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| Thread: Neo- Paganism and others |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 · NEXT» |
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TheAsgard
Adventuring Hero
Wise and helpful being
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posted October 22, 2005 01:59 PM |
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Neo- Paganism and others
This thread is for all of you out their who are part of the great cirle/group/coven of Neo-Paganism, Techno-Pagansim, Sharminism, Voodoo, Hoodoo, Pow-wow etc. I have created this thread as a way for us to unite around the world and share interesting knowledge, spells, rituals etc. Its a way to put together a collective universal knowledge.
All are welcome, but please try to keep an open mind of you are a non believer or have trouble understanding.
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Khaelo
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Underwater
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posted October 22, 2005 09:25 PM |
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Hi, Asgard,
Nice username.  You're on the Norse path?
I'm neo-pagan, a non-descript polytheist. You're the first fellow pagan I've seen on HC (aside from someone's Religion Selector results, but those are just for fun  ). My usual haunt for spiritual discussion is Mystic Wicks, particularly the "Gods and Goddesses" forum. The neo-pagan umbrella covers a lot of space. Did you have something specific you wanted to discuss? I can't help with spells or ritual, since I don't do magic or group work.
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 Cleverly
disguised as a responsible adult
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Trogdor
Legendary Hero
Words in a custom title
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posted October 23, 2005 07:28 AM |
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I have seen a witch before.
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"Through the power of the dollar you can communicate with the dead." - Artu
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TheAsgard
Adventuring Hero
Wise and helpful being
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posted October 24, 2005 01:02 PM |
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Well actually im ment it in a broard sence. I my self am a pracitioner of Wicca. I was hoping to do a world colabaration of the different magics and practices around the world and try to help one another with any magical related problems.
Thankyou Trogdor  . We are not talking Harry Potter or anything from the fairytails. The new age practice of Withchraft/Wizardry and other magic is used for real to better our and others ways of living.
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted October 24, 2005 03:28 PM |
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I'm not into any of them, but if you would be so kind as to enlighten me - what is "techno-paganism"?
Corribus
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Shiva
Promising
Famous Hero
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posted October 24, 2005 04:06 PM |
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Quote:
I'm not into any of them, but if you would be so kind as to enlighten me - what is "techno-paganism"?
Corribus
Thats where people worship Bill Gates and Steve Jobs
whilst sacrificing their books on an altar composed
of Cray computers.
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Khaelo
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Underwater
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posted October 24, 2005 10:16 PM |
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Edited By: Khaelo on 24 Oct 2005
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Okay. My practice is best described as solitary polytheism, and my pantheon is non-traditional (i.e. deities you've never heard of -- more on that here, posts #11 & 19). I don't do magic. I do prayer, but the "help" for that comes from sources well beyond any message board.
Collaborations:
One of the unique aspects of Neo-paganism is the sheer variety of beliefs. Group membership is based, more or less, on orthopraxy rather than orthodoxy (right practice as opposed to right belief), so you get a variety of theologies within the same group. There's everything from pantheism, to polytheism, to duotheism, to monotheism, to atheism; everything from "the gods are unique entities," to "all gods are one God," to "the gods are useful figments of human psychology."
So, it would be useful for people to note where they are coming from on this issue. I am a so-called "hard" polytheist myself. I believe that gods are separate individuals.
"Magical related problems": It might help if people note which kind of magic they're trying: ceremonial, natural/witchcraft, chaos, something else?
Interesting Knowledge: Personally, I love mythology. I know quite a bit about Graeco-Roman myths and religious practices and would love to learn about other cultures'.  Currently, I'm also studying Tarot. My hands-down favorite book on neo-paganism is The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton. It's the only solid history of modern paganism out there and should be (in my humble opinion) required reading for all neo-pagans. It examines all the nonsense that's flying around about the history of witchcraft, not only debunking the bad history but also examining where those stories came from and how they grew. Excellent, excellent stuff.
And I, too, am curious about "techno-paganism." Same goes for "hoodoo" and "pow-wow." I've seen cyber-pagan used by people who are part of online covens and do long-distance ritual via the Internet (usually they resort to this because of a lack of local community or resources). Most people whom I see online with a Native American bent are practicing some form of syncretism of the various Native American religions, and this is the kind of thing that causes clashes between neo-pagans and Native Americans. Also, very few practicioners of Voudu, Santeria, and the other Afro-Carribean religions describe themselves as "pagan." On the other hand, reconstructionists (recons or heathens for short), people who are re-building the pre-Christian European religions, are frequently found at pagan watering holes.  They deserve mention, too.
