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Blessed Be!
Neo-Paganism is a term that encompasses a vast variety of modern, Earth and Goddess-oriented spiritual practices, including Wiccans, Druids, Alchemists, Witches and even some New Ages groups. Neo-Pagans generally follow a series of eight major holidays, occurring about once every six weeks and each is geared towards a season of the year and part of the overall cycle of life.
What is Neo-Paganism?
Suggestions for more info on neopaganism.
If you choose a Pagan or Neo-Pagan faith as your religion, you often find there are several common reactions when people find out that's how you identify.
The first is that some people think it means you don't have any religious beliefs or spirituality at all. This is due to arcane language usage, whereby some Christian faiths consider anything that isn't them to not be a religion. Many dictionaries still list this usage prominently, hence the misunderstanding.
Another reaction is that people think you worship the Devil. The character of Satan doesn't exist in Paganism, so again, you may find yourself up against that preconceived notion which is also Christian in origin.
Most often, people say "Oh, what's that?" This can be a tricky question as Paganism applies to a variety of beliefs and there are many different types of Pagans and Neo-Pagans in the world. It often helps to say that you can only speak for you own beliefs and that what you believe is not standardized across all persons who identify as Pagans.
The first is that some people think it means you don't have any religious beliefs or spirituality at all. This is due to arcane language usage, whereby some Christian faiths consider anything that isn't them to not be a religion. Many dictionaries still list this usage prominently, hence the misunderstanding.
Another reaction is that people think you worship the Devil. The character of Satan doesn't exist in Paganism, so again, you may find yourself up against that preconceived notion which is also Christian in origin.
Most often, people say "Oh, what's that?" This can be a tricky question as Paganism applies to a variety of beliefs and there are many different types of Pagans and Neo-Pagans in the world. It often helps to say that you can only speak for you own beliefs and that what you believe is not standardized across all persons who identify as Pagans.
- Academic Links for Researching Neo-Paganism, Druidism and Wicca. Neopagan History Druid
- Academic research resources (books, essay, links) for the serious study of Neo-Paganism, Wicca and Druidism (modern and ancient); maintained by the Reformed Druids.
- NEO-PAGAN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS
- A Neopagan religion is a modern faith which has been recently reconstructed from beliefs, deities, symbols, practices and other elements of an ancient religion.
- Neopaganism in Central-Eastern Europe
- Among the various pagan groups in Central-Eastern Europe the pagans in the Baltic countries - Lithuania and Latvia - seem to be most active and best organized. One should take into account that the Baltic countries have been christianized relatively late in comparison with other European countries.
- Sacred Texts: Wicca and Neo-Paganism
- Neopaganism covers a wide range of belief systems which have emerged in the past 50 years, primarily in the UK, Europe, and the United States.
- Neopaganism @ Wikipedia
- This is the Neopaganism entry at Wikipedia.
- Neo-Pagans Believe, About Neo-Paganism -- Beliefnet.com
- Neo-Pagans are a community of faiths bringing ancient Pagan and magickal traditions to the modern age--including mostly Wicca but also Druidism, Asatru, Shamanism, neo-Native American, and more. Neo-Pagan is an umbrella term for various and diverse beliefs with many elements in common.
- Hellenic Neo-Paganism
- In particular, the Greek gods have never been far from the center of Western culture, and Greek mythology, more than other Pagan traditions, continues to be a major influence in literature, art and language.
Pagan Pictures
Pagans and their Maypole
Pagans on Parade
Pagan banner
the pagans by yewenyi
Tufnell Park
Beltane Altar
the World Tree
The Wheel of the Year
The Eight Neo-Pagan Holidays
Although many Neo-Pagans believe the Eight-spoked Wheel of the Year to be hundreds of years old, in fact, this calendar of holidays was codified in the 1950s. However, it serves the extended Neo-Pagan community admirably, making a balance of observed holidays throughout the year.
- Samhain - October 31
- Yule - December 21 - Winter Solstice
- Imbolc - February 2
- Ostara - March 21 - Spring Equinox
- Beltane - May 1
- Litha - June 21 - Summer Solstice
- Lughnasadh - July 31
- Mabon - September 21 - Fall Equinox
The Neo-Pagan Library
Modern Pagans: an Investigation of Contemporary Ritual (Re/Search)
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Rites of Worship: A Neopagan Approach
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The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings, and Meditations on Crossing Over
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Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard
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The Practical Pagan: Commonsense Guidelines for Modern Practitioners
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The Latest from Witchvox
Neopagan News and Networking
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byNeo-Pagan Legal Issues
There are many places in the world where Pagans and Neo-Pagans are openly attacked for their spiritual beliefs. Even in the United States, a country that prides itself on religious freedom, many Pagans still lose their jobs, lose custody of their children and are persectured for their beliefs.
One of the biggest issues currently for Neo-Pagans is that you can serve and die for your country, but the US Government and military will not allow Pagans and Wiccans to be buried in military graves with a symbol of their faith on the headstone.
One of the biggest issues currently for Neo-Pagans is that you can serve and die for your country, but the US Government and military will not allow Pagans and Wiccans to be buried in military graves with a symbol of their faith on the headstone.
- Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Greek gods prepare for comeback
- It has taken almost 2,000 years, but those who worship the 12 gods of ancient Greece have finally triumphed. An Athens court has ordered that the adulation of Zeus, Hera, Hermes, Athena and co is to be unbanned, paving the way for a comeback of pagans on Mount Olympus.
- Pagan Legal Rights
- Links for info about legal issues and Pagans, both supportive and which debunk common misperceptions.
- Politics and Law - PN Forums
- Government and state issues of concern to pagans
- Pagan Legal Rights from Pagan Institute Report
- Because of the inroads against Pagan religious liberty, there's just so much news that we have created this new Pagan Legal Rights hub in Pagan Institute Report, as a way to organize resources and news.
- Circle Sanctuary - Lady Liberty League
- Circle Sanctuary is among those working to have the Pentacle, Wiccan emblem of belief, added to the US Department of Veterans Affairs list of emblems that can be inscribed on government issued memorial markers, headstones, and plaques for deceased veterans.
Take a Look at Neo-Paganism
by Euryale
In myth, Euryale was an immortal Gorgon. I'm a gardener and Giant Squid, growing things via Lenses. I have a wide range of interests including playing...
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