An Introduction to (Neo-)Paganism

Here's a brief piece I wrote for a panel discussion at a college reunion, almost ten years ago:

Starting in 1991, I came back to the belief system I think I was born with. It's called Goddess spirituality, eco-spirituality, eco-feminism -- the big, catch-all term is Neo-Paganism. None of these names fit completely, and some of the words are given a negative spin by popular culture.

It's partly rooted in ever-growing amounts of archaeological evidence of non-patriarchal pre-Christian cultures in Africa, Asia, and Europe. These societies, which existed for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years, were egalitarian, co-operative, highly creative and largely peaceful. They saw the spark of the divine in everything living, and when they personified this divine essence, they called it Goddess -- later, they also called it God.

For me, it's also a personal re-connection to remembered moments in my childhood, experiences of wonder, times when I felt good about myself and the whole world, energized, 100 per cent alive.

But it's not all “going back.” My belief system rejects dualism, the idea that something must be either "this" or "that" -- so it can reach back and look forward at the same time. Neo-Paganism makes no claim to being some "authentic" revival of specific beliefs from 3,500 or more years ago. After all, it's Neo-Paganism, and it's about living in this, present world. It's about remaining aware of both the wider world, and the specific places we each live in: their seasons, climate, and geography, and the needs of that particular community. Because we insist on honoring where we are, what we come from and what we've become a part of, Neo-Pagans come in at least as many flavors as Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream -- but we DO share some basic principles.

First, to Neo-Pagans, the divine is immanent, NOT transcendent. It's not somewhere "above" us humans and the rest of the world, or "out there" -- it IS, and it IS in EVERYTHING, including us. All creation is born of a Great Mother and is part of Her substance, so everything is connected.

Second, Neo-Pagans accept no cast-in-stone hierarchies, and no all-powerful gurus. It's a woman-positive belief system -- for example, since we believe in Goddess, we can't well question women's right to be priestesses -- but it's not a belief system for women only. For men and women, Neo-Paganism gives the opportunity to explore and integrate all aspects of one's personality, to "think outside the box." We're also called to live in the body -- live juicy and messy, without denying the body and the emotions, without seeing the mind and spirit as separate from the body, superior or somehow more "pure." I believe I get one life, one wonderful gift, one chance to experience this beautiful world, through the medium of my body -- and I am grateful to my body, and love it.

At the same time, Neo-Paganism is a very demanding belief system. It's not about unlimited license or moral relativism. The one binding rule, the Wiccan Rede, could be called "How to be Stricter than the Ten Commandments in Eight Words or Less." It says, "IF you harm NONE, do as you will." Think about it. I am to harm nothing -- not myself, or anyone or anything else. So I'm required to "live lightly on the earth", to be constantly aware of the obvious and not so obvious impact of my actions. I have to take responsibility for everything I do, and examine and recognize the amazing power of my intentions and my expectations.

You can see why this is unlikely to become a majority religion! It's a lifelong learning process, without any promise of a future repeat performance. But it suits me, and quite a few others: there are now [1999] at least 200,000 Neo-Pagans in the United States alone.

About Harm

Just a little food for thought. Here's a little excerpt from the book "When, Why...If," by Robin Wood, which I mentioned in my previous post. It's drawn from the chapter titled "Harm," and explains some things about the paramount rule of Wicca, the Wiccan Rede: "An it harm none, do as ye will."

"Eight words the Wiccan rede fulfill,
An it harm none, do as ye will." (Traditional)

"An it harm none. [As you probably know, "an" in this archaic usage means "as long as."]

"As long as you harm no one, you are free to follow your own will.

"But what does that mean, "Harm no one?"

"The dictionary defines "harm" as "hurt; injure; damage, physical or moral."

"I define "harm" as interfering with another's free will; lessening someone's freedom of choice; causing unnecessary injury; damaging someone, physically, mentally or spiritually; or wantonly destroying something.

"And don't forget, when you are trying to figure out if an action you are contemplating will cause harm, that you are exactly as important as any one else. In other words, don't harm yourself, either!

"So what sorts of actions cause harm, by my definition?

"Forcing someone to take a certain path, whether by mayhem, manipulation, or magic.

"Think about it, dear friend.

"Any time that you count your will more important than the will of another, you are harming them.

"Whenever you decide that what you want is what you will get, no matter what, you are harming someone.

"Whenever you go off half-cocked, and hit someone with your fists, your car, or your words without thought, without love, without regard for what it may do to them, you are harming someone.

"Whenever you thoughtlessly go your own way and never notice those around you, there is a good chance that you will harm someone before the sun sets.

"And whenever you harm someone, three times the harm will return to you; whether you meant to harm them or not, whether you knew you harmed them or not, whether you believe in all of this stuff or not.

"Sometimes it's easy to tell that you are going to harm someone.

"Sometimes you have to think long and hard to figure it out.

"That's why you must have your mind with you at all times.

"You have to think at all times.

"And you have to review all the facts honestly, with love."