Being Pagan Being Pagan in the Modern Worldin the Modern World

Presented by Kate GranvillePresented by Kate GranvilleMinister to the Circle of the Crystal Minister to the Circle of the Crystal

GoveGove

““Legal” Disclaimer?Legal” Disclaimer? The views held by this Pagan may not The views held by this Pagan may not

necessarily reflect the opinions and views of necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the Pagan community or this Unitarian the Pagan community or this Unitarian Universalist congregation. While we will be Universalist congregation. While we will be discussing both Pagan and UU concepts and discussing both Pagan and UU concepts and principles, these statements should not be principles, these statements should not be considered the truth but only suggestions of considered the truth but only suggestions of truth for your own consideration. These truth for your own consideration. These statements are also not to be considered a statements are also not to be considered a contract or agreement for eternal salvation contract or agreement for eternal salvation or the promise of wealth or power. The or the promise of wealth or power. The views expressed are strictly presented as views expressed are strictly presented as possibilities and reflect only one person’s possibilities and reflect only one person’s experiences. experiences.

Discovery PlanDiscovery Plan First session:First session:

Definition of termsDefinition of terms How I Got HereHow I Got Here Basic Pagan BeliefsBasic Pagan Beliefs Tools of the TradeTools of the Trade RitualsRituals DiscussionDiscussion

Second session:Second session: MeditationMeditation ReincarnationReincarnation Magick or Science? Magick or Science? DivinationDivination What Paganism is What Paganism is

NOTNOT DiscussionDiscussion

What is a Pagan?What is a Pagan?Here is what the Merriam-Webster dictionary says about pagans:Here is what the Merriam-Webster dictionary says about pagans:

Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin paganus,paganus, from from Latin, civilian, country dweller, from Latin, civilian, country dweller, from paguspagus country district; country district; akin to Latin akin to Latin pangerepangere to fix to fix 11 : : HEATHEN HEATHEN 1; 1; especiallyespecially :: a follower of a polytheistic religion a follower of a polytheistic religion OR someone who lives on the heath, aka country dwellerOR someone who lives on the heath, aka country dweller22 :: one who has little or no religion and who delights in one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods sensual pleasures and material goods :: an irreligious or an irreligious or hedonistic personhedonistic person33 : : NEO-PAGANNEO-PAGAN

Pagans with a capital “P”Pagans with a capital “P” NOT Christian, Jewish or MoslemNOT Christian, Jewish or Moslem Uni-, poly- OR pan- theistic – OR Uni-, poly- OR pan- theistic – OR

Atheistic!Atheistic! Nature-basedNature-based Knowledgeable about personal beliefsKnowledgeable about personal beliefs Has some type of “energy work”Has some type of “energy work” Dissatisfied with tradition religionsDissatisfied with tradition religions

So Who’s a Pagan?So Who’s a Pagan?

Pagan Names for the Pagan Names for the JourneyJourney

Neo-PaganNeo-Pagan Wicca (Witchcraft)Wicca (Witchcraft)

Gardnerian / AlexandrianGardnerian / Alexandrian DianicDianic Kitchen WitchKitchen Witch Coven or Circle?Coven or Circle?

Druidic / CelticDruidic / Celtic NordicNordic Native American or ShamanisticNative American or Shamanistic BuddhistBuddhist

ZenZen TibetanTibetan

My Spiritual JourneyMy Spiritual Journey Baptized in the Southern Baptist Church, age 7Baptized in the Southern Baptist Church, age 7

Attended Methodist Church, age 10-11Attended Methodist Church, age 10-11 Lived in Viet Nam, Thailand and Iraq (Buddhism and Islam)Lived in Viet Nam, Thailand and Iraq (Buddhism and Islam) Attended Presbyterian Church, age 15-18Attended Presbyterian Church, age 15-18 Joined the AF and pretty much stopped attending ANY church Joined the AF and pretty much stopped attending ANY church

until after I married and had childrenuntil after I married and had children Converted to Catholicism, age 29Converted to Catholicism, age 29 Got divorced, lost my religion and moved to VA, age Got divorced, lost my religion and moved to VA, age

