Identity and Belief in the Neopagan Community

Table of Contents

1. ABSTRACT
2. IDENTITY AND BELIEF IN THE NEOPAGAN COMMUNITY
3. METHODS
   1. PARTICIPANTS
   2. MATERIALS
   3. PROCEDURE
4. RESULTS
   1. SECTION 2 - IDENTITY
   2. SECTION 3 - BELIEF
   3. SECTION 4 - PRACTICE
   4. SECTION 5 - PSYCHIC PHENOMENA
5. DISCUSSION
   1. DEMOGRAPHICS.
   2. IDENTITY
   3. BELIEF
      1. Beliefs about the Nature of Reality
      2. Beliefs about Absolute Truth
      3. Beliefs about Divinity
      4. Beliefs about Life after Death
      5. Beliefs about Sin
      6. Beliefs about Magic
      7. Beliefs about Spells
   4. PRACTICE
      1. Clerg
      2. Ritual Forms
   5. PSYCHIC PHENOMENA
6. CONCLUSION
7. THE SURVEY
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abstract

Identity and Belief in the Neopagan Community:

How does one know what a group believes? With the Neopagan community, there is no central authority. There are no definitive texts. There is no creedal test. In the absence of a creedal test, you can be a member of a group without sharing beliefs with other members. You merely identify yourself as a member of the group. Identity is not the only measure of group membership. Other measures are behaviors such as association and practice.

There are certain practices that have verifiable origins and distributions. If we know where a practice comes from, we can distinguish between those who engage in it and those who don't. This is particularly the case with Wiccan practice.

Individuals are in the Neopagan community because they share beliefs, behavior or identity. The question is, what are these beliefs they share. This survey measures the prevalence of beliefs ascribed to the community by those in and out of the community. (see bibliography.) It verifies there is a commonality of belief, behavior and practice even if one of the practices is an aversion to declaring group membership.

Holding a belief logically makes one a member of the group of people who hold that belief. Engaging in a practice logically makes one a member of the group of people who engage in that practice. But neither guarantees that one will be aware of one’s membership in those groups or that one will identify as a member of those groups.

On this subject I was influenced by R. D. Laing's discussion of the nature of group membership and identity. Laing points out that who we think we are can differ from who other people think we are. The nature of identity is such that it is possible for a group identity to include the idea of not belonging to the group. "It is possible to think what everyone else thinks and to believe one is in a minority. It is possible to think what few people think and to suppose that one is in the majority" (R. D. Laing's Politics of Experience, p. 81.)

Laing's interest is primarily psychoanalytical, but because he examines the individual in a social context, he moves from psychology to sociology. The question of how individuals' beliefs affect society is a sociological question, a point made by Peter Berger The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion.

If we define the community by shared beliefs, but the individuals who share these beliefs do not identify themselves as members of the community, then we have a primary conflict between identity and belief. What do Neopagans believe? This question leads immediately to the question, who are Neopagans?

The survey begins with basic demographic information: sex, sexual preference, age and ethnic background. The second section asks questions about specific religious identity and group membership. Section three contains questions about belief in the areas of science, truth, divinity, life after death and sin. The fourth section asks questions about religious practice, primarily about specific ritual practice, clergy and magic. The fifth section is about psychic phenomena. The questions are about belief, practice and certain physical characteristics associated in folklore with psychic ability. In the sixth section I gave participants an opportunity to provide any additional information.

In order to formulate the questions in the section on practices, I used A Witches Bible Compleat by the Farrars’ and Starhawk's The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess. The Farrars’ book is a fairly definitive record of Wiccan practice, but Wiccans only make up one part of the Neopagan community. I was especially interested in people who reported that they performed a measurable practice but did not identify themselves as members of the group who originated that practice. It would be as if someone reported that he or she took Communion daily but did not admit to being a Christian. (Though it has to be noted that among Christians, there is a doctrinal test, whereas among Wiccans, there is no doctrinal test, only practice.)

In this survey I made three hypotheses about the demographics of the Neopagan community. I hypothesized that more of the respondents would be female than male. Neopaganism in general and goddess worship in particular are often characterized as being of more interest to women. Universally women tend to outnumber men in organized religions. I hypothesized that Neopagans were more likely to be European than any other ethnic identity. Anecdotal evidence indicates Neopaganism is a white, European phenomenon. I hypothesized that there would be a larger percentage of respondents who identified themselves as bi-sexual or gay/lesbian than would be in the general population. I made this hypothesis based on anecdotal evidence in the Neopagan literature that showed a high tolerance for diverse sexual practices.

Neopagans share certain beliefs about the nature of reality, truth, divinity, magic, life after death, and sin. I predicted that Neopagans would believe that science is valid but inadequate, that they would not believe in absolute truth, that they would believe in reincarnation but not in sin.

It seemed reasonable to me that people who have had psychic experiences would be more likely to believe in them. Psychic phenomena are more socially acceptable in the Neopagan community so the hypothesis would be that these people are more likely to have experienced psychic phenomena. I also expected a high correlation between the belief in psychic phenomena and the experience of psychic phenomena. I did not expect any correlation between the physical traits associated with psychic phenomena in folklore and the experience of psychic phenomena.

Neopagans seem to place a strong value on independent thought. I predicted that they would resist identifying as members of any group.

I had observed that people who consider themselves religious also consider religion to be spiritual, while some people who don’t consider themselves religious do not think that religion is spiritual. I had assumed that there would be those who considered themselves spiritual but not religious, but fewer if any who considered themselves religious but not spiritual. Among people who belong to religious organizations, there is an understanding that religion is spiritual. Among those who reject religious institutions, there is a belief that religion is not spiritual. I predicted that people who did not consider themselves religious would also not consider themselves members of groups.

