| The Public Bodies Liaison Committee for British Paganism |
British Pagan Traditions
Perhaps contrary to the way other major religions are organised, Paganism is something of an umbrella term, commonly referring to different groups or traditions to which the concepts and tenets of Paganism apply. Whilst many use the term Pagan and find it enough of a description to apply to their own beliefs, others will identify themselves to one or more of the myriad sets of beliefs that also ascribe the term Pagan to themselves.
What is Paganism?
Historically, the word Pagan itself comes from the latin 'paganus', for country dweller. Within a modern context, the term is now used to loosely refer to those who find divine inspiration in the natural world.
A great many people call themselves Pagan, without following a specific religious or spiritual path beyond that. What most of these people will have in common is a reverence for the divine as expressed through the natural world. For many Pagans, spirituality is recognised as a highly subjective experience, which means that while they recognise and explore their differences, they are seen as something to be valued, and rarely as a problem.
Witchcraft and Wicca
Many people think of Witchcraft as a magical practice - a means of spell-casting and looking into the future. Magic and divination can form part of Witchcraft, but only a part. Witchcraft as it is practised in the Western world today is a religion and a spiritual path.
Witches follow a Nature-based spirituality and revere the 'Old Gods' - the pre-Christian deities of Europe. Witches worship principally the Goddess of the Earth and Triple Moon and her consort, the Horned God; but all Gods and Goddesses, including those of other faiths, are honoured as different aspects of the one Divine power.
The names by which Witches call their Gods vary in different traditions, but Aradia and Cerridwen are common for the Goddess and Cernnunos (which means Horned One) and Herne for the God. In some traditions, however, the names of the Gods are considered so sacred that they are never spoken except in ritual and the Gods are known as the Lady and the Lord.
The rituals and practice of Witchcraft involve a re-linking with the life force of Nature, on this planet and in the stars beyond. In country glades, in city flats, in suburban back gardens, groups of women and men meet at the full moons and at festival times to worship the Gods and to reawaken a sense of oneness with the universe, which has become lost in the frenzy of the modern world. By celebrating the forces of Nature, in ourselves and in the world around us, we catch a glimpse of the origin of Nature, contained within the world yet at the same time more than the world, expressed through time yet equally timeless.
Witches have a strong ecological awareness and sense of guardianship of the Earth. Since the Gods dwell within Nature, Witches believe that our planet is sacred and must be protected from the ravages of humankind.
Witches also reverence the wisdom of the past, believing there is much to learn from the myths and lore of our ancestors and that we can access these through ritual drama, poetry and song, and through living in harmony with the Earth and our fellow creatures.
The rites and practices of Witchcraft are not only a way of contacting the Divine outside us in Nature, but also a way of understanding our inner psyche and contacting the Divine within. The importance of the rites lies not only in their outward form, but in their inner symbolism and meaning.
Source: PF information packs 2005
Heathenry / Northern Tradition
Heathenry is a term used to describe the religious practices of two main groups of people, one historical and one modern.
The original Heathens were the pre-Christian North European peoples who lived a thousand and more years ago in the lands around what is now called the North Sea. These included the peoples of Anglo-Saxon England, Scandinavia, Germany and Frisia (Friesland).
Modern Heathen groups around the world are reviving these old practices and call their religion by various names including Asatru, The Northern Tradition, Odinism, Forn Sed, Germanic Pagan Reconstructionism or, simply, Heathenry. In Iceland, which did not convert to Christianity until the 11th Century, Heathenry has once again become an official, i.e. nationally recognised, religion.
Heathens work to build healthy relationships with gods and goddesses, ancestors, spirits of the land, and others in their communities, both through holy rites and through their day to day actions.
Heathenry, like all ancient European pagan religions, is polytheistic and recognises a large number of gods and other spiritual entities. Although the Heathen gods are best known from Norse Mythology (and often called by Anglicised versions of their Old Norse names) they were honoured by many peoples outside of Scandinavia. For example, the god known to early Germanic tribes as Wodhanaz became Odhinn in Old Norse, Woden in Anglo-Saxon and Old Saxon, and Wuotan in Old High German. Some of the most well known Heathen gods are enshrined in our English days of the week. Tuesday is named after Tiw (Tyr), Wednesday after Woden (Odin), Thursday after Thunor (Thor) and Friday after the goddess Frige (Frigg).
In addition to the better known 'major gods', the names of several dozen local or tribal gods are known through medieval literature, runic inscriptions, and votive stones. Most Heathens choose to actively honour a subset of gods with whom they have developed personal relationships, although offerings are also often made 'to all the gods and goddesses'. Heathens relate to their gods as complex personalities who each have many different attributes and talents. For example, whereas Thor is popularly known outside Heathen circles as the mighty hammer wielding God of Thunder, in Eddic poetry he is called by names such as Deep Thinker, Man's Well-Wisher, and Consecrator Thor, revealing a gentler side to his nature.
In addition to gods, Heathens recognise and relate to a wide variety of spiritual beings or 'wights'. These include the Norns - who are three female entities who weave the web of wyrd, and the Disir - who are female ancestral spirits attached to a tribe, family, or individual. Heathens also work with 'hidden folk' such as elves, brownies, dwarves and ettins (giants and other not so pleasant folk). They interact with the housewights who live in their homes and the landwights who occupy features of the landscape such as streams, mountains, forests or fields. Having a relationship with landwights is an important feature of Heathen religion and outdoor Heathen rituals will not proceed until the permission of landwights is sought and obtained.
Another characteristic of Heathen religion is the respect given to ancestors in general. These may be a person's literal forebears, or may be people now dead who have inspired them in some way.
Source: PF information packs 2005
Druidry
Druidry is seen by most as an indigeous religious tradition of these isles, a preChristian European spirituality, that has evolved over millennia is yet just as vital, rich and relavent to modern life today. Modern Druidry is expressed in diverse ways, and by groups, orders, and individuals with differing priorities, gods and sources of inspiration. However, what draws all Druids together is the striving to find deep and honourable relationship with nature, with the ancestors of blood and of land, with deity, seeking to drink of the Awen (divine inspiration) through that connection with the natural world, to be fully awake to its presence, its spirit, its magic. A Druid feels the stories of the ancestors, through the rustling wind in the trees, the tug and pull of each changing tide and season, of sun, moon and stars, and strives to live with peace, honouring our heritage through living positively, honourably and creatively.
Source: Emma Restall Orr 2006