Pagan Religions
11 We ve talked about neo-Pagans and various Pagan faiths at several points throughout the book, but now it's time to delve into this subject properly. 2In a sense, they are not really alternatives because these faiths are considered religions. 3But they have such a different belief system from mainstream faiths that they stand apart from them. 4They are also not as well known, so this is your opportunity to explore a few other potential paths of faith you might not be aware of.
What is Paganism?
5Before we talk about the main Pagan faiths, you need to understand what the word Pagan really m eans . 6Many people, particularly those within the Christian church, see the word as meaning ungodly or people who hold primitive idol-worship beliefs.
7When the Christian Church first came about, it clashed with the native Pagan beliefs and quickly worked to demonise them as a way of driving more people to convert. 8That attitude is still around today, though it is slowly shifting as more and more people are thinking for themselves and rediscovering the ways of their ancestors.
9Technically the word comes from the Latin paganus, which literally means country-dweller . 1ONot very devilish, I m afraid. 11As more of the nobility converted to Christianity, it was the simpler village people who continued to hold on to their original faith, so the term ended up being used for anyone who was non-Christian. 12Today, the term heathen is often used by some to denote non- Christians within Pagan circles, though the term is specifically reserved for those of a Norse or Asatru path.
13In a simple sense, that is what the term means today, but it can be hard to pin down exactly what a Pagan is. 14Buddhists are not Christian but they would not be classed as Pagan either. 15A good generic meaning would be anyone who doesn t follow any mainstream religion, and such paths are often (but not always) polytheistic and nature-oriented. 16Most of these religions are not overly organised and tend to be followed independently through small groups or by individuals. 17The nature of scriptures will vary and texts never take centre stage as they do in Christianity or Islam. 18Pagan paths tend to revolve around their deity concepts and the practice of ritual instead of a set of dogmatic rules.
19Here are some of the more popular Pagan paths that people follow today. 2OIf you see similarities with deity names and mythology, you just need to remember that what we consider mythology today was once an active breathing religion.
21You should also note that most of these faiths are associated with a particular culture or time period. 22Some say that it is inappropriate to follow a path that you do not have cultural ties to, but others feel that the gods do not care one way or the other. 23It would be a good idea to do some detailed research prior to considering if a particular path speaks to you, especially if it exists outside of your own cultural history.
Wicca
24This is probably one of the more well-known faiths, though the average person doesn t really know much about it. 25If you associate this with rebellious teenage girls who dress in black and cast spells for fun, you definitely need to learn a little more.
26Wicca is one of the most modern of the Pagan religions, having been created or founded in the 1950s. 27Some might say that the practices and beliefs go back farther but there is little proof of that. 28With its modern popularity, the original nature of Wicca has changed greatly and many people follow their own versions today that can better be described as Eclectic Paganism (more on that later).
29True Wicca is a duotheistic religion, with a single God and Goddess rather than a varied pantheon. 30Their identities are not as constructed as the deities in other pantheons because each embodies much more than the simple love goddess or war god . 31The God is the seen as the Horned Stag of nature while the Goddess is the universal Earth Goddess.
32Having said this, many use basic Wiccan concepts whilst worshipping Greek, Celtic or Egyptian deities. 33This is where many Wiccans deviate from the traditional origins of Wicca.
34There is a high reverence for nature and there are celebrations with the changing seasons. 35Actually, there are eight sacred days in the year based on traditional harvest times, the seasons and astronomical events like solstices and equinoxes. 36The concept of harm none is a somewhat integral part of Wiccan beliefs, though not everyone holds it to the same standards.
37The practice of witchcraft is integral with Wicca as a way of learning about the mysteries of the universe while taking some control over otherwise uncontrollable elements in one s life. 38Spells are rituals that involve personal energy and willpower along with the natural energies of crystals, colours and elements to create changes in our surroundings. (39Note that many people also perform witchcraft without being Wiccan.)
40The original form of Wicca was coven-based and the practices of the religion could only be learned from an existing group. 41With so many books on the subject these days, it's accepted within the Wiccan community that you can be Wiccan without belonging to a group (known as being solitary ).
