Over the years, I have found that many a person has this strange idea when it comes to the Pagan faiths. It as if as soon as one converts, they [the pagan] are thrown back to the middles ages. People also have this rather quirky notion that pots and pans turn into wands and broomsticks, that tables and chair turning to sacrificial altars and stone circles. To many people think that once one devotes themselves to the God and Goddess, reality bleeds away is magically replaced with Hogwarts schools and Weasly like houses. They also believe that our God and Goddess are just whores, or even worse the Christian devil. With this mini-set it is my hope to address these and many more misunderstood concepts so that we will be see as people too. We are not the demons some people try to make us out to be.
Let's begin by facing the truth. Many young people first come to Wicca (and by extension the Pagan faiths) because they want to feel powerful. They may have seen a movie with three attractive women flinging fireballs like people throw water balloons. They see this and want to be able to do this, they want to do this to people who bully them, who annoy and piss them off.
If you work in retail, you hold this as a private fantasy. Then their are the young people (and enlighten adults) who see the various pagan faiths for what they are. They come not for power to control, dominate or harm, but for of self-knowledge, empowerment, and freedom of spirit. They have heard the call of the God and Goddess, they have felt the touch of nature and they want to answer the call. They have seen the need for balance, between good and evil, light and dark, life and death.
When one begins to study they, like myself, often turn to books and the internet (Internet was still a baby back in my day) to find what they seek. By stark contrast of our brothers and sisters of days past, we have a wealth of knowledge right at our finger tips. But even this is both a blessing and a curse. Shorting what is religion, and what is some bullshit becomes harder as "sources" grow. So as I sat here watching the History channel, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to revisit the
Ramblings of a Pagan Guy. I wanted to take the time to clean up, remove rubbish and make a meaningful effort to bring words to my faith. But even as I sit here, I find myself aghast as to where to start. It's funny too, I can write for hours about the WBC and their horrid ways, but when it comes to my faith... I hit a wall. It's all here, the ideas and faith, they all dance in my head and held well in my heart. But how do I bring the proper words to them where they do not sound silly or wrong?
What the frack am I going to do?
Then, while enjoying the wondering creation of Snapple, it hit me. Why do I not start the way I did? By asking questions of my friends who are Pagan and started me on a rather green path? So without further adue, allow me to present the first edition of the new
Rambling of a Pagan Guy... and the Q&A I asked of others, and others asked of me.
About the Faith
Witches, Wicca and Pagans. I hear these a lot, are they same?
While a good question, it is often formed in a very rude and condescending way. It's also usually followed with "
oh you're just a devil worshiper too!" It's also time's like this I am thankful I am not married yet. I could hear my wife say
"Mr Hank, get your ass to bed already and stop answer stupid shit." When not asked in a jackass way, this is a fairly common question I get,
other than the devil rubbish. When one speaks of the old ways, they understandingly often confuse the terms together assuming that it is all the same. After all, many Witches and Wiccans, do share beliefs in the divine, magic and nature. However there is still a bit of explaining to do. “Pagan” is an umbrella term that includes many different spiritual polytheist (many Gods) belief systems – in short all witches and Wiccan's are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccans or witches. The Greek, Roman, Sumerian, Egyptian, Wiccan,Witch and many other faiths all fall under this term.
As a side note:
If you are wondering about how Wicca falls into this, Gerald Gardner around the 1950's brought Wicca to the public, and many contemporary Pagans embraced the practice. Although Wicca itself was founded by Gardner, he based it upon the old pagan faiths. So while Wicca may be the old ways reformed and reborn, not all Pagans are Wiccan.
Wait you're a man? I thought all witches (or whatever you call yourself) where women?
When asked what my religion is, I am usually presented by a odd look from at least one person. Assuming they are open minded they then assume that being a Wiccan or Pagan is a woman only thing. As a repetitive of the people who can take a piss standing up, let me tell you this is not the case. While this may open up a can of worms so to speak, I'm still going to say it. People who say only women can be real [pagan sect] are either full of themselves or complete shit. While there are sects that do focus on the feminine divine, the Pagan faiths welcome both men and women with open arms. If we are speaking about Wicca, the faith construct is about balances the polarities... the Goddess and the God, male
and female. In the other various Pagan faiths, both men and women serve as equals of faith.
So do Pagan's worship the devil or not?
I will only quickly address this question, because honestly I am sick of hearing it. Satan,
or the god of evil, is a religious concept held by only certain monotheist faiths, mostly notably the Christians. Christian's see him as a evil a-hole who wants to ruin everything. Pagans, while having a strong moral structure and firm belief in what is right and wrong, fird the idea that some red skinned, over weight bouncing idiot with a pitch fork focusing us to do wrong is just plain silly. In short, either one of us worship the jerk.
