What is a pagan

[skysidhe]

Thank you morethanpretty!

Goodmorning!


I like to call myself a pagan as someone who dosn't have a religion but I realize that isn't correct elspode and wolf. I don't intend any disrespect to anyone who is divoted to rutual and form. I should call myself a heathen instead I suppose.

It's my day off so I'll come back later and participate more!


ps. I want to know what a pantheon is. I am interested in learning. thanks

[wolf]

Originally Posted by skysidhe

I like to call myself a pagan as someone who dosn't have a religion but I realize that isn't correct elspode and wolf. I don't intend any disrespect to anyone who is divoted to rutual and form. I should call myself a heathen instead I suppose.

Try areligious or irreligious, if you need an identifying term.

Heathen is generally (in the NeoPagan sense) taken to mean someone who follows a Germanic or Norse-based Pagan path, including, but not limited to Asatru, Irminenschaft, etc.

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by wolf

Try areligious or irreligious, if you need an identifying term.

Heathen is generally (in the NeoPagan sense) taken to mean someone who follows a Germanic or Norse-based Pagan path, including, but not limited to Asatru, Irminenschaft, etc.

no not areligious

I think I am going to have to go with the Irreligious judging by the music set though :p





Irreligious (album)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Irreligious

"Perverse... Almost Religious" – 1:07
"Opium" – 2:48 (video)
"Awake" – 3:06
"For a Taste of Eternity" – 3:53
"Ruin & Misery" – 3:48
"A Poisoned Gift" – 5:34
"Subversion" – 2:44
"Raven Claws" – 3:16
"Mephisto" – 4:58
"Herr Spiegelmann" – 4:35
"Full Moon Madness" – 6:47



Studio album by Moonspell
Released 1996
Genre Gothic Doom
Length 42:34
Label Century Media Records
Producer(s) Waldemar Sorychta
Professional reviews
All Music Guide (2.5/5) link
MetalStorm.ee (9/10) link
Metal-Observer.com (9.5/10) link
Moonspell chronology

Wolfheart
(1995)
Irreligious
(1996)
Sin/Pecado
(1998)


Druidism is appealing.

I hang on to old pagan holidays absorbed by Christianity. I believe in a 'life force' and the power of nature.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/druid.htm

"Druidry is not a religion. It's a philosophy and you can worship a God or a Goddess, it's up to you. You can be a Christian or a Moslem or anything else and still be a Druid. "But while a Christian will say God made that tree, a Druid will say the energy of a creative force is in that tree." Kieron, a North-East UK Druid.



Moral code of druidism?? Arn't we all a bit of this?

"Briefly stated the virtue of Honor requires one to adhere to their oaths and do the right thing, even if it will ultimately hurt others or oneself in the process. A Druid is obligated to remain true to friends, family and leaders thus exhibiting the virtue of Loyalty. Hospitality demands that a Druid be a good host when guests are under one's roof. Honesty insists that one tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth to yourself, your gods and your people. Justice desires the Druid understands everyone has an inherent worth and that an assault to that worth demands recompense in one form or another. Courage for the Druid does not always wear a public face; it is standing-strong-in-the-face-of-adversity, alone or with companions. Sometimes Courage is getting up and going about a daily routine when pain has worn one down without complaint or demur.

[W.HI.P]

Pagan Beliefs

Deity is both imminent and transcendent and therefore
a part of everyone and everything. Deity is perceived as
male, female and androgynous, depending on the tradition
All expressions of deity are acceptable; God, expressed
as the male aspect, Goddess, expressed as the female aspect
Pagans do not believe that an absolute good and an absolute
evil exists, they believe all things exist in there own place
and extremism does not have a place within the philosophy
Most pagans believe in reincarnation, cyclical life patterns
do not end cease to with death of the physical body. There
exists within the pagan religion no concept of heaven or hell
Northern Pagan traditions have a belief in a heaven and
hell like realm but unlike Christian beliefs, The pagan " Hell"
Is not a place of damnation. "The Summerlands" is a place
where souls rest before being re-born.
Each pagan religion has it's own philosophy about the afterlife
and reincarnation. There is no set dogma or set of teachings which
Pagans follow. Paganism is one of the so-called "Mystery Paths"
where each individual experiences a direct divinity. In the Pagan
religion each person is a priest or priestess in their own right.
Pagans do not worship nature but rather revere the divine forces within
it, as with every other thing in the universe - Divinity is within
everything. Pagans do not worship a savior or any leader and Paganism is
therefore not a cult.

