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About Wiccan Culture Probably the easist way is to start with the FAQ.... This information packet includes five separate items by various people:
(1) a Wicca flyer, for public handout; (2) a reading list; (3) a Wicca
FAQ [Frequently-Asked-Questions]; (4) the alt.pagan newsgroup FAQ;
(5) the rather similar Pagan Digest listserv FAQ. Enjoy! (1)----------------------WICCA FLYER------------------------------------ This may help answer some of the questions being asked about Wicca. It is only ONE possible rendition; opinions are GUARANTEED to vary. About three years ago, I did this little PR flyer to hand out when
Wiccans were doing public events (for instance, Beltane Maypole
dancing in the local park) and curious passersby would ask just what
the heck was going on. If you like the idea, use it -- and feel free
to adapt it as needed, for your own group. Written 1991 by Raven. NO COPYRIGHT. This is put into public domain.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- What You Wanted to Know about Witches *
* (but were afraid to ask) Q. Do you worship the Devil (Satan)? A. No, for three reasons. First, we don't venerate evil in any form: our chosen religion is
a celebration and affirmation of life and living things, as opposed
to their destruction or harm. As we believe that good or evil done
will return upon the doer, this does not encourage doing evil. Second, Satan is a figure in Judeo-Christian beliefs -- originally
not even an opponent of Yahweh, but more like his prosecuting
attorney (as in the Book of Job). Those who do worship Satan
actually accept the later Christian theology, with Satan as
Yahweh's opponent, but choose to support Satan's side of the
battle. We are not Christians or Satanists, and do not accept
their theology or worldview, so we would no more worship Satan
than, for instance, Christians would worship the Aztec God
Quetzalcoatl; he simply has no place in our beliefs. (We prefer
the figure of Pan, who does have horns but is a much nicer fellow.) Third, we think history shows that, if you invest belief and
emotion in any idea or thought-form, you give it strength and power
in your own life -- it becomes more real TO YOU. We have no wish
to invite hostile entities into our lives and give them such power
over us, which is why we don't venerate any form we consider evil.
That's also why we're shocked to see how much energy some
Christians invest in Satan.
Q. Then why do I hear those things about you?
A. "Devil-worship", baby-killing, cannibalism and all that? These
are typical accusations made by one religion against another.
The Syrians accused the Jews of ritual murders long before Christ;
then the Romans accused the Christians (who at least claimed to be
eating someone's body and blood every week); then the Christians
accused the Jews and Muslims and every other religion; today
different Christian denominations even accuse each other. Making
wild accusations not only sells newspapers, and books, and movies;
it helps drum up support for the Religion Of Your Choice. This is
a cynical use of hate, fear, and ignorance, but as long as it works,
it will be used. (And there will always be psychotics willing to
live up to the image -- then claim "the Devil made me do it.")
Q. If not Christian theology, what do you believe in?
A. Life. We see the entire Universe, all matter and energy, as
bursting with life, loving its own living parts -- including us --
and gathered in one eternal dance. We try to catch the tune and
dance to the beat. Sometimes we call the leading dancers Light and Dark, or Sun and
Moon, or the Lord and the Lady, Cernunnos and Ceridwen, Pan and
Diana, or by other names. These represent the duality in all
things -- male and female, yang and yin -- neither side of which
can be denied or ignored, even within ourselves. (We hope this helps us avoid the error that some worshippers of a
single deity have made, such as thinking that "since God is all
good and God is male, therefore anything female or feminine is
evil.") Our feeling about the Gods is that they are teachers, family
members, and fellow dancers: not some untouchable abstraction
infinitely distant, but an intimate part of our own lives. Our
feeling about other religions is that they, too, are part of the
universal dance: not enemies, but fellow strugglers seeking as we
do, to live and learn to keep time with the music.
Q. What is this ceremony you're doing?
A. It depends on the moment. You may be watching a circle dance, or a
Maypole dance, or a feast of "cakes and ale", or just a group hug.
(We like to have fun.) Possibly, since you were handed this,
you're watching us "cast a circle". That's one of our basic
religious ceremonies. When we "cast a circle", we mark off a space as dedicated and
protected for our use, rather like Christians consecrating a church.
(The difference is, we don't need a building, and we let the space go
back to normal after we've used it.) Within this circle, we ask for
the protection of guardians -- call them the four elements of Air,
Earth, Fire, and Water, or the four archangels Gabriel, Michael,
Raphael, and Uriel -- again, the names may vary. Then we invite the
Lord and the Lady to be with us for a time. We have a nice visit, a
little snack of cookies and wine (or fruit juice), and then everyone
goes home. It's very friendly. Along the way, sometimes we ask for help with our problems, such
as healing an injury or illness; if you believe in the power of
prayer, it's the same sort of thing -- but we try to put our own
energies into the task, rather than asking someone else to do all
the work.
Q. How will what you are doing affect me?
A. If you're not participating, then probably no more than any other
religious service you watch from outside. If you're shocked by
other religions, you might choose to be shocked by ours. (Ours is
just out where you can see it, instead of hidden by walls.) Or you
might choose to accept our part of the universal dance as valid if
different from your own. You might even choose to participate --
and people of good will are generally welcome among us. Even if you do participate, there's no reason to take any effect
from our services that you don't choose to accept. Since -- for
our own sakes -- we ask for nice things to happen, the biggest
possible results involve no danger. If we ask for more harmony in
the world, and your life becomes more harmonious, then you benefit
from the same general effect as if a church's prayer for world peace
had worked. (After that, if you don't like harmony, you could always
work to make your own life more discordant; whatever suits you.)
Q. Do all Witches practice the same way you do?
A. There are about as many "denominations" of Witches as there are of
Christians, and since no-one is forced to keep One True Orthodox
Way, even a single group may do things differently from time to
time. The two mottoes that apply here are "If it works, use it" --
and "AN IT HARM NONE, do as you will."
