The word Pagan finds its roots in the latin paganus meaning "country people." In ages past, it refered to any non-Christian religion that celebrated its ties to the natural world. Today, Pagans are people who have chosen to rediscover the sacredness in their lives by reconnecting with the earth and the natural world. Pagans find their inspiration from the beliefs of their spiritual ancestors, most commonly those of pre-Christian Western Europe. Their beliefs commonly hold the masculine and feminine in equal esteem and most Pagans attempt to lead peaceful, balanced lives.
Aren't Pagans Evil?
To be Pagan means that you have the courage to belong to one of the most persecuted systems of belief in the history of mankind. It means that you live with the silent history of the burning times, of continued persecution and discrimination at the hands of those who refuse to learn about your beliefs before they judge you. Pagans are not evil, but belong to one of the most peaceful religions of our day, if not of all time. Yet people still cringe when they hear the word "witch" or cross themselves when they see a pentacle, one of the symbols of our faith. Through sites such as this one, we are quietly spreading the word that we aren't evil, that we aren't to be feared, at that we can be found in nearly every aspect of your life.
What Do You Hope To Get From Being Pagan?
Being Pagan makes us feel alive and gives us a new perspective on spiritual growth. A Pagan culture and lifestyle teaches us that each moment is sacred. Many of us have tried a number of religions, from Christianity to New Age beliefs and have found that only as Pagans do we find that our hearts are at peace and that our restlessness fades away.
But it is more than that. A Pagan lifestyle is one without boundaries. We don't require intermediaries between ourselves and the divine. Each Pagan believes that spirituality is a right that is inherently our own and cannot be bestowed or granted by another. Our rules are simple. We believe that our actions return to us in a greater portion than they originated. Because of this, we live our lives freely, unhindered by a book or rules and regulations, but doing our best to never harm another, to spread joy and love, and to give more than we take.
Why This Path?
There are those of us who have grown tired of the emptiness of our corporate culture. We find ourselves inspired by the majesty in a sunset, enchanted by the sound of the rain, and thrill to know that wolves still run wild and free. We have a need to feel alive, to live each moment as sacred, and to create a culture that means something to us, rather than embracing the soul-less machine we live in. We are the dreamers, the artists, and the mystery keepers of our time. It is the magic inherent in life that has drawn us to this path. For many of us, we've searched for it our entire lives, somehow knowing that there were others that believe as we do. But it is much simpler than that. Ask anyone who calls themselves Pagan why they chose this path and they'll smile and simply say, "It's home."