Pagan Customs

Individuality reigns supreme in paganism but there are few widespread customs.
Sanctity of nature, environmental concerns acceptance and social responsibly
are the bases of the few customs, which are more frequently
practiced. There are no prohibitions within the philosophy and no dietary requirements. There are no laws of blasphemy - conflict remain between concerned
individuals. There are no penance's or religious punishments. Paganism does not
have certain laws on moral or ethical concerns. It does not promote or condemn
practices related to sexual activity, procreation, and alcohol
or any other mind altering substances. There are certainly pagans who
have personal viewpoints on these subjects but they are very much just
that individuals opinion.
Pagans regard both sexed equally and do not suppress female the
way many other religions do. Pagan Priestess has the same status as
Priests, leading the same religious practices.
Pagans acknowledge "Elders" who are individuals who are more
knowledgeable and experienced and look to them for guidance
A fundamental aspect of paganism is that each individual must
take absolute responsibility for their own actions.

Pagan Practices

Pagans believe that individuals have the right to worship in their own way;
there is no legislation or prescribed manner of worship. Some worship in a formal
way and some more instinctively. Some worship in private and some worship
in groups and in that way make their worship a communion between them as
well as with the god and goddess.
Paganism has a Rite of Passage, a formal set of rituals for Birth, marriage and death
Pagans follow the "Mystery path" which has an initiation rite. Practices like
this do not include animal or human sacrifices nor any other practice which
violates pagan ethics.
The birth ritual includes a naming ceremony but does not promise the child
to the religion. The pagan parents will ask for divine guidance and protection of
the child. Children are taught to honor their family and friends, to have integrity
, honesty and loyalty; to treat earth as sacred and to love and respect all
forms of life. Children are encouraged to question their own spiritual path.

There are a number of Festival Celebrations held throughout the year though within
each tradition there are slight variations, the best known is the Cycle Festivals.
There are eight festivals; Samhein, Yule, Imbolg, Spring Equinox (Eostre), Beltane
Litha (Mid-Summer), Lammas and Autumn Equinox (Mabon). These come from different
Celtic and Saxon sources and they have remained alive through folklore and rural
traditions. Other pagan's traditions celebrate the turning of the seasons.

The emphasis of all practices is always on what is meaningful to each pagan rather
that the physical set of rituals performed.

Pagan Traditions

There are various Pagan traditions. All share a common
String, their individual practices and beliefs may differ.
Most emphasize gender equality
Here is a summary of some of the various traditions

Astru / Norse Paganism:
Originated in Northern Europe and is practiced by those
who have an affinity with Nordic and Teutonic ancestry
or are interested in studying Saga, Eddad and Runes. Asatru
and North Paganism encourages responsibility and spiritual
growth in a noble warrior context.

Celtic Paganism:
Native to Celtic and Gaelic races and widely practice in Australia
Essence of Celtic teachings originated from ancient legends handed
down orally through history. Modern Celtic pagans are attempting to
re-integrate the rich mythological knowledge into the modern
world

Dianic Witchcraft:
This tradition honors and celebrates the feminine aspect of divinity.
Women are greatly respected and rituals are mostly designed to empower
women in their sense of spirituality and value

Druidry:
Modern Druidry emphasizes artistic skills like music and
poetry and encourages member to practice and study these skills
as well as academic and disciplinary skills. Modern druids usually
follow a seasonal cycle of celebrations.

Environmental Paganism:
Pagans tend not to follow specific traditions but most actively
work to save the earth from harm, and honor Earth's sacred position
as the representative of Mother Earth. This method has no
formal rites of worship but encourages individuals to honor divinity
by caring for Earth.

Ethnic Paganism:
Many pagan traditions originate from the practices of particular
ethnic groups, some modern and some ancient. Hellenic, Roman and
Egyptian Paganism fall under this category as well as Voodoo, Santeria
and Native North American traditions. This also includes native pagan
Traditions of the Pacific and Australia's aboriginal people.

[W.HI.P]

Shamanism:
Shamanism uses things such as travel in the spiritual realms, tree lore,
herb lore and the use of totems. Tribal Shamen were the ones responsible
for the spiritual matters of the tribes and also for the traditional birth,
death and healing ceremonies. Shamans are the ones who were capable of
communication with the spirits of ancient ancestors and therefore gain
knowledge. Modern day pagans use these practices.

Wicca:
Modern Revival of ancient folklore and magical practices of Europe. Wiccans
generally think of divinity as the god and goddess who represent many
different aspects. Most celebrate eight festivals each year and meet in
time periods synchronized with the phases of the moon. Wicca itself has
it's own set of traditions, rituals and practices.

