The Different Pagan Religions

Since I am new to this, and I know that most of you are too, let's start with the Pagan religions that are out there:

• Asatru
• Church of All Worlds
• Discordianism
• Druidry
• Feri
• Gwyddons
• Hellenismos
• Kemeticism
• Religio Romana
• Senistrognata
• Thelema
• Wicca

And sometimes individuals and sub-groups of the following religions self-identify as Pagan:

• Candomble
• Demonolatry
• Santeria
• Satanism (Theistic Satanists are the most likely to identify as Pagan)
• Voudon

I only know about the Wiccan religion, which my parents don't seem to like, but we'll go through all of them one at a time and we'll be guided through this together. Let's start with Asatru.

Asatru is a Norse religion that is Christian-Germanic. From my understanding, it honors a God and Goddess, but not as equals like Wicca. It says that there are Nine Worlds and two of them are of the humans and of the Gods. It seems like there are a lot of drinking rituals. Already, it doesn't seem to interest me, but the rest of you may like it. http://www.asatru.org/

Church of All Worlds seems to be a Neopagan group of all kinds of religions, but they believe in returning the world back to Gaia - mother Earth. I wasn't really into this one, but those of you who are thinking about Nature being your base this might be good for you. http://www.caw.org/

Discordianism is the religion that believes in the Goddess Eris, who is the Greco-Roman Goddess of Chaos. Discordianism is centered on the idea that both order and disorder are illusions imposed on the universe by the human nervous system, and that neither of these illusions of apparent order and disorder is any more accurate or objectively true than the other. http://www.discordian.com/

Druidry primarily promotes balance with nature and harmony and respect for all beings, including the environmental. It was originated in Britain during the 18th Century. It, like many other Pagan religions, is associated with Nature and Harmony. http://www.druidry.org/

Feri is the tradition of contemporary witchcraft (don't be afraid of the word because it really doesn't mean anything bad). It's based off of the sensual experience (including sexual mysticism). Feri witches consider themelves "Fey". They believe that much of reality is unseen, or at least has uncertain boundaries. Within the tradition there is a deep respect for the wisdom of nature, a love of beauty, and an appreciation of bardic and mantic creativity. (Mantic means relating to divination or prophecy). http://www.feritradition.org/

Gwyddons try to focus on the clarity of the mind and mainly travel the road of wisdom and they mainly try to possess inner-strength. Here is a website that should explain more about it, since I have NO clue to what it really is (http://gwyddoniad.org/). 

Hellenismos is mainly Greek religion. It's making a big comeback since it died out when Christianity became a big hit. This religion is based on the Greek Gods of old (Titans, Olympians included). A website that might explain more is http://hellenismos.us/f/YaBB.pl 

Kemeticism is the same as Kemetism. The word Kemet means "people of the Black Land", which means people of Egypt. This interests me like many other people, because Egyptian culture is fascinating. Kemetism is based on the worship of the Egyptian Gods. Here's a website that you can look at and it will be something I will do aswell. http://www.roundtable.kemeticrecon.com/ 

Religio Romana really means (in Latin) "Roman Religion". This religion is based off of the Roman traditions, including the Roman Gods. Many of the Roman Gods have been ideas taken from the Greek traditions, and one could argue this all night, but there are a lot of the Roman traditions that do not follow the Greek ways. This one has also interested me and I believe there will be many of you that will agree with me. http://www.novaroma.org/religio_romana/ 

Senistrognata is mainly Celtic traditions for cultural Celtics or for anyone else. Many of the Celtic traditions have been unknown because every region of Celtics had their own Gods. They honor their ancestors and the Nature spirits of their regions. There used to be a website for Senistrognata, but it is currently inactive, but it is kept up for historical interest, if you want to check it out. http://www.imbas.org/ 

Thelema is a 20th century religion created by a British writer after he and his wife had a spiritual experience in Egypt. This isn't like Kemetism, but it shares the same interest of the ancient Egyptian Gods. I haven't really found anything that fully explains Thelema, but it is a college based religion that can be looked at. http://www.thelema.org/ 

Wicca is a religion that I am familiar with, it is mainly Nature based and was created in the first half of the 20th century. It is the worship of a God and a Goddess. Wiccans celebrate holidays that are called Sabbats. There are many websites out on the web that explain the view of Wicca, but here's one that explains it all and is one that I used a while ago when Wicca interested me. http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_beli.htm 

Those were really the most known Pagan religions, and there are many others out there, but I felt like maybe you should know those. You don't have to pick your certain religion of Paganism from this list or ever if you don't want to, but what really interests me is Kemetism, Hellenism, and Religio Romana. If you would like to look up more information on them, you can look however you'd like!

