BEING PAGAN What does being a Pagan mean? And what is Paganism, anyway? Simply (and very generally) put, Paganism is the name for a group of pre-christian, nature-based polytheistic spiritual traditions. Okay, maybe not so simple. Paganism is a religion based on ancient traditions. Pagans are Women and Men, who honour the Old Gods, The Great Mother and her Blessed Consort, the Lord of the Forest. We hold the seasons as sacred as well as the Earth, for she is our Mother. We believe that divinity is found all around us as well as within and that everyone has the right to walk their own path as long as they are harming none. We know that the wheel turns endlessly and that all life is connected. What you do to others, to animals and to our home, you do to yourself. We are born, die and live again. We are blessed who walk the ancient path, as all are blessed. We hold rituals to mark the phases of the moon and the passing of the seasons, to welcome the Goddess or bid farewell to her lover, the Horned One. He is not evil, he wears the antlers of the White Stag for he is Lord of the Animals and the Wild Places. He is Robin Hood, Pan, Herne the Hunter, etc. We celebrate the Wheel of the Year, beginning with, Samhain. This is the Celtic New Year and marks the start of the Dark half of the year. It is the night of the Ancestors when we honour those who have gone before. At the Winter Solstice, the Oak King vanquishes the Holly King, the sun returns slowly and we celebrate the rebirth of the God. Imbolc is the festival of Briid, Irish Goddess of Smithcraft, Poetry and Healing. Lady Day marks the Spring Equinox when Eostre reigns, Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn. The egg and the hare are her symbols. Beltane is the beginning of the Light Half of the year when we put action to the dreams we have woven during the darkness of winter. Fertility is celebrated and love rules us all. At the Summer Solstice, the Holly King is crowned, defeating the Oak King, for the shadows are lengthening again. We leap the Bel-Fire for luck and wishes granted. Lughnasadh is next, the first of the three harvests, day of Lugh, originally dedicated to his mother, Taillte, Lady of Tara and the Sacred Places. The second harvest is the Autumn Equinox, a time of thanksgiving and offerings. The wheel has turned again and Samhain returns. Our traditions are many and personal. Every Pagan should know their own heart and be unafraid to follow where it leads them; for when you seek the Mother, you shall find Her. Bright Blessings, Lady Aislinn < Back to the Tribe © Caer Avalon