Pagan Information Question #2: What is the History of your path?

Question

Briefly, tell us how your path has been founded, developed and evolved since it's beginnings in modern times. And, if possible, give a brief overview of HOW and WHO you worship. No need for enormous detail, just enough to generally inform those who would be interested in learning about us.

Brightest Blessings
Raji the Green Witch

1. Baron, the intent of thses questions is NOT to inform other pagans but to inform those who have NO idea what paganism and it's many offshoots are all about. Even though the answers and the Stars don't show it, there ARE those out there who ARE interested in learning who we are, what we do, and why we do it. the more information that they can find out the less likely they are to fear and hate us.

2. Frau, Hestia's, Night, Diane, and Morgana, Those are ALL excellent answers and done in the spirit of these qwuestions, Thank you so much:).

3. Everyohne else, your answers are so vague that folks will still remain ignorant of our many ways and paths. I understand that there ARE some Traditions who guard their secrets closely. It IS still possible to be more informative without revealing those inner sanctum secrest.

Folks, the mainstream religions tend to view us as having REJECTED their Beliefs, NOT as us having FOUND and come to accept our views of Deity and worship. TBC

They need/wish? to know what we find about our ways that hold spiritual relevance and meaning to us. By being open, honest and as complete as we can, THEY will come to an understanding through knowledge that we are NOT just a fad, NOT just a bunch of fools going around playing with forces that we don't understand, etc.

We ALL have a story to tell about what gives us meaing and fulfillment in our spiritual lives. THIS is your opportunity to get that message out to those who have NO idea what we are all about.

Answer 1

Dear Raji,

As far as I know, Traditional Witchcraft is a term for Witchcraft that dates back some 40,000 years to Paleolithic times, and it has existed in some form or other since then. Spiritual paths change and grow with time and distance, and so Witchcraft has changed over the centuries. It has, in general, been considered an Earth based path. It doesn't focus on deities so much as ancestral spirits. Some Witches are Wiccans (a much much more recent development!) and some are not. Witchcraft is a form of paganism that is deeply in touch with the natural world, connected to the elements and the spirits that we see and perceive to be around us all the time. How Witchcraft has changed and developed over time includes the fact that the craft practices would vary in Europe from region to region, from village to village, or from clan to clan, depending on the needs of the particular group, based on natural elements such as geography, climate, needs, etc.

Witchcraft also changed out of cruel necessity during the Middle Ages, when the Burning Times and the horrifying persecution of Witches forces many to go underground and hide their practices on fear of torture and death. This very drastic change demonized the practices that were once considered holy, blessed, and very necessary for the community.

The Craft and its followers are making a come back in modern times, but the changes that have been wrought upon us by others have left their mark, and Witches are still thought of as either evil or make believe by many.

I wish people to know, as you do, what we are and what we do that is good and positive, and what our histories are. Some Traditional Witches do worship gods and goddesses, many do not, revering instead the spirits of our ancestors, and well as the Earth and Sun spirits as the Mother and Father Spirits. We consider everything to be interconnected and living in the web of life that has been spun. Some of us show our reverence by casting circles, by burning bonfires, by lighting candles, by giving back food, as well as doing real and practical things by helping stop global warming, giving to charity, counseling, sharing, helping.

These are terrific questions Raji. What a great way to help spread some accurate information about pagans and Witches!

BB,
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 2

Witchcraft dates back to before even Biblical times, so i do not know were to start so how about here: I am a Witch, and I worship Athena. as to the how I worship, well that depends on were I am and how much space I have. Raji, I think you and most everyone else who reads this will understand what i mean. I am not good at explaining things. We had to go into hiding during the Burning Times, and that has served to make us look bad to some of the other Paths, however we are making a comeback, and maybe the world will one day see and understand the truth.

Athena Bless.
Blessed Be.

Answer 3

This is a great idea, if the people who do not understand us bother to read it!

Many already know about the ancient Druids, from which we take inspiration and try to model some of our spiritual practises on, so I will skim over those and go on to the modern day druids.

Modern Druidism, as it is practised by most Druids today, emerged during the 1960s. Ross Nichols, a friend of Gerald Gardner as it happens, rebelled against the election of a new Druid Chief of the Ancient Order of Druids, of which Winston Churchill was once a member! and established his own group, The Order of Bards Ovates & Druids.