Witchcraft:
Witchcraft was originally believed to be an ancient fertility religion. It
is also called the Old Religion. Modern witches are often skilled herbalists
and healers and their practices and technique are similar to the tribal
Shamans. Some Wiccans call themselves Witches, there are Witches who do not
Practice Wicca. The two are not mutually exclusive but Witches of Northern
Traditions have little in common with Wiccan Practices yet both are pagan
practices.

[skysidhe]

Thank you WHIP. There's something for everyone.

[Elspode]

Cunningham is a fine place to start reading. The most basic of virtually all witchcraft/Wiccan/Pagan books, but very good for the truly neophytic.

For those who asked, a pantheon is simply Gods and Goddesses grouped by the culture/religion that worshipped them. Thus, the Norse Pantheon would include Freya, Odin, etc. The Greek Pantheon contains Zeus and Hera, the Hindu Pantheon Kali and Krishna, and the Christian Pantheon, Jehova, Jesus, and, if you're a Catholic...Mary.

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by Elspode

and, if you're a Catholic...Mary.

Personally, I love Mary. She's simply the most recent embodiment of the Goddess to date. I want a Mary statue for my garden.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by Brianna

Personally, I love Mary. She's simply the most recent embodiment of the Goddess to date. I want a Mary statue for my garden.

A friend of mine is sort of a non-denominational Pagan (okay, more of a new ager, but she is studying under a Celtic Shaman, but doesn't do much work within that particular path), and also loves Mary. She put in a Mary statue at her summer cabin site.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by wolf

A friend of mine is sort of a non-denominational Pagan (okay, more of a new ager, but she is studying under a Celtic Shaman, but doesn't do much work within that particular path), and also loves Mary. She put in a Mary statue at her summer cabin site.

Mary was always too humble for me. I allied myself with Artemis when I was a teen.... sex kinda got in the way of that though So I identified with Bast instead. (Then I lost all faith in anything, but I still love mythology)

[Flint]

Ahhh...so mixing pantheons would be to take a bit from here and a bit form there? That's exactly what I do. Acknowledging the collective schools of thought, the achievements of all thinkers thoughout history, but accepting that they are all just approximations of something we are incapable of experiencing directly. Therefore, to me, one as is good as the other, as they all indirectly approach the same subject.

The case against mixing pantheons, as I see it, would be that it might be a muddled, meandering path, as one conflates themes for which the intended symbolism is incongruous, thereby losing track of the value of the individual teachings in question. I understand that the lack of discipline in following a prescribed path might lead one in circles, or worse. That, however is not a concern of mine, personally.

I aim directly towards the same-ness in everything. I want, least of all, to be specific. That's just what works best for me. Remaining open to the mystery, trying to see past what is illusory, and approaching every day, and every action, as the divine.This also makes the most logical sense, to me, and I don't accept a rift between logic and spirituality, as they are two aspects of the one-ness of everything.

[Flint]

The emphasis on Mary came about as a way to re-focus a patriarchal religion back towards a Goddess figure.

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by Flint

The emphasis on Mary came about as a way to re-focus a patriarchal religion back towards a Goddess figure.

Word.

I've read Joe. I love him. He's a mensch.

[Scazrelet]

I have always prefered spirituality and faith, personal decisions, over "religion" spirituality tends to give knowledge of self, religion you often just do what people tell you :\ No offense meant to anyone, there are always exceptions.

I used to be something that could be thrown into the general area of pagan, but I didn't practice any rituals much, though I did have an area (not really an altar) that I kept my accoutrements in that perhaps carried more "energy" than anywhere else. From my understanding, to put it in a very base, crude way, if You Are Everything, entwined and inseparable, then you should, in theory, have some control over your enviroment. That is, if you were able to actually believe you did, get over the hurdle of self doubt. Thats where ritual comes in, to make you actually believe and put faith and personal energy into what you are doing and desiring, if you as a person found that sort of thing helpful as an individual. Its all a bit of mind over matter. Your personal will, and I guess the "will" of the universe? Anyway, I had a giant breakdown of faith not too long ago so now I have no idea what in hell (or anywhere else) I believe, or is real etc etc

[Elspode]

We had an awesome coven ritual last night. We each worked with a specific God, with the goal of improving our connection and the attributes associated with Him. I chose Pan. Any guesses as to what *I'm* working on?

I made a burnt offering of vodka and a picture of frolicking wood nymphs.