Q. How can I find out more about you?
A. Ask one of us. We're easy to talk with. Or read some books.
Good books include Vivianne Crowley's WICCA: the Old Religion in
the New Age, Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon, Starhawk's The
Spiral Dance, and Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft. There's also a lot of shocking nonsense and pulp fiction out there
-- notably in movies, paperback thrillers, and the sort of
newspapers sold at supermarket cash registers; we can only ask you
to take anything you find there with a skeptical pinch of salt. (This was written in May 1991 as a general information handout for
the use of the CUUPS group of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Please feel free to copy and adapt this for use by your own group.) (2)----------------------READING LIST----------------------------------- MEGAN AND RAVEN'S RECOMMENDED READING LIST (as of 6/91) At the top of the reading list my wife and I have distributed for the
past three years are five books we label as good "General Advice": Marion Weinstein, POSITIVE MAGIC
Dione Fortune, PSYCHIC SELF DEFENSE
Robert Anton Wilson, PROMETHEUS RISING Becoming familiar with those -- especially with what Weinstein calls
the "Inner Bell" in her "Ten Foot Pole" chapter -- should help keep
you from many of the worse mistakes. This does NOT mean that I agree
with everything in those books, and in fact one thing you should learn
quickly is NOT to believe too much of what you read anywhere, but these
at least are on the side of a sane and healthy approach to occultism. Other books you might then want to study: Margot Adler, DRAWING DOWN THE MOON
Adam Smith, POWERS OF MIND
Robert Anton Wilson, COSMIC TRIGGER
Hans Holzer, THE NEW PAGANS
P.E.I. Bonewits, REAL MAGIC (see the Cult Danger frame in back)
Pauwels and Bergier, THE MORNING OF THE MAGICIANS
Colin Wilson, THE OCCULT Charles G. Leland, ARADIA: GOSPEL OF THE WITCHES
Robert Graves, THE WHITE GODDESS
Margaret Murray, THE WITCH-CULT IN WESTERN EUROPE
Lucius Apuleius, THE GOLDEN ASS
Sir James Frazer, THE NEW GOLDEN BOUGH (ed. Theodor H. Gaster)
Munro S. Edmonson, LORE: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF FOLKLORE...
Robert Eisler, MAN INTO WOLF
Joseph Campbell (ed), THE MYSTERIES
Israel Regardie, RITUALS OF THE GOLDEN DAWN
Eliphas Levi, TRANSCENDENTAL MAGIC
A.E. Waite, THE BOOK OF BLACK MAGIC AND CEREMONIAL MAGIC
Gerald B. Gardner, WITCHCRAFT TODAY
Vivianne Crowley, WICCA: THE OLD RELIGION IN THE NEW AGE
Stewart Farrar, WHAT WITCHES DO
Starhawk, THE SPIRAL DANCE
Z Budapest, THE GRANDMOTHER OF TIME
Michael Harner, THE WAY OF THE SHAMAN
Eden Gray, MASTERING THE TAROT
R.G.H. Siu, THE PORTABLE DRAGON (I Ching for Westerners)
Paul Huson, MASTERING WITCHCRAFT <<caution!>>
Aleister Crowley, MAGICK IN THEORY AND PRACTICE <<extra caution!>> FICTION: Marion Zimmer Bradley,THE INHERITOR
Dione Fortune, SEA PRIESTESS
Robert Anton Wilson, MASKS OF THE ILLUMINATI
Peter Valentine Timlett, The SEEDBEARERS Trilogy
James Gunn, THE MAGICIANS
Robert A. Heinlein, MAGIC INCORPORATED
Lyndon Hardy, MASTER OF THE FIVE MAGICS
James Blish, JACK OF EAGLES (3)----------------------WICCA FAQ-------------------------------------- From: [email protected] (William H. Taylor)
Subject: WICCA FAQ
Summary: WICCA FAQ for Christians
Keywords: WICCA Christian FAQ Somebody here asked for something to send Christians when they send their
"be damned" stuff here. I think sending them an FAQ is a good response.
Engaging in flames is useless. This is one that I picked up from Sweden -
it was written by a Christian, I believe, and overall, it's pretty good. INFORMATION ON WICCA FOR CHRISTIANS 1...What is Wicca?
2...What is its view of christianity
3...How organized is it?
4...Is it in our communities?
5...How is it related to Christianity (is it?)
6...What about satanic rituals (Do they engage in them?)
7...Sex Magick (Does anybody really believe in it?)
8...How do I witness to a 'wiccan'.
9...What sacrificial tools (if any) do they use?
10...Is it okay to experiment with Wicca? What is Wicca?
Wicca is a pagan religion that predates judaism by centuries.
It primarily focuses on nature and the forces that run nature. There
is a primary belief that Magick is just the force which makes everything
hang where its supposed to and that manipulating it is natural (indeed they
believe that to not manipulate it is unnatural). Wicca sometimes employs
the use of a God AND Godess because it shows the balance of nature and
not just the male angle of it ('though in christianity it's widly recognized
that God has both 'male' and 'female' characteristics(warrior,nurturer etc))
The belief in these Gods in more just symbolic than actually believing that
they exist as real persons. Imagery is usually everything in this religion
and so most rituals in this religion are made bizarre by the exxageration
of imagery. What is its view of christianity?
Wiccan people are as much into 'their' history as we are to ours.
They are not quick to forget the slaughter of hundreds even thousands of
pagans and suspected pagans by supposed christians. Although most respect
Christ as a man of great teachings (but just a man) few really respect the
church of Christ . They see all to clearly the bickering and backstabbing
that goes on in supposedly christian sects and to put it mildly think we
are idiots at times.
It is important to note that it is from such things as sexual assaults
by church members, extreme and harsh judgement by christian radicals, and
a general misunderstanding of Christ's character arises Wiccans even
Satanists (although I strongly hesitate to compare the two). How organized is it?
Wicca has always been a 'make it up as you go' religion. Although some
covens do actually have time honored values and rituals, Wicca has never been
a completely organized religion with a central belief like a bible etc.
Wicca organization is further hindered by the fact that most of their
peoples were wiped out in the height of their organization . Much in the
way of history and rituals was lost (which may make christians happy but
is far more harmful to Christ's cause than to theirs).
Wiccan covens are on a rise but there isn't a great amount of organization
just yet although wiccans are pressing very much towards this end.
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Is it in our communities?
In a word YES. I have absolutely no doubt that it is in every neighborhood
in america. Dont worry, wiccans are not out to 'take over the world' and
most could care less what religion you are ,let alone waste their time with
trying to change your mind. The only thing that makes this dangerous is that
it is widespread and when someone strays from the church it is an easily found
outlet for the frustrations that sometimes builds up in the church. As we all
know spiritual death is the real danger on earth. How related is it to Christianity?
Much of christian ritual (Christmas, Halloween etc) is taken from pagan
roots and made to be christian so that we could attract Wiccans to our church.
Mary was taken from a symbol of obedience to our lord and made to be the
Christian "Godess". This is not to take any credit away from mary (surely the
mother of Jesus would need to be an exceptional servant to fufill Gods will).
