Witchcraft, New Age and modern The Witchcraft movement Witches raise hailstorms (15th century woodcut) An interest in witchcraft developed in the 19th century. By 1828 one historian proposed that the supposed witches of the 16th-17th centuries were in fact underground practitioners of Pagan religion. And in 1899 an American journalist, Charles Godfrey Leland, claimed he…
paganism
Renaissance and Revival
People in Europe became more aware of the art and philosophy of the ancient world during the Renaissance period around 1500 (the word ‘Renaissance’ means ‘rebirth’). Documents rescued after the fall of Constantinople in 1453 introduced people to ideas from before the Middle ages. And although Europe remained Christian the Pagan gods and goddesses of…
Wicca (Pagan Witchcraft tradition)
Wicca is a Pagan Witchcraft tradition. Today, the name Wicca is frequently applied to the entire system of beliefs and practices that make up the spectrum of contemporary Pagan Witchcraft. However, although Wicca and Witchcraft are often used interchangeably, it is important to note that there are also Pagan Witchcraft traditions that are not Wiccan.…
Traditional Pagan weddings
Pagan weddings A Pagan wedding Pagan wedding ceremonies are called handfastings and mark the coming together of two people in a formal, loving and equal sexual partnership. Pagans take the swearing of oaths very seriously indeed and believe it important that they articulate the sincere, considered intentions of the individuals concerned rather than merely…
Beltane ( paganism )
Beltane is a Celtic word which means ‘fires of Bel’ (Bel was a Celtic deity). It is a fire festival that celebrates of the coming of summer and the fertility of the coming year. Celtic festivals often tied in with the needs of the community. In spring time, at the beginning of the farming calendar,…
Imbolc ( in the belly )
As the light lengthens, so the cold strengthens Traditional saying Imbolc (pronounced ‘im’olk’ also known as Oimelc) comes from an Irish word that was originally thought to mean ‘in the belly’ although many people translate it as ‘ewe’s milk’ (oi-melc). Imbolc was one of the cornerstones of the Celtic calendar. For them the success of…
The Pagan Winter Solstice
The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. Ancient people were hunters and spent most of their time outdoors. The seasons and weather played a very important part in their lives. Because of this many ancient people had a great reverence for, and…
Rites and Magic
festivals and CELEBRATIONS The main rites celebrated in Heathenry are called blot (pronounced ‘bloat’) and symbel (pronounced ‘sumble’). Heathen groups and individuals hold feasts and celebrations based around blot and symbel at rites of passage (such as weddings or baby-namings), seasonal holidays, oath-takings, rites in honour of a particular god or gods, and rites of need…
After Death Experience
Ethics, beliefs and other paths Wyrd and ethics One of the central concepts in Heathenry is wyrd, the force that connects everything in the universe throughout space and time. Heathens believe that all of their actions can have far reaching consequences through the web of wyrd. They understand that who they are, where they are,…