Paganism Today

Paganism today is one of the world’s largest growing religions. All genders, ethnicities, and sexual preferences are accepted in the pagan ways. Paganism is not only a choice of religion, it is a lifestyle. There are eight sabbats in which a pagan celebrates, each one stands for a change in the seasons of the Mother Earth. Celebrating sabbats is a way that pagans connect and can attune themselves with the changes in the earth and their own lives.

During 1604, King James the First of England passed a Witchcraft act. Under this act the punishment of accused witchcraft was death by hanging. Usually the people that were accused happened to have pagan beliefs. Therefore many innocent people lost their lives. Luckily no pagan in the modern world will have to suffer these consequences and may practice freely.

There is what is called personal power, in which you are using your own energy. No you will not learn to fly on a broomstick or turn exes into toads. This energy is directed toward positive changes in your own life as well as others.

Paganism worships deities, gods, goddesses, including all genders. There is a point in worship through practice and meditation that you are able to reach these deities. Of course a follower of this religion needs to practice meditation and grow with time in worship. There is no worship of the devil or of Satan. Pagans do not believe in heaven or hell. Some pagans believe in some kind of afterlife and or reincarnation.

Just like there are candles that you can light in a Catholic church, there are tools that a practitioner uses when they are worshiping a deity or performing a ritual. An athame, pentagram, candles, incense, wand, knives, sometimes herbs or oils. These tools really depend on the ritual and the pagan that is performing it. The pentagram represents the spirit and the four elements; Earth, air, fire, and water.

Every pagan chooses their path whether solitary or with a coven, because it is personal. It can be shaped, and an abundance of different choices that you can make. The most important thing is that a pagan is comfortable with their altar and their form of worship.

One of the main guidelines that pagans happen to live by is ‘harm none’. This is very important. Often times pagans are taken for doers of evil, and demon worshipers. This is a huge misconception. Pagans have good intentions, positive outlooks on life and what they direct their energy towards. A key phrase used often by pagans is ‘Blessed be’.

In today’s society Paganism can be a very rewarding choice for a person to make when deciding upon or studying religion.