Essays in Contemporary Paganism

John Hunt Publishing Ltd.

Contents

CHAPTER 1

Evolving the Spirit

Gregory Michael Brewer

The only thing in life that is certain not to change is the fact thateverything will! Pagan religion is no exception.

Contemporary Paganism is not what it was fifty years ago andwill certainly be different fifty years from now. While Paganismis deeply rooted in antiquity with a rich history that can be tracedback to virtually all cultures around the world via the study ofmythology, surviving sacred texts, and historical documents, thetrue mysteries of the "Old Ways" are found only by experiencingthem.

That which is now deemed Neo-Paganism, an umbrella termincluding Wicca, Witchcraft, Druidry, Heathenism, Asatru,Ceremonial Magick, Shamanism, Native American beliefs,Voodoo, Spiritualism, Santeria, New Age, the lost or forgottenlore of the Egyptians, Mayas, Incas, Greeks, Romans, and the listjust goes on, is continuing to evolve as it always has and as italways will.

Fragments of various ancient Magickal systems, practices,beliefs, and scattered pieces of esoteric knowledge survived theRoman Catholic Inquisition, commonly referred to as the"burning times," because of the persistence and pious passion ofmany underground societies that preserved the knowledgewithin secret organizations, family traditions, and oral teachings.One may also discover many carefully preserved ancientMagickal teachings, mysteries, wisdom, and Pagan beliefs byclosely examining the Bible.

A great number of Biblical stories were merely a re-telling ofpreviously passed down Pagan legends adapted from theEgyptian, Babylonian, Sumerian, and possibly Assyrian cultures.

The ancient Biblical scribes and scholars who wrote the booksof the Old Testament over a period of fifteen hundred years hadbeen deeply influenced by and exposed to earlier Pagantheologies and myths during the enslavement of the Jews tothese much older Pagan societies. A proper examination of this,however, would constitute an entire book or books.

Moving forward to the twentieth century, although it comeswith some debate, Gerald Gardner's book titled Witchcraft Today,originally published in 1954, greatly influenced the revival of theNeo-Pagan movement by bringing Witchcraft to the light of thepublic eye. Many credit Gardner for resurrecting the "oldreligion." While Gerald Gardner did not invent Wicca, he didpiece together many fragments of surviving Magickal texts andolder Pagan practices. One thing that is certain, Gardner did hisresearch, and his work was very eclectic.

Many have now deemed Gerald Gardner as "The Father ofWicca." For more information please read Modern Wicca byMichael Howard and The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Huttonif you wish to learn about the history involved with Wicca andGerald Gardner.

What Gardner shared with the world, along with his first andmost famous High Priestess Doreen Valiente, herself the authorof several books and sacred Wiccan writings including the"Charge of the Goddess," was a reconstructed fragmentaryreligion and practice based on Magick. This revived Magickalsystem gradually shifted in the late seventies and early eightiesinto a nature-based religion that also included Magick, and hasevolved into a Pagan, or Neo-Pagan movement now counting formillions around the world.

Gardner gave birth to what have since been termed "traditions,"which started with the formation of the Gardneriantradition, followed by the Alexandrian tradition. Soon after,many other traditions of Wicca and Witchcraft were brought tothe attention of the public while also giving the green light signalfor older and already existent family traditions to speak up andannounce their survival.

These family traditions are those that claim to have successfullyendured the burning times and passed from generation togeneration the ways and secrets of Magick, Paganism, and thetrue powers of the human mind that all too many had forgotten.

Raymond Buckland, initiated into the craft by Gardner shortlybefore his passing, brought Wicca to the United States andpublished a great many books that helped to popularize Wicca inAmerica.

The history of Wicca and Neo-Paganism is rich and extensive,so again please read the aforementioned books if you are interestedin the history of the Neo-Pagan movement.

Regardless of who founded this or that tradition, or when it allreally began, one thing is certain; the reconstruction of themodern Pagan revival was going to happen regardless. Therewere other accounts and attempts to bring the old ways back tothe public prior to Gardner, such as the works of Charles Leland,The Golden Dawn, Henry Cornelius Agrippa, Sybil Leek, DionFortune, Robert Graves, Margaret Murray, Laurie Cabot, GeorgePickingill, and a list of others too numerous to provide here.

From the late fifties to the seventies the Pagan movement, thenmost commonly known as, but not limited to, Witchcraft orWicca (at that time these terms were synonymous,) brought tolight even more traditions. These included Dianic groups whosought to explore the sacred feminine mysteries, ItalianWitchcraft called Strega, and the reconstruction of Druidry,Asatru, and Heathenism. Again the list goes on and Paganismbegan to evolve into what it is today while teasing us with whatit may be tomorrow.

