9 Great Things about Being a Pagan ...

By Alison

9 Great Things about Being a Pagan ...

I’ve been interested in paganism for a long time, and have identified as a pagan for several years now. If you don’t know much about it, I’ll just correct a few misconceptions – we don’t go around casting bad spells and many of us don’t go in for prancing around naked outside! There are lots of great things about being a pagan, so I hope you’ll learn something interesting here.

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1

Tolerance

Tolerance Photo Credit: henry grey

Pagans are very tolerant people. We accept others for who they are, regardless of race, sexuality or beliefs. All we ask is that the same respect is given to us, and that our beliefs are accepted as valid.

2

Freedom

There are many different pagan paths, so you have a lot of freedom. No one tells you what you must believe in, it is for each individual to decide what they believe and what speaks to them.

3

Connections

Connections Photo Credit: Katarina 2353

Paganism is about connection with the earth, nature and our past. Most pagans are animal lovers and environmentalists, and are often involved in green issues or animal rights and welfare.

4

Respect

Respect Photo Credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

Pagans respect other religions and may even adopt certain aspects of them. It would no doubt surprise many Christians that many pagans and witches respect Christ greatly as a prophet. We also believe that there is room for all belief systems – just don’t force yours onto anyone else.

5

Being Yourself

There is great scope for individualism. I’ve always felt that religion should be a private matter, so I choose to practice by myself. Other pagans prefer to be part of a coven and to practice rituals and celebrate festivals with other like-minded people.

Famous Quotes

If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.

Laozi
6

History

History Photo Credit: Lin Pernille ♥ Photography

Paganism has been around for much longer than any other religion. So at Christmas and Easter you can complain loudly that they are actually pagan festivals that were stolen by the Christian Church, and go on about Easter eggs being fertility symbols.

7

Autonomy

Paganism, wicca and witchcraft are all about taking responsibility for yourself. You don’t have someone else to tell you what to do, but should make your own decisions, and always be aware of the consequences. For instance, it is not considered appropriate to try to influence someone else when casting a spell, as that would conflict with their right to choose.

8

Humour

Humour Photo Credit: Gabriela Camerotti

We don’t mind being laughed at. It’s nice if people have some respect for our beliefs, but we can poke fun at ourselves as well. Goddess knows that some of our activities must look pretty daft! We also laugh at each other – read this cardiffpagan.co.uk for a sample of pagan humour (I’m an eclectic pagan, by the way …).

9

Make up Your Own Mind

I’m very much an individual, and nobody tells me what to do or what to believe in. For this reason, conventional religion never appealed to me. Paganism doesn’t have a ‘holy text’, so there are few rules, other than the mantra ‘do what you will, as long as it harms no-one’.

I hope that this has been of some interest, and that you’ve learnt a bit about paganism. It would be a much happier world if we could all accept that everyone has different views! No-one’s right or wrong …

Top Photo Credit: _-=Dreemreeper=-_

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

It's really a nice post. Pgan belief is so close to nature that I always envy it. Thanks for letting people know about this.

I really appreciate you posting this. I'm a pagan as well and this really put a smile on my face. :D

Even though I'm a greek pagan and they aren't entirely similar I do really appreciate this article. =) I go to a pagan group meeting once a month and some of the best people I know are pagans. That's not to say that those who aren't are not good people but it's nice to be understood.

I wonder if there is some connection between redheads and paganism (Druids) or mythology

i don't wanna be rude, but you don't need to be a pagan to have all those things...

even tho i'm not Pagan, i find this very interesting(: thank you for this post<3

I too am an eclectic pagan and reading this was great! you really put together a straightforward and simple list to show some of the great things about our beliefs. Thank you for your bravery and passion and the help in disbanding the misconstrued ideas many people may have about us. <3

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