any others, please enlighten me and a couple of links to decent info wouldn't hurt either .

Stormie

[wolf]

Originally Posted by Stormieweather

I'm interested in learning about Paganism, specifically Wiccan, also. I know very little other than there are goddesses involved, various rituals, and observances of holidays such as the solstices. So Elspode, Wolf and any others, please enlighten me and a couple of links to decent info wouldn't hurt either .

Links to decent info? Oh, dear, what a can of worms you could open with that one ...

I usually suggest that folks wanting to learn the basics (very basics) of Wicca pick up a couple of Scott Cunningham's books. He had a very sensible approach to instruction about witchcraft and Wicca.

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
(I despise her politics, but this book is good)

[W.HI.P]

Originally Posted by Stormieweather

I'm interested in learning about Paganism, specifically Wiccan, also. I know very little other than there are goddesses involved, various rituals, and observances of holidays such as the solstices. So Elspode, Wolf and any others, please enlighten me and a couple of links to decent info wouldn't hurt either .

Stormie

Wicca is a from of witchcraft that honors the balance
of life, birth, growth and death and the beauty of the
four seasons, as well as the energy of the moons
changing phases from new to full.

Wicca is a Neo-Pagan religion and is often referred to
as an occult religion (occult meaning hidden), it is a
peaceful earth based spirituality that incorporates
shamanism into some practices.

Wicca is comprised of Western European Folk traditions
and Eastern Philosophy.
It is usually seen as an eclectic system of beliefs
with an underlying static ritual and ethics base.
Although some traditions deviate from the other forms
of Wicca to cater for the specific needs of their
particular culture, Wiccan rituals and ethics still
have a common ground, which identifies them as being
Wiccan
Wiccans are very independent people who seek truth from within through the use of meditation, magic, rituals, and studying nature.

Basic tenants of faith

They worship two archetypes (masculine and feminine) God
and Goddess, they are said to have equal power, but the
fact that the Goddess has the ability to give birth she
is generally believed to have slightly more power.
Wiccans are a polytheistic religion; in other words they
worship more than one deity.
They hold the belief that all elements of the natural
world to be inherently sacred, and all parts are equally
important part of the Lord and Lady.

Principles of Wiccan Belief
Council of American Witches

In April 1974, the Council of American Witches adopted a
set of principles of Wiccan Belief. They are as follows.


1.We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural
rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon
and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarters.

2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique
responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live
in harmony with Nature, inn ecological balance offering
fulfillment to life and consciousness within an
evolutionary concept.

3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that
apparent to the average person. Because it is far
greater than ordinary it is sometimes called
"supernatural" but we see it as lying within that which
is naturally potential to all.

4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as
manifesting through polarity--as masculine and feminine--and that this same Creative Power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other knowing each to be supportive to the other. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magical practice and religious worship.

5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or
psychological worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual
World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc--
and we see in the inter-action of these two dimensions
the basis for paranormal phenomena and magical
exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other
seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.
6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy,
but do honor those who teach, respect those who share
their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge
those who have courageously given of themselves in
leadership.

7. We see religion magic and wisdom in living as being
united in the way one views the world and lives within
it--a worldview and philosophy of life which we identify
as Witchcraft--the Wiccan Way.

8. Calling oneself "witch" does not make a Witch--
but neither does heredity itself not the collecting
of titles degrees and initiations. A witch seeks to
control the forces within her/himself that make life
possible in order to live wisely and well without
harm to others and in harmony with Nature.

9. We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of
life in a continuation of evolution and development
of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we
know and our personal role within it.

10. Our only animosity towards Christianity or
towards any religion or philosophy of life is to
the extent that its institutions have claimed to
be the "only way" and have sought to deny freedom
to others and suppress other ways of religious
practice and belief.
11. As American Witches we are not threatened by
debates on the history of the Craft, the origins
of various terms the legitimacy of various aspects
of different traditions. We are concerned with our
present and our future.

12. We do not accept the concept of absolute evil
nor do we worship any entity known as "Satan" or the
"devil" as defined by the Christian tradition. We do
not seek power through the suffering of others nor
accept that personal benefit can be derived only by
denial to another.

13. We believe that we should seek within Nature that
which is contributory to our health and well being

Wiccan Rede
The Wiccan Rede is a set of rules, it is like the 10 commandments of Wicca

The Wiccan Rede

Bide ye Wiccan laws you must,
in perfect love and perfect trust
Live ye must and let to live,
fairly take and fairly give
For the circle thrice about
to keep unwelcome spirits out
To bind ye spell well every time,
let the spell be spake in rhyme
Soft of eye and light of touch,
speak ye little, listen much
Deosil go by the waxing moon,
chanting out ye baleful tune
When ye Lady's moon is new,
kiss ye hand to her times two
When ye moon rides at her peak,
then ye heart's desire seek
Heed the north winds mighty gale,
lock the door and trim the sail
When the wind comes from the south,
love will kiss thee on the mouth
When the wind blows from the east,
expect the new and set the feast.
Nine woods in the cauldron go,
burn them fast and burn them slow
Elder be ye Lady's tree,
burn it not or cursed ye'll be
When the wheel begins to turn,
soon ye Beltane fires will burn
When the wheel hath turned a Yule
light the log the Horned One rules
Heed ye flower, bush and tree,
by the Lady blessed be
Where the rippling waters go,
cast a stone, the truth ye'll know
When ye have and hold a need,
hearken not to others greed
With a fool no season spend,
or be counted as his friend
Merry meet and merry part,
bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind ye threefold law ye should
three times bad and three times good
When misfortune is now,
wear the star upon thy brow
True in love my ye ever be,
lest thy love be false to thee
These eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfills;
An harm ye none, do what ye will.