42Rituals usually involve the invoking of the gods or goddesses, sacred tools and a designated altar space. 43Casting a circle of energy is a common element in many rituals for traditional Wiccans. 44Such rituals are performed as forms of celebration as well as to cause change (better known as spells). 45There aren t really any scriptures associated with Wicca, though the books written by its founder Gerald Gardner are a good place for a historic look at their practices. 46Even so, these are just factual books not scriptures like you will find in other faiths.
Asatru
47This is a form of Nordic Paganism, based on the beliefs of ancient Scandinavia (think the culture and time period of the Vikings).
48They believe that there is a universal energy force called the Wyrd that binds us all and directs our lives (much like the concept of destiny or fate). 49When it comes to personal behaviour, there are nine traits referred to as the Nine Noble Virtues that followers of Asatru strive to live by. 50They are usually listed as:
1. Truth
2. Courage
3. Fidelity
4. Honour
5. Discipline
6. Self-reliance
7. Hospitality
8. Industriousness
9. Perseverance
51Practices within Asatru include many rituals used for celebrations, blessings and giving thanks. 52The most common are the blot and the sumbel. 53The blot (pronounced bloat) is a ritual for giving thanks to the gods or to offer a blessing, and was originally a sacrificial ritual. 54In modern times, this has been simplified to an offering of drink to the deities. 55Mead is traditional, but other types of beer or even juice can be used. 56A space is made sacred, the purpose for the blessing is spoken, the deities are called upon and asked to join the ritual, and the offering is given to the Earth and also shared among the group.
57The sumbel is more of a celebratory ritual that is usually performed in larger groups. 58Drinks are shared around, with each round having a ritual meaning. 59First the gods and goddesses are hailed, and then thanks and recognition are given to the ancestors. 60After that, there is a round where songs are sung, stories are told and other social speaking is done.
61The common deities in Asatru include Odin, who is the head of the Norse pantheon and father to the thunder god Thor. 620din s wife, Frigga, was ruler over marriage and domestic matters. 63Most people have heard of Loki, the trickster god who is also father to Hel, the goddess of the dead.
64The gods live in an astral realm called Asgard, and each has their own hall there. 65The souls of the dead are transported to the appropriate hall depending upon how they lived their lives and how they died. 66Those who died honourably in battle would go to 0din s own hall of Valhalla. 67Besides Asgard, the mythology of the Asatru includes many other astral places which are all connected by the world tree, Yggdrasil.
68For Asatru, there are two collections of prose poems called the Eddas, which are the closest things they have to scriptures or sacred texts. 69They are 13th century collections of Norse myth that are not considered to have been revealed by any deities. 70The Younger Edda is mainly prose whereas the Elder is written in more poetic form. 71Both were written in Iceland.
Druidry
72This is a very nature-oriented religion that has come from ancient Britain and the people known as the Celts. 73Since little is known about true Druid practices, much of the typical modern practice is recreated with the intent of at least following the spirit of the older ways.
74Celtic deities are worshipped, as are ancestors and less-defined spirits of nature. 75Danu is the main mother Earth goddess and the father god is the Dagda. 76Cerridwen is a wise old crone who brews up wisdom in a cauldron and Blodeuwedd (pronounced blo-day-weth) is a fair young maiden who was made of flowers. 77Not all Druids hold this sort of polytheistic outlook though. 78Some prefer to see the Divine as a simpler God and Goddess without specific details, whilst some are monotheistic and worship just a single Creator Spirit.
79Because details are scarce, many Druid rituals are fairly modern constructions. 80Most are performed as forms of worship and celebration, as well as marking the seasons, thanking the gods and occasional spell-casting. 8lWorking magic in this way is less common among Druids than among Wiccans, where it is an integral part of their practices.
82Another variation of Druidry are the Celtic Reconstructionists, who aim to keep their practices more historically accurate than the Druids (more on reconstructionism below). 83This type of path is more structured and will be more consistent from one group of followers to the next.
84There are no scriptures or holy writings of the Druids, which contributes greatly to their varied belief systems and practices. 85lt s really a faith born of one s own inner attitudes and personal relationship with the Earth rather than one wrapped up in strict dogma. 86Certain overall beliefs or personal traits are prized for Druids, including wisdom, creativity and love.
