Pagans ....?

Question

please tell us about your beliefs
what inspires you about your religion ?
what words from your religion inspires you the most ?

Oak your is just coming up sshh lol

Answer 1

Well I am an Ásatrúar.We are polytheistic. That is, we believe in a number of deities, including Goddesses as well as Gods. That we do not accept the idea of "original sin", the notion that we are tainted from birth and intrinsically bad, as does Christianity. Thus, we do not need "saving".

It gives me strength in daily life, it gives me hope that there are actually Gods that care, and that stand with you if times are hard.
Asatru is one of the only religions that doesn't clash with the modern day scientific view on the world, it views the world as it is, a natural place, with many Gods.

"Cattle die; kinsmen die; you must likewise die; but the name will never die, of one who has done well."

Answer 2

I'm a Daemonolator. The core of my religion is Hermetic and we're soft polytheists. What inspires me about my religion is that we're taught to respect and discover ourselves as well as others and the natural world we live in.

I've always been in awe of this passage:

By Atums will
humankind is compacted
of both divinity and mortality
He is more than merely mortal
and greater than the purely immortal.
Man is a marvel
due honor and reverence
he takes on the attributes of gods
as if he were one of their number
He is familiar with the gods
because he knows he springs
from the same source

From "Man is A Marvel"
The Hermetica: Lost Wisdom of the Pharoahs translated by Freke and Gandy

Answer 3

I am a pagan; I consider myself both an animist (all things have spirits) and a panentheist (the Divine is manifest in all things). I work quite a bit with animal totems, though I practice many types of magic, depending on my need.

It was the sanctity of Nature that first attracted me to paganism; as I got older, I found that I appreciated magical practice as well, the ability to manifest my desires into reality. These days I am content to be in a community of people with similar values, but who are different enough to keep things interesting.

I have no quarrel with any other religion; we're all going to the same place as far as I'm concerned. Our actions determine our true happiness, though we can often fool ourselves into thinking we're happy when in actuality we're screaming inside. Honesty with the self is of great importance.

Paganism, to me, isn't so much about worshipping gods as it is understanding and maintaining my place in relation to all other things. It's how I view the world and relate to it, and vice versa. I don't have any particular sacred writings, but I write books myself to share my ideas with others.

Answer 4

The thing that shocked me most about my faith is that it is so real. I was raised in a catholic environment and told to "ask god for help and guidance", like for example when in trouble. But that god seems to dwell in dusty churches and never hear what you're asking of him, let alone answer.

Then I found pagan beliefs, or maybe better, the pagan beliefs found me.
And it was such an astonishing revelation, when you go outside and actually feel the energy of nature, and actually feel the presence of gods... and when you ask something of them, they actually. Do. Help.

It took me a long time to shake off the "god is an useless thing that the priests speak off" attitude that I was convinced in when I was little.
These Gods are real, they interact with us and they are here, by our side, in an equal sided relationship of respect.

Answer 5

As an agnostic here are my beliefs ..........

Actually, this is a pretty interesting section. I might stick around for a while! Paganism is something which appeals to me much more than the global mega-faiths.

Answer 6

I am with Gray, I too am a witch, not Wiccan, the rede and creed pretty much say it.
BB
)O(

Answer 7

I live in a Christian household with my parents but that religion never seemed to work with me and then I found a forum based on Pagan religions. The reverence for nature and belief in a God and Goddess and so many other things in the many different religions just made sense to me and seemed to call to me. I believe in Karma and follow the Wiccan Rede "harm none." Now I call myself a Witch and I enjoy these passages.

The Wiccan Rede
(Full Version)
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Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"


The Witches Creed
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Hear now the words of the witches,
The secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny's pathway,
That now we bring forth into light.

Mysterious water and fire,
The earth and the wide-ranging air,
By hidden quintessence we know them,
And will and keep silent and dare.

The birth and rebirth of all nature,
The passing of winter and spring,
We share with the life universal,
Rejoice in the magical ring.

Four times in the year the Great Sabbat
Returns, and the witches are seen
At Lammas and Candlemas dancing,
On May Eve and old Hallowe'en.

When day-time and night-time are equal,
When sun is at greatest and least,
The four Lesser Sabbats are summoned,
And Witches gather in feast.

Thirteen silver moons in a year are,
Thirteen is the coven's array.
Thirteen times at Esbat make merry,
For each golden year and a day.

The power that was passed down the age,
Each time between woman and man,
Each century unto the other,
Ere time and the ages began.
When drawn is the magical circle,
By sword or athame of power,
Its compass between two worlds lies,
In land of the shades for that hour.
This world has no right then to know it.

And world of beyond will tell naught.
The oldest of Gods are invoked there,
The Great Work of magic is wrought.

For the two are mystical pillars,
That stand at the gate of the shrine,
And two are the powers of nature,
The forms and the forces divine.

The dark and the light in succession,
The opposites each unto each,
Shown forth as a God and a Goddess:
Of this our ancestors teach.

By night he's the wild winds rider,
The Horn'd One, the Lord of the Shades.
By day he's the King of the Woodland,
The dweller in green forest glades.

She is youthful or old as she pleases,
She sails the torn clouds in her barque,
The bright silver lady of midnight,
The crone who weaves spells in the dark.

The master and mistress of magic,
That dwell in the deeps of the mind,
Immortal and ever-renewing,
With power to free or to bind.

So drink the good wine to the Old Gods,
And Dance and make love in their praise,
Till Elphame's fair land shall receive us
In peace at the end of our days.

And Do What You Will be the challenge,
So be it Love that harms none,
For this is the only commandment.
By Magic of old, be it done!

Sorry about the length of that!