I expected that the same independent spirit that caused people to claim no group membership would also cause them claim no ritual form.

Twelve step groups place a strong emphasis on giving control over to a "higher power". I hypothesized that people in twelve step groups were more likely to believe in a literal interpretation of God.

In my experience many people who claimed no ritual form in fact use Wiccan ritual form. The default ritual form of the Neopagan community is the Wiccan ritual form. Therefore I predicted that people who claimed no ritual form would answer yes to the questions about particular Wiccan ritual elements.

Wicca has a clergy training program so I predicted that more Wiccans than other Neopagans would claim to be clergy.

Methods

Participants

The survey was administered at the Starwood Cafe. The site was chosen because it is a high traffic area in the festival. People come there when they have free time, and there are benches and tables. The hospitable nature of the site is probably responsible for the high response rate. Confounding factors may be economic. The respondents were self selected to attend this festival and visit the Cafe. They would have had to have enough money to attend the festival and buy prepared food but not enough resources (either time or money) to prepare food at their own camp sites.

Sex	Number of respondents	% of respondents
Male	(78)	53.4%
Female	(67)	45.9%
Other	(1) Alien (enraedleest)	.7%

Sexual preference	Number of respondents	% of respondents
Straight	(92)	63%
Bisexual	(44)	30%
Gay/Lesbian Lesbians Gay men	(8) (4) (4)	5.5% 2.7% 2.7%
No Response	(10)	6.9%

Age: 7-13 (0), 14-20 (22)15%, 21-27(31)21%, 28-34(33)22.6%, 35-41(32)21.9%, 42-48(14)9.6%, 49-55(9)6.2%, 56-62(2)1.4%, 63<(1).7% none(2)1.4%

Section one dealt with basic demographic information. The age distribution was standard.

Ethnic Background	Number of respondents	% of respondents
European	(128)	87.7%,
Native American	(25)	17.1%
African	(5)	3.4%
Middle Eastern	(3)	2%
Asian	(2)	1.4%
Latin American	(2)	1.4%
Pacific Islander	(1).	.7%

Materials

Procedure

Section one asked for basic demographic information: sex, sexual preference, age, and ethnic background. (The results are shown in the ‘participants’ section of the paper)

Section two asked how people identified themselves. Two questions dealt with personal identity and group membership: how do the respondents identify themselves and do they think of themselves as part of a group. Two questions dealt with religion verses spirituality. And one question asked if they had ever been in a twelve step program.

Section three dealt with beliefs on various religious subjects. Do Neopagans believe the things the sources say they do? What is their attitude toward Science, their beliefs about Truth? What affect do 12-step programs have on peoples beliefs? What do they believe about the nature of the divine, life after death and reincarnation? What are their attitudes toward sin and ethics. How do they define God(dess)(es), sin, magic, spell, and ritual.

Section four dealt with practice, attitudes and experience in ritual. Including the questions about particular ritual form.

Section five dealt with psychic phenomena. The first five questions were about belief in psychic phenomena. The next questions were about experience. The last four questions have to do with traits traditionally associated with Magical powers of Psychic ability. The last four questions were about physical traits associates in folklore with psychic ability.

Section six asked if there were any questions they thought I should have asked, ideas they felt should be explored further or thoughts that they wished to express.

Results

Section 2 - Identity

Moslem(0)
Other (specify) Magus, Qabalist, DIY magician, Omnitraditional sorceress, Chaos Magick, Chaotic, Mystic, Malist, Metaphysician, immefatist, Shawnee, Voodooist, Methodist, Light person, confused non Christian, skeptical relativist, paperback Philosopher, open minded, seeker, Apathetic, Bio-spiritualist, Pan Indo European Shaman, Gaian, Primitive Hebreen Earth Religion, Handmaiden/of/by/for Goddess, Earth based., "I am a person that takes religious aspects from various religions, combines them, and makes whole"

I consider myself religious. Yes (83) 56.8% No (61) 41.8%
I consider myself spiritual Yes (139) 95.2% No (4) 2.7%

I am a member of a: (circle however many apply)

Group Membership	Number of Respondents	% of respondents
No group	(59)	40.4%
Coven	(34)	23.3%
Community	(28)	19.2%
Church	(14)	9.6%
Tradition	(19)	13%
Circle	(17)	11.6%
Spiritual group	(13)	8.9%
Temple	(5)	3.4%
Grove	(4)	2.7%
Nest	(4)	2.7%
no answer	(3)	2.1%
national org.	(3)	2.1%
Norse Kindred	(2)	1.4%
Mosque	(0)	0%

Other (specify): Lodge, CUUPs, z-cluster, French/Native, Congregation, Solitary-Also work with others, practicing non-member, Minister of Universal Life Church, Scene, Affinity group, I am a member of the universe, Spiritual/commercial organization.

Have you ever been, in a 12-step program? Yes (18) 12.3% No (125)85.6%

Section 3 - Belief

I believe in one God(dess)	Yes(47)32.2%	No(91)62.3%
I believe in The Lord and The Lady	Yes(80)54.8%	No(54)37%
I believe in many God(desses)	Yes(102)69.9%	No(34)23.3%
I believe that all God(desses) are equally valid	Yes(95)65.1%	No(38)26%
I believe that Divinity is immanent in all things	Yes(112)76.7%	No(17)11.6%

I believe in life after death.	Yes(115) 78%	No(15)10.3%
I believe in reincarnation	Yes(121)82.9%	No(21)14.4%
I believe in sin.	Yes(48) 32.9%	No(91)62.3%
I believe in the Three Fold Law	Yes(91)62.3%	No(39)26.7%

Section 4 - Practice

I cast a circle	Yes(95)65.1%	No(49)33.6%
I call quarters	Yes(90)61.6%	No(51) 34.9%
I invoke Deity(es)	Yes(94)64.4%	No(48)32.9%

(81)55.5% said yes to all three. (38) 46.9% of those who said yes to all three also said they use no particular ritual form. (41) 50.6% of those who said yes to all three also said yes they use a particular ritual form.