87When it comes to the afterlife, Druids generally lean towards a view of reincarnation but it can depend upon the individual.
Santeria
88Santeria is known as a syncretic religion, meaning that its origins are actually a mixture of two (or more) other religions. 89ln this case, Santeria is a blend of West African traditional beliefs (Yoruba specifically) and Catholicism. 90lt may seem an odd mix, but as more and more Africans went to the Caribbean to work in the sugar industry, the two diverse faiths found themselves as constant companions. 9lWorkers (and slaves) adapted many Catholic concepts as a way of making their beliefs more acceptable to their employers (and/or slave masters), who were not comfortable with the heathen ways of the Africans. 92Today it is a very popular faith throughout the Caribbean islands.
93lt is a polytheistic faith, and the deities are known as orishas though they are closely aligned to various Catholic saints. 94ln a strict sense, they are not true deities but rather go-between beings who interact with humanity on behalf of the Great Creator, Olodumare. 9S0rishas include Oshun, who is the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. 96She is tied to the Catholic Lady of Charity. 97Shango is a father god who rules over war, thunder and masculine energy. 98His Catholic counterpart is Saint Barbara. 99Eshu plays the role of the trickster and messenger of the gods, and is also known as Saint Michael (or the archangel).
l00The orishas all have colours and foods associated with them that are used during rituals and offerings. l0lShrines are commonly kept in the home to honour a particular deity, complete with statuary, decorations, food and alcohol.
l02As with the other faiths mentioned, rituals are an important aspect of the Santerian faith and the practice of sacrifice is common: literal animal sacrifice. l03While that may not appeal to everyone, the idea of offering up an animal to the gods is a time-honoured practice that has existed for millennia. 1041t s certainly not part of every ritual and not every practice sacrifices to the same degree. 105Chickens are the most common choice, and their death is a way of making an offering to a god as well as cleansing sins with the blood.
106Some rituals are performed by the practitioner, but others require the assistance of a priest or priestess of Santeria. 107They can be used as forms of worship, to give thanks or to ask the deities for help. 108Ancestor spirits are also highly revered and frequently called upon during rituals or other personal ceremonies.
109Details on Santerian beliefs can be hard to come by as the followers are quite private about it and it is not discussed with outsiders.
Vodou
110Also known as Voodoo or Vodun, this is a better-known pagan religion, though it is highly misrepresented by the mainstream media. 111Like Santeria, this is a faith of African origins. 112Both are frequently confused due to some overlapping belief systems. 113You'll find followers of Vodou mainly in Haiti though there are some other communities of followers in other parts of the Caribbean.
114Like Santeria, this is a mix of African and Catholic faiths, though the original African origins are Dahomey rather than Yoruba. 115There is a single all-powerful Creator called Bondye who does not interact with humans. 116The deities that Vodouists worship are the Lwa (also spelled Loa). 117The qualities of these lwa are very similar to the orisha of Santeria, but they are clearly different beings once you start to study their traits closely.
118Papa Legba is a very important lwa because he rules over doorways and controls access to the other gods. 119He is invoked at every ritual. 120The realm of the dead is ruled over by Baron Samedi , who is also very partial to women and rum. 121Erzulie is the lwa of love and beauty, and is known to be a little flirtatious. 122The Catholic saints that are associated with the lwa are not always constant, and can vary from region to region. 123For example, Papa Legba is linked with St. Peter but also sometimes with St. Anthony or St. Lazarus.
124The gods of both Santeria and Vodou are seen more as regular people than you would expect to see in most other religions. 1250rishas and Lwas both have rowdy senses of humour, enjoy food and alcohol and aren t the least bit bothered by sex. 1261t makes for a very vibrant religion.
127Symbols known as veves are a very powerful element to any Vodou ritual, and each lwa has its own specific design. 128They are drawn at various times during certain ceremonies, always by hand and usually with a powdered substance like corn meal, brick dust or wood ash. 129Here is the traditional image for Papa Legba:
130Another concept that is important in Vodou is possession, where the spirits of the lwa take over the bodies of the believers during a ritual. 131The term riding is used, as in: a believer has been ridden by Oshun . 132This is believed to create a direct and personal way to communicate with the gods, though the person being ridden is usually unaware of the event at the time.
