Scott Chisholm Lamont, RN.

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)O( Green Man

What exactly is Paganism? Where does Wicca fit in? And how about those Heathens?

Pagan: An umbrella term representing all positive, Earth-based, polytheistic &/or pantheistic/panentheistic faiths. Comes from the Latin: "paganus" meant a country dweller, and was a term of derision by the city folk for the unsophisticated country bumpkin. Over the course of time, it came to mean the non-Christian religious practices of those people.

Wicca: A specific religion within Paganism, made up of many different traditions (sects). It is more specified ritualistically than most other Pagan faiths. Central tenets include immanent Divinity in the form of Goddess(es) and God(s), the importance of balance (gender, energy, polarities), the cycles of life, attunement to the natural world, the use of magick for personal growth, and the responsibility of free will.

Heathen: A term of Northern European origin. It simply meant someone who lived in the heaths, or who's house sported a roof made of heath sod. Therefore, like Pagan, it meant a country dweller. It is the term preferred by practitioners of Asatru.

Asatru: A common name for the Northern Tradition or Nordic Tradition, which are based on Norse and Anglo-Saxon myth. It is sometimes referred to as Odintru. They worship the Divine in the form of the Gods and Goddesses grouped into two classes: The Vanir, or nature spirits, and the Aesir. Central to their faith is the concept of Yggdrasil, a shamanistic world tree.

My experience has been that the Pagan faiths are very much about people reconnecting with spirituality as a part of the process of reconnecting with the living planet, and that is certainly how I came to this path as a young teen. I think that one of the most positive aspects of the revival of the old Pagan faiths is that as they connect people with the spiritual aspect of life in a concrete way, as it is lived and experienced, it allows them to reconnect with their ancestral heritage, to feel the continuity of generations of spiritual practice.

One good definition for Pagans is that they are "nature-worshipers, finding joy and a sense of true belonging in places of natural beauty . . . Pagans love and honour the Earth as Mother Goddess, celebrating her cycles". That covers pretty much any of the different traditions.

Three more terms commonly mentioned are "Earth Spirituality", "Neo-Pagan", and “Goddess Spirituality.

"Earth Spirituality" is the catch-all term, which pertains to any spiritual practice, formalized or not, that holds the sacredness of the Earth and/or the immanence of the Divine in the natural world as its central tenet.

"Neo-Pagan faiths" are more formalized, in that they have some specific traditions or teachings that are passed on in a recognizable way. Many people prefer to use the term "Neo-Pagan" instead of "Pagan" to emphasize the break in the teaching of these traditions over the past several centuries, that these faiths are, in fact, revivals or recreations. Wicca, Asatru, and Druidism fall under "Neo-Pagan", whereas surviving shamanistic traditions (such as the Siberian, Mayan, and Sammi traditions) can truly be described as "Pagan".

“Goddess Spirituality” is both a practice in itself and a descriptive grouping for those Neo-Pagan faiths which have the primacy of the feminine Divine as a central tenet.

Pagan worship is often at the individual or family level, with participation in group activities only occurring at certain public festivals. Pagan worship groups (called covens, circles, halls, groves, and other names) that offer teaching and ongoing participation tend to be very small, ranging from 3 to 50 people, though generally not larger than 13. Where possible, worship will be in a natural space, but is often done in private homes. Public gatherings can be quite large (attendance at Spiral Dance in San Francisco is 1500 or more, DragonFest and Pagan Spirit Gathering approach 1000, in New Mexico, the annual Beltane is over 450), and usually correspond to seasonal holy days, called Sabbats.

There are eight Sabbats (often referred to as the High Holidays) which correspond to the Earth's seasons and rotation. It is on these days that Pagans celebrate the cycles of life and attune themselves with Mother Earth. Additionally, there are 24 – 26 Esbats (ritual days in accordance with the new and full moon of each month). The generic Pagan Sabbats are as follows:

• October 31 [Samhain, Sowyn or All Hallow's Eve],
• December 21 [Yule or Winter Solstice],
• February 2 [Called Candlmas, Imbolc, Brigit, or February Eve],
• March 21 [Ostara, Eostar or Spring Equinox],
• April 30 [Beltane, May Day, or May Eve],
• June 22 [Midsummer, Litha or Summer Solstice],
• August 1 [Lughnassad or Lammas], and
• September 21 [Mabon or Autumn Equinox].