A Bit on Dreams and Meditation

Dreams are the structure that our reality is built on, without it we'd all probably go crazy. You could also say that dreams are the subconscious sending us messages, but of what is something you have to figure out. One way to figure them out is writing them down. Most people have a journal right next to their bed and when they wake up they write it down before it can get away. For me, I wake up, think over the dream and all the events that happened while trying to figure out the meaning of it and then I write it down. You could do whatever you think would be best for you to remember; drawing it, singing it, putting it into a story, writing it into a song, or not even writing it down because you're good with memory. The world is open to what you do, do not forget that.

The subconscious is a brilliant mechanism that we were created with, because it helps to store things and put things in order. You could think of it like a filing cabinet, and in a certain file all this information that you're reading will be stored in that file. But there are ways to connect to our subconscious.

Mediation is one of the basic tenets of Wicca. In order to use effective magickal work, you will need to learn to enter a state of deep relaxation, a place of calm and balance to align yourself with the natural forces around you. As you learn to still your mind and enter this state, you are learning to focus your mind. By becoming centered, balanced, and calm, you are learning mental discipline. It is here in your inner self that you will meet your Spirit-self and your Guide that will help you through your journey. To reach a truly meditative state requires a lot of practice, and it is important to be patient and take your time. By using meditative devices repeatedly, such as incense, candles, chanting, or drumming, you can condition your mind to enter a meditative state.

Wiccan Basics - Meditation

Just some tips for those starting off...

1. Meditation should be carried out in a quiet room, preferably with some object for a focus point. Try using a pentagram for starters...being a Witch an all that!

2. Sit comfortably (you might be there for a while), in a chair or on the floor. The body should be completely relaxed with the head in a straight line with the spine.

3. Once you have achieved 1 & 2, and not before, the mind should be quietened and if possible stilled. An invocation to the elements should be performed before any meditation commences.

4. Breathing should be slowed down and lengthened, do not strain to keep to long or deep a breath. Slowly find a rhythm. Length and depth of breath will come with practice.

5. As the breath is taken, visualise an energy ( most visualise it as bright white light ) filling you, from the feet upward, as you exhale send it up through your head and then filling your magickal space ( most people create a dome above & around them with this energy).

6. Now look at the pentagram, relax, open your mind, see what comes into it, and think of the following things:

The uppermost point of the pentagram represents human awareness.
The lowermost points represent the four elements.
The continuous line is the energy of life itself unifying and connecting all things.
The pentagram symbolises our basic human instinct to be in harmony with the forces of nature.

Visualise yourself on the top point of the pentagram, connected to all the elements. Now spend a little time thinking about each element in turn.

As you continue to visualise yourself at the top of the pentagram, connected to the elements, notice that the real you, is greater than the sum of its parts...

You feel (Water)
You think (Air)
You respond, to the challenges of life (Fire)
You take responsibility, for yourself (Earth)

7. On starting of the visualisation there may be a feeling of descending or ascending. Just carry on.

8. On the termination of this feeling, you should have either some spiritual truth, if you have meditated without seed (the seed, being in this case the pentagram), or the answers to your questions of the seed (the pentagram).

9. This meditation may lead to astral projection and take you out of your body. If this should happen, try not to travel to far in these early stages.

10. Immediately the meditation becomes blank and its obvious there is no more information, it is time to return.

11. If astral traveling, immediately the vision becomes blurred, return to the body.

12. When returning, unless it is an emergency, return slowly. A quick return can harm.

13. Once safely back, take note of all you have seen, and conclude with thanks to the elements, each in turn.

This information was found from the website:

Meditation Techniques - General Pagan - The White Goddess

"Meditation Techniques - General Pagan - The White Goddess". 2019. Thewhitegoddess.Co.Uk. Accessed June 3 2019. http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/articles/general_pagan/meditation_techniques.asp

Since I'm still kind of starting along with all of you, I'll give you websites you can go to if you want MORE information. If you just want to stick to the blog, that's still cool! And we will go more in depth of Wicca, Death Magic, and Paganism Through the Ages.

Now, the steps to Meditation is easy, you can always practice, because practice makes better (unless you want to go perfect). And don't worry about the Death magic, I will explain by using the perfect tool: The Witches Book of the Dead by Christian Day. I read this book a few weeks ago, and I'll try to incorporate it's teachings after we get through with the Life stuff. Well, everyone have a great Spring Break!

True to Your Heart

Yesterday I got home and found what I had ordered in the mail; my Ankh necklace. The reason that I bought this necklace was to show that I was committed to what I have chosen and I will soon take more steps to my beliefs and to expand my horizons on it, but I think for all of you it would be wise to engulf yourself in your beliefs in anyway possible. And for those of you who would have a hard time with actually showing this side because of the fear in showing your family, friends, community, you don't have to wear a Pentacle on a necklace or get a tattoo of the Goddess.