133Ritual styles and beliefs are very similar to Santeria but it is important for any spiritual seeker to understand that they are separate and should be treated as distinct.
Greek Reconstructionism
134A few reconstructionist faiths are listed here, which simply means that these paths are aimed at recreating how these beliefs were practised during their own era. 135As such, Greek Recons strive to follow the beliefs, practices and rituals as historically accurate as the ancient Greeks did during their time. 136This path is also sometimes known as Hellenic Reconstructionism or just the Hellenic faith.
137Even though the Greek myths are extremely well known today, the details of their religious practices are less so. 138This is the challenge of any Reconstructionist faith.
139The deities of ancient Greece are commonly known from their roles in myth, as mentioned previously. 140To be historically accurate, many Greek rituals would require sacrifice of some sort to act as an offering to the gods. 141Most modern Hellenics prefer a gentler approach, using grains, fruits or vegetables instead. 142Household shrines to the Gods are very common as a way of honouring them. 143Like many other religions listed here, the defining qualities of Greek Recon are the practices and rituals rather than the internal beliefs that are held by the followers. 144Rituals of offerings, sacrifices, worship and purification are common.
145Personal behaviour typically includes qualities that were considered noble for the time, and include a strong sense of devotion to the Gods, honesty, humility, courage and loyalty to one s community.
Kemetic Reconstructionism
146This branch of reconstructed religion is from the ancient Egyptian culture and dates back to the era of pyramids. 1471t s known as Kemeticism, Egyptian neo-Paganism or the Kemetic faith.
148As with the Greek faiths, the pantheon of deities is fairly well known in modern culture. 149One difference is that the Egyptian timeframe is more extended than the Greek. 150What we now consider to be ancient Egypt spans thousands of years, and religious beliefs evolved a lot during the period. 151This means that it is not quite as easy to pin down the roles and qualities of their gods since they weren t completely static. 152Ra was a very important sun god though he was blended with another figure to become Amun-Ra, whilst some regions worshipped Aten as the primary sun god instead. 1530siris was the god of crops and agriculture, and he was married to Isis who was the supreme female deity and powerful mother goddess. 1540ther deities include Anubis who was the god of the Dead (a role eventually overtaken by 0siris), and Set was the god of chaos, war and darkness.
155Many people of other Pagan paths have also adopted the Egyptian pantheon. 156The actual reconstructed religion is one of the less common faiths these days.
157In many ways, it's similar to Hellenic reconstructionism. 158The faith is more about the acts and practices rather than the internal spiritual beliefs. 159Rituals have the same purposes for Kemetics, creating a sacred place for worship, offerings and blessings. 160Qualities such as truth, balance, order, morality and a reverence of the Gods are important within this faith.
Eclectic Paganism
161In actuality, most Pagans fall into this catch-all group, so the idea needs to be mentioned even though it's not considered a faith of its own. 1620ne of the great things about all of the above- mentioned Pagan faiths is that they all accept that other paths to the Divine are valid, true and worthy. 163None insists that it is the only way to god. 164As such, all offer flexibility for their followers.
165Many people today have formed their own paths from the concepts and teachings of more than one faith, though there is usually a little common sense thrown in. 166Few people would hold an Asatru blot ceremony and then call on Shango and Isis to partake. 167Cultural lines are usually held in place.
168The focus is on personal worship with a deity and the specifics of how this is done vary from person to person. 169People tend to get caught up with labels because that is how mainstream religion operates, but there is no reason why you have to classify yourself as belonging to a set faith.
Alternative Path
170For people who are disillusioned with the heavy dogma and institutionalisation of mainstream religions, these alternative faiths offer a breath of fresh air.
Shamanism
12 Usually thought of as a somewhat primitive concept, the nature of Shamanism is a vital part of any major spiritual discussion. 2Though we've already talked about astral travel, the earlier section covered it more as a technique to be explored. 3Now we re going to examine it further in the scope of a fuller spiritual path.