Pagan clergy are often referred to as Priest or Priestess (prefaced by the word “High” if they lead a coven or circle) or Elder. Some will use the term “Reverend” as they feel it is more recognized by the general public. There is no formal, overall leadership or hierarchy, no set doctrine or book, nor any universal practices. Most Pagans consider themselves in charge of their own spiritual development, and are therefore their own clergy for all intents and purposes.

Why use the term “Witch”? Isn’t it a pretty negative word? Aren’t there better choices?

Witch: A practicioner of the magickal arts; can belong to any spiritual path, including Christianity and Judaism. "Witch" comes from the Anglo-Saxon wicce (wicca is actually the masculine form of the word), which in turn derives from an Indo-European root word meaning to bend or change or do magic/religion (making it related to "wicker," "wiggle," and even "vicar"). It is possibly also related to the Old Norse vitki (meaning wizard), derived from root words meaning "wise one" or "seer." "Warlock" (rarely used, for male Witches) is from the Old Norse varðlokkur, "spirit song" (not Scots Gaelic for "oath-breaker").

Witchcraft: Roughly translated to “the craft of bending or shaping the world based on attunement to and understanding of nature”, or more simply: “The Craft of the Wise”, shortened to “The Craft”. Wicca is an Earth-based religion that includes Witchcraft as a core spiritual practice. Therefore, generally speaking, Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccan.

Modern Wicca is really a new religion, although its roots are very old. The foundation of the religion is the ancient fertility religions of the Western world. The primary annual celebrations are named for Celtic & Norse festivals, which are the Greater Sabbats (based on the Celtic lunar calendar, also called the Cross-Quarters) and the Lesser Sabbats (based on the Nordic solar calendar, also called the Solstices and Equinoxes). Many of these festivals were celebrated continuously for centuries, long after the arrival of Christianity to Europe. Those who followed the old traditions were often the “wise women” and “cunning men” of their very rural communities. They offered advice on when to plant and harvest, had knowledge of healing herbs, and performed magick to promote fertility and to ward off harm.

These practices became perceived as harmful, even evil, and were discouraged actively starting in the early 1200’s. Britain did not repeal its last witchcraft laws until 1951. Beginning in the early 20th century, people began to reconstruct ancestral practices of the British Isles, coupled with Eastern philosophy, Western High Magick, conjecture, mythology, archeological findings, and inspiration from surviving Earth Spirituality practices from around the world. Wicca remains a highly creative and evolving faith, although it has certainly gelled around certain key principles and practices. Science has also contributed to the development of the religion. Many Pagans find spiritual lessons in the findings of science with regards to the natural world, much as their ancestors found lessons in the observable facts of the world around them. The take-away point is that there is no central text, no set dogma, and no hierarchy. Wicca is a faith of exploration and personal responsibility for discovering spiritual meaning. It has been described as a faith made up entirely of clergy.

In reclaiming what many perceived as a suppressed faith, the choice to be called “Witch” had several possible purposes. One was to be iconoclastic and counter-cultural. Another was to be very deliberately distanced from the monotheistic faiths (and in some cases, in opposition to them, generally due to personal history). Yet another was to return a word that had been maligned to respectability, even to remove its negative charge by using it as if it were positive, much as the Queer community has done with the various epitaphs used against its members. To this day, there are some who just like it because it is “cool” and “edgy”. On the other hand, there are those who will avoid the term, and prefer to be called “Wiccan”. Make no assumptions!