As a side note:
There is also no relation between any of the Pagan faiths and the Church of Satan, which was created by the late Anton LeVey in the 1960s.
Do you people really think Paganism is thousands of years old? Do you honestly think that Wicca is thousands of years old?
Varying in both age and style, ALL the Pagan faiths can claim roots ranging from our old shamanic style cave dwellers to the ancient Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks and Druids. What roots they claim depends on the traidtion and belief systems. Brought to the public view around the 1950's Gerald B Gardner presented us with the old ways combined and reborn: what we now call Wicca. It is the rebirth of the old ways.
A rebooting if you will. Wicca takes it roots from the Druids of Ireland, from the Sumerians and Egyptians, from the wise woman and men from Europe.
Hands in many pots type of deal. Many of the main principles are the same, but the structure is different.
Do Pagans have things like church?
When and if we feel the need to to share and celebrate with others of similar faith and beliefs, we of the Pagan faiths form groupings called Covens. A Coven (
or sometimes grove if you're into the celtic path) is a community of pagans who gather together for ceremonies of worship, mutual support or various group rituals. Some examples include Drawing Down the Moon, the blessing and welcoming of a new child into the world or celebrating the Sabbats.
Sabbats are our holidays. Wiccan covens are generally jointly led by a High Priestess and a High Priest, though some are led by only one or the other.
It really depends on size and who want's to take the responsibility. In other forms of Paganism, covens are sometimes run as democracies with a rotating leadership by both sexes.
As for the size and membership of our "churches" no formal number is requested or required, but you will never see anything like a mega church. As a general rule of thumb, you will find frequent mention of the size of thirteen. This is in both reference to the Murray's theories and being a nice round and manageable number. Remember a Coven is suppose to be a personal spiritual center, not a political nightmare.
As a side note:
As already mention, there are many reason why groups will come together to form a coven; one of which is to celebrate our holidays or Sabbats. Our Sabbats are as follows;
*1
Name: Imbolc
Date: Feb. 1st or 2nd
This is a celebration of fertility and designates the middle of winter.
Imbolc, (pronounced "IM-bulk" or "EM-bowlk"), also called Oimealg, ("IM-mol'g), by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc" which means "ewes milk". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth. The Maiden is honored, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo'gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterwards at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen. Brighid's Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is place by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honor the re-birth of the Sun.
Name: Beltane
Date: April 30 or May 1
Many Wiccans and Pagans celebrate Beltane. It is one of eight solar Sabbats. This holiday incorporates traditions from the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, but it bears more relation to the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as May pole dancing). Some traditions celebrate this holiday on May 1 or May day, whiles others begin their celebration the eve before or April 30th.
Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. The name means fire of Bel; Belinos being one name for the Sun God, whose coronation feast we now celebrate. As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the plant world blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails. The May pole was a focal point of the old English village rituals. Many people would rise at the first light of dawn to go outdoors and gather flowers and branches to decorate their homes. Women traditionally would braid flowers into their hair. Men and women alike would decorate their bodies. Beltane marks the return of vitality, of passion. Ancient Pagan traditions say that Beltane marks the emergence of the young God into manhood. Stirred by the energies at work in nature, he desires the Goddess. They fall in love, lie among the grasses and blossoms, and unite. The Goddess becomes pregnant of the God. To celebrate, a wedding feast, for the God and Goddess must be prepared. Breads and cereals are popular. Try oatmeal cakes or cookies sweetened with a dab of honey. Dairy foods are again appropriate...just make a lovely wedding feast and you are sure to enjoy yourself! An early morning walk through a local park or forest could be fun for everyone. Gather up some plants or flowers to display in your home. Mom and daughter could braid their hair, and weave in a few tender blossoms
Name: Lughnasadh
Date: Aug 1
At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it's time to celebrate the first harvest of the year, and recognize that the hot summer days will soon come to an end. T
he plants of spring wither and drop seeds to ensure future crops. Grains are ready to be harvested and the fruits are ripe for picking. We can give thanks for the food on our tables. Lughnasadh means the funeral games of Lugh (pronounced Loo), referring to Lugh, the sun god. However, the funeral is not his own, but the funeral games he hosts in honor of his foster-mother Tailte. For that reason, the traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) are also celebrated at this time. As autumn begins, the Celtic Sun God enters his old age, but is not yet dead. The God symbolically loses some of his strength as the Sun rises farther in the South each day and the nights grow longer.
