Questions You Always Wanted to Ask Pagans and Wiccans

How do you practice Wicca and Paganism? Are there any rituals or ceremonies of the like or is it merely belief-oriented?

 

My partner is a member of the Pagan community. I really never knew much about it until I started to date them. I find myself drawn to it, and have been considering looking into it some more. So, I'm going to keep an eye on this thread

 

I can certainly help answer questions for this one. I have found my people. :lol:

I myself am more or less a Hellenic Pagan (technically Eclectic but in practice mostly Hellenic) so in my case I practice my religion by having an altar (in my case I have a primary altar to my Matron deity, the deity I feel closest too), giving offerings (flowers, herbs, grain, etc. which I place in an altar dish on my altar and then eventually bury when I feel the need for it has passed), praying to and thanking the Gods, celebrating the Holidays, and things of that nature. Some of those things might be considered ritualistic but I've never though to call them such.

 

Well, being a big humanties nerd, i know a few things about pagan religions, but I also have a few questions:

1. Why are a lot of pagan religions especially wicca, so... Female dominated? I don't think this is bad thing, i'm just wondering if there's a reason why there a so few few high priests and altar boys and wizards. I've even read of some women being hostile to guys inside wicca. Why is that?

2. Why do you think most people in major religions have such negative views of pagan ones? I feel like there some sort of fear of all things pagan, and it's super taboo and only something "crazy demonic" people who for the devil would turn to. I know obviously, that that's ridiculous, but i can't be the only one on here whose first impression of pagan religions was something like that, especially if your raised in an abrahamic faith, right?

3. For those of you who practice magic, i know some wiccas have like a book of shadows. My question is, if someone who doesn't know magic read from your book aloud, will they get cursed or something? Is your magic like voodoo basically?

 

1. Why are a lot of pagan religions especially wicca, so... Female dominated? I don't think this is bad thing, i'm just wondering if there's a reason why there a so few few high priests and altar boys and wizards. I've even read of some women being hostile to guys inside wicca. Why is that?
I think that has to do with the the Goddess(es) aspect in a way. A lot of women are drawn to Paganism because Goddesses are viewed to hold just as much power as Gods, woman are considered more equals and not less than men and that is very appealing as a concept to many when compared to Abrahamic belief systems.
In the case of some in Wicca shunning men that stems from nothing more than ignorance. There is no logical reason for it. In my circles they've been completely accepted (also men can also be witches, I happen to be one).
There are some Pagan religions that are more popular with men, Asatru is one example (a structured revival of Germanic/Nordic Polytheism).

2. Why do you think most people in major religions have such negative views of pagan ones? I feel like there some sort of fear of all things pagan, and it's super taboo and only something "crazy demonic" people who for the devil would turn to. I know obviously, that that's ridiculous, but i can't be the only one on here whose first impression of pagan religions was something like that, especially if your raised in an abrahamic faith, right?
Honestly that has a lot to do with ignorance. I've had people stop talking to me, received threats, etc. and I just try to educate as much as I can. The Bible in particular tends to push the 'thou shall have no other Gods before me' thing and tends to portray horned deities (Pan, Herne, etc.) as Satan himself so that certainly doesn't help. I don't get angry over it, fearing the unknown is normal. Education is key.

3. For those of you who practice magic, i know some wiccas have like a book of shadows. My question is, if someone who doesn't know magic read from your book aloud, will they get cursed or something? Is your magic like voodoo basically?
I happen to have one myself and no, they would not be cursed. If anything they might get a brief education on my practices and beliefs or a bit of a talking to for snooping if they didn't ask me first but otherwise nothing would happen. My Book of Shadows is just a book with various prayers, runes, the occasional spell, how to cleanse things, recipes for the Sabbats, Sigils, etc. written in it. Nothing particularly dark.

 

Ah very interesting, I used to be pretty interested in Paganism and I have a couple questions.

