Pathwalkers herb gardens - Gypsey Website
Pathwalkers herb gardens - Gypsey Website Pathwalkers herb gardens - Gypsey Website
PathWalkers.Net Interactive :: Helping you along your path "Today, little is known about the Pagans who survived what is now often called "The Burning Times." Paganism, as it exists today, is best described as the practice of any of a number of nature-based religions, traditions that find their roots all over the world. {Liana- sound familiar?} Many modern Pagans call themselves "Neo-Pagans" to declare their religion as a revival of the old beliefs. {more deletia... in summary, two paragraphs comparing contemporary Pagans to the peasants of old, extolling our intelligence and involvement in technology. Also a paragraph defusing the Satanism comparison.} What do Modern Pagans Believe? Paganism is actually a large umbrella containing a number of nature-based religions beneath it, from the European-originated Wicca and Druidism, to African Yoruba traditions and Hawaiian Huna. As a result of this diversity, it is impossible to make statements about the beliefs of Pagans that will apply to *all* {italics} Pagans. However, some statements can be made that will, in general, apply to a vast number of Pagans. Many Pagans tend to: * Be polytheists, believing in more than one deity or more than one aspect of a single deity. * Be pantheists, seeing the God/Goddess force represented in everything around them. * Recognize the divinity of the feminine as well as the masculine, not seeing masculinity as a superior force. * Believe that the life force is sacred, and that nature, as a vital representation of that force, is divine. * Believe that all life forms are equal, sharing an equal claim to the earth as a home. * Believe that each individual is solely responsible for his or her actions. * Believe that the forces of nature can be shaped in ways commonly called "magical." * Believe that magical acts designed to bend one to another's will are manipulative, and not encouraged. * Believe that whatever actions a person takes, magical or mundane, good or bad, come back to him/her, sometimes threefold. * Believe that there is no single path to spiritual fulfillment, and that the individual must determine the spiritual expression most appropriate to him or her. * Believe in reincarnation, or some form of life after death. How do Pagans Practice Their Religion? Many Pagans find spiritual expression through the practice of ritual, or religious ceremony. These rituals, often held at significant points in lunar or solar cycles, offer an opportunity for Pagans to commune with the godeesses and Gods, to celebrate the passages of life, and to work magic. {deletia... in summary, paragraphs relating techniques to "raise power" explaining that we don't espouse "power over". Also outlines goals that many pagans have in mine when raising of power. Outlines the sabbats, and relates the pattern of the seasons. Briefly describes Beltane and Samhain.} Each Pagan religion has its own special way of recognizing the passing of the seasons and personal life http://www.pathwalkers.net/interactive/modules....ame=News&file=index&catid=&topic=1&allstories=1 (192 of 284) [12/25/2005 12:22:22 AM]
PathWalkers.Net Interactive :: Helping you along your path passages. Ritual offers a way to imbue these moments with magic and reverence. (44 Reads) General information: Witchcraft: The Facts Posted by: Mysteron on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 02:02 PM 1. Witchcraft means "Craft of the Wise Ones" and is also known as the "Old Religion". Its practices can be traced to Neolithic "Stone Age") cave paintings. In early times, the Witch was the local lawyer, psychiatrist, and doctor. The field of modern medicine can trace its origins to the herbal medicines of the Witch. Witchcraft is a nature religion, not unlike the shamanism of the Native Americans. As the concepts of male and female exist through-out life -- indeed, are necessary to create it -- most Witches perceive Deity as male and female: the Goddess and the God. Like the concept of the Trinity, these aren't "many" Gods; they are aspects of the ONE Creator. The Goddess is seen as Mother Earth and Mother Nature, and is represented by the Moon. She is seen in the fertility of the plant, animal, and human kingdoms. Her power is at a peak in the "fertile half" of the year, from May until October. The God is seen in the woodlands, the Sun, grain, & the hunt. Because most of the animals that prehistoric humans hunted had horns, He is usually depicted as the "Horned One". His power is at a peak in the "dark half" of the year, from October to May. 2. Witches don't do evil. They believe in the Wiccan Rede, which is "If It Harms None, Do What You Will". (In other words, "Do whatever you want; just as long as it doesn't harm anyone -- including yourself "). Witches also believe in the "Three-Fold Law", which states that whatever you do -- be it good or evil -comes back to you three times over, so (obviously) there is no incentive to do evil. 3. Witches do NOT believe in or worship Satan, and do not perform any sort of human or animal sacrifices. Satan is a relatively new concept that originated with Christianity. Witches put the responsibility for our own actions squarely on whom it belongs: ourselves. Witchcraft teaches us to be responsible people who take responsibility for our own actions. When the Christian Church decided to obliterate religions that were a threat to its power (including Witchcraft), they decided that their "Satan" had horns and that Witches were actually worshipping the Devil. This became the death warrant for millions of innocent people. 