~~~Paganism 101~~~

Though by no means do i claim to be an expert, nor that my approach is the only one, i have devoted over twelve years of study (and some degree of practice) regarding this diverse subject, and these are the basic facts as i understand them to be.

Pagans are seen as polytheistic by most, but are actually not much different from the Christian who believes in 'One God, existing in three distinct persons.' Most pagans recognize the existence of a 'First Cause' or 'The One' from which all else comes. In pagan philosophy the One or First Cause is too immense and all-encompassing for humans to communicate with, so they make the connection through the various Gods and Goddesses. Though there are exceptions, these are generally understood to be not literal but interpretations, as perceived by human imagination, of different aspects of the One personified into separate 'deities.' These goddesses and gods manifest to us through their works, such as birth/death, the earth and sky, and the seasons. The latter are so important in many pagan traditions (especially Wicca) that the annual holidays--or holy days--are centered around the seasonal cycle.

Today the words 'Pagan' and 'Wiccan' are often used interchangeably. This is not entirely correct, since although all Wiccans are Pagans, not all Pagans consider themselves Wiccans. The word 'pagan' comes from the Latin paganos, which means 'country-dweller'--an apt description of those early European 'witches.' It came to refer to non-Christians when Christianity came into domination throughout the more heavily-populated areas of Europe, while the country dwellers continued practicing the 'Old Religion.' Thus, the meaning of 'pagan' in modern usage evolved to include any religion which acknowledges more than one deity, or even any non-Christian. Therefore, the term can mean very different things to different people: 1.) to designate any non-JudeoChristian, including Hindu, Buddhist, etc., or--more appropriately--2.) in reference to the Neopagan community in general, or to the Wiccan, specifically. The term Pagan or Neopagan has come to signify the fusion of the old religions within a modern context, and often incorporates aspects of many different traditions into one hybrid form.

Within the various traditions of today's Neopagan community, Wicca is certainly the largest and most well-known. This is an earth based religion which is largely focused upon the balance of male and female energies, ultimately headed by a dual godhead of Goddess and God, or Lady and Lord. The terms Wicca and Witchcraft are used synonymously. Many Wiccans choose to avoid the word 'Witch,' believing it to give the wrong impression and calling up images of black magick and devil-worship to those who are too ignorant to know any better; others prefer to call themselves 'Witch,' desiring to reclaim the traditions that the Witch hunts of the early Christian church attempted to exterminate, and to exonerate the image of what a witch truly was and is.

Modern Wicca/Paganism, along with the indigenous American traditions, are most akin to the oldest religion on earth. Priests/priestesses of the Old Religion still dance in Neolithic cave paintings, while sacred artifacts have been and continue to be uncovered in archeological excavations all over the world. The first primitive agricultural and hunting societies sought to establish and affirm their relationship with Gaia/Earth, the Mother, and with the fellow creatures which sustained them. This spirit lives on in today's earth religions--Native American, Neopagan, Wiccan... these are paths of joy, life and vitality which hold all forms of life in respect and reverence. Unlike the traditional JudeoChristian philosophy which demands that mankind is to 'dominate and subdue' the earth as the superior species, Pagans understand that we do not own the earth; we live on it by the love and grace of the God/dess. We do not own the land, trees, waters, animals, plants, or stones; they are, just as we, the children of the Great Mother. Pagans choose to live in balance and harmony, and are aware of the natural polarity in all things. This is why they do not acknowledge an all-evil force, such as the Christian devil or Satan, upon whom to blame 'negative' occurrences (disease, death, destructive weather and geological events, etc). These things are accepted as simply the required balance to the universal cycle; all things happen for a reason, and though often devastating, are necessary to the order of the Universe.

more to come...