1. Pagan religions appear to be based on old world, pre-Christian religions that were mostly oral as far as I can see. What is the draw to Paganism if you are not yourself apart of those cultures that had them? I could understand say a German family wanting to connect with their roots or something like that but what makes an outsider want to join these religions?

2. This is just something I need for future reference, define magic in a way that could be understood by people that don't believe in it.

 

How did y'all decide to become Wicca/pagan? I assume most of y'all were raised in a monotheistic religion or areligious. Therefore, it must have been quite a 180 to change to Wicca/paganism.

Is it "trendy" to be Wiccan/pagan? It seems to almost be at a point of cultural appropriation nowadays haha :lol:.

 

What's your opinion on Chaos Magick?

 

Why are some pagan religions so... Can't find the right word... Something along the lines of... Nationalistic, or ethnocentric, or even tribalistic or racist, at worst. For example i heard you only have to be of scadinavian ancestry to join asatru, or you only have to greek to take part in hellenic paganism. I know some groups are open to non- ethnics, but why are some so tribal/ racist for? If someone's interested in your religion, why can't they just join? Why is their actual background so important for those particular groups?

 

1) What exactly are Pagan/Wiccan spells and runes?

2)Do you have to keep practicing the rituals to get better at it or more powerful? Is there some sort of hierarchy in this religion?

3)Is there an ''official'' or more dominant doctrine or book?

 

Is there a potion or spell I can use to make anyone I like become wildly sexually attracted to me?

I do know of one to keep people away: Skunk musk, which you can buy at hunting supply stores. A few dabs of that, and you'll be left alone, easy.

 

Im a pagan. More specfically into the dianic wiccan traditions. Wicca is so relaxed and open to who you are. That i never felt more at peace with who i am until i found my path. I had known for years i was not straight but i did not find the craft until having already had my first girlfriend. My question is. How would you approach someone if they questioned how you practice and why you feel you need or want a altar to help your worship?

 

Pretty much how we are at my house also. I don't care much for ritual either, but I light my Goddess candle on my stove/hearth daily and give an offering to honor the Great Lady and her Consort. I have a small altar in the front room which I pray at and I consider myself Neo-Pagan with Wiccan beliefs. My wife is Taoist/Buddist and I also do ascribe to some of those tennets as well.

 

There are several denominations that are exclusively female, but I have not heard of anyone that actually treat males hostile. At least, in my opinion, ones that are truly Pagan, and ones I would not consider cults. The reason I was taught that Pagan religions are Feminine based is because all life hails from the female so that is why she is so honored.

Many religions are based on Paganism, and if you trace back far enough, you will find evidence of the 'Son/Sun' previously known by the Egyptians as Ra, creation myths such as how Zeus created man out of dust, which rival the Christian creation myths and even our Yule, where we celebrate the rebirth of the sun(longer days/end of Winter) with is Christmas, the birth of the 'Son'. We have our triple Goddesses just as Christians have theirs Father/Son/Holy Ghost .... So, the religions have much in common. The newer religions such as Christianity was based on ours, and to convert people when they were being taken over to this 'new' Christian religion, those in charge at the time linked the holidays and then made practicing the Old Ways illegal, punishable by death etc. So, of course most people switched over to the Christian ways. They even took the Horned God(the Goddess Consort) and made him 'Satan' to further stop people from following the Old Ways. I wish more people would study the past of religions and they would see how it is all linked together, I think it would help understanding.

No! :lol: A book of Shadows is simply a written record of what your initiation ceremony was(like a Baptism), your prayers, your herbal recipes or special recipes for different Sabbats(holidays)such as a Yule bread or Mulled Wine and various things you do for your Sabbats. For instance, mine has a Prayer to Bridgit(St. Bridgit) the Hearth Goddess asking for blessings for my home during Imbolc(Candlemass)and how to decorate my altar during this season. What colors celebrate/honor Bridgit for instance, what herbs to cook with and what herbal teas I drink to celebrate this time of year. No one gets any 'curses'. Magik is just being aware of energies that are in the environment and getting them to focus on what you want them to. Feeling and directing positive energy to an amulet for luck at a job interview, for instance. It's just like the Spiritual Healing you see many churches do. Also, Pagan religions have a set of rules and each have their own take on them that outline what you can and cannot do. For instance, I follow the Wiccan Rede and Rule of Three. Which states that If if does not harm anyone, go ahead and do what you want to(this is actually stringent to follow because no matter what you do or decided, you have to think of every single implication your act will have.) And Whatever energy you give out, you get back 3x over. Good or ill.