Edit: removed excessive smilie. Clarified paragraph #5.
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Cleverly
disguised as a responsible adult
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TheAsgard
Adventuring Hero
Wise and helpful being
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posted October 25, 2005 03:55 PM |
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For those of you who are not very sure about magic and what it means here is a definition:
"To enter into the magical world is to be a willing, conscious participant in a dream landscape. One accesses power by surrendering control over boundries. The magical world is a hugh, unruly, fluid, dream-like place filled with invisible power, psychic debris, positive & negative forces, guardian spirits, and radiant beings existing on all sorts of planes of energy that defy human definition, and control.
Everything pulsates with vibrant, potentially powerful life, including you."
Ok now for the different magical groups that I know of:
1. Wicca ~ Is the practice of nature/green magic, we use nature and the elements a bemd them to our will for our good purposes. We have two creators know as 'The Lord & The Lady' and we have guardians who watch over the different elements, an example is for Earth/wood 'The Green Man & The Green Lady.' We have both male and female because witchcraft is about the unity of the devine male and female beings.
2. Techno/Cyber paganism ~ are the same depending on where you are in the world as to the name of it, but waht was said above is correct. They are a people that belong to an online coven and practice the magic non-verbally.
3. Sharmanism ~ Sharmans/esses are people who work with mostly animal spirits by harnessing their energy to travel to the spirit plane and trying to stop and negativity that is not ment to be their. It is an old practice that started before the ancient egyptians, greeks etc. The practice was common in many Amazon women tribes.
4. Voodoo & vodoun ~ these are both similar be they do vary. The names are spelt different because they originated in different countries. Voodoo was a practice of the African slaves in America. Vodoun was the practice of the 'free' africans that were not shiped for slavery.
5. Hoodoo & Hodoun ~ these are again similar. A fraction of the african slaves that practiced Voodoo were shiped to new orleans and then created their own fraction of there practice which beacme Hoodoo. Hodoun was a practice of the africans that beacme enslaved but were not shiped to America, they broke away from Voduon.
6. Christian Pow-Wow ~ This originated in gremany. When they migrated to america and merged with the dutch Pow-wow was created. Christian Pow-wow is the practice of using christian related beliefs to help others. Examples would be using psalms as healing chants.
7. Adepts/Elementalists ~ Adepts and Elementalists are people who have dedicated the study to the practice of using only the elements as their magical abilities. An Adept is a person(s) who specialise in a sinlge element such as water. An Elementalist is a person(s) who has dedicated their study to all of the elements, Earth, Fire, Wind, Water and spirit, (some include wood, metal, ice etc).
8. Summoners ~ these are people who have the ability to summon (call upon) the higher beings to assist them in concering the darkness. They can have the ability to summon the Archangles such as Michael to protect them with cobolt blue sword and sheild.
Thats what I know and have studied.
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TristA
Tavern Dweller
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posted July 16, 2008 03:14 PM |
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I have been a practicing Druid for about 15 years. I do operate on a solitary basis for the most part, however, do attend public or group/coven rituals at least twice per wheel year.
This is a well needed topic, hope more people and paths join in!
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antipaladin
Promising
Legendary Hero
of Ooohs and Aaahs
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posted July 16, 2008 03:22 PM |
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tell me more.
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types in obscure english
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TristA
Tavern Dweller
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posted July 16, 2008 03:46 PM |
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Are you wanting to know more about rituals, or Druidism as a whole?
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted July 16, 2008 04:04 PM |
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well, this is kinda interesting, so tell us everything you can
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antipaladin
Promising
Legendary Hero
of Ooohs and Aaahs
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posted July 16, 2008 04:11 PM |
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everything.
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types in obscure english
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TristA
Tavern Dweller
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posted July 16, 2008 05:17 PM |
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Druidism is a religion dating very far back to the ancient Celts. The religion may be simular to that of the Celts, but as far as we know they actually didn't have a name for the religion; Druid was actual a social caste that handled a lot of judical decisions, handled most soical problems, and was the elder of all religious matters. FYI - although it is believed that the Druids used Stonehenge they did not build it; that dates way before the Druids.
Today's Druidism is mostly divided into two groups. The division seems to fall back to a man named Iolo Morganwg who translated ancient text. Here are the main differences in this division:
- REVIVAL - Believe the religion as translated in the 18th - 19th cenury. Those that believe Iolo's translations believe the Merlin and King Arthur stories. There are levels that one must go through in order to become a 'Druid' and usually there are ceremonies that honor them. You are not required to be Pagan. The most common group under this is OBOD.
