Definitions…

Definitions are important.  Words have meaning and power and how we use them is an important thing.  Words are one of the most basic tools we use in our lives to interact with and shape the Universe around us.   Words are one of the most basic tools of religion and Magic(k) and are worthy of our careful consideration.

This page has a few definitions of some of the words I use frequently in my writing here, as well as hopefully helping to answer any questions folks may have after stumbling across this little blog of mine.

Paganism

Paganism is a religious, spiritual, and social movement made up of several overlapping and intertwined religious and regional communities.

There are many religions and philosophies that overlap and intertwine within and with the Pagan movement.  Including Neo-Paganism, Polytheism, Polytheistic Reconstructionism, Pantheism, Wicca, Druids, Heathens, Thelema, …and many others.

For more direct information about these beliefs, and others, you can check out the Online Resources Page for a fuller survey of many of the faiths and philosophies involved in and related to and influencing, or intertwined with, modern Paganism.

When I mentioned the above definition to recently to a friend of mine, he pointed out that movements have a goal or conclusion.

“What,” he asked “is the Pagan movement’s goal?”

I would say that…

For the different Pagan faiths and paths there seems to be an overall theme of individual and group development into being a better person(s) (personal growth and perhaps enlightenment, although it is not neccesarilly phrased as such) by practicing certain rites, and developing our relationships with the Divine (or the essence of All That Is) and with the Spirits of the World Around Us (Elements and Land Spirits), and living certain intertwining and overlapping virtues and values.  I think we end up building our relationships with others in our groups and faiths and our regional communities through those virtues and values and practices.  This theme of growth and development leads us quite naturally into engagement with other branches of Paganism, and from there into engagement with the rest of Society.

Witchcraft

Properly speaking witchcraft could refer to any sort of folk magical practice.  When I write of Witchcraft with a capitol “W”, I am referring to religious Neo-Pagan Witchcraft of the type commonly referred to as Wicca.  This would be the philosophy and practice and faith I gave myself to years ago.   I have outlined the ethics and ideals and values I have found within Neo-Pagan Religious Witchcraft in an essay here, and I have also outlined some of my regular spiritual and religious practices here, and you can check out links about Witchcraft & Wicca  or some of the books in the Suggested Reading page for more information.

Wicca

Wicca, is a specific Tradition (similar to the idea of Denominations within Christianity) of Witchcraft.  Wicca is initiatory, lineaged, and originated within the New Forrest region of England in Great Britain.  You can learn more by doing searches for British Traditional Witchcraft or through some of the links in the Witchcraft & Wicca section of the Online Resources Page.

(While you’re there you can also look at some of the links that have to do with Traditions of Witchcraft unrelated to Wicca… it’s a larger world out there than some authors may have left you believing!)

Within the Pagan community, I call myself a Witch and Pagan.  When dealing with the outside world I will shorthand this to Wicca out of expediency, because while most folks don’t know a lot about Wicca there is not quite the emotional/cultural baggage on that word as there is on Witch!

And as several of the wise ones  have said…

“Witchcraft doesn’t pay for broken windows.”

Hellenic Polytheism / Greco-Egyptian Polytheism

In the last couple of years I have been moved to explore other branches of Paganism in addition to Religious Witchcraft.   I have made room in my heart for Hecate and Dionysus, and made offerings to the Olympian Gods.  I have also recently become involved with the Greco-Egyptian Polytheist organization Neos Alexandria a very welcoming  progressive Reconstructionist organization.

Basically a Reconstructionist path seeks to examine and honor the Gods of an ancient culture/faith such as the Greek Gods, for example, and using rituals based on the ancient ways bring their worship forward  into the 21st century.

~this is another one of those pages that will probably grow and expand over time folks!~