While the current Pagan movement certainly continues toexplore the mysteries and knowledge of Magick, we continue tolove and embrace nature, and many, if not most, Pagans putemphasis on healing the planet and creating a personalconnection with the Divine based on the archetypes of the olderGods and Goddesses.

One thing Gerald Gardner gave to the world was a strict andspecific educational training system based on the study andpersonal experience of the ancient Magick and Mysteries of these"Old Ways." Eventually this led to the formation of the old butsometimes still used degree system, being the First, Second, andThird degrees of Witchcraft.

It may also be relevant to point out that the traditionalsystems of Witchcraft that began in the late fifties were basedaround coven and group work, and in the late eighties and intothe early nineties, Wicca saw the birth of the solitary practitioner,much credit given to the work of the late great ScottCunningham.

Witchcraft, Wicca, and the Pagan movement at large is onceagain evolving and changing.

While some may not like to hear it, the older traditions areslowly being tossed to the wayside and the rise of the eclecticWitch, Wiccan, and Pagan is on the forefront.

Eclectic Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism may seem to some amove to make legitimate a "watered down" version of olderpractice and study, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The eclectic evolution of Paganism brings to the cauldron arich and wonderful supply of knowledge and Magickaltechniques that stand to enrich and empower the practitioner,such as Shamanism and Eastern teachings including Reiki andthe study of the aura and Chakra system, while still keeping theheart of the older traditions alive. For this reason Paganismtoday is worthy of being called a "living religion."

What is a living religion? A living religion is a religion, faith,or spirituality that constantly grows, changes, and evolves overtime just like a tree slowly grows new boughs, branches, andleaves each year that reach higher and higher toward the sun. Aliving religion has no set-in-stone doctrine or dogma; it changesand evolves over time. A living religion does not claim to havethe only true and right way, but understands that the Divine canbe experienced by all regardless of his or her personal path andis tolerant of all spiritual beliefs and paths.

Paganism is indeed a living religion and will continue tochange and evolve into the future just as it has historically donein the past.

I have studied and practiced Witchcraft, Wicca, and Paganismin general for twenty years. During that time I have gone backand forth between small group practice, solitary study, largegroup participation, and the latter is where I choose to remain,for in my opinion there is no greater joy than to teach others,learn from others, and to celebrate together. Participating in agroup environment and experiencing the mysteries from otherperspectives is often greater than reading about them in a book(although books are quite beneficial and a valuable resource ofknowledge), or experiencing them on an individual quest,because love, laughter, and tolerance are provided within thestructure of the group mind.

There is a time and calling for solitary practice and a time tojoin a group or find a teacher, but lest we forget the greatestmystery and Magick of all, which is love, forgiveness, and acceptanceof not only others but also of ourselves, we must learn towork together regardless of traditions and be not only tolerant ofother paths, but to learn from and support each of them.

In addition I currently serve on the Council of Elders for theCircle of the Spirit Tree, a Wiccan study group/coven, andcoordinate the Chicago Pagan Pride event while also serving asthe Regional Coordinator of the Upper Midwest Region for thePagan Pride Project Worldwide, a 501 c3 tax-exempt not-for-profitentity that supports events in almost every state in theU.S.A, Central and South America, Europe, and Australia.

The Pagan Pride Project attempts to not only provide a day forPagans in the area to come and celebrate together, but to invitethe public to each local event in order to debunk the myths thatPagans have had to deal with for far too long. We also providefood for the homeless in local communities and offer publicrituals. This is another example of how Paganism is changingand evolving.

In the time of my own study and practice, I have seen manychanges, all for the better in my opinion, regarding the directionof Paganism.

Years ago I worked with colleagues of mine to begin thecreation of our group's (The Circle of the Spirit Tree) educationalsystem. Even to this day we still add an occasional lesson orrevise an older one, but our initial goal was, and still is, to teachand guide those who feel the need to belong to a group and thosewho wish to learn the ways of Magick and experience themysteries of the Divine.

We have set up our very eclectic education system so thatwhether one is a complete beginner or an adept, there issomething to learn and something to teach.

The traditional First, Second, and Third degree system wasjust not enough to teach and share everything involved withPaganism and the ways of Magick today, but we still use ablueprint of this older system while expanding on it to include asmuch knowledge as possible for those who wish to learn.

For example, what our group calls Initiate Degree is based ona "traditional" approach to First Degree and teaches the basics ofPagan history – specifically of the Wiccan religion – and Magick,in other words, Wicca 101.

We have split Second Degree into four additional degreesbeing Earth Degree, Air Degree, Fire Degree, and Water Degreeand each lesson builds upon the others. During the time of eachelemental degree the seeker/student is able to make a personalbond and connection with each element.

After completing Water Degree the devoted student is able toinitiate into the Third Degree of the High Priesthood.