Name: Samhain
Date: Oct 31
Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbat. It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort.
Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition. Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos. The Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was was not advised. People dressed in white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the Nature spirits.
Name: Yule
Date: Dec 21(ish)
Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, the sun's "rebirth" was celebrated with much joy. On this night, o
ur ancestors celebrated the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth. From this day forward, the days would become longer.
Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider. Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun. The boughs were symbolic of immortality (evergreens were sacred to the Celts because they did not "die" thereby representing the eternal aspect of the Divine).
The wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes, in hopes Nature Sprites would come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to visit tthe residents. Mistletoe was also hung as decoration. It represented the seed of the Divine, and at Midwinter, the Druids would travel deep into the forest to harvest it.
Name: Ostara
Date: Mar 21
As Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. The young Sun God now celebrates a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother. It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals. The next full moon (a time of increased births) is called the Ostara and is sacred to Eostre the Saxon Lunar Goddess of fertility (from whence we get the word estrogen, whose two symbols were the egg and the rabbit.
Name: Litha
Date: June 21st or 22nd
Although the name Litha is not well attested, it may come from Saxon tradition -- the opposite of Yule. On this longest day of the year, light and life are abundant. At mid-summer, the Sun God has reached the moment of his greatest strength. Seated on his greenwood throne, he is also lord of the forests, and his face is seen in church architecture peering from countless foliate masks. Midsummer Night's Eve is also special for adherents of the Faerie faith. The alternative fixed calendar date of June 25 (Old Litha) is sometimes employed by Covens. The name Beltane is sometimes incorrectly assigned to this holiday by some modern traditions of Wicca, even though Beltane is the Gaelic word for May.
Name: Mabon
Date: Sept 21st
Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth. At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.
Is it also true you go to your church naked?
What this is referring to is the practice of Skyclad. Meaning, to be clothed by only the sky, we Pagans see is a return to our natural forms. After all, nudity is considered sacred for it is how we came into the world, and how we where created from the natural act of sex. Despite what others may think, there is nothing wrong with our natural bodies, nor is there anything wrong with liking them. In the use of magic (I'll go into this more later) it is symbolized by being one with nature, and leaving behind the mundane. In addition, it is also believed that clothing restricts the natural flow of energy that is working in us. So by doing away with clothing, and shaking of the city as it where, we are more attune with the natural energy we work with. So yea Pagans in both faith and magic
can pratice naked if they wish. This practice is in no way required or demand.
As a side note:
I hating seeing myself naked.
If you think you are sooooo right about your "religion" why don't you try to convert people?
Pardon me sir or ma'am, have you heard the word of the Goddess lately? Prehaps you would like to par-take in some lovely Wiccan cookies? *2 Lord Cthulhu want’s you to prevent forest fires!
When many of our younger members
and a few older ones, begin their walk with the God and Goddess, they find from proper research and conversation, that we do not activity seek out others to convert. It is also true that we discourage and look down up such activities. Sounds crazy huh? The idea of
not seeking out is an ideal that many people seem to have trouble understanding. Wouldn't you want to share your faith with the world? Honestly no. While every Pagan truly believes our callen path is the right one… it’s right one
, for us. Each practitioner of the faith, each follower of Bass and Zeus, of Puck and Isis, each one of us where drawn to the faith because of a need for a deeper relationship with the God and Goddess. We felt a kinship with the various Pagan branches, and by our will we sought them out. All because it was right...
for us. Having no need to validate ourselves to others, we are content to follow our own hearts. If our ways, or any ways for the matter, are what the person wants for, they will find it without human (and sometimes petty) intervention.
Of Magic
Honestly I was thinking about not even addressing many of these because magic is a system NOT a religion. But since they come up so often, and because it would have been something nice to have when I was younger...
So you use magic and stuff? Like cast spells and fire balls?!?
"The point of magic is to make the "bendable" world bend to your will... Unless you possess a rock-firm faith in your own powers and in the operability of your spell, you will not achieve the burning intensity of will and imagination which is requisite to make the magic work."
It is true that the Earth based faiths believe in the concept of magic; a force they see as being capable of manipulation through the practice of spells and ritual. Pagans use and work
with the forces of nature within sacred circles to bring about real changes in the physical world. Common practices of such spells and rituals include those used for healing, for protection, fertility, or to banish negative influences. Within our book of shadows, one may find many spells of such and other nature. We are taught that one must use magic wisely as things simply to no appear out of no where. If one calls for the rains, one must also be aware that the rains are being taken from somewhere else. However as said as above, we work WITH nature, and can not do anything unnatural.
