Pagan Paths

[Sweetheart]

What are the different types of Paganism practiced by the members at RF? Could you tell me about them? Why did you choose that path?

 

[Sees]

Hope you are enjoying the forums so far, I would check these threads out as a good primer There are really many more pagan traditions than there are major religions, which most have heard of, those commonly studied in classes on world religions.

BOS; Pagan testimonies; relationship with nature; share your thoughts? | ReligiousForums.com

Concerning Your Practice | ReligiousForums.com

On RF you'll most likely run into folks practicing Ásatrú, Wicca, Druidry, their own eclectic version of paganism, Hellenism, Kemetic tradition, etc.

 

[Quintessence]

I wouldn't say I chose it as much as I learned Neopaganism existed and realized "oh, wait... so that stuff I've been doing all this time is already a relatively well-established contemporary religious movement with a name? Well hot damn!!"

I've resisted having a named "type" I declare to others for a long time and only recently decided to move away from simply saying "yeah, I'm just a contemporary (neo) Pagan guys." Part of the reason for that is I had the misfortune of running into some rather unsavory individuals who would constantly throw a fit if the word you used to describe yourself didn't match their dogmatic notions of what that meant. It was just easier to stay generic instead of getting stuck in stupid arguments. There were other reasons too, ranging from the general incongruence of various terms within the Neopagan community to just having better things to worry about, but I've gotten to the point that I'm tired of not calling the spade a spade and want to take a stand on it.

I'm a Druid, I'm a Witch, and I'm an Elementalist. What do those mean to me? Well, as it turns out, I was reflecting on that just the other day and am going to spare myself some work and just slap this in from my Book of Shadows. These are short and simplified descriptions, eternal works in progress, and most importantly, it's what they mean to me and is not at all representative of what they mean in the broader Neopagan community. If you want the more objective version, I can do that too, and that isn't what this is. Just to make it clear.

What does it mean to be a Witch?*

Being a Witch means being in command of one’s own power in all avenues of life and having the wisdom or discernment to know when to use it. Expression of power demands great self-confidence and self-knowledge while avoiding self-limiting or self-defeating behaviors. In short, Witches do what they feel must be done.

Witches are known for casting spells. They practice spellcraft, or the practice of utilizing occult methods to cause changes in line with a particular goal. These goals are not always self-serving, but Witches are philosophical hedonists. The pursuit of desire is a worthy goal and describes much of what we humans do with our lives.

Witches also are known for working with the otherworlds. They explore the landscapes of other dimensions, meeting and relating to its denizens, often developing meaningful, personal relationships. From these workings, Witches learn many mysteries and valuable lessons that guide their lives. ​

What does it mean to be a Druid?*

Druids practice a nature-centered religion and are ambassadors of the non-human world. Their style of practice and the gods they honor are an expression of the local landscape they dwell in. There are many roles a Druid fills as servants and worshipers of nature.

First and foremost, Druids are naturalists, if not natural scientists. They have extensive knowledge of nature, both from direct, first-hand experience and from systematic study through the sciences. Although sciences represent the most important body of lore, other sources of knowledge are also utilized.

Druids are also philosophers and lore masters in general. They pontificate upon the deep mysteries of reality, and find many answers to them. Honoring the Spirit of Learning is a sacred duty to Druids, and all forms of knowledge are given open-minded consideration.

Lastly, Druids are artisans and craftspeople. Through story and song, painting and picture, Druids convey the emotional meaningfulness of the world around them and their experiences of it. Important lessons are taught and revealed through allegory and metaphor, poeticism and mythology.

* it should be noted that throughout my Book of Shadows thus far, I refer to my path as one of Witchcraft or the Craft. In effect, my brand of religious Witchcraft is Druidry and always has been, and the title “Druidic Witch” largely serves to clarify that. I am a Witch. And my specific path of religious Witchcraft is Druidry. So when I say Witchcraft (proper case), I pretty much mean Druidry in the context of my practice. Confused yet? I am. ​

What does it mean to be an Elementalist?

An Elementalist places a strong emphasis on the Four Elements throughout their practice. This means the Elementalist possesses specialized knowledge and skills relating to the Four Elements, which they obtain through extensive academic study and personal experience.

Elementalists are substance pluralists. Philosophically, they believe there are four roots that underpin all of reality, or to which all of reality may be reduced to. These four roots are ideological/abstract rather than tangible in nature, though they have tangible implications. Air, Fire, Earth, and Water are these four roots.

Elementalists also consider the Four Elements to be sacred and worthy of worship in their own right. This means they are considered gods, and are the most primal gods of the Elementalist’s pantheon. They are given deference and acknowledgement throughout the Elementalist’s practices. ​

Oh, and Elementalist is mine. You can't have it. IT IS MINE AND NODOBY ELSES.

Silliness aside, though, "Elementalist" isn't a thing in Neopaganism. That's something I coined for myself. As far as I know, nobody else uses it. It designates one of my specialties, but one I happen to think is more significant in framing and understanding my practice than, say, the fact that I'm also a botanist or conservationist. I do the Four differently than pretty much everybody else does. I do it the right way.

 

[Sees]

I wouldn't say I chose it as much as I learned Neopaganism existed and realized "oh, wait... so that stuff I've been doing all this time is already a relatively well-established contemporary religious movement with a name? Well hot damn!!"

I've resisted having a named "type" I declare to others for a long time and only recently decided to move away from simply saying "yeah, I'm just a contemporary (neo) Pagan guys." Part of the reason for that is I had the misfortune of running into some rather unsavory individuals who would constantly throw a fit if the word you used to describe yourself didn't match their dogmatic notions of what that meant. It was just easier to stay generic instead of getting stuck in stupid arguments. There were other reasons too, ranging from the general incongruence of various terms within the Neopagan community to just having better things to worry about, but I've gotten to the point that I'm tired of not calling the spade a spade and want to take a stand on it.

I'm a Druid, I'm a Witch, and I'm an Elementalist. What do those mean to me? Well, as it turns out, I was reflecting on that just the other day and am going to spare myself some work and just slap this in from my Book of Shadows. These are short and simplified descriptions, eternal works in progress, and most importantly, it's what they mean to me and is not at all representative of what they mean in the broader Neopagan community. If you want the more objective version, I can do that too, and that isn't what this is. Just to make it clear.


Oh, and Elementalist is mine. You can't have it. IT IS MINE AND NODOBY ELSES.

Silliness aside, though, "Elementalist" isn't a thing in Neopaganism. That's something I coined for myself. As far as I know, nobody else uses it. It designates one of my specialties, but one I happen to think is more significant in framing and understanding my practice than, say, the fact that I'm also a botanist or conservationist. I do the Four differently than pretty much everybody else does. I do it the right way.

Thanks for sharing those descriptions and the post in general, loved it