It can be your favorite necklace, even your own cross or Rosary, it's fine because your showing a belief in a faith, but you don't have to say "Oh, since it's a cross I can't wear it or else I'll be worshiping Jesus and God". It doesn't have to be like that. People will assume that you may be worshiping God, and that is fine, but it is in your heart what that symbol represents, not anyone else's who think like they are all supreme. What you make of things it will become (my own quote).

Coming Out of the Pagan's Closet

This may seem like something you shouldn't worry about until farther down the road, but there are most parents or families out there that may not be happy with your decision to become a Pagan/Wiccan. I'm bringing this up now for all of you to look back and figure out if this is REALLY what you want. Some people only become a Pagan because it goes against all that their family is for and they just want to get back at them, or there may be smart ones that say "Yeah, I'm doing this for me." and if you are one of them, congratulations  and if you aren't you should probably sort through your priorities first and get back on track.

Last night was a big night for me and today was a big day for me as well. First, last night I told my sister - whom is my bestest friend in the world! - that I was going to become a Pagan. For about four years I have studied Wicca - not really doing it though - and I also studied Christianity, Atheism, Jehovah Witness stuff, and I made sure to figure out what exactly it was that I was looking for in my spirituality. For me I have always wanted a mother figure. Yes, I already have a mother and a step-mom who could fill in that position, but physically and spiritually I had a father, now I only needed to have a spiritual mother. Many of the Christian religions believe in the one God who is a Father to all, and I respect that, but it isn't for me. I told my sister this and after a while she finally understood what I wanted. 

Today, I sat my father and my step-mother down and I told them that I wasn't doing this to hurt them, or to against them in anyway, but I made this decision for me. After I told them that I wanted to become Pagan, they didn't flip out - thankfully - but they acknowledged my choice and they stuck by me. I then went to my Mother's house and spoke to her and my step-dad about it and I made sure that they were on the same page. They were really hesitant - since her parents are Jehovah Witnesses - but they as well acknowledged my decision. 

I'm lucky that those in my family acted that way with me and I'm glad that I can be opened up to them instead of just hiding my beliefs, but there may be those of you who aren't as lucky. Your parents may flip out and just go crazy as if you were the Devil, or they may throw you out onto the streets, but there are two simple things that you must stick to when sharing this information to your parents:

1) Don't force the idea onto them, carefully bring them into it as if you were saying you were going into the Military.

2) Keep to your beliefs.

When you are first going to tell your parents/guardians this, you cannot suddenly say "I'm going to be a Pagan!" because the first thing that many think of with Paganism - the same with Wicca - is Devil Worship, Satanism, spells, witchcraft, etc. You'll only just freak them out! Begin by simply stating:  "I have something important I have to tell you. I just want you to know that I am not doing this to offend or hurt you, but I am doing this because I feel like it is right and I need you to respect my decision. If you aren't going to respect it, I will understand, but at least acknowledge my choice." 

This is a good opening because it gets your parents thinking and it sets them up that this is important to you and they will hear you out. Next, still don't jump into telling them you're Pagan just yet, but ease them in and break the ice. See if they will guess what it is that is so important to you, or you can say "I've put a lot of thought into this and I have done the research for it (I will explain this in a moment) and I just want you to know that I have prepared for what may happen, but I want you to know that this will not change me. I'm still me and I will always be your child." 

Then you could maybe say "I'm a Pagan." 

But one of the most crucial things you MUST do is research this topic before you just tell your parents that you're a Pagan. Make sure to know enough that you can answer their questions (One of the biggest ones was "What is Paganism?" for my parents) and you have to be ready for anything that happens. Rejection, happiness, fear, or just questions. Like I said, I studied this stuff for five years to make sure that this IS what I wanted. You don't have to do the same amount of time, but make sure to get all your facts straight and - even though this may sound rude or bad - make sure to show your parents up, put them in their place about this because the idea of Paganism and Wicca has been twisted into many things that a lot of religions have got it wrong. To sound smart, say that most of the Christian holidays are based off of Pagan holidays. Here's a list:

Halloween

Christmas

Easter

Valentine's Day

Thanksgiving

Mother and Father's Day

and Sunday Services

All this because of Pagans. Without the Pagans, the Christian religions wouldn't have been formed. Anyway, basically get Street Smart - do your research on Christianity and Paganism, create a list of how the Christians took Pagan ideas, just make sure to get all your facts straight before you judge a book by it's cover. http://www.nazarite.net/evil-holidays.html

Well, this was a lot to take in, but good luck and if you have any questions just ask!

