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Joie Balindjo Profile
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Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


It has increasngly been an issue I have run into... people assume that if you are identifying as a Pagan, that you are necessarily Wiccan.

When I was the Vice President of Officers of Avalon, Inc., we dealt with it there, too. The majority of online Pagans who communicate and get out and about ARE Wiccan. They seem a readily friendly group when they're not being preached at, however, there's alot of others out there.

Asatru is an alternative that comes readily to mind. It does share some similtudes to Wicca, being European in nearest origins, but it is not the same.

Then there is the rapidly growing African Traditional Religions and that brings in the Santeros, the Vodou Sevitors, Candomble, and others and these share almost nothing in common to European traditions. Where they do to some degree, they have entirely different words or meaning to them.

I find it ironic to sometimes have to feel like I need to say I am NOT a Pagan, because it means Wiccan to most. So, I'd like to affectionately remind everyone that not all of us are Wiccans, and none of us are happily marginalized by the occasional misuse and appropriation of the term "Pagan" by one specific Path under that broad umbrella.

Best regards,
Joie Balindjo
4/14/2006, 1:07 am Link to this post Send Email to Joie Balindjo   Send PM to Joie Balindjo
 
ozark woodwyfe Profile
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Re: Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


Hi Joie (and welcome) I too am a NON-wiccan witch (as are MANY of the folks moving here from the pagan homestead board) We practice a simple, earthy form of the craft. (just five tides, instead of the eight wiccan holy days) Very folk magic-ish. (strong british isle influences) I too shy away from using the term pagan and when I do I always follow it with " but I'm not wiccan, I'm just a *plain* witch LOL.
yarrow
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playfultree Profile
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posticon Re: Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


Can we blame the US Army it seems like when they recognizied Wicca it became the solo pagan path. Pagan has become a title of any non-christian faith that can not be defined under an already known belief system.

It seems here where I live you are either Christain, Budist, Muslim, Jewish, Hinduo or Pagan. Oh yes or Catholic seems here the Christain will not claim them. lol

---
Love and Light

tree



May your journey be full of happiness and blessings
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Saijen SilverWolf Profile
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Re: Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


I started out as an eclectic solitairy Witch....but am now on a path in Wicca that I absolutely adore..but I agree. People need to keep in mind that Pagan does NOT mean just Wicca...or even Witch. It has a much broader spectrum than that.
Thanks for bringing this up, Joie! Never hurts to be reminded of things.

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Blessed Be,
~*~ Saijen ~*~

~~*~~ .~~*~~
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tiffnzacsmom Profile
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Re: Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


That's why many Asatru fight against the title Pagan and perfer Heathen. I refuse to get my panties in a bunch over it either way. Though I really had to bite my tounge when my sister in law told me it was all the same difference.
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Firlefanz Profile
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Re: Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


I'm not sure how many ways of being Pagan there are. Sometimes I think it's probably almost as many as there are witches (and wizards?).

I know I'm not following any written tradition, but I suppose I'm Pagan by elimination. Not Christian, Jewish or Muslim, not sure what else.

In this group, fortunately, it has never mattered. I hope that it never will. emoticon

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- Firlefanz

Reading: "Optatio Onyx" - Timo Bader (ed.)
Writing: Rewrite of "Evelina Unicorn Girl"

Hannah Steenbock
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Bergere Profile
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Re: Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


Yes, I have run into that too.

Even have had Astrau folks lump all Pagans together and call the whole group Fluffy nothings. Sigh ~~

I just explain,,,being a Green Witch.. at least in my case.. has nothing to do with Wicca.

What we need to do is keep educating people on the differences, is the only way they will learn.
4/20/2006, 1:16 am Link to this post Send Email to Bergere   Send PM to Bergere
 
mama0moon Profile
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Re: Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


Add me into the Witch not Wiccan group. I've called myself Pagan, Witch, Heathen and pointed added that I am not Wiccan and still get lumped in as Wiccan. I'm assuming since it's the most widely known of the Pagan paths. My path is earth-centred and very much, it seems, like Ozark Woodwyfe's.

One thing I love about this group is it's diversity. emoticon
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Re: Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


I know this is a really old topic, and I've been here for only a short time, but I have a question.
Can a Person be Pagan and not really know it?
I mean, my son has been following the path with guidance from one who has practiced 16 years and he says by the way I accept things, the way I live my life, the way that my only cathedral has been a mountain top or crystalline glacier lake, that I am a Pagan.
Probably a totally dumb question, but what exactly does it mean to 'be Pagan'? emoticon
Sorry, if I've made a fool of myself or dishonored any of you, by asking... emoticon

---

“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”

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muladzh Profile
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Re: Pagan doesn't mean only Wiccan


It is somewhat annoying that the Pagan title seems to be only recognized at Wiccan - I am from a bunch of Pagans who are not Neo-Pagan in any way at all - for over 700 years my family has been Bodach Uaine, without any break at all, so being regarded as Wiccan, to me is offensive (Wiccans are a 20th century group.)

As for being a Pagan without knowing it - Yes, of course. To be Pagan is to believe in Nature, rather than the 'Biblical God' - to have an affinity with the souls of Trees, or speak to a river.. All Pagan behavior, I meet a lot of Pagans who don't know they are.

Another thing that makes a Pagan, is a total tolerance of everything odd or different. As far as what is a Pagan, that is not easy, there are so many kinds of Pagan - in my case, I follow an old path, that honors the Green Man, and Morbhanu, the Goddess. This makes me an Ancient Path Follower, as have all my family been for the past few centuries. But, there are non specific Paths, followed by thousands of Witches all over the world - often without guidance, a person will just feel that they are following a Path that offends nothing, harms nothing, and supports the act of Nature. Others have that feeling, and use the natural energy of Nature to bend happenstance to their will, and yet others just follow one of the new style Pagan beliefs, Wicca being only one of them.

What precludes anyone from a Pagan, is following the teachings of the Abrahamaic Bible, where we are all known as evil devil worshipers. Following that Path, and trying to Pagan, just don't work. I know there are some Christian churches trying to reach out to Wicca, but to do so is totally against their ancient beliefs, so it is corrupt, not a trend towards modern thought.

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