Section 5 - Psychic Phenomena

Questions about experience of phenomena were rated on a 4 point scale: never, sometimes, frequently, always.

Questions about Experience	N	S	F	A
I have precognitive experiences	(19)13%	(96)65.8%	(28)19.2%	(3)2%
I have Deja Vu	(4)2.7%	(69)47.3%	(61)41.8%	(10)6.8%
A person I am thinking of calls or visits me	(11)7.5%	(73)50%	(56)38.3%	(4)2.7%
Street lights go out when I get near them.	(56)38.4%	(57)39%	(23)15.8%	(4)2.7%
Watches stop when I wear them	(91)62.3%	(27)18.5%	(14)9.6%	(11) 7.5%
I know when something is wrong.	(17)11.64%	(82)56.2%	(36)24.7%	(8)5.5%
I experience ghosts or spirits.	(32)21.9%	(82)56.2%	(24)16.4%	(8) 5.5%
I can see auras	(58)39.7%	(56)38.4%	(25)17.1%	(5)3.4%
I have prophetic dreams.	(30)20.6%	(89)61%	(25)17.1%	(5) 3.4%

I naturally have one lock of pale hair .	Yes(20)13.7%	No(124)84.9%
My eyebrows grow together over the bridge of my nose.	Yes(30)20.5%	No(114) 78.1%
I have a "Widows Peak	Yes(42)28.8%	No(101)69.2%
I am ______ Handed	Left(19)13%	Right(106)72.6%	Both (8) 5.5%

Discussion

Demographics.

I predicted that Neopagans were more likely to be European than any other ethnic identity. 87.7% of respondents indicated they were European background. This is consistent with my expectations, given the anecdotal evidence.

The number of Native American respondents seemed over representative. A closer look at the responses revealed that only 6 of those who listed Native American listed no other Ethnicity. The over emphasis on Native heritage is typical of white Americans. The US. Census has the same problem "more than 7 million white Americans report tribal ancestry in answer to the ancestry question of the census form. The Census Bureau terms such people "Wannabes"."(Kosmin, p 144)

The Ethnic background question also elicited some complaints from Jewish respondents who would have liked to have had Jewish as an option in this category. This is an error I would correct on any subsequent survey.

I predicted that there would be a large percentage of respondents who identified themselves as bi-sexual. I made this hypothesis based on anecdotal evidence in the Neopagan literature that showed a high tolerance for diverse sexual practices. This hypothesis was not supported by the results of the survey. The number of respondents who identified themselves as bisexual was 30 %. This was lower than I expected, based on their representation in community literature, but consistant with other survey results of the general population. Only 5.5 % identified themselves as gay/lesbian, a number that seems low. However, it is a similar percentage to that reported by the Green Egg Readers Survey of 1989. In their survey 21% reported being Bisexual, 5% Homosexual Male and 3% Lesbian. (The Green Egg. 88 (February 1990), 22-23, a Neopagan journal.)

Several participants complained that there were not enough choices for sexual preference. They wanted to list a leaning as well as a primary preference. Many resolved that problem by listing more than one preference.

Identity

Twenty respondents identified themselves as Neopagan, Witch and Wiccan. Eleven listed both Witch and Wiccan but not Neopagan. Only one listed both Neopagan and Witch not Wiccan. While three listed both Wiccan and Neopagan not Witch. Of those identifying themselves as Neopagan only 24 did not also identify themselves as Witches or Wiccans. This is consistent with the common belief that half of Neopagans are Wiccan. But it is still less than a quarter of the respondents.

That 31 of the respondents listed both Witch and Wiccan supports the assertion of many in the community that the terms reflect word preferences rather than differences in belief or practice.

Four respondents felt it necessary to write in that they were "Pagan". Indicating that Pagan is a separate identity within the Neopagan community.

There were three respondents who listed themselves as "Asatru/Norse." With those listings I believe this survey caught the beginning of a movement of Heathens. This survey took place in 1996. At the 1998 Starwood Festival, several Asatru/Norse members presented workshops on the difference between Paganism and Heathenism. A characteristic of Norse Neopaganism is that it is particularly concerned with ancestry and racial identity. With the beginning of this Heathen movement, they appear to trying to distance themselves from the rest of the Neopagan community on the basis of identity. Although they claim real differance in idiology this survey shows that their beliefs are common in the community at large.

I predicted that people who did not consider themselves religious would also not consider themselves members of groups. I had assumed that there would be those who considered themselves spiritual but not religious, but fewer if any who considered themselves religious but not spiritual. This hypothesis was supported by the results. 95.5 % of the respondents considered themselves as spiritual, but only 56.8 % considered themselves as religious.

I predicted that people who claimed no group membership would also claim no ritual form. 29.5% (43) of the total respondents claimed both "No Group" and "No Form", that is 72.9% of the respondents listing "No Group" (59). But that is only 48.9% of those claiming "No Form" (88).

Belief

Beliefs about the Nature of Reality

Beliefs about Absolute Truth

Why ask about Absolute Truth, especially since it is a concept whose definition is not necessarily shared? The question seemed important to me for two reasons. In the first place, all religions deal with the issue of Truth. In the second place, the Neopagan community exists a subculture of American culture which is primarily Christian. In the Christian tradition, Absolute Truth is defined as the word of God as expressed in the Bible. In the absence of such a standard in the Neopagan community, Truth is defined independently by each individual and sometimes in response to the Christian definition. I have divided the definitions the respondents gave me into several categories.

