Today's Journal entry is by Amitakh

WITCHCRAFT AND PAGANISM

The world has entered a phase of increased "isms" of all kinds. Paganism is one that is currently being revived.

In Latin, pagani means country-dwellers. The early pagans were mostly rural people who worshipped the ancient gods and goddesses.

A little information about the background of `ancient' paganism:

Ancient Europeans were mostly pagans. While the pagan Europeans were developing their culture, the ancient people of Greece were forming their own beliefs. Undoubtedly, the Greek people inherited a pagan religion from their primitive ancestors, but by that time however, primitive religion had expanded from a magic form to one with a pantheon of gods, each attributed with specific powers and functions. For example, Zeus was the ruler of the ancient Greek pantheon; Artemis was the Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt; and Pan was the god of pastures, flocks, and shepherds.

As more and more people in pagan Europe were converted to Christianity, elements of the pagan religions were either eliminated or incorporated into Christianity in order to make the new religion more acceptable and attractive to the new converts. For example, the anniversary of Christ's birth was moved to the day of the pagan Mithra's Sun Feast, the winter celebration of the god of light and truth. All the feasts in the Christian calendar, including Easter, were borrowed from the pagans. Yet, the Church hypocritically regards pagans as the followers of Satan. The priests of the papacy in bygone centuries certainly did rejoice over their elimination of thousands whom they murdered and burnt at the stake.

What is paganism? Paganism is a concept/religious movement based on spirituality, values, and reality that are rejected by monotheism. Its ideology is based on a pervasive ideology which includes among other things: polytheism, mythology, shamanism, animalism, healing, ancient practices, self-empowerment, and current issues such as women and environmental issues. Clearly, ideas in later paganism reflect the influences from Neo-platonism - the alchemists, the spiritualists, the Rosicrucians, the Theosophists and other sources.

Its emphasis is on goddesses and paired deities. Women are especially attracted to paganism as psychologically, they feel liberated, empowered and a sense of identity. Goddess symbols allow them to experience a spirituality that goes beyond the constraints and goals of feminism.

These days, Wicca is a new religion associated with paganism. It is a popular, modern day sub-branch of paganism. The Hermetic principle: `as above, so below; as without, so within', incorporated into modern day pagan rites, is a well-known principle amongst the pagans, but judging from the actions of some of the modern day pagans, it appears not all of them take it seriously.

Wicca embraces elements from ancient beliefs and magical and shamanic practices. It also adopts New Age beliefs, various traditions and secular sources such as Jungian psychology. Modern pagans have been exposed for fabricating their own ancestral links to an ancient past in their efforts to legitimise a new religious movement. Aiden Kelly stated unequivocally in his book Crafting the Art of Magic that modern Wicca dates back only to the 1940s.

Most pagans attributed their involvement in this movement to being a response to the societal repression of the archetypal feminine. Magic, celebration and performance of various rituals are an integral part of their belief. Rituals in modern day paganism are based on the practices of better known pagans such as Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and Aleister Crowley. Those who can accurately identify Crowley's energy will know that he was/is a being of Darkness. This, no doubt will be furiously rejected by Crowley's fans! What else is new?

Wicca, as it is practised today, descends from the practices of Gardner which can be traced back to the practice of witchcraft widely used in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Pagans claim that their movement is devoid of dogmas, but not all members reflect such a claim. However, things without dogmas do not necessarily mean that they are good.

Witches are usually associated with paganism. However, not all pagans are witches and not all witches and pagans believe in an after-life.

While one can appreciate the uncorrupted essence of ancient paganism, one cannot be so placid and unconcerned about some of the current practices of modern pagans and those who proudly and openly call themselves witches. I doubt that many true, responsible and sincere witches will advertise themselves.

Unfortunately, what we currently see is paganism at its worst which is based on hedonistic principles of self-interest, egoism and often petty power plays. The majority of them are attracted to witchcraft because it gives them a sense of power; a power which is usually viewed in terms of power over others and things.

Witches on T.V. programs freely encourage people on the use of witchcraft to put a spell on someone they fancy, without their consent. This is over-riding another's freewill. There are various rituals for various purposes, ranging from healing, for money, and for revenge against another, etc. While there are probably some good witches around, we cannot say the majority are good. Like everything else, there is a mixture of the two creations amongst them!

While the dressing-up and rituals which are integral to the lives of modern pagans, and while such practices may provide temporary release and gratification to those involved, they often lead to greater self-delusion. While the uncorrupted essence of paganism may lead to expanded awareness of realities towards the Light, the opposite holds true for those who follow the path of falsehood and corruption.

Over the years we have received letters from strangers asking for help with their problems because of their involvement in witchcraft. Most of the stories involved possession, `black magic', and feuds between warlords and those dabbling in witchcraft.

Modern witches regard magic as part of the natural order. But should one identify oneself as a witch or a pagan simply because one is attracted to nature, to the elements, to witchcraft? Of course not, for true magic is in everyone who truly seeks truth.

A warning to those who practise `black magic': If you are caught or blocked by one who knows how to neutralise you or return the negative energy you send, you could be in great trouble! We are aware that some people had tried to direct `black magic' at us in the past. No apologies to such ones who received the backlash of their own evilness.

You must go within to assess for yourself what is true and what is false in modern day paganism and witchcraft as they manifest in any groups and in any set of beliefs.

Remember, evil always infiltrates and corrupts such groups.