Christmas for all of its glory to God was taken from a pagan ritual to
the Sun (Dec was when the sun was the furthest from the earth and it was
believed that a ritual made it come back). Wicca has many other similarities
in the worldly sense . Do unto others is equivalent to the threefold law
which says "whatever you do unto another will return to you threefold".
This might also reflect the sentiment "what you sow you shall reap".
Wiccans marvel at the wonder of creation and the value of it in the same
way any true christian would. A true wiccan would tend to act in much the sam
way as a true christian, with love compassion understanding and respect for al
the creations brought forth. The main difference (and for christians this must
not be minimized) is that wiccans do not believe in sin (as such) and do
not believe they need forgiveness other than to the person they wronged.
Without this realization even a belief in God will not bring them to the
saving grace Jesus has provided for them. This does not make us better than
them, indeed we need to die to all pride and act in love, acceptance and praye
BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING. What about Satanic rituals (do they enagage in them?)
Wiccans mostly believe that Satan is something a guilty christian
thought up as a scapegoat after he had sinned. If Satan does exist he is
,to a wiccan, most probably bad karma returned to them for something they did
to someone else.
So performing rituals to Satan would be as laughable to them as
setting a trap for the tooth fairy would be to us.
Wiccans have a lot of rituals that are similar to 'Satanic' rituals
because when early satanists began to form actual covens they borrowed
rituals from the pagans (who better to borrow rituals from than the very
people the christians were trying to fight?). But in respect to sacrifices
very few wiccans do these, as it is contrary to their respect for nature to
do so. Sex magick (do they really believe in it?)
There is a 'fertility' festival called beltain which is annually
celebrated. In the days of old, this was basically a massive orgy. Todays
witch does not engage in this much at all because of the shaping of their
religion by christian ideals and the N This makes it sound as if we spend our lives deciding whether to
curse or hex someone, when that's not true. Most of the time, our
spells and magical workings are for such things as healing the planet,
getting a job (or otherwise bringing prosperity into our lives),
healing (both ourselves and others), and spiritual empowerment.
Spells are really quite similar to prayer -- they just have more
Hollywood hoopla attached to them. Besides, anything you do for yourself will work much better than a
spell or working done by someone else.
27. Is it okay if I...? Will I still be a pagan if I...?
superior) stance when it comes to other pagans' religious practices.
Ideally, we try to remember the relativity of our values.
by you, and that is what makes it so empowering (making you feel your
own power). Nobody can tell you that you aren't a true neopagan,
because *you* decide what's right for *you*. There are no dogmas
(truth defined by an expert) in neopaganism, simply because there
couldn't possibly be any expert who knows better than you what feels
right for you. Many pagans also appreciate the Discordian catma
(related to dog-ma :) "Any Discordian is expressedly forbidden to
believe what she reads." We also like the paradox in this cuddly
catma.
but a statement along with a request for comments will probably give
you more informative replies than asking your fellow netters for
permission to do what is right for you. A "Am I still okay if I..."
question will probably leave you with dozens of responses containing
the most frequently given piece of advice on alt.pagan: Do what feels
right for you. If what you really want is to hear that you are okay,
please turn to alt.support.
28) I am a pagan and I think I am being discriminated against because
of my religion. What should I do? |
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against, or are things happening to you that would happen no matter
what your religious beliefs were? Not to belittle religious
discrimination because of course it happens, but you want to be sure
that's what is going on before you take measures based on that
assumption. you are being treated the way you are *specifically because of your
religion*, then there are groups you can contact who specialize in
giving assistance in just this very thing. One is Circle Network,
whose address is given above. Another is AMER (Alliance of Magical
and Earth Religions), and they can be reached through Chris Carlisle
at [email protected], or from addresses on several hobbyist
networks including FIDONET as well. 28) What one thing would most pagans probably want the world to know
about them?
_Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers and Other
Pagans in America Today_ (the revised edition). If after reading this
FAQ, you want to learn even more about modern paganism, we highly
recommend this book. It is available in most bookstores and in many
libraries.
dangerous. We are ordinary people like you. We have families, jobs,
hopes, and dreams. We are not a cult. This religion is not a joke.
We are not what you think we are from looking at T.V. We are real.
We laugh, we cry. We are serious. We have a sense of humor. You
don't have to be afraid of us. We don't want to convert you. And
please don't try to convert us. Just give us the same right we give
you -- to live in peace. We are much more similar to you than you
think."
-- Margot Adler, _Drawing Down the Moon_, p.453. AFTERWORD The creators of this FAQ want to thank the readers of alt.pagan for
their input in compiling the questions. We will be more than happy to
revise it to include the points of view from other readers. If you
would like to add information to this FAQ, please send email to
[email protected] with your proposed addition. Thank you and Blessed Be! **References** _Drawing Down the Moon_, Margot Adler, Beacon Press.
_To Know_, Jade, Delphi Press. This file is available via anonymous Internet FTP to the host
ftp.cc.utexas.edu, in the directory pub/minerva. --
Beannachta!
---Susan Harwood [email protected]--
"The hart he loves the high wood, the hare she loves the hill;
The Knight he loves his bright sword, the Lady -- loves her will." (5)----------------------PAGAN DIGEST FAQ------------------------------- Howdy folks! Here's the initial release of the FAQ for the digest. I'll be
sending it out to all new subscribers, as well as to anyone else who wants it.
I'll also place it in the FTP area. Please let me know if you think any part
needs changing. Uther
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Frequently asked questions for PAGAN DIGEST mailing list Authors: Doug Buckmaster (Salguod); Gail Wood, Richard Hoffman (Caledhaearn
('Io)). Pine, (all the rest of the group) And a special thanks to: Clark Stacy, Susan Harwood Kaczmarczik; Brian
Arthur Davis-Howe; T. O. Radzykewycz; Ailsa N.T. Murphy; Cecilia
Henningsson, Shava
1. Introduction
1.1. Disclaimer
Throughout this FAQ you will find the words "usually, often" and other
disclaimers. This is because Paganism is not a rigid, structured belief
system. We have tried to present as many faces of the Pagan/Neopagan sub-
culture as possible in the FAQ, but you must realize that we can't possibly
cover all aspects. If we have made errors, please offer corrections and
accept our apologies. As you read this FAQ you will, no doubt, object to some of the definitions
and beliefs. This mailing list is large and many different people with
different beliefs subscribe to it. Just remember this: "We are not evil. We don't harm or seduce people. We are not dangerous.
