Paganism & Its Branches
Paganism is a term that brings about several different ideas and meanings. Today the term pagan is used to describe either heathens similar to those in the Bible or to name anyone who is not of the mainstream religions (Christianity, Jewish, or Muslim). As you can see it’s original meaning has been lost.
Paganism comes from the Latin word paganus meaning country dweller. It was used to describe those who still believed in the older ways of life. In modern occult dictionaries it is used to describe anyone of an earth-based religion. This is the most correct meaning of the term.
There are several religions that can fall under paganism. Some more common ones include Wicca, Shamanism, and Druidry. However, any earth oriented religion can be placed under its terms. Some people claim that certain standards must be meet for a religion to be considered pagan, but there seems to be little to no real proof of this since Paganism is a spiritual religion that ties directly to the practitioners therefore creating thousands of different traditions. That is the beauty of paganism.
We will now go into a little detail of the each of the common pagan practices.
Shamanism is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, religion on earth. It is widely known for being used by Native Americans and other small tribe like groups from around the world. It focused on connecting with the other worlds outside this plane, and working with the spirits around us. People who practiced it were known as shamans, wise men/women, village healers, witch doctors, and priests/esses.
Shamanism
on Wikipedia
Shamanism
FAQ
Wicca was termed in the 1950’s when books on the occult started making their ways into the public after decades in the dark. The actual origin isn’t entirely known. Some say it comes from the word wicce meaning male witch or wise. Others think it came from the Indo-European word weik simply meaning witch. It is the most common of all the pagan religions, and this may be because almost all forms of paganism can fit under its loose meaning. One theory for it containing most forms of paganism is because the United States government recognizes Wicca, but not general paganism. However, there are many standards to the Wiccan religion such as the Wiccan Rede and following the Goddess and God as deity as compared to simply being pagan.
What
is Wicca
Wicca
Wiccan
History
Wicca
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