So no flinging fire balls at idiot customers sadly.
A side note:
I want to make one thing
clear again. Magic is a system of using will to bring forth change, it is not a religion system. So while Pagans are open to the idea of magic and it's uses, it is NOT required of the faith to practice magic. In fact many Pagan's couldn't be bothered with magic at all, this is perfectly acceptable.
Do Pagans use crazy death magic then?
Death magic is often assume to be some evil "made for tv" thing and is often misunderstood. But before I go into that, allow me to address what many people
think death magic is. When one hears the term "death magic" one assumes one of two things. The first is the practices of necromancy, or the use of magic to raise the dead for purposes most foul. They envision evil witch(s) with legions of zombies at their command, attacking poor defenseless people and cities.
Awesome in movies, not so much in reality. Even the Egyptians, who where all about the dead, never used such magic to raise the dead as zombie hordes. The second thing assumed is the same evil witch(s) casting a spell most foul to murder another poor defenseless person.
These people play to many video games and are probably mental for entertaining such thoughts. Magic is bound to the rules of nature, we can not bend or break them to suit our petty human needs. Since not even nature can raise the dead as zombie, nor can we. And even if we could, the rules and acceptable actions are much the same as they where back then.
Aka we don't do stupid shit.
Now for the other side of the coin. Pagan's of both the present and the past
can engage in communication with the dead. Egyptians, Sumerians, and I believe the Celts where big into speaking with the dead. While not required in any fashion, and a major pita to do sometimes, one can still speak with a recently dead assuming said dead person has not passed on to the next life. This can be done for a variety of reasons from the "saying final goodbyes" to asking for advice from honored elders.
How about curses then?
This is another misunderstanding, but the short answer is yes; but not in the way you’re probably thinking. Magic is a force of will that make changes in the physical world. Like the sun in the sky and the water we drink, it is neither good nor evil... it just is. So while it is possible to take such systems (MAGIC IS NOT A RELIGION) and use them for evil, such rubbish is not acceptable in the Pagan communities. Aside from the 3 fold rule and the "do no harm" religious belief, one is also taught to use magic wisely and not for greed. This does not prevent us from using subtle magic to protect ourselves and others. When I speak of curses like this, I’m not talking about making someone head explode
(that would be kinda cool I admit); I’m referring to something like “And let this person see not their target, let their hate be infective, let their efforts fail and sour” So In a sense we do use curses, but not in the hellish evil way some people would make you believe.
Can I get a love spell?
Love is a
very powerful emotion. It can drive a person to do great heroic deeds that inspire stories for generations to come. It can drive a person to madness and beyond. It can create and stop wars that have or will last for decades, it can redefine and expel social taboos. It can bring us to emotional highs or crumbling falls. Love is a very basic human need, the need to share our lives with another whom we deeply care about. When in love, and not having that love returned, people's mind will sometimes... become illogical and do things that are just stupid.
Ex: Love me or some person dies. To this end, many people will do anything for love, even create rocking 80's song. To find this return of unnatural love, a person may use money, power, physical confrontation or sadly even magic. While assisting someone with a "love spell" may seem like a good idea at the time,
Oh if only he/she was with me we be happy forever! it is actually a very dangerous endeavor, both mentally and physically.
In the simplest sense, what you are doing is mind control. Assuming you have the power to do this, the target of the spell has their free will is cast aside and replaced with a love of a person that is not real. By preforming this spell (or having it done for you) you force emotions, attention and attractions upon a person who would not otherwise partake in them. You are forcing them to take a different road in life and possibly even denying them true love. By this same standard think of yourself as well. Would you really want a love that was fake, would you be able to live with that nagging feeling that this love is forced, fake as the "love" you see on tv, and is not returned freely? Do you really think you could bear that mental burden?
Can you pagan change yourselves into animals?
Physically no. Humanity was created in such a way that the need for a metamorphosis was not needed. We do not enter into magical cocoons and become beautiful butterflies or the wasp man. Being bitten by a bug doesn't grant us super spider powers either. No, you are stuck with the body you are born into. No matter what you do,
no matter how many pees and carrots you eat, you are not going to physically turn into an animal ever. However shapefhisting on the spiritual level is a totally different thing. By our will and spirit, we can call upon the visuals of our animal brothers and take on their many aspects. We can let our mind's eye sour to new sighs by the power of the raven's form, we can find new strength and courage by wolf and bear, we can find new life and excitement by otter's playful form.
The Silly Stupid Questions:
Do Pagans have some type of mark on them? Something that says "I was born a witch"?