- MODERN - Believe the religion as translated in the 20th century. They feel that Iolo's translations was faked and/or that he added his own thoughts and beliefs way too much. The group is broken down into different 'paths' one can follow; Bard, Druid, etc... but common Druid knowledge must first be obtained. You are required to be Pagan, however, the pantheon you follow does not matter. The most common groups under this is ADF & Henge of Keltra.
All Druids follow the wheel of the year with high days being those that were derived from the ancients and low days (equinox's and solstice's) that make us a Pagan.
Druids are peaceful for the most part. Their religion is very deep and private. Most Druids are members to many groups at a time, even one's with different beliefs. Most are avid readers of the ancient books and ways. Almost all Druids will learn an ancient language; usually gaelic, Irish, or the one connected with their pantheon. The belief of death, birth, and reasons for living vary amoung person and are not taught in the religion as a whole.
Rituals are different according to the person, path, and group which one belongs, however, most all require a greeting to a God/Goddess, land spirit, or ancestor, an offering (wine, food, silver, etc...) and procedure mostly with tools as the ancient Celts used. Most call to or open the gate to access or call to the otherworld; a world that co-exists with ours where the God/Goddess' and some believe the dead live.
Celtic Reconstruction is another religion that is very close to Druidism, however, it only traces the Celtic roots and pantheon's. It is an attempt to totally continue the ancient Celtic ways. This religion is sometimes mixed up with Druidism but they are very different!
I actually don't know what else you would like to know; but this is an overview for the most part. If there is certain things you would like to discuss post them and I will answer them.
If you are interested in Paganism as a whole I do publish a free monthly newsletter for kids and parents on the subject; Pagan Moonbeams.
Hope this helped!
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DagothGares
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
No gods or kings
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posted July 16, 2008 06:39 PM |
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What do you actually mean by paganism? Do you mean polytheism or something else? (Since I only know the definition of paganism, when it is spoken by Christian and Islamic sources)
And I'm also very curious to the origins of this (new?) religion, since I was taught that the entire religion was wiped of the face of the earth by julius Caesar (the genocidal maniac). He stated in his reports "De Bello Gallico" (I'll just call it DBG) that it was a tradition that was passed on (entirely) orally. So could you elaborate a bit on the origins, please?
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If you have any more questions, go to Dagoth Cares.
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antipaladin
Promising
Legendary Hero
of Ooohs and Aaahs
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posted July 16, 2008 07:32 PM |
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i agree with dagoth this is must peculiear,i might be quite against realigion in general as it is one of mankind biggest weakness. alas,i find this intersting,where are you from,to have been practicing it? its unheard of here..
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types in obscure english
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TristA
Tavern Dweller
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posted July 16, 2008 08:56 PM |
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Paganism meaning a nature based religion that has belief in more than one superior being.
It is true that the Celtic religion was passed on entirely orally and there is not many sources actually written on the religion. As stated in my last post, the base is from the 18-20th century translations. These translations are from many different sources; Herodotus, Plato, Aristotle, and others who were in contact with the followers first hand. It is unfortunate that these people were also from or as the enemies of the Celts. There were some writings on the religion after many of the Ancient Druids were 'converted' to the Christian beliefs.
Great effort has gone into the making of the current day religion and we, in no way, contend that it is the same as what was practiced in the beginning; as you have stated it died out with the people of the ancient world. We do, however, have a lot of simularities to it from historical proofs and translations.
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TristA
Tavern Dweller
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posted July 16, 2008 09:00 PM |
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Druids can be found all over the world. The main 'base' seems to coming from the UK but can be found scattered in the US. Almost all Pagan or Solitare groups will contain one or two who follow this religion.
The 'big news' in the Druid world right now, IMO; US - trying to get a Druid symbol on the headstones of Veterans. UK - the M3 that is tearing down Tara (it is a known passage into the otherworld as well as many other Celtic and Druid bindings).
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DagothGares
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
No gods or kings
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posted July 16, 2008 09:36 PM |
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I see. I see that Quote:
Their religion is very deep and private
but can you say what the general idea behind it is? Is it: "respect for nature"? Or is there a more profound meaning in this? How important are the rituals?
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If you have any more questions, go to Dagoth Cares.
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted July 16, 2008 09:38 PM |
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thanks for the interesting info.
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