---------- Post added 7th Feb 2016 at 04:52 PM ----------

Christianity is based on Pagan religion, not the other way around. Some want to follow the original and Old Ways. I think for me, personally, I was always very much tied to the Earth and felt pulled to honor Her. It was a natural progression for me as I never could believe that both male and female could exist if there were not both male and female Deity. I found it hard to believe that our souls, which are energy, just go to some happy place and hang out forever, after our bodies return to the Earth and don't continue on learning and growing(Reincarnation) or that a so called "Loving Father Deity" would punish us when we screw up and send us somewhere to be punished for all eternity instead of letting us live with the fallout of our mistakes and learn from them.

Being aware and directing the energy that is around us everyday. Like how black clothing absorbs the sunlight(energy) and makes you hot, we attempt to absorb energy in the environment and use it. You can't lift a car with it of course, but you can pray and attempt to direct positive energy to help someone feel better.

---------- Post added 7th Feb 2016 at 04:56 PM ----------

Um, no. :dry:

Trying to direct energy for this is not a good idea, ever, as it attempts to rob someone of their free will. You can pray and ask the Goddess to light your way to becoming more attractive and giving you the strength to diet, exercise or cut your hair in an attractive manner to get attention.

 

1. I moved away from the Abrahamic religions because I was searching for the oldest path I could find as I felt it was more realistic. I know that might be silly to some but that's the main reason for me.

2. Magick is something that varies widely but think of it as a more complex form of 'pray for a miracle' thing that many Christians have. Magick is nature, the air of which you breath, the water which sustains you, the spirit you put into prayer, the energy you put into a blessing, the fire that burns within you. It is nothing and everything, no where and every where.

I became pagan due to my Mom drifting away from Christianity herself and my own desire to find and older, more 'true' path. To put it simply it felt right.

I see a lot of Wiccans these days, maybe it is trendy, I don't really know. :lol:

First off you certainly to not have to be of a certain ethnic background to practice Asatru, Hellenismos, Wicca, etc. despite what you may hear from some elitists. To my knowledge my Gods do not care what my genetic sources are. Gaia has accepted me with 'open arms'. I have come across some of those who practice Asatru who are racist but that actually completely goes against the tenants of their faith and many others are always happy to point that out.

1. Spells are, simply put, words used to convey a certain message which are often tied in with certain 'ingredients' to hopefully create an outcome. of sorts. A simple example would be a blessing combined with the smudging of sage to cleanse an area of negative energy/bad spirit. Runes are usually 'writing systems' of sorts, often used in the practice of divination or magickal writing.

2. Sometimes. It depends. Energy is the most important thing. If your heart and soul aren't in a ritual there's no real point, same thing could be said for prayer. To my knowledge there isn't really a hierarchy aside from the occasional high Priest/Priestess or a more knowledgeable Witch.

3. Depends on your path. For example Wiccans follow a Rede, those of Asatru follow the Nine Noble Virtues and some Hellenic Pagans try to abide by the Delphic Maxims.

No, not really. Sorry bro.

I would answer honestly. I would say that many Catholics feel they need a church and I feel most comfortable when I have an altar. Is it different? In way, of course. But the principle is similar. A Sacred Space.

 

What do you think is the most appealing aspect of paganism? What ideas and values are the most important to you?

 

Here's one thing in common I find very intriguing about both: unlike the more popular religions, I've never heard of any large scale atrocities committed in the name of either. Do you think this is due to them having less members, the teachings themselves, a combination of both, or something else entirely?