Blessed Be!

Pagan Gods - The Great and Powerful

Beings that have been immortal and all knowing has been known through every culture in the world. One thing that most cultures have in common is that their Gods reflect those of Nature or of Man. In Hinduism you can see that the Gods clearly depict that of Nature and have been worshiped as two beings - the darkness and the light of each person; this, I believe, is because of the belief in reincarnation. If humans can be reincarnated, why not Gods? (Also, Hinduism is a mixture of multiple beliefs and these beliefs are recorded in the Upanishads).

But, there are many Gods that represent many of the same ideals. I'll give you a list of some of the people who have been known to have Gods (and there may be more) that house these major Gods and you may do away with it as you will. But, just remember, there is a God and/or a Goddess out there for you, and they will be very close to you (a mother/father, sister/brother, aunt/uncle, or a best friend). Take good care in whom you choose and who has chosen you. Blessed Be.

• Egyptian
• Greek
• Roman
• Hindu
• Norse
• Chinese
• Japanese
• Mongolian
• Hawaiian
• Native American 
• Mayan
• Aztec/Mexica
• Inca
• Cherokee
• Mohawk
• Navajo
• Blackfoot

SO MANY GODS!

p.s. I, like many others, have a strong connection to the Ancient Egyptian beliefs and I feel a good connection to Anubis, because I have always faulted and have needed the guidance of an older brother, but I hope to find a mother-like figure for me. It may be Isis, Bast, or maybe even Sekhmet. If anyone has a good and clear way of finding who your God/Goddess is, it may be helpful to others, but here is a good site that I found that may be of use. Good luck!

Witch's Book of the Dead by Christian Day

So I read this really good book and I thought that I should probably introduce you to it a bit.

Christian Day's book of the Dead is really informational and creative. It tells the lore of death and interesting ways that a witch can get connected to the other side, but there are warnings that you should not ignore. Some of the spells and rituals are simple and require meditation (something you should consider on doing), but remember not to mess with the dead. Even though you will be able to communicate with them, the dead require life, a sacrifice to get what you require. This doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice someone else's life or an animal, no it just means that you'll be giving up a bit of your life energy. Since you'll be doing that, you have to keep yourself healthy and energized (not with monsters!) But I guess I'll explain more when I buy the book.

After reading the book it just got me really interested into what I think I should do in my practices. I've really been connected to the dead, meaning it's really affected me in negative and positive ways, and it has just really fascinated me. Anyway, I should think on this a little more, but it's just a thought.

Question for you:
Who do you believe is your God patron? Remember, you don't have to pick a God from your region or your culture. It can be any that you want, or you don't have to pick one (though it would be helpful to have one). On my next post I'll explain more about the God and Goddess and the Gods. Have a good week everyone!

Simple Beauty Spell

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Just saw this and I thought that some one might want to try it. It sounds like it works really well (here's the website!!! http://justwicca.com/spell-for-beauty/ ). The one thing that I wound't do is blow out the candle, because if you blow out a candle then you push away the magic. Instead snuff it out when you get to that part (unless the whole point to blowing out the candle is to push away the negative affects of your skin).

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This is a really simple, but fun and effective spell for beauty. All people like to have soft and beautiful skin. This simple spell gives you beautiful and soft skin. This spell is so simple- all you need is sugar, water, and a white candle!

Sugar is not only a staple in every Wiccan's pantry but also a great item for love spells, friendship spells, wish spells, and beauty spells. This time we are using sugar as a gentle exfoliate to heal and soften our skin naturally.

Sugar is the best way to naturally exfoliate the skin, because it doesn’t sting and unlike salt – it doesn’t tear at the skin. This spell for beauty is simple, effective, fun and more importantly it works fast. You can get clear, blemish free skin within a matter of minutes. It is good to use on those stressful days, after an intense workout, before a date, or when you want that extreme feeling of being fresh and clean.

Light a white candle, and chant three times.

“New Moon – New Me as pretty as can be - All who see shall awe at me – As I will it so mote it be”.

With the candle still lit, place 3 tbsp of water with 2 tbsp of sugar – if you have it – place on petal from a rose and mix well.

With your eyes closed, place the mask in circular clockwise motions on you face and neck. Let sit for 1 min while meditating on your beautiful, clear skin, rinse the mask off your face, and place a warm-hot rag on you face for another minute. Pat your face dry and blow out the candle – Be amazed at the results!

Remember you can do this as often as you like, with to with out the enchantment. And be on your way to great looking skin.

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I found this spell on justwicca.com! They have amazing spells that are for free and GREAT for beginners looking to plant their roots in the realms of magick.