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You are here: publications: Paganism Page One A Natural Return to Magic and Mysticism Article published in The Leamington Spa Times on 23rd November 2005 By Tiziana Stupia The mention of the word Paganism tends to invoke a certain amount of controversy or at least intrigue in the uninitiated. Paganism is often confused with atheism (disbelief in the existence of Gods), or conjures up images of witches dancing naked in the woods, sexual debauchery, and even devil worship. However, Paganism, in its most literal term, is a phrase used to describe the indigenous religion of ancient Europe. This religion was earth-based and emphasised reverence of all aspects of nature. Ancient people believed that everything had a spirit and they worshipped many different Gods and Goddesses. These deities were a part of everyday life and much care was taken to placate and honour them through ritual and prayer. A belief in reincarnation was also prevalent. Some of the more prominent forms of Paganism were practised by the Celtic Druids; as well as the ancient Greeks and Romans. In Britain, signs of Pagan worship and ritual have been dated back to Neolithic times and it is believed that the religion survived in various forms up until the middle ages and the arrival of the inquisition. Contemporary Paganism, practised by an ever-growing number of people around the world, is partially a restoration of these nature religions. Its popularity has grown immensely during the last century, and, according to statistics, this growth coincides with a decline in Christianity in Europe. At the last UK Census count, 40.332 British citizens registered their religion as ‘Pagan’. But what exactly is modern Paganism, and how is it practised? Paganism is an umbrella term covering a wide variety of different spiritual belief systems, such as Wicca, Druidism, Shamanism or Goddess Spirituality (see box 1). Many of these religions are polytheistic, i.e. practitioners believe in the existence of more than one God/dess, and draw upon some of the aforementioned ancient cultures. Other Pagans believe that there is only one Goddess and one God, and that all the other God/desses are aspects or archetypes deriving from them. Others again believe that everything around us and within us is sacred. The latter approach is called pantheism. All of these diverse perspectives fit under the broad mantle of Paganism. Many Pagans aim to restore the beliefs, rituals and philosophies of the ancient world, and explore magic, mysticism and their ancestral roots. Pagans strive to live in tune with nature, rather than against it, and honour innate, often languished qualities like intuition. Broadly speaking, Paganism promotes a positive morality, best summed up perhaps by the Wiccan Rede (‘guide’), which states ‘An it harm none, do what thou wilt’. This is a simple philosophy that has been adopted by many Pagans, and translates as ‘do whatever you want, as long as it does not harm anyone else or yourself.’ Harm is normally considered to include physical, mental and emotional injury of any kind. Some Pagans take this principle very seriously and are mindful not to harm their bodies with excess alcohol, tobacco or unhealthy food, and extend it to include animals and the environment. Furthermore, the Threefold Law (a.k.a. the Law of Return, or Cause and Effect), adopted in some way by most Pagans, states that everything a person does to another returns in threefold form. This is also known as Karma in some religions, and includes thoughts and energy sent into another’s direction. This belief constantly reminds that every action has a reaction, and that it is wise to consider all possible outcomes of any given action before proceeding. Practised seriously, Paganism is a deep spiritual path that strives to develop the self into its highest potential. |