True things
"Only experience definitely exists" "Always and never" "Truth is" "Freedom" "Life" "Existence." "We are one" "Myself" "Acceptance" "All things that are told are truth." "The truth is where the body & spirit speak from within (not the head)." "All the things we learn when we die." "A truth that is greater and/or more real than all others." "The ultimate explanation." "No if and or buts otherwise." "Universal truth - the truths of spirit and the natural world." "That which is (sometimes a localized phenomena)" "That which is absolutely true. For example: I am." "A multifaceted jewel whose facets all interlock but cannot all be known. The more spiritual paths that are investigated the more of the jewel may be comprehended." "An underlying reality. I think reality is in flux." "The incomprehensible creative source of all relativity’s and models."

Subjective Truth
"Nothing is absolute" "Nothing is black or white." "Definitions vary, therefore, [there is] no [absolute truth]." "There is no absolute truth." "Subjective." "Whatever" "My own perception of reality." "Everybody has their own personal truth." "There is no absolute" "Reality is a subjective experience" "The truth that is relevant to the situation - there are no ‘absolutes’" "No matter how much we think we know there’s always another point of view to consider." "Perception shades reality, truth is absolute for each individual due to belief." "Faith which he/she believes one is truth to one’s own heart." "An ice sculpture melting in the sunlight." "Always changing." "Being the most genuine I can be and following the laws of my true heart."

Absolute truth
"One explanation for all things." "Something that is true for all people at all times." "Something that will be agreed to by all. " "Non questionable." "These a priori concepts which are invariant over all faiths and cultures." "One truth" "Spiritual law doesn’t change." "One truth for all." "What everybody can understand on a common ground." "The plain truth about everything." "A base truth." "Unconditional truth."

Unknowable or Undefinable Truth
"Impossible for limited beings such as humans to understand" "If there is such a thing I don’t think humans can know it..." "Unknowable to humans - choose as best you can." "Things do work in a certain way, I have no idea what it is though." "I can’t define what I have not experienced." "A grasping made by human minds." "I have no definition." "Unattainable due to Heisenberg uncertainty principle" "It can’t be defined, it is absolute." "Undefinable""

Scientific Truth
"Something which is supported and documented by factual evidence that can be produced upon demand." "That which doesn’t care whether you believe in it or not." "That which is defined by knowledge, experience and repeatability." "Truth, pure, immutable fact." "Objectivity -independent of observer.""

Truth as God
"The divine - period." "The truth that is at the core of every being & everything, which is Gods Love." "The platonic sense ++ God" "The universe’s experience of itself." "A transfinite evolutionary unfolding of the self-awareness of the universe""

There is no absolute truth
"Bullshit" "Nonexistent" "Monotheistic BS" "Closed-minded intolerance." "There is no Truth - the Gods lie too ( well they trick you)" "Absolute truth is an overbearing belief that we all have rules or guidelines that don’t work for us.""

Truth as honesty
"The bottom line _ Brutal honesty." "Not telling lies, but a few white lies are OK." "Always saying the truth even when you shouldn’t." "Not lying, and always telling the truth." "Telling the truth even if it hurts""

Most of the above definitions of truth are subjective. Therefore, we can say most Neopagans believe truth itself is subjective."

Beliefs about Divinity

I asked the respondents to give me their own definitions of God(dess), which are as follows:

Deity as ubiquitous
"An aware, fundamental, pervasive energy." " All beings." "You, me and everyone and everything." "The soul of beauty personified in ourselves. "Mental beings that exist in all nature/ether." "God takes many forms and is in and part of everything." "A part of me and everyone that exists in a nonphysical realm." "The energy and joy that flows through all things." "A universal life force which humans best understand as a duality of male and female similar to the Chinese concept of Yin/Yang." "‘The force’ that which is in everything and binds everything together." "The big guy up top, as manifested through all physical articles." "The energies of all people and things in gestalt of these aspects." "A sentient energy existing in all things." "The All." "The universal wave of Consciousness moving and resting within all" "things/beings/times." "Wo/man" "The result of all beings spiritual and emotional energies overlapping in the universe."

Deity as power or energy
"An entity that can if it desires control everything" "The Highest power in the universe." "The forces that control everything." "Powers and energy that exist." "A higher source of knowledge and power." "A greater power than myself." "Force of nature - something which helps us grow and cull the herd when necessary." "The feminine aspects of life, love and energy." "Power" "Forces in nature that can be called upon and personified." "The masculine and feminine forces of the universe." "All knowing" "All knowing all being." "Energy." "All knowing, all loving, all powerful." "That which influences nature and our physical plane with energy we perceive as divine." "The one force/the paradox" "Love or the most positive force." "life force"

Deity as a way of perceiving something else
"Deity has many faces- facets of an infinite diamond that is, dispute its varied attributes, integrated and unitary. Humans seem to understand personalities better than theologies." "Archetypes of feminine/masculine energy/power." "Charged aspects of reality, archetypes." "Whatever one believes them to be." "Anthropomorphic forms through which we perceive the Divine." "Emotional constructs humans use to explain divinity, which we do not understand." "Anthropomorphic forms through which we perceive the Divine." "Our own, private, way of relating to the divine." "Anthropomorphic personifications of ideas and forces."