We are ordinary people like you. We have families, jobs, hopes, and
dreams. We are not a cult. This religion is not a joke. We are not what
you think we are from looking at T.V. We are real. We laugh, we cry, We
are serious. We have a sense of humor. You don't have to be afraid of us.
We don't want to convert you. And please don't try to convert us. Just
give us the same right we give you -- to live in peace. We are much more
similar to you than you think." -- Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon, P. 453.
1.2. Index
This will help you find the answer you want by searching this file for a
paragraph number or title text. 1. Introduction
1.1. Disclaimer
1.2. Index
1.3. About the Frequently Asked Questions
1.4. How to influence the FAQ
2. What is Paganism/a Pagan?
2.1. Introduction to Paganism
2.2. What god(s) do we believe in?
2.3. So what do Pagans believe?
2.4. What holidays do we celebrate?
2.5. magic
2.6. Where did Paganism come from?
2.6.1. Ancient Paganism
2.6.2. Modern Paganism
3. Styles of modern NeoPaganism
3.1. Witchcraft/Wicca
3.1.1. Are there different types of Witches?
3.1.2. What is a coven really like?
3.2. Shamanism
3.3. Druidism
3.4. Asatru/Norse Paganism
3.5. Native American practices
3.6. Women's Spirituality
3.7. Men's Spirituality
3.8. Church of All Worlds
3.9. Discordianism
4. Relations with other spiritual traditions
4.1. What is high magic/low magic?
4.2. Western ceremonial traditions
4.3. Are you satanists?
4.4. Tolerance
5. Resources for further questions
5.1. The Pagan Digest
5.2. What books/magazines do I read?
5.2.1. Books
5.2.2. Magazines
5.2.3. Mail Order
5.3. Where else can I get information?
5.3.1. Usenet newsgroups
5.3.2 Mailing lists
5.3.3. ftp and mailserver sites
5.3.4. WWW sites
5.3.5. Other resources |
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1.3. About the Frequently Asked Questions This FAQ list will attempt to answer some of the questions that new readers
of the Pagan Digest mailing list often ask (I know I asked the same
questions). This document will not answer all of your questions but will
give you a good basis from which to work. This FAQ exists to get information out, so please repost this as you wish.
Please post in its entirety, or attribute the Pagan Digest if you extract
pieces from it.
1.4. How to influence the FAQ
We welcome corrections and additions to this Frequently Asked Questions
list. If you have information you feel should be added, feel free to also
suggest edits that will keep the overall FAQ down to a manageable size. There is currently no official maintainer for the FAQ. If you would like
to do the work, feel free to volunteer. To offer changes for the FAQ while
we're waiting for a maintainer to emerge, post to the Pagan Digest mailing
list (see Section 5.1 below) with a subject line like Re: FAQ.
2. What is Paganism/a Pagan?
2.1. Introduction to Paganism
Welcome! You're probably reading this because you have some interest in
Paganism, or perhaps you just want to find out what Paganism is. Pagans practice spiritualities and religions that derive from, reconstruct,
or are inspired by various indigenous and folk religions around the world.
"Pagan" comes to us from Latin, meaning "dweller on the land." It got its
first religious meaning in a Christian context. Christianity gained ground
swiftly in Roman cities. A "pagan" was a country dweller who still clung
to the Old Religion, too dumb to fall in line with the new trend of the
cities. A more positive sense can be derived from this original meaning: the
dwellers on the land worked out the oldest and most primal religious
intuitions from their first-hand relationship with the land. It is that
intuition that modern Pagans seek to rediscover.
I discovered when I set out to write this introduction that it's much
easier to define what Paganism isn't than what it is. This is primarily
because the term "Paganism" encompasses a large number of different beliefs
and practices, and partially because Pagans are, by and large, more
concerned about being and doing than they are about doctrinal purity or a
rigid belief system. I'll resist the urge to begin every sentence with
"Most of the time. . ." and to end with ". . .but of course, there are
exceptions." Just take it as given. One thing I have heard from many Pagans, from many different groups and
backgrounds, is that when they first discovered Paganism, something just
clicked inside them and it felt like they'd found something they had been
looking for all along. Whether you find that you feel that way or not, I
encourage you to learn more about us, for knowledge is the best antidote to
fear and ignorance, which are two of the chief enemies not only of
Paganism, but of all humankind. If it turns out that our way is yours, I
welcome you with great joy to our diverse number; if not, I wish with equal
sincerity that you find whatever way in this world brings meaning into your
life. Beyond reading this FAQ and participating in the Pagan Digest, I recommend
that you dig into the resources listed in Section 5. Ask around! You
might like what you find.
2.2. What god(s) do we believe in?
Peoples over the past million years or so have invented many explanations,
pictures, and ways of talking about deity, divinities, and God/dess/es/ity.
Modern Pagans range from those who say "When I talk about the Goddess I do
not mean any personal sort of deity whatsoever", to those who say "The
primary purpose of ritual is to offer sacrifice to the gods to gain their
favor for us." Most Pagans use one of two approaches to the god/dess/es. Either we
consciously use deities and deity names as ways to approach transcendent
understandings of reality that are very difficult to approach in logical
ways, or we use one of the traditional pantheons of older Pagan cultures.
We may use traditional gods in non-traditional ways. Alternatively, we may
attempt to use archeology to discover what the original peoples really
meant by their gods, and how their actual belief and practice differ from
the literary layers of later myths.
2.3. So what do Pagans believe?
Some common threads that you will find in most modern Pagan traditions: We have common ground in pantheism, loosely interpreted as the belief that
deity is found everywhere in the world, and in polytheism, which
approximately means that deity is expressed in more than one form or
personality. Some Pagans believe "all the gods are one god", but
distinguish this belief from monotheism as found in the West. A co-creative relationship with our god/dess/es is common. We accept
responsibility for our own actions. We also accept responsibility for what
kind of a world we get when we cooperate with the Goddess and each other to
bring it about. We honor the Earth, all peoples and other lifeforms in her, and all other
things and aspects of created being. For many of us (who describe ours as
a nature religion), honor includes worship. Ecology is a high ethic for
all of us. We choose relationships with each other that permit and encourage the
God/dess to manifest. Our ethical choices in society are guided by the
Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law (described below). But more important
than these checks and balances is the positive desire to bring about the
best relationships, the best culture, that we can get. To bring about our desires, we learn both practical crafts and magical
crafts. Most Pagans believe that all beings practice magic, whether they
recognize it or not. Most Pagans work consciously with magic in order to
be more responsible and create more positive results than if we left it at
an unconscious level. "If it harms none, do what you will" |
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This is the Wiccan Rede. This phrase, and variations on the same, has a
long history in Paganism, which I will leave to others to elaborate upon.
