The Pagan Community: Heathen, Pagan, Wicca, and Witchcraft!

 

The Pagan Community: Heathen, Pagan, Wicca, and Witchcraft!

(c)2001 Aerlynn. (E-Mail: darkfae@tampabay.rr.com)

 

 

 

The following is a simple explanation of some of the more common terms which are used within the Pagan community. Included is a brief history of the word and its modern usage. The definitions of many words tend to change over time, and so its always good to understand both a modern and historical definition of any word to ensure proper understanding of the term.

 

 

 

Heathen

 

The term heathen was historically used to refer to a person who "dwelled near the hearth" or alternately, "who lived on the heaths." The heaths were rocky outcroppings that existed in the countryside and more rural areas. In ancient times, the hearth was the center of the home and the place where the family gathered for entertainment, food, religious observances, and other important activities.

 

In historic texts, the term heathen is often used to refer to those who

continued to follow and adhere to pre-Christian beliefs and practices. Some of the activities which were attributed to those referred to as heathens included ancestor veneration, gathering at frith-spots, worship of trees, and other such activities.

 

 

 

Pagan

 

The term pagan comes from the Latin word paganus and can be modernly equated to a "dumb stupid hick" in American slang and was considered a derogatory term. From the "New College Latin and English Dictionary," by John C. Traupman, PhD., the term paganus is defined as:

 

Paganus

Adj. Of a village, rustic; ignorant, untaught; m. villager, peasant; (as term of contempt) yokel

 

During the post-Christian era, the term pagan was applied to those who were unenlightened by the Catholic church and the term continued to be derogatory and condescending in nature. From these origins, we come to the more recent definition of pagan as a person who adheres to a religion or set of beliefs which is not based in Christian, Judaism, or Islamic religion. Even morerecently, the term Pagan has become a generic term to refer to a wide umbrella of nature oriented religions which largely focus on a God and a Goddess.

 

 

 

Wicca

 

Wicca is a modern religion which was created by Gerald Gardner in the 1940's and was actively practiced beginning in the 1950's. Like most sects of Paganism, Wicca is a nature oriented religion with a God and a Goddess. It was originally a blend of Western European folklore, Eastern philosophy, and rudimentary Cabalistic magic and centered around a static ritual base. The actual term wicca came from the Anglo-Saxon language and can be defined as a male practitioner of magic. Wicca contains a strict ethical standard which is clearly displayed in its rede, "An it harm none, do what thou wilt."

 

More recently, Wicca has become more eclectic and has developed into a grab-bag of different cultures and religions which are rearranged into new religious mosaic by the practitioner according to his or her desire. However, both the rede and the base ritual concepts and procedures remain the same.

 

 

 

Witchcraft

 

Witchcraft is a term which is used to refer to the beliefs and practices of ancient Europeans. As the Catholic church became the dominant religious force, certain families managed to retain their culture, beliefs, and practices. These traditions were passed down each successive generation. The term Witchcraft was something which the Catholic church used to refer to these beliefs and practices, and was not necessarily the name chosen by the people who held these beliefs and practices.

 

Many people began to confuse the religion of Witchcraft with magic. As the old beliefs were forgotten by the general populace, any practices associated with them were unknown, strange, and therefore must be of a magical nature. Further, anything which was not of the Catholic church was considered to have been begotten of the Devil. So, Witchcraft became wrongly associated with such things as magic, sorcery, the black arts, and the Devil or Satan. Even the Devil later became portrayed as having cloven hooves, goat legs, horns, and carried a pitchfork - all imagery associated with the various aspects of a Horned God.

 

 

 

Online Resources

 

The following is a list of online resources which may be of interest to you. As the author of this article, I have no affiliation with any of these websites. These websites offer a variety of information and are excellent places to begin your studies, or even advance them as the case may be.

 

Clannada na Gadelica - http://www.clannada.org

Celtic revivalism, folklore, history, and learning center.

 

House Shadow Drake - http://www.shadowdrake.com

Traditional Witchcraft and Celtic folklore.

 

Starkindler Wicca - http://www.starkindler.org

British Traditional Wicca and general information about Wicca.

 

Witches Voice - http://www.witchvox.com

Pagan networking, community support, and general information.

 

 

 

*** Copyright Notice: This document may be distributed freely so long as it is kept intact and complete. The copyright belongs to Aerlynn and she may be contacted at darkfae@tampabay.rr.com if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. (c)2001 Aerlynn.