Deity as entity or being
"Spiritual entity" "An omnipotent being of light and love." "People or gods are mortals." "Supreme Beings" "Beings of great power and sacredness." "A spiritual entity." "The beings within nature and ourselves that guide the true heart." "Individual beings physical and non-physical which can all be experienced as amalgamated." "Superior spiritual beings" "Divine entities" "God the Father" "For me personally, the Olympians." "Manifest forms of energy recognizable as "beings" to many." "Higher Power-Supro-Human" "One or more steps back in spiritual/astral ancestry" "Enlightened Spiritual vessels (corporeal bodies)"

Deity as consciousness
"Synergetic consciousness-immanent and emergent-with its own agenda." "The inherent capacity of the cosmos to evolve self-awareness, a la Cosmic DNA" "The cosmic unconsciousness." "An achievement in Knowledge, understanding, and spirituality." "The divine cohesion and intellect that direct and bind the universe." "The absolute eternal one consciousness of everything." "Existential, metaphysical, consciousness." "Pure love energy, life and consciousness in every particle."

Deity as parts of something bigger
"Pieces of the highest divine." "Part of the energy in which we are all connected to one supreme energy with different faces at different times." "The Fe/male aspect of the infinite" "Aspects of universal experience" "Individual parts of the big picture." "A part of the all" "Manifestations of the universal energy in everything."

Deity as unknowable or undefinable
"To define God is not productive . The Godhead is ineffable." "can’t define" "I don’t define." "Something you can talk about but whose understanding is actually beyond language" "Forces beyond human comprehension and /or experience." "Un-name-able" "A way of describing the indescribable ‘The Tao that is talked of is not the true Tao’"

Deity as creator
"The love and force of creation" "All life comes from her." "Feminine energy, Creatress of all things." "The creative force of the entire universe." "The creation and creator(s)" "The Creator of all things, Holy Spirit etc." "The mysterious, subtle essence behind creation." "Life creating..." "The embodiment of Creative and Divine energies."

Deity as non existent
"Non-existing" "Non existing made up" "What a silly question." "Parts of a psychologically/culturally useful belief system."

Other ideas about deity
"Whatever. (godforms)" "Light" "ME!" "DNA/Infinity" "An essence of it’s own Intrinsic nature." "Female and Male in harmonious balance.

I hypothesized that people in twelve step groups were more likely to believe in a literal interpretation of God. Not enough respondents admitted to being in twelve step programs to pursue this hypothesis.

Beliefs about Life after Death

Beliefs about Sin

Sin as harm
"An action or intention promoting harm." "Something harmful to others." "Murder or hurting another." "The action which hurts in selfish interests." "Going against the natural order and hurting someone/thing." "Harming oneself, others, or the natural world." "Hurt to your fellow human beings" "Willful abuse of power or talent with intent to unfairly aggrandize oneself ,or hurt another person without cause." "Causing intentional harm." "Hurting a living thing." "Doing harm with intention." "A human characterization of unwelcome and potentially harmful acts or feelings." "Things one does during the course of life that harm others and are against personal morals." "Negative and harmful action." "intentional harm" "Harming others in a direct way." "Acts which harm others, all others not just people." "That which harms another."

Sin as wrong doing
"Malicious bad karmic action" "Intentional wrong doing." "Anything that tarnishes the karma of ourselves or others." "Wrong doings against others or the self." "Violation of another or your own true will." "Not doing onto others as you would yourself." "An evil deed - against spiritual law." "The good, the bad and the ugly." "Anyone/thing that oppresses, suppresses, represses the human spirit / condition - anyone/thing that deliberately causes suffering in the world." "Going against your own morals." "Willfully doing evil." "Ill intent." "Abuse of self - mind And soul." "Taking of another life." "Bad doings." "Anything that is morally incorrect." "Not living this lifetime well - e.g. basing decisions on hopes and fears regarding an afterlife." "The unwillingness to forgive and believe in human growth and change." "Going against someone else’s will or your own." "Being untrue to yourself and the universal truths." "A lie to yourself." "Knowing one’s true way and not following it." "Irresponsibility." "Doing wrong for your lifesystem/incarnation: doing random acts of good could be a sin. An extreme example but..." "Something that is universally ‘bad’" "Something bad." "Missing the mark." "Transgress." "Missing the mark/target, not following True Will." "Anything that prevents or imposes one’s own or another’s evolution."

Sin as an arbitrary standard
"Something arbitrarily defined by an outside party as bad (whose moral structure may or may not conform / be complimentary to your own)." "Something that is taboo to society." "A human contrived notion of guilt." "Anything that feels too good" "Something that arises from a belief system." "What each of us think it is." "Word for actions or behaviors not currently acceptable to the person who defines the action as a sin." "That which we have been trained from birth to believe is wrong and harmful." "Individual interpretation."

Sin as a means of control
"Made up to make people feel guilty." "Sin is a concept that men have used to degrade others. It is a myth." "Someone’s way of keeping you in line/ putting you down." "An idea instilled in peoples minds to control them." "A scam to control the masses." "Control" "Someone playing a trick on you."

Sin as a Christian concept
"Some way to scare Christians." "No such thing - its a Christian construct." "That which the Catholic church says is a "no-no"" "A Christian concept! Therefore I don’t deal with it." "A scare tactic by the Christian faith. I believe in right and wrong i.e. nurturing others etc. Sin is based on someone’s opinion of what is right." "What the Christians say is wrong." "Something Judeo Christians invented to scare the people into behaving, that costs less than a reasonable police force." "A Christian term so they can steal your money."

Sin as God's law
"That which is against the Gods." "Violation of divine Law" "God’s Law" "Violation of the divine will/agenda (if "Thou art God/dess" "sin" = hypocrisy)"

Other ideas about Sin
"Limitation" "Something that damns you for an eternity." "Not letting people make mistakes." "Separation from knowledge of creation." "I believe in evil as negative karma." "I don’t believe in sin." "part of non-reality" "I believe in the temporary imbalances in ones perception of our illusion of quantum/holographic ‘reality’" "Going against your true will." "Not being perfect." "An original Babylonian Goddess." "A pharaoh in Ancient Egypt."