The thought, however, in whatever form it is enumerated, is accepted by a
large number of Pagans as an essential tenet of their religious beliefs.
Basically, it reduces notions of morality and "sin" to, "do what you want
to do, what makes you feel whole and right, SO LONG as you bring no harm to
others." Discussions of what constitutes "harm" and other intricate
analysis of the "meanings" of the phrase can and have been done at great
length in any number of books, so I won't repeat them here. See the
references in this FAQ for a starting place for more information. A large number of Pagans also believe in the Three-Fold Law: "Whatever you
do will come back to you three-fold," which is just another way of saying,
"what goes around, comes around." It makes the tenet of causing no harm to
others not only the moral thing to do, but also in your own best interests,
since your actions will come back and visit you with whatever intent you
had towards others, good or bad. We believe death is a natural gift, to be welcomed at its proper season.
Most Pagans expect to be reincarnated, and believe that coming back is a
great gift. Many of us maintain some sort of relationship with loved ones
who have passed over to the Summerland. Though some of us treat the
Afterlife purely as a metaphor, most of us expect our relationships with
our Goddesses and Gods to expand after death.
2.4. What holidays do we celebrate?
Pagans generally follow the cycle of the year. The "ordinary" gathering
times come with the Moon's cycle. Many Pagans, especially Witches,
Wiccans, and other Goddess worshippers, meet at Full Moons. The
corresponding Sun cycle has obvious turning points at the Winter Solstice,
Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Fall Equinox. These quarter days are
used as religious holidays by most modern Pagans. The "cross-quarter days", which fall halfway between each of the quarter
days, are important to those inspired by Celtic traditions. These are
Imbolc (approx. Feb. 2, Christianized as Candlemas), Beltane (approx. May
1, known as May Day), Lammas (approx. Aug. 2), and Samhain (approx. Oct.
31, Christianized as Eve of All Saints -> All Hallows' Ev'en -> Halloween). Others may follow any of a variety of traditional celebrations, from the
Greek Eleusinian Mysteries to Druid feast days.
2.5. Magic
Most Pagans believe in the existence of magic (often spelled "magick" to
differentiate it from slight of hand, card tricks, etc.) Different groups
approach the theory and use of magic in different ways, but most believe
that an individual or group can affect and be affected by energies and
forces most people aren't consciously aware of. We are also aware of and
consider honestly the works of anthropologists and psychologists who
explain why people delude themselves into believing magic is real when it
"obviously can't be so." Historically, most "magic" had to do with the cycles of the Earth, with
fertility of humans, livestock, and the land, and with health, happiness,
and human relationships. The magic in Gardner's revival of modern
Witchcraft was mostly drawn from the Western Ceremonial Tradition (see
section 4.2). Many Pagans are rediscovering the natural magics and folk magics. You
don't see a lot of "High Wizards" out there trying to levitate the Empire
State Building or take over the world Futures in pork bellies. You're more
likely to see: a group celebrating the new life and fertility of the Earth
at Beltane (May Day), a person seeking for the joy and blessing of a life-
partner, a circle of healers working to help someone overcome a drug
addiction, a group seeking success in a new business endeavor, a couple
being "married" or bonded together within the love, support and good wishes
of their fellow Pagans, people remembering those of their friends who have
passed from this life, or several friends getting together and celebrating
the fact that the moon is full and their spirits are high! While the most "serious" kinds of magic are usually done within a
controlled, ritual setting, magic is also another name for being in touch
with the world around you, in touch with the energies by which we are all
bound to the Earth and to each other, and in touch with the ability to
share in those energies and thereby bring joy into our lives.
2.6. Where did Paganism come from?
"Paganism" encompasses religions practiced from prehistoric times up
through the present day. It tends to be associated with humankind's
relationship to the earth, to each other, and to the environment around us,
and to emphasize our connectedness to and dependence upon this environment
for our lives and well-being. Often, it is centered around cycles: of the
waxing and waning moon, of the seasons of the year, and of human and other
life cycles of birth and death. Almost always, however, is the central
notion that we are not isolated beings on this world; that we act on and
are in turn acted upon by a whole interconnected web of events, situations
and circumstances. This relationship was perhaps more obvious and
immediate in other times, when we were as a species less insulated from the
world around us, so it is to the agrarian and hunter-gatherer cycles found
in our past that many Pagans turn for grounding and inspiration.
2.6.1. Ancient Paganism
It is hard to know exactly what prehistoric peoples believed or did. We
have some clues from aboriginal cultures that have survived into our era.
"Authentic", old, aboriginal Pagan beliefs are found with several flavors.
The following paragraphs describe different circumstances that ancient
cultures found themselves in. Each implies different limits on what we can
know about the people who lived the Old Religions.
2.6.1.1. Paleo-Paganism
The standard of Paganism, a pagan culture which has not been disrupted by
another culture. Australian Bushmen, ancient Celtic religions, Druidism,
the religions of the pre-patriarchal cultures of old Europe, Norse
religion, pre-Columbian Native American religions, etc.
2.6.1.2. Civilo-Paganism
The religions of ancient civilizations which evolved from paleo-pagan
cultures -- Classical Greco-Roman religion, Egyptian religion, Middle-
Eastern paganism, Aztec religion, etc. The professional priests,
philosophers, and poets of these civilizations took their ancestors'
aboriginal beliefs and crafted them into something that served the rather
different role of a state religion.
2.6.1.3. Meso-Paganism
A label for an aboriginal group which has been influenced by conquering
cultures, but has been able to maintain an independence of religious
practice -- the Native American nations, etc.
2.6.1.4. Syncreto-Paganism
A label for an aboriginal group which has less success at preserving its
religion under pressures from a conquering culture. Many of these have
combined some features of the original culture with features of the
adopted, conquering religion -- The various Afro-diasporic traditions
(Voudoun, Santeria, etc.), Culdee Christianity, etc.
