Colette’s Halloween Happenings: Paganism 101
Because Halloween does have origins in Paganism and because I made a pledge earlier this year to do my share in the dispelling of misconceptions about the nature based traditions of Shamanism, Paganism and Wicca, I purposely waited until my Halloween Happenings launch to post this article.
Halloween is always full of surprises and, so, you might find a few in this blog!
In “Colette’s Halloween Happenings: Shamanism 101” and “Colette’s Halloween Happenings: Wicca 101” I explain a bit about the two, earth/nature based traditions (I prefer the term “tradition” to that of “religion”) and reiterate my furthered and strengthened resolve to bring awareness to anything I believe will aid in the bringing about of balance between humans and the natural world.
I’d like to point out that we – humans – have always been part of the natural world. Scientifically speaking, we are classified thusly:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phyla: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primmates
Family: Homindae
Genus: Homo
Species: Sapien
The bottom line?
We’re animals.
We’ve never separated from the natural world. To do so would mean separating from our very selves. It’s not possible.
However, attachment to the material has, over centuries, caused many of us to have more empathy for an abused pair of Prada’s than for abuse of the earth, other animals and, even, each other.
Paganism is yet a third earth based tradition and is the original root of Shamanism and Wicca.
Like Shamanism and Wicca, its foundation is, either, not known or grossly misunderstood. Though I’ve been clear that I do not “practice” or “follow” any single tradition, Paganism is one that I’ve given considerable study.
Largely considered the oldest “religion” – some would argue Shamanism is equally as old – Paganism refers to any religion which is not Christian. And, so, there are hundreds of Pagan traditions – Buddhism, Shintoism, Native American Traditions, Hinduism, Taoism, Wicca, Druidism, Shamanism and Neo-Paganism are some of the more recognizable labels.
The primitive beginnings of humanity made it such that Paganism could only be closely aligned with the natural rhythms of the earth. Early man was nomadic and, having to follow animals in order to survive, so they, also, had to understand the life patterns of the herds they hunted.
Then, when man discovered agriculture as a food source, they came to understand fertility, creation and life cycles.
As time went on, Paganism evolved along with man and, eventually, Pagans became known as the keepers of the mysteries of life and death.
Their knowledge of animal husbandry, herbs, agriculture and healing were paramount to survival.
Their “Holy Days” are centered wholly around the seasons of a year. The specific term is “Festivals” of which there are eight on the Pagan “Wheel of the Year”.
During the Festival, rituals begin with the honoring of the four directions of the earth as well as the four elements (Air, Fire, Water and Earth).
As communities started to emerge and the nomadic way of life became less prevalent, Pagans, for whatever reason, settled outside the towns. Indeed, the word Pagan is from a Latin root meaning “country dweller”.
Christianity spread through the urban centers of the time while Paganism remained the tradition of choice for the rural peoples.
So, it makes sense that there’s a correlation between many of us having forgotten what it means to live in synchronicity and balance with the natural world and living in cities. Logic would dictate that the larger a city grew, the farther removed we were from the need to be in synch with nature.
Or were we?
Actually, the answer to that is, no…we – the individual - were never removed from that need. But the “individual” no longer had to be accountable for their own direct contact with the natural world. The “individual” didn’t have to grow or hunt what they ate. They now paid someone for those services. So the accountability to self and the world around self declined.
And here we are today.
In a world where green is the new black we’re beginning to remember what it feels like to be enjoined with the earth’s energy.
We don’t really have a choice now do we?
If we want this earth and everything in it to be preserved we must live, in some ways, as modern day Pagans. Indoor mini hydroponic gardens, better living conditions for farm animals, a massive call to action for conservation of all kinds and a resurgence of insistence upon treating others as we wish to be treated all point to one thing.
As with everything, humans always have the need to label. To that end, the New Yorker living on 5th Avenue in a million dollar penthouse overlooking Central Park but whose rooftop green house is loaded with ripe tomatoes is now called a Neo-Pagan.
Whatever you chose to call it – or not issue a label at all – we are circling back around to a time when balance and harmony were the normal way of life rather than the anecdotal story of a New Age writer or speaker.
I, for one, am grateful.
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Thank you Colette
Hello Colette & fellow members
I have always been interested in shamanism & been learning more about paganism.
It’s funny in some ways that with my interests that in some way’s ,ironically, i am already living a pagan lifestyle meaning the word, Pagan is from a Latin root meaning “country dweller” since I live in a small Canadian town & grow a large portion of my food yearly & gather many of my own herbs & medicine,I am not a vegetarian 100 % but follow the native traditions of hunting not personally (I could not kill unless there was dire need too) but through friends i exchange my produce i grow for meat they raised or hunted & mirrors my similar views as me.
In this time of my life i try to follow the natural life cycle but it’s hard as a single mother trying to find the balance in work & lifestyle also because of me being low income ,I have to buy some products from stores when my stock is low also because of my children’s wants.
With being brought up christian & falling away from these belifs because of it not being enlightened with my Spirit & don’t like being labeled as one defined one religion type .
I feel i don’t need to have a specific label even though i am a very spiritual being & like learning many diffrent ways of life from many religious traditions that are in-lighned with my spirit.
I am also celebrating & grateful for life coming back into balance and harmony where it is becoming back to the norm.
I love your quote & believe in it,Colette on Hay House radio about many strands of beliefs or religions being golden threads entwining into a rope ,reaching up to the heavens,i know i am not saying this quote correctly as you say it but it’s my best shot lol.
I wish i could have shared your quote with my father before he died but i know i was & am on the wright track spiritually when my father mentioned to me before he past that since i had been following more of the native traditions he said my spirit was becoming so bright & even though it was not the same way as his christian beliefs he accepted who i was becoming & agreed it was not a negative way like he was taught in his religious teachings & gave me his blessings & unconditional love .
Wow i can’t believe even to this day after 10 years it brings back a wave of emotions & can’t hold back the tears,I was so blessed that my father was able to hold my oldest new born daughter & passed away to the second a day after she was born,i miss my parents so much & wish they were here to live & celebrate who my children are becoming.
I am sharing this with you now because so many people stick with there own kind & are afraid to build relationships with people of diffrent religions, beliefs or countries , I feel if you limit yourself to being with your own kind ,your only living your life to a small potential of what it truly can be .
By incorporating many diffrent groups of people & there ways or belifs will add such incredible joy & knowledge to your life !
Take what you’ve learned & is in-lighned with your spirit & leave the rest that is not.
Namaste to all !
This article of your’s is extradinary and it helped me very much on understanding paganism. Thank you
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