Those who indicated a belief in sin were more likely to define sin as wrongful action or harm. Those who indicated they did not believe in sin were more likely to define it as an arbitrary or Christian concept.

Neopagans do share a standard of acceptable behavior. It is a standard based around a principle of harm as wrong doing. Frequently expressed as the Wiccan Rede "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: An it harm none, do what you will." (Farrar, p135) in combination with the three fold law "That whatever you do returns to you threefold."

Beliefs about Magic

Magic as will
"Change in accordance with will." "Changing reality by an act of will, usually by manipulating symbols." "The art of changing reality by will" "Manipulation of energy by will for a specific purpose." "The art of effecting change in accordance to will." "Extension of will" "The shaping of the universe through will." "The art and science of causing change in conformity with will." "Causing change to occur in conformity with will." "The act of causing change to occur in conformity with will." "Using one’s will to bring about change." "The art and science of causing change in accordance to one’s will." "The exercise of will over." "The exercising of the human will beyond the physical." "Energy + will + intent" "Focus of will power" "Working ones will upon nature." "The art of causing change in conformity with will." "The art of causing change according to will." "The will of the higher self changing conceptual reality." "The refinement and use of one’s will." "Causing change to occur in conformity with will." "I’m not sure. My will funneled through nature energy?"

Magic as change or control
"Anything You can shape but not necessarily control" "Transformation." "The unexplained thing you control." "Manipulation of events or things for needed change." "Change - A fertilizer used to accelerate emotional and psychological growth, healing and "The Great Work"" "Altering mental/physical states through (spirit/earth/energy) channeling." "(2)The art of changing consciousness so as to align with the forces that alter reality." "Influencing your friends and yourself." "The intentional process of self transformation." "The control of some portion of power beyond human explanation" "The art of causing physical change through nonphysical action." "Power of focus to bring about synchronous event."

Magic as energy
"Energy dances according to the belief system." "The life force behind the action." "Power, energy, spirit, mind, soul, love, hate, magic is what you make it be." "Directed energy & practice." "All energies." "Focusing energy to create change." "Energy" "The manifestation of energies for proscribed purpose." "Working with the invisible energy that encompasses all creation." "A personal word - deals with energy and nature." "Manipulating energy." "Focusing energy to create coincidence." "The energy of the universe, inherent in all things, moving to cause change." "Manifested spiritual energy." "Directing and drawing energy to serve a useful purpose for a group who are working to a mutual end." "The conscious direction of energy." "The manipulations of energy." "A focus of energy for a purpose." "The manipulation of energy." "Directing spiritual energy for specific causes" "The manipulation of metaphysical energies." "Manipulating energy through intuition"

Magic as a natural phenomena
"Being alive." "Natural law." "A form of natural force." "Everything." "Sunshine" "Magic is" "Nonphysical cause and effect." "Calls upon forces of nature and guiding them." "A projection of capacities in a way not yet explained by science." "life" "Just one of the laws of nature." "A way of accessing the non-material, non-linear world." "The physical manifestation of the psychic realm." "Probability enhancement." "Science and art in helping others."

Magic as belief
"The 3rd eye & unconscious states - work wonders if you believe in magic happening." "Believing in something that you can make happen." "A belief system." "What one makes it." "Belief manifesting itself. Disneyland is a very magical place."

Magic as flow
"The larger than coincidental flow of the universe that we are made aware of through practice." "Going with the flow and or causing eddies." "Prayer, focus, belief." "Flowing through all of us!!" "Working within the flow of nature for the good of all."

Magic as work
"Spiritual work to achieve a goal." "Results - what works - very special being aware of it." "Spells and rituals." "Acts causing effects." "What Works." "Intention projected."

Magic as deity
"Believing-doing-if it was meant to be it will. It is a request put in for some entity’s decision." "Influence of deity over the world." "The connection with divinity".

Other ideas about magic
"sporadically & spontaneously." "Marvelous things" "Mystical power." "The inner power that can’t be explained." "pointless to discuss." "Consentual hallucination." "Existential coincidence" "Undefinable, by me."

From these results I would say that Neopagans share a belief in magic as the natural effect of personal will upon universal energy to cause change, with an understanding that energy has it’s own flow, and will is limited by belief.

Beliefs about Spells

Spell as ritual or prayer
"A form of prayer. A magical rite or ritual." "A pattern/ritual marshaling of energies." "A specific series of steps designed to magically effect a specific change." "An organized effort to influence reality with will and ritual." "A certain series of set things you do to create changes." "A series of defined steps by which magic is worked." "A ritual form of behavior I indulge in when I have tried everything else to influence the ‘outcome of events’ without effect." "A prayer." "Ritual to be specific in various needs and out comes." "A spiritual right that ends in something happening to the person it is meant for." "Ritual cast for intent" "A prayer of sorts that is granted by Gods." "A ritual way to focus energy and emotion to achieve a specific goal." "A prayer, which is constructed to manifest will." "A personal Ritual for focusing will/intent for a purpose."

Spell as a way of causing change
"A wanting or desire to better something." "Spiritual work to control a situation." "A tool." "Something you work hard on to make happen." "A thought that you bring into the physical realm." "A tool to help you get things for your higher good." "A message to the subconscious, and to a ‘Gaia’ consciousness to affect change." "Change manifest." "Words and acts causing reactions" "A codification of sound, smell, motion, and time to produce a predictable end." "Something to make it work." "A collection of intentions projected that are the necessary parts of what is the desired manifestation ." "A set of instructions to accomplish a non usual or probable event." "An attempt to affect change through connection that exist only in ones mind." "A mystical method of causing a physical change." "A the technology of change."