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2.6.2. Modern Paganism Attempts of modern people to reconnect with nature, using imagery and forms
from other types of pagans, but adjusting them to the needs of modern
people. Modern Pagan traditions are discussed in section 3. While various Pagan groups take inspiration, knowledge and sometimes ritual
from different peoples, places and times around the world, including the
Celtic, Norse, Saxon, Egyptian, Greek (and many other) cultures, a large
portion of the specifics of the practices followed by (non-Native) Pagans
today have been developed during the last 20, and certainly the last 150
years. There have been various attempts to claim unbroken lineage of
certain beliefs and practices from ancient times, but my personal opinion
is that it makes no difference whether a given religious practice is 5
years old or 5000, if you find it to be valid today. A religion is a
living thing, and to continue to live, it must change and grow in response
to the changes in the character, circumstance, culture and technology of
its adherents. Any religion which is unwilling or unable to change and
react to change, locks itself into a doctrinal straight-jacket which can
prevent it from continuing to meet the needs of its people. And it is the
people, after all, who are the only difference between a living religion
and one you can only read about in a book. Of course, your mileage may
vary. I would suggest, though, that a portion of the recently increased
interest in Paganism, of which you may be a part, is a response to some
failure in many popular religions to meet the changing needs of human
beings in modern times. 3. Styles of modern NeoPaganism The following paragraphs will attempt to acquaint you with some of the
diversity in the Pagan systems of beliefs. Each of the subjects below fall
into the term Pagan. Some outsiders may consider them to be cults but the
members don`t (Remember 2000 years ago Christianity was considered a cult).
3.1. Witchcraft/Wicca
Witchcraft is, to grossly oversimplify, a Goddess-oriented nature religion
that includes the practice of magic. There has been some disagreement over what defines a Witch. Many Pagans
use "Witch" to reclaim the word from centuries of Christian propaganda.
Modern Witches claim in that name the power of personal responsibility for
being part of the action of the Goddess. Some Pagans who share the same
religious beliefs, but are less interested in the magical practices that
make up the Craft in Witchcraft, choose to call themselves Goddess
worshippers, Pagans, or other labels rather than Witches. "Witch" in Western Europe clearly meant a person who practiced magic.
Although some modern anthropologists claim it has always implied malevolent
magic, there is a lot of evidence in the folk tales and written records to
suggest that local magic workers were respected, "ordinary", productive
members of their communities. There was often overlap of witches,
herbalists, midwives, other healers, and religious leaders - most commonly,
women. This began to change around 1400 CE, when Christian society redefined
pagans, magic workers, witches, and others (largely females) in political
disfavor as pawns of the Christian devil. Somewhere between a few hundred
thousand and many millions of people were murdered in a Burning Time that
reached as far as the Massachusetts Colony in the 1690s. Since then, Western culture has carried the image of the witch as an ugly,
evil woman who practices harmful magic and consorts with the devil. Even
after the appearance of Satanism within Christianity (in which people who
believed in the devil did try to worship it), it is not certain that there
was actually an individual who fit the storybook stereotype of a "witch".
Modern Neopagans explicitly reject the Christian stereotype, and reclaim
the older role of the Witch in the tribal community. "Wicca" comes from old Anglo-Saxon, though there is disagreement over its
exact ancient meaning. It may carry the meaning "to bend", and is thus
connected to the concept of magic as a way to change things. It may also
have been the name of an Anglo-Saxon tribe. It is used by many Pagans and
Witches because it is a connection with the Old Religion that has not been
redefined and misused in the way the word "Witch" has. The word "witch" has also been used in English as a translation for many
different styles of magic-users found in different cultures. They are
often vastly different from the European history of what a Witch was, or
is.
3.1.1. Are there different types of Witches?
Yes. Like the Christian religions, Wicca has many different types. Some
of these we will explore in a little greater detail. This is by no means
the full list of Wiccan groups There is no way to include all traditions
because new ones are being created every day by the practitioners
themselves.
3.1.1.1. Gardnerian Witchcraft
This branch derives from its founder Gerald B. Gardner who was (in his
mythic history) initiated into, or (more likely) created a coven of witches
in Britain in 1939. His original sources and contacts in the 1930s may
have had little or no folk knowledge that actually survived from the Old
Religion. Gardner certainly created a modern Witchcraft that was very
different from the remnants found in Britain at that time. His efforts led
eventually to today's varied understandings, reconstructions, and new
traditions.
3.1.1.2. Alexandrian Witchcraft
This branch of Witchcraft was founded by Alexander Sanders. It is a form
of Gardnerian Witchcraft that is very ceremonial, encompassing much
Kabbalistic magic, etc. Ritual nudity plays a part in the ceremonies but
is not required.
3.1.1.3. Dianic Witchcraft
This branch of Witchcraft, or Wicca, is primarily female and takes some of
its rituals from the Gardnerian. It lays great stress on the Goddess,
sometimes entirely ignoring her horned consort.
3.1.1.4. Celtic-based (American) Wicca
This is one of the fastest growing forms of Wicca in America today. It
originated out of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Its magical practices derive from
Gardnerian Witchcraft, though its religious beliefs are influenced more by
research into historical Celtic society.
3.1.2. What is a coven really like?
Well, if you're expecting to hear about sex and blood magic, animal
sacrifice, and ritual cruelty, then you'll be disappointed. Forming or
joining a coven is a spiritual commitment (the words coven and covenant are
related) that is entered into advisedly. Once that bond is made, though,
you find yourself in a spiritual community of people who have roughly the
same theology, getting together (the words coven and convene are also
related) to celebrate the passing of the seasons and the cycles of the
moon, providing support and comfort to its members -- a lot like a small
spiritual community of any faith. Another common saying in the Craft is
"In perfect love and perfect trust," and that sums up the relationship
among coveners pretty well. Another kind of group for like-minded Pagans to gather in is called a
circle. The ties between coven members are as close as those between
members of a family, and in some cases, closer. A circle is similar to a
group of friends -- you like to do things together, but the bonds between
members are not as serious as between coven-members.
3.2. Shamanism
Claiming to know something about shamanism is a loaded gun. Even more than
other religious practices, shamanism is best described by experiencing it.
Discussions about modern shamanism must tiptoe around conflicts between
academic interests of Western anthropologists who provided most of the
basic information, the traditional interests of the indigenous cultures
that created shamanism, and the self-defined interests of Westerners who
are now learning shamanism from some combination of these sources. Shamanism is any one of a large number of religious practices originating
in original, indigenous cultures around the world. Its most visible
characteristics are the solitary shaman acting as community
guide/healer/expert on the Other Worlds (no organized priesthood); the
primacy of experience rather than doctrine or teaching (teaching is
important, but can be overridden at any moment by an actual contact with
the Other Worlds); ubiquitous spirit beings filling the mundane world and
also defining one or more Other Worlds (this is typically a more broad
concept that specific deity forms); and the shaman going forth into the
Other Worlds as a representative of the community, to gain benefits from
spirit beings. See alt.shamanism.