3838 Had a Gardernian High Priest housemate for 18 Had a Gardernian High Priest housemate for 18

months and…months and… Realized I was BORN a Pagan and finally had the Realized I was BORN a Pagan and finally had the

words for it and could explain MY beliefs, age 40words for it and could explain MY beliefs, age 40 Continue to verify my truths and test my beliefs Continue to verify my truths and test my beliefs

against the reality of my life and my actions, age NOWagainst the reality of my life and my actions, age NOW

Common Pagan BeliefsCommon Pagan Beliefs Any concept of a Supreme Being usually Any concept of a Supreme Being usually

acknowledges the feminine as well as the acknowledges the feminine as well as the masculinemasculine

An intensely personal relationship WITH An intensely personal relationship WITH their concept of Divinity (immanent, not their concept of Divinity (immanent, not transcendant!)transcendant!)

Harmony with NatureHarmony with Nature Personal responsibility for actionsPersonal responsibility for actions ReincarnationReincarnation Magick (vs. “magic”) AKA “Energy Work”Magick (vs. “magic”) AKA “Energy Work”

For example:For example:I believe in:I believe in:

A Supreme Being, Creator as well as Participant in the A Supreme Being, Creator as well as Participant in the UniverseUniverse

ReincarnationReincarnation MeditationMeditation Magick (visualize to actualize)Magick (visualize to actualize) Choices and consequencesChoices and consequences The inherent sacredness of all life – and I have a BROAD The inherent sacredness of all life – and I have a BROAD

view of what constitutes lifeview of what constitutes life Learning this life’s lesson, whatever it may beLearning this life’s lesson, whatever it may be

Wicca / Witch CraftWicca / Witch Craft

““I’m not a witch, I’m your wife!”I’m not a witch, I’m your wife!”

Charge of the GoddessCharge of the Goddess Whenever you have need of anything, once Whenever you have need of anything, once

in the month, when the moon is full, gather in the month, when the moon is full, gather then in secret and give worship to She who is then in secret and give worship to She who is the Queen of all witches. Gather into the the Queen of all witches. Gather into the sacred circle, and secrets that are as yet sacred circle, and secrets that are as yet unknown shall be revealed to you. And you unknown shall be revealed to you. And you shall be free in mind, body, and spirit. And as shall be free in mind, body, and spirit. And as a sign that you are truly free, you shall be a sign that you are truly free, you shall be naked in your rites. Then shall you sing, naked in your rites. Then shall you sing, dance, feast, and make music and love. For dance, feast, and make music and love. For such pleasures are the rituals of the such pleasures are the rituals of the Goddess. Goddess.

Wiccan Rede and Threefold Wiccan Rede and Threefold LawLaw

An it harm none, do as thou wilt.An it harm none, do as thou wilt.

Whatever you do will return to you Whatever you do will return to you at least threefold. at least threefold.

Wheel of the YearWheel of the Year

Pagan AltarsPagan Altars

““Pagan Power Tools”Pagan Power Tools”

Use of meaningful symbolsUse of meaningful symbols Appropriate to your particular groupAppropriate to your particular group Provides a vehicle for the ritualProvides a vehicle for the ritual Enhances the energy you are directingEnhances the energy you are directing

AthameAthame WandWand

ChaliceChalice CandlesCandles CloaksCloaks RocksRocks MusicMusic

Any other object which you deem sacredAny other object which you deem sacred

Athame / BolineAthame / Boline AthameAthame

Black handleBlack handle Double edgeDouble edge DULLDULL BolineBoline

White handleWhite handle Single edge, Single edge,

usually curvedusually curved SHARPSHARP

WandWand Wooden, metal or crystalWooden, metal or crystal Plain or adornedPlain or adorned

ChaliceChalice

CandlesCandles

CloaksCloaks

Rocks / Nature ItemsRocks / Nature Items

MusicMusic

RitualsRituals Cleanse, consecrate and cast the circleCleanse, consecrate and cast the circle Call the QuartersCall the Quarters Invoke DeityInvoke Deity Main purpose of ritual (energy working, Main purpose of ritual (energy working,

meditation, etc)meditation, etc) Cakes and Ale Cakes and Ale Thanking the guestsThanking the guests Dismissing the QuartersDismissing the Quarters Opening the CircleOpening the Circle

