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How many of us can honestly say that we know what a Pagan really is? Do you even know where the word the word Pagan comes from or what it truly means? And what is Witchcraft or Wicca? Do you think you know? What is magic? Is it really bad or good? Or is it just a myth and something that doesn't really exist at all? Now more than ever in the last two thousand years of our history the true essence of Paganism is finally emerging from the darkness that it was once plunged into. Information on the facts of what Pagans are and what they are not is now more openly being shared and hopefully many of the myths and misconceptions that have long stood as truth are being dispelled at last.

The word "pagan" comes from an ancient European word meaning "of the land" just as the word "heathen" is from an old Celtic word meaning "of the heath", heath also meaning land. That is the very heart of what it means to be Pagan. We are bonded to the land, we respect it and care for it and love it as a child loves it's mother for in fact we believe the land or more broadly the Earth is our Mother. We do not see ourselves as having dominion over Nature, we are part of it and we are ruled by Her laws as all things are. Humans may have come to think that we can cheat nature and hold her off, alter even destroy our environment which makes us feel very powerful as a species but when all is said and done Mother Nature always has Her way. For She is timeless and has far more patience than we shall ever possess. When all our world lies in ruin from our ignorance and greed and our cities' buildings crumble She will be there still like seed beneath the rubble and remains of the human made empire waiting for just the right time to begin a new cycle of new and different life. Doubt Nature's power? You have only to see the forces of hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes and volcanos to know that She still rules supreme and even in the most subtle way of a seemingly weak and fragile blade of grass breaking it's way through a crack in the cement. She is there and will always be though our species may disappear with the passing of ages. Pagans know that if we want to continue we must live in accordance with the Earth. Treat her and all the other creatures that share this planet wih us with respect and not dump toxins into the water or bury it in the ground or release it into the air. We should not over populate the planet putting futher strain on what resourses we have remaining nor should we continue tearing up and building on the land dwindling away every natural habitat that remains. This planet is far more than just a ball of dirt and water spinning in space, it is a living oraganism from which we and all life on our planet are sustained. Our exsistance is soley dependant on the health of the Earth. It is not just our home in the Universe but it is the place from which our very life came forth.

To know this in your heart of hearts is what it is to be Pagan. But that is only the beginning. There are many ways that Paganism is expressed and interpreted just as there are many ways to express and interpret Christianity. The Native Americans Northern, Central and Southern were Pagans, The ancient people of Europe were Pagans. The ancient Scandinavians, the Mongols, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Africans, even the people in the very birthplace of Christianity at one time and in some cases still are Pagan thousands of years before the birth of Christ. Our way of living then demanded that we pay attention to the changes of our environment in the seasons and cycles of the year. Each culture had it's customs and rituals, each varied from the other but at the heart of all were the ties to the land.

Many women are attracted to Paganism because aside from believing in a God we primarily believe in a Goddess as well. There is something very comforting to me about knowing that there is a belief system were femininity is venerated rather than vilified or degradaded. But there are men who come to Paganism also. There are many Gods and Goddesses in the Pagan Pantheons and depending which tradition you follow they come from a collective of cultures. Dianaic Wiccans hold to the old Greek Pantheon while many other Wiccans hold to ancient Celtic Gods and Goddesses. Some even mix pantheons and this is an acceptable practice. I myself prefer to try to stick to the Celtic pantheon, however, I must confess that from time to time the deities of my Viking heritage do sneak in as well as a few Sumerian deities and a plea to the Chinese Goddess Quan Yin now and then as well. I found it is always best to call upon the deities who you know and are most familiar with. For example most of us know that Venus is the Roman Goddess of love but did you know that the Norse Goddess of love is Freya? And what is the Celtic Goddess Rhiannon of? I know she was the Goddess of horses but her story is as yet unclear to me in what more she signifies. So mixing and matching is permissible as long as you know what deity you are appealing to and what is their specific influence.

That is another benefit to Wicca, exploration and knowledge of other belief systems is encouraged rather than suppressed. Wiccans know all too well the draw backs and disaster that come with ignorance. It is always best to learn and enlighten yourself to what is out there in the world and what other people believe. Enlightenment is the key to understanding and to peace. It always bothers me that some people think that if there are people in the world who don't believe in the same faith they do that it somehow diminishes or threatens what they believe. They seem to think that they must convert any and all people they come across to their way of thinking and if they don't do this it somehow will result in some great Universal tragedy. To me this denotes real insecurity in their own faith. As for me I have no such insecurities. What I believe has not become any less powerful or comforting if I know that there are others who do not believe the same way. And I am no less of a Pagan or Wiccan if I am aware of or even believe that some parts of other faiths are valid. Much of Hinduism and Buddhism are in accordance with what I believe as a Wiccan and there are several parts of Christianity, more specifically the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, that I also whole heartedly believe in. Let me make it clear that I do not hate Christianity or Christians, it is the fanaticism and persecution of others and the non-acceptance and lack of respect for other cultures that many Christians seem to hold to that I disagree with and disapprove of. I think the time has come for people of all different faiths to come together and finally draw a truce.

I think if we are to move forward as a species and a human culture then we need to become more accepting of each others differences and more aware of the similarities our separate cultures have. Joseph Campbell felt the same way and if you want to know more about him and his writings then click here.

Though I have studied a little about several different belief systems I am mostly familiar with a relatively new version of Paganism called Wicca which was created in the early fifties in England but was based in ancient Druidic and Celtic rituals and ideas. So it is from those traditions that I will be drawing on my insights. I was also brought up Christian and during most of my childhood and I did attend church so I know about that as well. Part of the purpose of this web site is further dispel some of the myths and misconceptions that still remain about Paganism and Witchcraft.