Druids and Shamans have not had the public relations issues faced by Witches. Druidism & Shamanism are also both reconstructions of practices from pre-Christian Europe. Because the Druidic system was very formalized, it was at least partially documented by the Romans. Shamanism was not documented, but there are combinations of archeological evidence and some surviving traditions which have evolved into current practices. Both are now well established in western countries and have large memberships, although not as large as Wicca.

There are many other Pagan faiths that are practiced in North America. An example of one that has an established community in New Mexico is the Radical Faeries. Part Queer cultural movement, part spiritual movement, part political and social movement, there are Faerie communities all over the world. Unfortunately, I cannot provide any helpful information on Yoruba, Santeria or Voodun, all of which are partially African in origin, and of which I have only limited knowledge.

Keep to mind that there is no hard and fast doctrine in the Pagan world, and many people have slightly different interpretations of wording that would seem exactly the same. Someone, somewhere in the Pagan world would take issue with almost everything I’ve written down here. In the end, Pagans love to sort out how the world works for themselves (feisty lot, those Pagans).

Beliefs regarding death and dying:

Pagans view all of life (spiritual as well as physical) as being cyclic. Just as spring is followed by winter, and the bright sliver of Diana’s bow is followed by the dark of the new moon, so too is every life followed by death. Generally, Pagans do not shy away from discussion regarding what are perceived to be natural parts of life, such as sex, birth, aging, and death.

Death is viewed as a transition, preferably one that can be approached mindfully and without fear. Just like everyone else, fear is still a big issue for Pagans, as is sadness, and the sense of tragedy when the death is sudden or the person is young. However, most Pagans believe in some form of reincarnation, or at least continuance of the spirit. The afterlife may be conceptualized as a resting place (sometimes called the Summerland, Land of the Young, or the Underworld), where the soul has an opportunity to digest the lessons of the life just experienced, in preparation for the next incarnation. Many Pagans believe that souls choose their lives, for reasons of spiritual growth. Karma is also a common belief. It is not viewed as a reward and punishment scheme, rather it is a type of balancing, where choices made lead to ties and connections that must be followed through. Therefore, even when people die in difficult circumstances, Pagans often believe that there is a purpose to not just the death, but also the manner of death, even if it is not one easily discerned.

Many Pagans will perform magick to assist with healing (only with permission!) or to provide energy for what work the person involved needs to accomplish for their own highest good. Pagans will often avoid trying to force energy to flow in a particular direction (for example, to cure with energy someone who is unlikely to survive a disease process), rather they will try to make energy available without being tied to or directing the outcome. This work (a very focused type of prayer) does not have to be done in proximity to the person for whom it is being done. Sometimes, objects or images will be charged with energy in a ritual, then given to the person to keep with them.

During the dying process, Pagans will often gather in small numbers to support the person in transition. Chants may be sung, or music played, particularly drumming. The area may be blessed and purified, and the spirits of ancestors called to attend. The God may be invoked in the form of the Dark Lord, the keeper of the Gate of Birth and Death. Many believe that it is this God form which will accompany the person’s soul on the journey to rejoin the Great Mother, or to the Underworld.

After death, the body is cared for in the usual manner. Family may wish to bathe and dress the person, but they may not. There are no restrictions or timeframes that must be adhered to. Some prefer that the body be kept naked, wrapped in a simple cloth, in order that it may be returned to the Earth in its most basic state. Some may reject embalming, as they feel it is contrary to the natural cycle of decay that allows the person’s energy and matter to be returned to the world for use by new lives. Many Pagans will choose cremation. Organ donation and autopsies are usually acceptable. Memorial services (called a Passing Over ritual) do not have to include the body, and so may occur many days to weeks after the death. Additional remembrances often take place at Samhain, which is the end of the Pagan year, and a festival which corresponds to the Mexican Day of the Dead, when ancestors and the recently departed are honored.

Do’s and Don’ts:

Assure people that you respect their beliefs and practices, and that you will maintain confidentiality. Many Pagans worry about being “outted”, as people have lost jobs, apartments, and even custody of their children over their beliefs.

Let them know that you can connect them to resources in the community if they do not have a contact of their own. Many will want only their own contacts to visit them.