Discussion and QuestionsDiscussion and Questions

Second sessionSecond session Recap from first sessionRecap from first session MeditationMeditation ReincarnationReincarnation Magick or Science? Magick or Science? RitualsRituals What Paganism is NOTWhat Paganism is NOT DiscussionDiscussion

Pagan FactoidsPagan Factoids Within the US:Within the US:

¾ million PUBLICLY acknowledge their path¾ million PUBLICLY acknowledge their path 46% have college degrees and 31% have 46% have college degrees and 31% have

“some college”“some college” 94% are registered to vote94% are registered to vote 74% are female and 25% are male74% are female and 25% are male 6% have military records6% have military records

Patriotic Pagans:Patriotic Pagans: MPN estimates over 4300 active duty PagansMPN estimates over 4300 active duty Pagans Wicca is the 3Wicca is the 3rdrd largest non-Christian religion in largest non-Christian religion in

the AF behind Judaism and Buddhismthe AF behind Judaism and Buddhism More than 1800 active-duty identify as WiccanMore than 1800 active-duty identify as Wiccan

Meditate or Medicate?Meditate or Medicate?Altering your consciousnessAltering your consciousness

Many types of meditationMany types of meditation ZenZen TranscendentalTranscendental GuidedGuided

Sweat Lodges/”Runner’s High”Sweat Lodges/”Runner’s High” Using (natural) chemicalsUsing (natural) chemicals

PeyotePeyote MescalineMescaline

If you can live without caffeine or If you can live without caffeine or nicotine;nicotine;

If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains;and pains;

If you can resist complaining;If you can resist complaining; If you can understand when loved ones If you can understand when loved ones

are too busy to give you any time;are too busy to give you any time; If you can take criticism and blame If you can take criticism and blame

without resentment;without resentment; If you can ignore friends' limited If you can ignore friends' limited

educations and never correct them;educations and never correct them;

If you can treat the rich and poor alike;If you can treat the rich and poor alike; If you can face the world without lies or If you can face the world without lies or

deceit;deceit; If you can conquer tension without If you can conquer tension without

medical help;medical help; If you can relax without liquor;If you can relax without liquor; If you can sleep without the aid of drugs;If you can sleep without the aid of drugs; If you can have no prejudice against If you can have no prejudice against

creed, color, religion, gender, sexual creed, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, or politics -preference, or politics -

then you have almost reached then you have almost reached thethe

same level of spiritual same level of spiritual development…development…

……as your dog. as your dog.

Guided meditationGuided meditation

Reincarnation Reincarnation OROR

Being Born Again…and Again…and Being Born Again…and Again…and AgainAgain

Past lives are usually not rememberedPast lives are usually not remembered Soul matesSoul mates ““Old souls”Old souls” You think *human* is the only incarnation?You think *human* is the only incarnation? Tabula rasaTabula rasa

MagickMagick

Universal energy (“electricity”) Universal energy (“electricity”) Visualization leads to Visualization leads to

actualizationactualization Prayer is a form of magickPrayer is a form of magick What works for you, works.What works for you, works.

DivinationDivination Many types Many types

Tarot cardsTarot cards RunesRunes Crystals or mirrorsCrystals or mirrors Fire or water scryingFire or water scrying

Foretelling or illuminatingForetelling or illuminating

What Paganism is NOTWhat Paganism is NOT Satanism (which is a Christian religion)Satanism (which is a Christian religion) A license for lasciviousnessA license for lasciviousness Harry PotterHarry Potter Excuse for bad behaviorExcuse for bad behavior ““Anti-Christianity” or “Goddess Christianity”Anti-Christianity” or “Goddess Christianity” A replacement for appropriate therapy for A replacement for appropriate therapy for

your problemsyour problems

Discussion and QuestionsDiscussion and Questions