| There are almost as many denominations to | | | | pentacle. Pagans use this symbol much like |
| Paganism as there are to Christianity. Within | | | | Christians use a cross or crucifix. Unfortunately, |
| Paganism, there are a large variety of beliefs, | | | | this symbol is also one of the most |
| dieties, and concepts. However, we (much like | | | | misunderstood! What the pentacle symbolizes to |
| Christianity) have certain core values and beliefs | | | | pagans is the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, |
| that are central to paganism. Some of our core | | | | and Water, and the point at the top symbolizes |
| beliefs include: | | | | Spirit, which is in everything around us. The circle |
| Respect For Nature | | | | around the 5 pointed star represents unity. While |
| A Belief in Harming None (including both yourself | | | | the pentacle HAS been used in Satanism, |
| and others!) | | | | Satanists use the pentacle with the point facing |
| Belief in Deity or Deities (differs depending on | | | | DOWN. Pagans never use the pentacle in this |
| denomination) | | | | manner...the point is always up! (See more |
| Mutual Respect for All Life | | | | information about this in the What we are NOT |
| A Belief in "Magick" | | | | section. |
| While some pagans believe in only one Goddess, | | | | Pagans generally celebrate 8 "sabbats"" (or |
| and one God, others may believe in ONLY a | | | | holidays!) a year. These are covered more |
| Goddess, or ONLY a God, or MANY different | | | | extenstively in our Holidays section. We also |
| Gods and Goddesses. Also, some pagan paths are | | | | celebrate 12 "esbats" a year as well. An esbat is a |
| more centered on working "Magick" (the ability to | | | | celebration of the moon, usually when full. We |
| make things happen using willpower and nature) | | | | celebrate the moon, because it is a symbol of the |
| than others. Generally speaking, pagans of all | | | | Goddess, and it carries her power with it. |
| denominations are kind, caring individuals that | | | | Pagans also have "alters", but these are not evil, |
| believe that it is wrong to harm any living | | | | archaic things. These are usually a simple table or |
| creature (including plants!). We believe in the law of | | | | stand where we place our important magickal |
| three...which tells us that whatever actions we do | | | | items, such as incense, a chalice (which represents |
| to others, will be brought back upon us threefold. | | | | the goddess), an Athame (dagger) which |
| So if we do something bad to someone else, it | | | | symbolizes the god, salt to represent earth, |
| will come back to us three times as bad. | | | | incense to represent air, water, and a candle to |
| Pagans are very earth-concious, and live in | | | | represent fire. There may also be other items |
| harmony with nature. They see nature as a living | | | | that a pagan may place on their alter to help |
| being, and want to treat her with kindness and | | | | them with their rituals. |
| respect. Pagans also come from all walks of | | | | Pagans do "rituals" at major sabbats, esbats, or |
| life...there are rich pagans, poor pagans, black | | | | sometimes for other reasons such as |
| pagans, white pagans, indian pagans, old pagans, | | | | handfastings (pagan marriages), wiccanings (pagan |
| young pagans...you get the idea! In fact you have | | | | baptising!), or other special occasions. Ritual usually |
| probably met many pagans on the street and | | | | only involves casting a circle, calling upon the diety, |
| didn't know they were pagan! Most pagans do not | | | | calling upon the 4 elements, and carrying out the |
| actively show their religion, for fear of being | | | | ritual itself (such as thanking the diety for the |
| outcast or ridiculed by friends or family. Some | | | | harvest, etc). Now, mind you, rituals and ways of |
| pagans even lose their jobs, or worse, just by | | | | doing ritual vary greatly between denominations |
| admitting that they are pagan. | | | | and individual pagans. |
| Pagans (including Wiccans, which is a denomination | | | | Some pagans do belong to a "coven", which is a |
| of Paganism) sometimes also refer to themselves | | | | group of pagans who worship the same diety, |
| at "witches". This can really intimidate or scare | | | | and have the same purpose and mindset in doing |
| Christians, as they imagine witches as being evil or | | | | magick. Although some pagans belong to covens, |
| cruel as history portrays them. This is absolutely | | | | the majority of pagans are solitary, which means |
| not true, and is only a stereotype. Many Wiccans | | | | they work alone. |
| are reclaiming the word 'witch' as a word of | | | | These are the basics of what paganism is. |
| power, believing that this word has been unfairly | | | | Obviously I cannot cover every topic on |
| maligned. There are people who use the term | | | | paganism without writing an entire book, but I |
| 'witch' who follow a spiritual/religious/ethical path, | | | | hope that this article helps you to understand the |
| but who are not specifically Wiccan. | | | | truth of paganism. |
| The most common symbol for paganism is the | | | | |