Who here acknowledges the old ways, as in Pagan and/or Wiccan?

Answer 1

Well....I do consider myself pagan. However, I wouldn't call what pagans today do the Old Ways.

Our world today is very different from what it was several thousands of years ago. The religions that pagans of today tend to be inspired by came from cultures very different from the post-industrial socieities that most neopagans live in. For example, I'm friends with a few Celtic Reconstructionists, pagans who work to rebuild as much of the Celtic religions and cultures as possible using historically accurate sources (as opposed to "Celtic Wicca"). While they have done a remarkable job, even they admit that they can never completely recreate the various Celtic cultures (the Celts were not all one huge mega-culture, just FYI) in modern society; there's just too much difference in worldview, population, and environment.

Wicca is another example; it was started in the mid-20th century by Gerald Gardner. Very little of it actually has anything to do with genuine ancient pagan cultures and unbroken lines of witchcraft (which, for the most part, are just wishful thinking). Instead it draws heavily from ceremonial traditions like the Golden Dawn and Freemasonry, the horribly flawed research of Margaret Murray, and Gardner's own wellspring of creativity. While it's not genuine ancient witchcraft, it is a legitimate--and beautiful--religion.

Honestly, I'm quite fond of the modern neopagan community and subculture. I love going to the Temporary Autonomous Zones that are pagan gatherings and being around a bunch of magical people for a weekend. I enjoy talking shop with others both in person and online, and I appreciate that neopagans have been able to modify what we do have of older religions to fit the cultures we live in today. But that's just me.

As for me, I follow my own path of animism, pantheism, quantum theory and Chaos magic, totemism and animal magic, and a few other things that explain the Universe to me quite nicely. I acknowledge the efforts of others to follow their own paths as well, whether it's entirely neopagan, or whether they do their best to try to recreate older belief systems to the best of their ability.

I work my path into creative pursuits as well; I am an artist and I create ritual tools and other magical artwork. I also write books on pagan topics. Even gardening each year is a sacred ritual to me; it reconnects me to the cycles of Nature which civilization often fools me into thinking I'm separate from.

So that's my rambling answer ;)

Answer 2

It seems that the terms Pagan and Wiccan are interchangeable. I consider myself to be both. Pagan and Wiccans don't worship demons, it seems that people of other faiths make generalizations of people's beliefs without knowing anything about Pagans or Wiccans.

Answer 3

Pagan/Wicca does it really matter as long as you fully believe it the spirituality of your search? The essence of paganism and wiccans is that the belief of something greater than yourself is at the controls and that by involving oneself in these traditions a spirituality is also formed. spirituality whether it is paganism,wiccan following or any other studies,beliefs or understanding is purely a personal one with which oneself must be wholly content to follow.i personally have a different belief for my own studies but my goal is to attain spirituality of the highest form with which I can achieve solitude, contentment and peace within. how you achieve such is your own personal journey which no one can dictate how you should arrive at your highest destination of spirituality.

Answer 4

Yes, I do I am Pecti-Witan (aka Hedge Witch, not Wiccan) a practitioner of "the Old Religion", and have been for many, many years. Nothing flashy about it. we are fairly simple people with "abilities" that everyone has, ours are just honed and utilized. Lots of research and practice. There is a lot to learn when you are dealing with herbal, mineral and candle magick.
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Answer 5

As a pagan I find it interesting that most of the "old ways" aren't that old. For example Wicca which you list as one of the old ways goes back to about 1950, perhaps a few decades earlier but not much.

Answer 6

Sorta Kinda

Answer 7

I do ..there are so many reasons why I would sum it up as a peaceful loving life free of fear and guilt and full of love and the appreciation of awareness that every day is a gift. I can see the life and beauty in everything every day that's the feeling of truly living your life.

Answer 8

You must ex-pan on that because you have many books written in the 1700's of their translation of the old ways and you have the ancient texts.

Answer 9

The Ancient Ways have much merit actually.

I chose to refer to myself as neither of the above...... but I do pay homage in the ways of my ancestors.

The Druids believed in the following for all Celts;

Answer 10

i am very interested in learning and exploring this since almost all of our current traditions were borrowed or stolen from the pagans.