Despite what
some idiots some misinformed people may say,
Pagans are people to. We are white and black. We are men and women. We come in sizes from extra small to extra large. We are born as we are, and accepting or changing religions does not changes us physically. This rather rubbish idea begin in the mid 1600's when witch hunters came up with the idea that physical deformities (one of which was a third nipple) where actually "witches marks". These marks where said to be the marking of the
dark lord of Mordor the devil to show is dominance over a person, and to show they had dark powers.
Kinda like saying "you are mine now" Satan created these mark by raking his claw across flesh, licking (yes you read that right) or by using a hot iron.
So yea, complete bs.
Are Pagan's able to touch the holy bible of the Lord Jesus Christ? Does it hurt to do so?
The bible is said to be a two thousand year old book created after the death of Jesus to canonical his life and teachings. While many people put special stock to it's pages, the bible is still a book like anything else. As such we are able to touch and even read it. In fact I do so on a weekly basis in my battle against
the Westboro Baptists cult.
Is it true that witches fly on booms? Can all Pagan's do this?
How amazingly sweet would that be! I wonder how much money could be saved on car insurance and gas alone? Probably enough to feed a small third world nation... On man and think about it! No more car repairs, no more long lines at the airport listen to some bitchy kid, no more traffic jams or vender benders! Regrettably however this is not the case. The Gods did not create us with wings and the winds did not see a need to grant us the gift of flight. Ah well...
Pagans eat babies and do animal sacrifices!
If anyone ever tells you this, and they state it as fact and not jest, backhand the person for being a completely mental tart who spends to much time thinking about eating babies and animal sacrifices.
As a side note:
All life is held a sacred because we believe the Divine exists in all things.
Dear Mr Wiccan dude, do all witches wear point hats and have warts?
Dear random person, no we do not. Being a city witch myself, I can be found in what ever happens to be on sale or found cheap. If I have money to burn, or a present of some kind, I like anything with Cthulhu or Prinnys on it. My "pagan" outfit is based on Celtic garb, which I am actually looking to update. I also bath regularly and am free of noticeable infections on my person. I do have a scar on my chin that proves I am more fragile than glass however.
That's a funny story for another time.
Are you like the "ZoMg Oh NoEs! It’s the end of the world, the sky is falling! HOLY MUDKIPS SAVE US!" cults?
Silly question is silly. As already described, the Pagan faiths are a religion, a belief system; it has never been a cult. We do not have end of the world predictions, cult complexes, nor money or attention seeking prophets rambling on about repenting or "the end is here". Oh and mudkips don’t love you, so deal with it.
Massive orgies? Is this true, sign me up!
Oh bloody hell. People of the pagan faiths like to have sex, just like every other breathing person on the planet. Where do you think kids come from, Sears? Sexual activities are based on the individual, and at the whim of the individual. They are NOT based on some form of religious practice. If a person is having an orgy of some shorts, it because they want to... not because of some lame ass religion excuse.
Are all Pagan raging homosexuals?
Is everyone on the internet a bloody witless git? Are all black people looters and white people lazy? Pagan are people, and this is probably something I can not say enough. Like people, pagans are white, black, red and yellow. They are hereto and homo, they are straight edge and drugies. They are people, and as such have the variety of habits people have. I hope this answers your question.
As a side note:
The pagan faiths to not discriminate based on age, sex or sexual orientation. You are born with the divine inside you, and you are perfect in your own way.
You need to find Jesus, Pagans use the sign of the devil blah blah blah!
The church of Satan, and by extension screwed up people looking for attention, use both the five pointed star AND the holy Christian cross as a mockery. This gits use sacred symbols in perverted forms for both shock value and insult. Since I know for fact Pagans do not worship or follow the Devil despite the use of a pentacle, I will assume the same about Christianity despite them using a cross.
I see you like to talk about Christans a lot. Hater.
More than half of these questions listed here where asked Jesus' followers. It is also no secret that many people claiming to follow Jesus' true teaching think of us (the pagans) as evil and burning in hell. When so called Christan's are the one coming after you most of the time, you tend to see them a lot in the questions they ask. Do the old ways hate Jesus? No, we have problems with the idiots who use religion as an excuse to be an ass.
I hope you enjoyed this first edition of the new
Ramblings of a Pagan guy, and hope that you learned something, however small, today.
Until next time, Blessed be.
*1: All source information (and more) was found http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/holindex.htm because they did a far better write up then I could at 3am in the morning.
*2 Screw you girl scout cookies! Screw you and your deep dark powers of delicious cookie making.