In addition we teach nature and survival skills in each of thesub-degrees, such as learning to identify and understand themedicinal/Magickal properties of the trees and other herbs forEarth Degree while also including how to communicate withanimal totems, spirit guides, advanced divination techniques,how to cook with Magick, and hands-on Magickal exercises toconnect with the land.

In Air Degree we teach how to identify the stars andencourage memorization and reading, to name just a few skills.Fire Degree requires one to be able to build a fire from scratchand properly extinguish it with a true understanding of how tocontrol one's own fires and passions. Water Degree students mustbe able to create various potions and elixirs to heal or banishnegativity. Ultimately, each who reaches this level of study isrequired to control their emotions and face his or her "ShadowSelf" in order to begin learning how to accept and improvepersonal faults, use constructive criticism, and transform thebaneful into beauty. This is the real alchemical process of turninglead to gold. There is much more to it of course and it usuallytakes three or four years to get though the basic degrees. Theimportant thing to know is that we also include the aspects ofreligion, mythology, and Magick that have been passed downand shared around the world and not limited to Wicca and Neo-Paganismalone.

Our group is not the first, nor will it be the last, to include anexpanded education system that lives up to the true meaning ofthe term "eclectic."

The shift to eclecticism, however, seems to be taking hold allover the global Pagan spectrum.

The well-known author and Witch Janet Farrar, who nowwrites and works with Gavin Bone, recently wrote and publisheda book titled Progressive Witchcraft. While Janet was initiated intothe Alexandrian tradition in the seventies under Alex Sandershimself, and practiced with the late great Stewart Farrar, shecontinues to contribute to the evolution of Paganism andWitchcraft. When I read Progressive Witchcraft it felt as thoughJanet was talking about our own group because she and Gavinspoke of the degree system of educating based on the elementsand seems to support the evolution of the eclectic Witch, Pagan,and Magickal practitioner.

The best-selling author Christopher Penczak, who has writtenover seventeen books on the topic of Witchcraft, also uses anelemental based educational training system. Again the list goeson and we can see Paganism/Witchcraft as evolving andembracing an eclectic approach.

While I cannot claim to know what Paganism will betomorrow, I can see the direction it is heading, and more of aneclectic evolutionary inclusion will transpire, for it must do inorder to remain a living religion.

Just as the "ancients" were not ancient in their time, so wewill be the ancients of tomorrow, and although our ancestorsbefore the domination of Catholicism and Christianity did notcall themselves Pagan, they certainly shared the mythology andMagickal systems of their surrounding communities with eachother.

Paganism has always been eclectic, will always be eclectic,and will always continue to evolve. If you are like me, and somany others who have a hard time with change, there is comfortin knowing that things will never change so long as you knowthey always will.

Let us evolve with Spirit and let us allow Spirit to evolve us.

Now don't be disappointed, I have a bit more to share. I knewyou would be excited! Below I am sharing with you an exerciseto experience the Magick and mysteries on your own and a wayto attune yourself with the elements and the Divine.

Following this is an atonement exercise and not a completeritual, although it could be incorporated into one if so desired.For this exercise there is no need to cast a circle, but please do soif you feel the need, and if you are able to do this outdoors, evenbetter it will be, but not necessary by any means.

Magickal Exercise

Stand and face the East.

Visualize a yellow mist or light surrounding you.

Repeat out loud the following or re-write something similar inyour own words:

Good evening/morning/afternoon spirits of the East and Air.

I am the spirit of the wind.

I am the song and dance of the birds.

I am the essence of thought and intellect.

I speak, I listen, I teach, and I learn.

My spirit spreads its wings and soars to other realms and backagain.

Allow the energy of Air to blow into you.

Face the South.

Visualize a red mist or light surrounding you and repeat:

Good evening/morning/afternoon spirits of the South and Fire.

I am the essence of passion, change, and transformation.

I am the master of my own will.

I am in tune with the God and the sun.

I am a light to those around me as I heal, inspire, and glow.

My flames safely reach out and grow higher and higher.

I harm no others.

Let the Fire of passion and transformation ignite within you.

Face the West.

Visualize a blue mist or light surrounding you and repeat:

Good evening/morning/afternoon spirits of the West and Water.

I am the embodiment of emotion and the depths of the ocean.

My intuition and psychic abilities safely open and grow strongereveryday!

I am in tune with the Goddess and the Moon.

I feel, I understand, I love, and I forgive.

Let the Waters of Magick flow within you.

Face the North.

Visualize a green light or mist surrounding you and repeat:

Good evening/morning/afternoon spirits of the North and Earth.

I am stable, I am completely healthy on all levels, and I am a rock ofsuccess and the cave of secrets.

I have all the money that I need and I have plenty extra to give.
(Continues...)Excerpted from Essays in Contemporary Paganism by Trevor Greenfield. Copyright © 2013 Trevor Greenfield. Excerpted by permission of John Hunt Publishing Ltd..
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