On Faith: 'Why I am Pagan'

When you see a column entitled "On Faith", you might expect to read about Christianity, Judaism or Islam. Chances are you would not expect to hear from a witch. Believe it or not, witches and pagans are not relegated to the history books. I am a member of a growing religion technically called Neo-Paganism. "Neo" means new, and "Pagan" in this sense means a group of polytheistic religions ranging from tribal shamanism to Wicca. What ties Pagans together? In general, we are bound by a reverence and love for Nature, recognition of multiple faces of god and a belief that all living creatures share a connection to the Divine and to each other. There are thousands of books and websites devoted to modern Paganism and its many branches. I am here to tell you what my faith means to me. In some ways, my beliefs are not that different from mainstream religions. When I walk outside on a bright sunny day, I feel surrounded by the warmth of a loving, ever-present god. But instead of being metaphoric, I am literally surrounded by God and Goddess alive in Nature. I watch Nature change through the seasons and I celebrate Her changes on the equinoxes and solstices, as well as halfway points in between. I celebrate these days not because I think my help is needed in order for Nature to change Her seasons, but because focusing my attention on Nature's changes puts me more in tune with Her. It connects me to Earth in a way that many of us are missing in our modern lives. Many Pagans also celebrate the full moons. This is another way we align ourselves with the rhythms of Nature. When I gaze at the full moon, I am not worshipping it, but adoring it as another representation of the Divine in the natural world. To me, God and Goddess are not limited to the planet Earth, but make up the universe itself. I do not worship the planets, but I am in awe of them and the space beyond because they represent Divinity: beautiful, inspiring and unfathomable. You might be wondering, "What's with all this God and Goddess stuff?" Most Pagans are polytheistic to some degree. However, most of us also believe that "All gods are one god," meaning that every individual deity is actually a part of the whole. One implication of this is our tolerance for other religions. Another is the basic division of God and Goddess, male and female, embodying masculine and feminine traits. Neither deity is better or stronger than the other; they are complementary rather than opposite. From there, many Pagans divide God into multiple deities, perhaps drawing from ancient cultures such as the Greeks or Celts. The point of all this is to make the Divine approachable. I feel much more comfortable talking to a personified Goddess than a formless ball of light. I can relate to Her. Anyone who feels they have a close relationship with Jesus Christ should be able to understand that. Finally, I should address the sticky "witch" issue. I am a Pagan and also a witch. Witchcraft is not the same thing as Paganism, and not all Pagans practice it. It is a craft, not a religion in itself. Modern witches work with herbs, crystals, colors and symbols to produce both physical and spiritual effects on themselves and the world around them. All of Creation is essentially energy. With the right techniques, I can align my energy with that of the Universe or alter its flow to achieve my goals. And yes, those techniques may be called "spells," but "prayer" would be just as accurate. My religion is dear to me, and I live my faith daily just as many other religious people do. When I watch squirrels playing in the park or nudge my struggling houseplants toward growth, I am communing with my God and Goddess. I know that I am not separate from Them, and that gives me joy and comfort.

For more info on Neo-Paganism, check out http://www.religioustolerance.org.