Spell as energy
"Directed energy." "An induced shift in the "normal" energy dance." "A working of natural law." "Prayer, energy, spirit, symbolic. Directed energy toward one specific purpose." "The use of energy (magic) for a specific purpose." "An incantation with energy to perform a task." "Directing the above energy to move toward a certain result." "A way of harnessing spiritual energy in oneself." "An attempt to channel universal energy for a definite purpose." "Any way you can manipulate energy" "A way of directing energy with will." "Working energy" "Use of mental discipline to alter energy patterns." "Using physical items (or not) to help raise energy and focus it and manifest it."

Spell as focus
"Direction of intent - a focused prayer." "Intent to focus the magic in us." "A focused effort to cause change, incorporating mental triggers and/or archetypes." "Focused prayer with many trappings or not." "focused power with a specific aim." "the focus of consciousness and metaphysical energy to attain a goal" "A focus for those lacking ‘will’." "The concentration of energy and will on a certain desired result -intently to create a change through that concentration." "Use of symbols and words to focus energy." "Use of symbols and words to focus energy." "A way to focus my intent" "Focus of the extension of will." "Focused intention." "Focusing energy." "Symbols and key words that bring forth your power."

Spell as will
"A creative raising & focusing of energy/ will to affect change" "Finding your personal will - using your subconscious." "A controlled or willed personal energy and/ or portion of force for a desired end." "Focused Will." "focal manifestation of will." "Changing a part of the universe with the will" "A casting of one's will." "A focusing of will" "A will to find truth to change or seek guidance relating to a situation." "Sending your will out in universal song" "An organized and close-ended will projection." "The willed act of canceling or constructing an eventuality." "An act of Will concentrated to a specific goal."

Spell as magic
"A set of actions that invoke magic." "Serious magic" "A form of magic used in affecting ones life" "The result of magick." "A poem either said out loud or thought, asking for something" "A specific way to direct magic." "Magic with intent." "Magic with specific intent." "An act of magic." "The projection of magic." "A planned out magical working."

Other ideas about spells
"made up" "A thought & wish cast & if believed that the casting will happen - above & beyond your conscious thought." "Some thing you say to someone or evil."

Even among Neopagans, spells are defined in terms of magic. Not surprizingly the Neopagan definition of spell reflects the Neopagan definition of magic. The definition of both magic and spell reflect shared beliefs.

Practice

Clergy

The attitude of the respondents toward clergy are represented in their definitions of clergy which follow:

Spiritual Leader or Teacher
"goddess/mother/daughter/lover/leader/teacher" "Women of covens/circles etc. who supervise like mother figure." "A coven leader or teacher of craft." "Helper-healer-teacher-counselor-leader." "The person who leads the circle." "One who is dedicated to addressing ongoing issues of divine work and worship, often within a group context. On bad days a spiritual "den mother"." "The one who runs the ceremony." "She leads the group, invokes the Goddess in ritual, helps on personal and spiritual levels." "A person who can facilitate rituals." "One who takes responsibility for the spiritual well being of your community and are willing to act on their behalf." "One who is empowered by the community to lead ritual? raise power." "Authority figure." "Anyone who leads a circle -- even if the practitioner is a solitary." "An individual who takes on the Responsibility, who is qualified to do so, to teach others and facilitate Rituals." "A trained or experienced leader of ritual and or a focal point for power or magic." "Someone who teaches and guides within a spirituality." "One who conducts or leads rituals for herself or a group." "A leader capable of conducting ceremonies and Knowledgeable" "One who directs others energies in a mutual focus." "Someone who leads ritual, who you can turn to for guidance." "A teacher." "Facilitator of magical work" "A guide, protector, teacher, role model." "Mother/teacher/lover/Sister" "An administrator who leads rituals." "Leader and director." "A facilitator of accepted rituals and ‘praise’" "A person of spiritual nature who helps to guide others in ritual." "Someone who is capable of facilitating ritual for others." "Spiritual leader." "A ritual leader/ teacher." "A person with knowledge of spirit ,willing to share what they know." "A born leader." "Coven Head (strongest magnet)" "The focal point of group worship/enlightenment." "Head of a religious group." "A person who conducts religious ceremonies." "A person who can help with experience." "A servant of the Gods and the Tribe." "A focal point for ritual- a teacher."

Skilled or Knowledgeable
"A channeler and user of divine energy." "The receiver of and director of the feminine energy of the Goddess." "One who creatively utilizes all things to affect change for oneself and for others - usually focusing of energies." "An experienced human of magical practices." "She who invokes deities, bringing divinity to the surface of herself, from within." "One who Creates." "One who is skilled at invoking divinity." "Able to consciously direct energy." "One who brings about the change." "The focus of the fe/male aspect of the infinite." "A human being who understands their link to Divinity." "Someone who invokes deity." "Farther advanced, capable of leading effective ritual." "Someone who channels energy" "Someone who does magic" "Knowing"

Trained or Ordained
"Someone who was trained and ordained or acknowledged by her group or circle." "A trained Head of a coven" "Someone who has studied and is ordained." "A member of the Pagan/Wicca clergy who has undergone several years of training towards that end." "A person who has Priestess training." "An ordained member of the clergy (presumably Neopagan)." "Someone with training in how to perform ritual, magic, counseling, etc." "Someone with training in how to perform ritual, magic, counseling etc." "Someone trained specifically in one area (usually to help others) by another person in that area." "Ordained practitioner."