4. The Pentagram (a five-pointed star in an upright, one-point-up position) is the symbol of our religion. The top point symbolizes Spirit (the Creator) being 'above', or ruling, the Four Elements of Life -- Air, Fire, Water, & Earth -- which are the four lower points. ~ OVER ~ The Circle, being without beginning or end, symbolizes the Deity. It is completely encompassing the Star within it (which represents the out-stretched human body, reaching out in search of its connection with Spirit). Together, they represent the Creator's Protection & Wisdom. Inverting the Pentagram, as is done by Satanists, symbolizes that the Elements (the "material world") are superior to the Creator. Unfortunately, through misunderstandings that have been repeated by the media, the Pentagram -- in whatever position -- has become wrongly equated with Satanism. (Please note, though, that in England, there are several traditions that use the inverted pentagram as a symbol for a second degree -- which obviously has nothing to do with Satanism). http://www.pathwalkers.net/interactive/modules....ame=News&file=index&catid=&topic=1&allstories=1 (193 of 284) [12/25/2005 12:22:22 AM]
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PathWalkers.Net Interactive :: Helping you along your path<br />
"Today, little is known about the Pagans who survived what is now often called "The Burning Times."<br />
Paganism, as it exists today, is best described as the practice of any of a number of nature-based<br />
religions, traditions that find their roots all over the world. {Liana- sound familiar?} Many modern<br />
Pagans call themselves "Neo-Pagans" to declare their religion as a revival of the old beliefs.<br />
{more deletia... in summary, two paragraphs comparing contemporary Pagans to the peasants of old,<br />
extolling our intelligence and involvement in technology. Also a paragraph defusing the Satanism<br />
comparison.}<br />
What do Modern Pagans Believe?<br />
Paganism is actually a large umbrella containing a number of nature-based religions beneath it, from the<br />
European-originated Wicca and Druidism, to African Yoruba traditions and Hawaiian Huna. As a result<br />
of this diversity, it is impossible to make statements about the beliefs of Pagans that will apply to *all*<br />
{italics} Pagans. However, some statements can be made that will, in general, apply to a vast number of<br />
Pagans.<br />
Many Pagans tend to:<br />
* Be polytheists, believing in more than one deity or more than one aspect of a single deity.<br />
* Be pantheists, seeing the God/Goddess force represented in everything around them.<br />
* Recognize the divinity of the feminine as well as the masculine, not seeing masculinity as a superior<br />
force.<br />
* Believe that the life force is sacred, and that nature, as a vital representation of that force, is divine.<br />
* Believe that all life forms are equal, sharing an equal claim to the earth as a home.<br />
* Believe that each individual is solely responsible for his or her actions.<br />
* Believe that the forces of nature can be shaped in ways commonly called "magical."<br />
* Believe that magical acts designed to bend one to another's will are manipulative, and not encouraged.<br />
* Believe that whatever actions a person takes, magical or mundane, good or bad, come back to him/her,<br />
sometimes threefold.<br />
* Believe that there is no single path to spiritual fulfillment, and that the individual must determine the<br />
spiritual expression most appropriate to him or her.<br />
* Believe in reincarnation, or some form of life after death.<br />
How do Pagans Practice Their Religion?<br />
Many Pagans find spiritual expression through the practice of ritual, or religious ceremony. These rituals,<br />
often held at significant points in lunar or solar cycles, offer an opportunity for Pagans to commune with<br />
the godeesses and Gods, to celebrate the passages of life, and to work magic.<br />
{deletia... in summary, paragraphs relating techniques to "raise power" explaining that we don't espouse<br />
"power over". Also outlines goals that many pagans have in mine when raising of power. Outlines the<br />
sabbats, and relates the pattern of the seasons. Briefly describes<br />
Beltane and Samhain.}<br />
Each Pagan religion has its own special way of recognizing the passing of the seasons and personal life<br />
http://www.pathwalkers.net/interactive/modules....ame=News&file=index&catid=&topic=1&allstories=1 (192 of 284) [12/25/2005 12:22:22 AM]