3.3. Druidism
Druids were the priests of the Western European Celtic culture at its peak.
Although we have some written descriptions of Druidism made by the Romans,
the fact that Rome outlawed the College of Druids and expended much effort
to wipe out its beliefs leads most to doubt the fairness and truthfulness
of those writings.
Modern Druids attempt to recapture the insights of historical Druids. At
least one Druid group, ADF, puts a high value on research to rediscover the
authentic beliefs and practices of the original Druids. Others look to the
literary tradition descended from the Druids as a primary stream in the
Western tradition of occult wisdom.
3.4. Asatru/Norse Paganism
The ancient literature of Iceland has given us a rich mythological cycle
for the Pagan beliefs and practices of Iceland and Norway. People drawn to
the Norse or Viking cultural expression generally follow the cycles of
feasts as we find them recorded. This branch of modern Paganism has suffered because some people following
Hitler's teachings of racial purity have chosen modern Norse Paganism as
their religious vehicle. Old Naziism included a fringe mixture of occult
tradition and myth that used a Germanic (not Norse) Pagan background (which
it mistakenly claimed was Aryan). There are also groups who emphasize
Northern European cultural identity, but treat it separately from racial
identity. Asatru and many other Norse groups welcome everybody who hears the Gods
speak with a Norse voice. Do your homework carefully to be sure of the
group you are researching.
3.5. Native American practices
Many of the Native American cultures used symbols and practices also shared
by older European cultures. Threads of Indian spiritualities have survived
efforts by the United States to outlaw and destroy them. Many tribes and
individuals see an encouraging resurgence and growth in their native
religions. This has led many non-Indians to look to the revival of Indian
spirituality, learn from it, and adopt it. Most Pagans agree that it is a
good thing to pay attention to the wisdom of the Native American cultures. Sensitivity is also needed. Native Americans often find their religion
treated as one more tourist attraction, or as fodder for one more
bestseller in white bookstores. Some tribes have recently explicitly asked
Indians to resist this trend. That request specifically criticized those
who combine Indian practices with other occult teachings. Eclectic Pagans,
since they combine many diverse styles of spiritual practices, should
consider all sides of this issue.
3.6. Women's Spirituality
Women's Spirituality has been an independent thread growing out of the
feminist movement of the '60s and '70s. It and Pagan Goddess worship find
much to reinforce each other, and some overlap is found between Pagans and
non-Pagans. Women's Spirituality grew out of recognizing that most Western religious
thought is defined, and limited, by white male religious authorities. It
seeks to redefine spirituality from female, and feminist, perspectives.
3.7. Men's Spirituality
Men's Spirituality is a recent emergence from men who recognize the
contributions of Women's Spirituality. Just as Western religious history
has set women to one side, it has also redefined divinity into forms not
useful to most men. Men's spirituality seeks what spirituality means for
males who do not buy into the dominant assumption of what men should be.
3.8. Church of All Worlds
The Church of All Worlds (CAW) is first found in the science fiction novel
_Stranger in a Strange Land_, by Robert Heinlein. It was adopted by a
group of friends loosely organized around Otter and Morning Glory G'Zell,
who were trying to work out a new definition of spirituality. Its central
insights were "Thou art God", and the necessity to consider everything with
full, clear attention before claiming to grok it. By this, Heinlein (may
have) meant that we are all the God there is. Over the years, CAW grew
closer to eclectic Pagan thought and practice. Its (very influential)
magazine _Green Egg_ presents flavors of Pagan thought unique to CAW. |
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3.9. Discordianism
Is Discordianism a religion disguised as a joke, or a joke disguised as a
religion? Discordians would be the last to care. Discordianism is an
answer to those who take their religion too seriously. To descend to a
serious answer for the briefest moment possible, Discordians claim that
Discord and Chaos force themselves into our lives, regardless of our
desires. The best response to Discord, therefore, is to welcome her with
open arms. For more, consult the _Principia Discordia, or How I Found Goddess, and
What I Did to Her When I Found Her_.
4. Relations with other spiritual traditions
4.1. What is high magic/low magic?
There really is no easy answer to your question; indeed, this is indicative
of how little weight should be given terms like "Low magic" or "High
magic". Donald Michael Kraig addresses this question in _Modern magic: Eleven
Lessons in the High magical Arts_. This is a good, if somewhat
generalized, introduction to ceremonial magic for beginners. While Kraig
is no historical scholar, I think his answer to your question is as valid
as any; and I will paraphrase it for you... High magic appeared with the widespread advent of cities. As cities
evolved, so did the new phenomena of a middle class, who had considerably
more leisure time than their rural neighbors. They were able to learn to
read and study, and their magic thus tended to include long, complicated
spells, correspondences, and preparations. Their magic was mastered
through left-brain processes: long hours of study, mastery of arcane
languages, Kabbala, etc. Simultaneously, the people of the land were developing their own magical
practices (as every culture will). Since they lacked the time and
education to study ancient texts and learn correspondences, their lore
developed around direct experience of Mother Nature. Their system
recognized immediately the significance of the moon, of the four elements,
and of plant essences. Wicca is a descendent of this body of lore, as is
Santeria and "la veccia religione".
The distinction between Natural or "Low" magic and "High" or Art magic
becomes increasingly blurred with time -- a good thing, in my opinion.
Both have been tied in past cultures with political organizations, often to
their detriment. I hope that we have at least begun to answer your question, it is one that
plagued the Golden Dawn and precipitated the huffy departure of several of
its members. 4.2. Western ceremonial traditions Western ceremonial traditions mostly stem from the Neoplatonic Philosophers
of the Renaissance, although many trace their lineage back thru Greece to
Egypt, and most encompass elements from Judaic, Vedic, and other mystical
traditions. A good starting place, for people who are interested in the historical
roots of European hermeticism (after Hermes Trismegistrus, an early author,
or by association, after Hermes the messenger of the gods, patron of
magic), would be Frances Yeats' books _Giordano Brono and the Hermetic
Tradition_ and _The Art of Memory_, which while tracing a specific lineage
of thought, tie in many others, and have terrific bibliographies. WCTs include European (vs traditional Judaic) Kabbala, alchemy, traditional
demonology/angelology, talismanic magic, ritual magic, Enochian magic.
