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The roots of Paganism burrow deep into ancestral memories of Elder Ages when it was natural to venerate Nature; to celebrate the passage of the seasons; to honor the goddess and god in their many aspects and guises; and to proactively seek personal spiritual growth. Derived from the Latin word for country dweller, Paganus, Paganism is an ancient pre-Christian, polytheistic religion which also includes the neo-Pagan offshoots of modern Witchcraft and Wicca. Paganism is global in its antiquity and historical significance because of its expression rather than suppression of the feminine aspect of divinity in conjunction with the male aspect, hand in hand in empowered partnership, journeying together through life; and, in its respect for the wisdom of women as healers and teachers. Wiccan is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word, Wicce which is pronounced Witche which means practitioner of the Old Religion or the Craft. Pagans and Wiccans are most notable for their tolerance of other paths; their emphasis on the importance of also honoring the goddess, the feminine aspect of divinity; and their focus on the personal connection to immanent divinity through natural magic.
Both Pagans and Wiccans
incorporate non-dogmatic, dynamic religious practices based on comprehensive
systems of discernable beliefs and accessible practices that facilitate the
personal experience of the sacred mysteries of life.
They hold monthly Esbats, have Rites of Passage, and celebrate the seasonal festival Sabbats. Esbats are regular monthly meetings of a coven, usually held at full moon, where the coven members perform special healings and rites and discuss things together. These Pagan and Wiccan Rites of Passage include: Dedication (when a person makes a commitment to the Craft and following the Old Ways); Initiation, (a new Craft Name is taken when someone is reborn to the Pagan Path); Handfasting, (creating a marriage partnership); Parting of the Ways, (recognizing the end of a marriage); Wiccaning (a non-obligatory welcoming of a baby into the Craft); and Funeral Ceremony (a requiem for a deceased Pagan). Pagans and Wiccans also generally celebrate and honor the eight seasonal festivals or Sabbats which are equally spaced during the year. There are four major Sabbats: Samhain (Oct 31-Nov 1), Imbolc (Feb 1-2), Beltane (Apr 30-May 1), and Lammas (Aug 1-2); and, four minor Sabbats: Spring Equinox (Mar 20-21), Summer Solstice (Jun 20-22), Fall Equinox (Sep 21-22), and Winter Solstice (Dec 21-23). Samhain (October 31st - November 1st) marks the end of summer. This first day of winter is a time of completions when the veils between worlds are at their thinnest and the ancestral keepers of wisdom and traditions are honored. It is a time to use the open doorways to communicate with the spirit worlds to contact the nature spirits, the goddesses and gods.
A magical gateway between
seasons and threshold passageways, Samhain is a favorable time for fortune
telling and predicting probable futures. It is celebrated with sprigs of holly
symbolizing rebirth, and jack o'lanterns...Continue on
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