Although OBOD was initially a small group, they exerted an influence over the coming years which resulted in Druidism finally emerging in the last decade of the twentieth century as a viable alternative to the more well-known and established spiritual paths.

There were other, older Druid groups, but it was really through Ross Nichols efforts, and writings, that it came to a wider audience, and it was he who brought us the now familiar sight of druids at Stonehenge on Midsummer morning.

We celebrate the 8 celtic festivals, learn about the stars and moonlore. Many of us are healers and poets too, as were the druids of old. We meet in groups that we call Groves to celebrate the festivals and honout the celtic gods and goddesses and also our ancestors.

Answer 4

Hellenismos as a modern practice was pioneered in the US by a number of people. It has a lot of variations ranging from eclectic through Olympian to Strict Reconstructionist.

Many of the groups that exist are devoted to a specific God or Goddess primarily, but still acknowlege the rest of the pantheon.

Many of us recognize the existance of Patron/Matron deities who take special interest in individual's lives. Hestia and Hera are of special importance in my life as Athena was to Odysseus (to use a classical referance)

Most of the time the ceremonies are not very formal, but there is a growing movement within Hellenismos to work on recreating larger festivals with more formal approaches.

Answer 5

In the 1970s two men began with the basic beliefs that would form Asatru - devotion to the Northern European/Anglo-Saxon deities, to delve into the myths and archaeology and find ways to restore the worship and religion of our ancestors. One was in Iceland the other in Texas.

One of the original members of the Kindred (religious group) in Texas wrote a basic book on Asatru - which means True to the Gods = the Aesir and Vanir. Heathenism is recognized in Europe, Australia and the Americas now with three distinct branches: Universalist (anyone who says they are True is true and welcome regardless of sexual orientation, gender, or racial background). Tribalist - the Kindred is meant to be a family unit (an extended family) that falls somewhere in the middle of Universalist and Folkish. The latter, the Folkish has some extremes in it as well (from those who would prefer that those seeking Asatru be of Northern European descent to those that INSIST that those in Asatru be of Northern European descent, straight, and conservative.

My kindred and I are tribalist with gay, lesbian, straight and bisexual members.

We worship the Northern deities and follow the Asatru holidays and Noble Virtues. Personally, I am called by Odin and Freya (I have 13 cats, go figure who's called me - LOL).

Worship is usually done in a blot (ritual) with a harrow (altar). We call for the blessing of the deities and wights, pass a drinking horn of mead or cider and toast the gods, the ancestors, and our kith and kin. The blots can include myth reading, singing, drawing of runes. Depending on the reason for the blot and how complicated one wants to make it. I've seen full re-enactments of some of the myths.

Answer 6

I worship a god and goddess whose identities I prefer to keep private. The "how" was answered in your previous question.

Wicca was formed by Gerald Gardner, probably in the 1940s, from a very eclectic collection of sources including occult practices, ancient mythology, mistaken history, and a little outright fiction. Wicca has evolved and branched out considerably since then. I'm a big fan of going back to the writings of early Wiccans such as Gardner, Valiente, and the Farrars and finding my path from them rather than to slog through fad-Wicca authors trying to figure out where they are coming from.

Answer 7

Well I'm Wiccan, and I don't think I need to go into TOO much detail about the history... it's pretty short anyways. In a nutshell: Gerald Gardner founded it, bringing in aspects of various religions (mostly pagan) and movements. There are now several traditions ranging from the Gardnerians to the not-quite-considered-Wiccan Dianics.

How and who I worship... I think I already answered this in your last question. Plus I'm lazy.

Answer 8

The Wiccan tradition I am a part of began in the 1960s in part as a reaction to perceived excesses in "Traditional Wicca," it reached it's largest size before now in the mid-1980s, and is the size it is now because of the work of a small group of people to grow it without lessening it.

Answer 9

My path is mine and it is constantly evolving. I worship Spirit, or using another name. Prayer, meditation, or simply having a conversation with deity. I sometimes light a candle(s), but it depends on what I'm drawn to do.