Intermediary or Conduit
"The connection between physical and spirit" "A vessel for the life force to work thru." "Someone who fulfills a formal religious function involving contact or communication with deity." "A person who channels the collective energy of the Gods for the community." "A mortal whom the gods communicate though." "A conduit thru which creation manifests." "One doing the work of the spirit/divine." "A higher spirit in human form." "A facilitator/ a gate." "An antenna to invoke." "A focal lens of the divine force." "A focal point."

Rank or Title
"The highest female rank in a coven." "A title" "An advanced Witch" "A hierarchical position to institutionalize concepts no longer intuitively sensed but intellectually remembered." "Made up power." "An elitist." "A person who is working with a ‘mind thing’" "A job."

Dedicant or devotee
"One who has devoted herself to the ways of the Ancient Ones." "Dedicated to a particular deity or set of deities - channels their energy."

Other
"Everyone is a priestess." "In everyone." "A person" "A witch who helps the earth. Nothing more. Nothing less."

Ritual Forms

Of the (36) 24.7% that said no to all three of the Wiccan ritual form questions only one claimed to be Wiccan. 70.8% (34) of those identifying themselves as Neopagan said yes to all three Wiccan ritual form questions. 91.7% (44) of those calling themselves Witches said yes to all three Wiccan ritual form questions. 87% (40) of those identifying themselves as Wiccans said yes to all three Wiccan ritual form questions.

Psychic Phenomena

There was no relation between physical traits and experience of psychic phenomena. Respondents indicated a high belief rate and an experience rate that was considerably lower. All those who had experience of psychic phenomena did believe in such phenomena, but the rate of reported experience was lower than I expected. Approximately twenty percent of the respondents have reported psychic experiences frequently or always. With that rate of experience, everyone in the community has either had an experience or has known someone who has had an experience. Reports of incidences of psychic phenomena are more likely to influence belief than reports of belief.

Conclusion

The Survey

Section 1 Background information

Sex: Male | Female Other(specify)____________________

Sexual preference: Straight | Bisexual | Gay/Lesbian

Age: 7-13 | 14-20 | 21-27 | 28-34 | 35-41 | 42-48 | 49-55 | 56-62 | 63<

Ethnic Background: European | Asian | Pacific Islander | African | Middle Eastern | Native American | Latin American

Section 2 Identity

I am a: (circle however many apply) Native Religionist | Neopagan | Witch | Wiccan | Druid | Subgenius | Buddhist | Taoist | Catholic | Christian | Shaman | Discordian | Jewish | Hindu | Agnostic | Atheist | Moslem | Other (specify)_______________________________________________

I consider myself religious. Yes | No

I consider myself spiritual Yes | No

I am a member of a: (circle however many apply) No group Circle | Coven | Grove | Spirituality group | Church | Temple | Mosque | Community | Tradition | Other (specify)____________________________________

Are you now, or have you ever been, in a 12-step program? Yes | No

Section 3 Belief

I believe that science is a valid way of learning about the physical world. Yes | No

I believe that science is not adequate to explain all of human experience. Yes | No

I believe in Absolute Truth Yes | No

I define Absolute Truth as: _________________________________________________________________

I believe in a power greater than myself that takes an interest in my well being. Yes | No

I believe that God(desses): are not real | physically exist | exist in a non physical way | only exist metaphorically | are useful / harm full | I believe in one God(dess) Yes | No

I believe in The Lord and The Lady Yes | No

I believe in many God(desses) Yes | No

I believe that all God(desses) are equally valid Yes | No

I believe that Divinity is immanent in all things Yes | No

I define God(dess)(es) as: __________________________________________________________________

I believe in life after death. Yes | No

I believe in reincarnation Yes | No

I believe in sin. Yes | No

I define Sin as: _________________________________________________________________

I believe in the Three Fold Law Yes | No

Section 4 Practice

I believe that rituals are useful Yes | No

I attend rituals Yes | No

I have some Priest/ess training Yes | No

I am an ordained Priest/ess Yes | No

I am a practicing Priest/ess Yes | No

A Priestess is: __________________________________________________________

I believe that Magic works. Yes | No

Magic is: ______________________________________________________________

I have cast spells. Yes | No

A Spell is: ____________________________________________________________

I use a particular ritual form Yes | No

A ritual is: ____________________________________________________________

I cast a circle Yes | No

I call quarters Yes | No

I invoke Deity(es) Yes | No

Section 5 Psychic Phenomenon

I believe in ghosts Yes | No

I believe in Spirits Yes | No

I believe that some people have psychic abilities. Yes | No

I believe that all people have psychic abilities. Yes | No

I believe that I have psychic abilities Yes | No

I have precognitive experiences (see the future) Never | Sometimes | Frequently | Always

I have Deja Vu (the feeling that a new person, place or experience is familiar Never | Sometimes | Frequently | Always

A person I am thinking of calls or visits me Never | Sometimes | Frequently | Always

Street lights go out when I get near them. Never | Sometimes | Frequently | Always

Watches stop or behave oddly when I wear them Never | Sometimes | Frequently | Always

I know when something is wrong with one of my friends or family without seeing them or being told. Never | Sometimes | Frequently | Always

I experience non physical entities (ghosts, spirits). Never | Sometimes | Frequently | Always

I can see auras Never | Sometimes | Frequently | Always

I have prophetic dreams. Never | Sometimes | Frequently | Always

I naturally have one lock of pale hair among otherwise dark hair. Yes | No

My eyebrows grow together over the bridge of my nose. Yes | No

I have a "Widows Peak Yes | No

I am Left/Right Handed.

Section 6 If there are any questions you think we should have asked or ideas you feel should be explored further or thoughts that you wish to express or expand on please use this space to do so.

Bibliography

© Eva M. Snyder last updated 4/15//00
For more information contact:
sheherazahde@yahoo.com

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