Traditions can encompass a lot of Masonic and Rosicrucian related
traditions. These may be said to include the Golden Dawn, OTO, Thelema,
and (with a small stretch) Gardnerian and Alexandrian Witchcraft. Most
notable and notorious of the WC writers of this century is certainly
Aleister Crowley, who reveled in his "bad boy" reputation, in a field not
known for "nice guys." Don't try reading Crowley until you have a bit of
symbolic vocabulary under your belt. His writing is full of "idiot
filters" and in-jokes that come off rather badly if you don't know the
background. WC traditions range from openly Christian, avowedly Satanic, to radically
ecumenical. These are the nerds and engineers of the Art. Most traditions
openly pursue mystical enlightenment.
4.3. Are you satanists?
This is a bit of a loaded question, since there are several different
conceptions of what Satanism really is. Many Pagan groups have a public
Standards of Ethics, or something of the sort, that includes an explicit
disclaimer that Pagans do not believe in Satan (nor in other parts of
Christianity). At the same time, there are some people who call themselves both Pagan and
Satanist. These people are a far cry from the Hollywood image of Satanism.
They tend to value pleasure as a primary motivation, or to find meaning in
images which Christian churches attacked. For some of these people,
reclaiming the word "Satanist" is an act of resistance against oppression. Then there are other people who are clearly not Pagan, call themselves
Satanist, and fit none of the descriptions we have given so far. For more
information on Satanism as a religion, check out alt.satanism. If what you're really wanting to know is do we sacrifice babies and worship
evil incarnate, the answer's no.
4.4. Tolerance
One of the primary attributes that virtually every Pagan person or group
has is tolerance towards others and their right to the respect of their
beliefs, their privacy, and their different-ness. This might not seem so
surprising or unusual, given Paganism's minority position in most of the
the world, and its history as an often oppressed religion. However,
history is full of examples of oppressed religious groups which nonetheless
manage to become quite intolerant themselves. Pagans, however, tend to see the world in shades of grey, rather than in
blacks and whites, and few Pagan groups claim to be "The One True Way."
Most Pagans view the beliefs and particular spiritual path they have chosen
as appropriate for themselves, but not necessarily correct for anyone else.
For this reason, few Pagans proselytize to others or attempt to gain
"converts." Who are we to say what's right for you? If you like our ways,
and it feels right to you, perhaps you'll join some of us; if not, we'll
wish you joy in whatever path you find that suits you. This is not even necessarily equivalent to the Hindu concept of, "all
god/desses are aspects of the one god/dess." Many Pagans see that level of
doctrinal synthesis as potential arrogance towards the beliefs of others. There are few absolutes in Paganism and, consequently, a great deal of
acceptance of the ways of others, even as many of those ways may not
personally appeal to us. That is not to say that we're not serious and
passionate about our own beliefs; however, there is so much universe out
there, it would appear to contain room enough for all of us, and anything
that helps an individual to make sense of it all would seem to be a Good
Thing, so long as it involves no harm to others. Some Pagans are polytheistic, some worship a single deity, some a God and
Goddess pair, some places and things, some themselves, and any number of
other configurations and variations. Despite the specific forms of worship
and individual beliefs, most Pagans find the Wiccan Rede and the Three-Fold
Law lead to tolerance for all churches, governments, and people who are
bringing no harm to their neighbors.
5. Resources for further questions
5.1. The Pagan Digest
The Pagan Digest is a mailing list, and the home of this FAQ. It is the
results of the labor of Uther Locksley. The Digest works (as do many
mailing lists) like an electronic newsletter where subscribers exchange
comments, questions, and advice with each other. It is much like a
newsgroup, but via email rather than the NetNews software. This mailing
list is an open forum for people who practice the many forms of Paganism
which are active today. We invite you to participate in our discussions.
We welcome all points of view and feel much more enriched with your
comments. Contact information taken from the header of each issue:
5.2. What books/magazines do I read?
There are dozens available, many at mainstream bookstores. These are a few
of the most popular. If you can't find them at the mall, try your
neighborhood Mom-and-Pop Pagan, New Age, or occult stores, or mail-order
sources.
5.2.1. Books
1. "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler
2. "The Spiral Dance" by Starhawk
3. "Wicca--A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham
4. "Witchcraft Fact Book" by Ed Buczynski
5. "The Complete Book of Witchcraft" by Raymond Buckland
5.2.2. Magazines
1. Circle Network News, quarterly, published by Circle Sanctuary
2. Green Egg, bimonthly, published by Church of All Worlds
5.2.3. Mail Order
Since it is sometimes difficult to find a neighborhood Mom-and-Pop Pagan
bookshop, especially if you're truly a country dweller, here's a couple of
possible mail-order sources. These are fairly widely known, but the Pagan
Digest will not endorse commercial sources. Do let us know if you have any
criticisms or alternate suggestions for this section. 1. Abyss
48 Chester Road
Chester MA 01011 2. Circle
Box 219
Mt. Horeb, WI 53572 Circle is not a store and does not have a catalog. However, they have
a varied stock of books and music available in exchange for
contributions to Circle Sanctuary. Current info is in each issue of
Circle Network News.
5.3. Where else can I get information?
5.3.1. Usenet newsgroups
1. alt.pagan
2. alt.mythology
3. alt.magic
4. alt.astrology
5. alt.divination 5.3.2 Mailing lists
1. nemeton-l
A Celtic/druidic list. To subscribe, send mail to [email protected] with message
Subscribe nemeton-l 5.3.3. ftp and mailserver sites 1. slopoke.mlb.semi.harris.com, 132.158.82.36
contains the Principia Discordia (/pub/doc/principia.Z), and other text
files and graphics in various directories under /pub. Most are from
alt.magic, and are more interesting to ceremonial magicians than to
Pagans.
2. drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu /anonymous/pagan/archive
contains the Pagan Digest archives, and a few other files.
3. mcs.com mcsnet.users/hurst/pagan/bibliography.
This is a non-authoritative but somewhat extensive annotated
bibliography of pagan/wiccan/magical references. Also available by e-
mail. Send a message to with a subject line that says request bibliography You should get back a reply containing the latest edition of a
bibliography
compiled by Dave Hurst. If you encounter any problems, please let him
know.
4. ftp.lysator.liu.se /pub/religion/pagan
A large amount of information is found here. General occultism files
are in /pub/magick.
5. netcom.com /pub/alamut
archives materials related to Temple of Psychic Youth.
6. quartz.rutgers.com /pub/occult
archives a fair amount of magical text materials.
5.3.4. WWW sites
5.3.5. Other resources
CompuServe's New Age Religion Library includes Larry Cornett's quarterly
calendar of Pagan events around the country. --------------------------END OF QUOTED TEXTS--------------------------- Enjoy.... |
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