Sincere offers of prayer or blessing are generally welcome. Pagans believe that all paths lead to the center, and all voices are heard by the Divine.

Assist with any healing practices they may be using, such as ointments, or aromatherapy.

Assist the person to connect with the natural world in any way possible: pet visitation, growing plants, trips outside, open windows, playing recorded sounds of water and wind.

Ask about supplements they may be taking. Pagans are sometimes very wary of Western medicine, and prefer to use healing systems that have a more naturalistic philosophy.

Pagans often use more than one name. The name they offer for use may not be their legal name. If a legal name is important (for example, durable powers of attorney), be sure you are clear on both preferred and legal name.

Make no assumptions about relationships. Pagans are very accepting of non-traditional relationships, so don’t be surprised by any combinations you might encounter. Covens or circles are often very small and intimate, be prepared to treat the members as if they were family. Also, be prepared for there to be conflict or distance within the person’s family if their choice of spiritual path is in conflict with the larger family’s.

Do not touch or disturb any ritual items, including jewelry, without asking for permission first.

Avoid even a hint of witnessing or proselytizing. Pagans believe that people must find their own path for themselves, and generally resent the concept that they need to be converted.

Don’t be surprised if offers to have chaplains visit are rejected. Many Pagans do not understand the role of chaplaincy in a hospice or health care setting, and will believe that someone will intend to speak to them of their own faith. Explain the role in a neutral manner, and leave the offer open.

GENERAL SOURCE BOOKS:

The best general survey of the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan movement is: Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon. Boston: Beacon Press, 1986. 595pp

For more specific information about eclectic Wicca, see: Starhawk. The Spiral Dance. New York: Harper & Row, 1979.

For more specific information about traditional Wicca, see: Farrar, Janet, and Stewart Farrar: Eight Sabbats for Witches. London: Robert Hale, 1981. 192pp. •The Witches' Way. London: Robert Hale, 1984. 394pp.

Web resources:

The Wiccan Church of Canada:
http://www.wcc.on.ca/

Covenant of the Goddess:
http://www.cog.org

The Witches Voice:
http://www.witchvox.com/wvoxhome.html

Circle Sanctuary:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/page2.html

Frigga's Web - A Frithstead For All Heathen Folk:
http://members.tripod.com/~InFrith/friggas.htm

The Reclaiming Collective:
http://www.reclaiming.org

Witches Anti-Discrimination League:
http://members.tripod.com/~Elderpaths/wadlhome.html

Fellowship of the Earth:
http://www.silvermoon.net/fote/

Here is the index page for the US Army Chaplin's Handbook:
http://160.149.101.23/chap/relpractice/index.htm

There is also an excellent site on religious tolerance, which is privately run but so thourough and well reasoned that it is referred to by many university religious studies departments. It is called the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Web site, and is run by 4 volunteers of different faith backgrounds, including a Wiccan. The address is:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/welcome.htm#posit

THE WICCAN REDE by Lady Gwen Thompson
Shortened version

Bide the Wiccan Laws we must
In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Live joyously, and let live,
Fairly take and fairly give.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
Speak little, listen much.
When the moon rides at her peak,
Then your heart's desire seek.
Cast the Circle thrice about
Round the cauldron sing and shout.
Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone and truth you'll know.
Heed the North wind's mighty gale,
Lock the door and drop the sail.
When the wind comes from the South,
Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the West,
Departed souls will have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.
Heed ye Flower, Bush and Tree,
By the Lady, blessed be.
Merry meet and merry part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law you should,
Three times bad and three times good.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do what ye Will.

“Eight Virtues of the Craft”

As revealed in the Charge of the Goddess

Beauty and Strength
Power and Compassion
Honor and Humility
Mirth and Reverence

“The Nine Noble Virtues Of The Odinic Rite”

These virtues simply and briefly encapsulate the broad wisdom of our
Gods and ancestors:

Courage
Truth
Honor
Fidelity
Discipline
Hospitality
Industriousness
Self-Reliance
Perseverance