| The modern usage of the word Paganism is an | | | | what thou wilt, while the Rule of Three is a |
| umbrella term that can include everything from | | | | karmic law that states that all actions of the |
| Asatru (worship of Norse gods) to Hellenic | | | | witch will reflect on him or her with three fold |
| (worship of Greek gods) traditions. The word | | | | consequences, whether positive or negative. |
| pagan usually refers to a person who has a | | | | While Wicca can be included under the umbrella of |
| polytheistic religion; that is, a religion that includes | | | | paganism, there are often differences in the |
| more than one god or goddess. In older times, | | | | rituals each subset practices. One of the major |
| the word pagan was used to mean a godless | | | | differences between Wicca and pagans is that a |
| person who was only interested in sensual | | | | certain group within Paganism devotes much time |
| pursuits, which, frankly, doesn't sound like much of | | | | and energy to reconstruction. This is the study of |
| an insult to me! The word also had the | | | | how ancestral peoples practiced those religions |
| connotation of unsophisticated, or country dweller, | | | | that have survived in one form or another into |
| much like our modern words hick or redneck. | | | | the modern age, with the goal of keeping modern |
| I think of modern pagans as being polytheistic, | | | | practice as true to original traditions as possible. |
| frequently nature based magical practioniers who | | | | Therefore, Hellenic, Celtic, Khemtic and other |
| are not bound by the Wiccan Rede and practice a | | | | traditions based on location can have very |
| religion that is not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. | | | | different rituals from Wiccan, or indeed other |
| Each group of gods and goddesses has different | | | | pagans. |
| rules, after all. | | | | Just keep in mind that wherever you go to |
| Wicca, by contrast, is a new religion, originating | | | | practice, the rituals will vary greatly (sometimes |
| only fifty or sixty years ago. It is partly based on | | | | by enormous degrees). It's important to embrace |
| what earlier generations may have practiced, but | | | | only the practices that you feel comfortable with |
| many Wiccan traditions step away from history | | | | in any pagan ritual. Because there are so many |
| entirely. | | | | different forms of practice, you really need to |
| Wiccans generally celebrate Sabbats and Esbats, | | | | understand what you are getting into before |
| holidays based on seasonal changes. These | | | | embarking on a journey in any new group of |
| celebrations as a whole are commonly referred to | | | | practicing people. It's not surprising that the |
| as the Wheel of the Year. Other terms that | | | | retention rates of most new people to a group or |
| differentiate Wicca from Paganism are the Rede | | | | coven is extremely low. I know that it took me a |
| and the Rule of Three. The most important part | | | | long time to find people I was comfortable with. |
| of the Rede is the oft-quoted an it harm none, do | | | | |