Monday, August 1, 2011

I'm an urban secular pagan: What does that even mean?

I've been looking for the right site for this series of article for a long time. Examiner.com is awesome, but doesn't encourage personal writing. And I have yet to find a mainstream pagan site that pays for blogs.

What's an unemployed pagan with a yen for writing to do?

Why set up blog (with google adsense), and just start writing. Maybe I'm shouting into the nothingness of cyber space, but here I am, metaphorical megaphone on hand, ready to go.

So I am an urban secular pagan, which is absolutely a mouthful, but it's the exact phrase to describe my religious beliefs.  Don't worry, I'll pull it apart and then stick back together for you.

Let's start with the easiest part, pagan. According to religioustolerance.org paganism is a fairly new religion, having been created in the 1940's by Gerald Gardner. He may have been influenced by an older, pre-Christian, European religion. Or he may have made it up completely. As far as pagans are concerned it doesn't matter. Our dogma is only poetry, pretty words trying to describe a larger truth that we don't quite understand. We're not supposed to take it all literally.  When and where this started is irrelevant.

Most pagans believe in a goddess and a god, with a large emphasis on nature

 Now for the word secular. Essentially it means not being affiliated with a religion.

Yeah, I am very aware of the contradiction. But the great thing about paganism, what in fact drew me to it in the first place, is that you worship however you want. You don't have to follow any particular path or ceremony. Paganism is about how you act in your everyday life, not whether or not you dance skyclad under the full moon.

And for the record: I live in Pennsylvania. There are very few nights where being naked outdoors is good idea. Even if the weather co-operates You have watch out for assorted bugs, various natural objects like stick and rocks, and wild animals. Just saying.

Anywho, since there is no such thing as an Ostara and Yule Pagan, my way of worship just as valid as the most hardcore Gardnerian Wiccan. I don't dress in robes, I don't have sabbats in the woods under a full moon, and I don't say "merry meet" or "blessed be" to people. But everyday is a gift, and should be treated as such. And everyday should be lived in as much harmony with your surroundings as possible.

Yes, I am a Concrete Earth Mother, and this is my tale.