History of Shamanism
4The path of the shaman goes well beyond written history, with the practice being found in almost every culture and continent. 5Because it has become so widespread, there are many variations and not all practices are universal. 6A shaman might also be called a medicine man , and he (or she) would be a revered individual in a village who offered a mix of spiritual and herbal healing services.
7The role of the shaman is mostly tied to more primitive cultures and civilisations from times before organised religion. 8Nomadic groups, societies of hunter/gatherers and early farming cultures were all examples of cultures where shamans were of great importance. 9Even some of the more sophisticated civilisations still made use of shamanism, such as the Aztecs and the Mayans.
1OIn most cases, the era of the shaman died out as organised religions made their way across the world, slowly but surely stamping out these more primitive practices.
Modern Day Shamanism
11Those who follow this path today are usually doing so for their own spiritual growth rather than as a medical healer. 12That s not to say that a modern shaman doesn t follow a practice of healing herb- lore; it's more that followers use these skills for themselves rather than for larger groups of others.
13Today many people take a shamanic path simply because they appreciate the knowledge that can be gained through astral journeying and the belief that older cultures had a greater wisdom that is slowly disappearing from today s world.
The Nature of Shamanism
14As a spiritual path, shamanism is not usually classed as a religion because it is more of a practice than a belief system. 15Historically speaking, it was only embraced by certain individuals and not the populace as a whole. 16Though the members of the village may have believed in the shaman s power, they did not follow any particular path or practise it themselves.
17There are few deity figures in shamanism, though there is a strong leaning towards animism where spirits and souls are found in all living things. 18Spirits of ancestors are also very important.
19Shamans use meditation and trance to communicate with spirits in order to gain knowledge, help the village, or to use spiritual energy for healing. 2OHerbal knowledge often goes hand-in-hand with the astral work of a shaman. 21Drumming is a very common part of shaman traditions around the world, and the repeating rhythms are used as a way of inducing a trance state. 22But it's the communication and interaction with the astral realms that really defines shamanism, particularly the modern-day variety.
Totem Animals
23Though not all shaman practices included animals in the same way, this is a concept that we typically attribute to this type of spiritual path. 241t s particularly popular with modern shamans. 25A spirit or totem animal is unique to each individual, and represents a guiding spirit or force in life. 26Each animal has its own qualities that are important to personal development at any given time. 27That is, you may find yourself working with different animals over the course of your life depending upon your spiritual needs.
28Some people simply choose an animal to focus on because it holds the qualities they emulate, but that s not how it works. 29A true totem comes to you through signs in the conscious world or through astral communication. 301t quite often isn t what you are expecting. 31When in an astral state, you can ask a spirit to come forward as a guide and teacher. 32You may immediately see or sense an animal whilst in your altered state, or one may make itself known in the physical world afterwards. 33Be open to all possibilities. 34Animal totems aren t always flashy species like the wolf or jaguar. 35You might end up with a spider, chipmunk or garter snake as your animal.
Drug Use
36The term drug use is not meant in any derogatory way, but simply as a reference to the age-old practice of shamans using various substances to heighten their awareness to bring on visions or spirit communication. 37Depending on the region, herbs and plants such as mescaline, peyote, ayahuasca and others have long been part of shamanic practice.
38Modern cultures may look down on this as a fraudulent way of achieving a certain spiritual state but that is a very narrow-minded way of looking at it. 391f accessing realms other than our own is accomplished through the mind, then what difference does it make how that unique state of consciousness is achieved? 40This is a bit of a simplistic statement but the sentiment stands. 41Using hallucinatory substances doesn t necessarily negate any spiritual experiences.
42While drug use may have been common in older times, many such substances are now illegal or otherwise prohibited. 43Modern shamans who have direct cultural ties to ancestral cultures can sometimes get exceptions on religious grounds but most other practitioners have to make do with none pharmaceutical forms of alternate consciousness.
44The next chapter is dedicated to this topic and you'll find greater detail there.
45Modern-day shamanism is a very personal path and it includes a wide range of ideas, practices and knowledge. 46The main point is that you can develop a huge range of understanding from time spent in the astral world or simply in an altered state of consciousness.