Did you know that words are spells and spells are words? Writing and speaking with intention is a powerful way to practice as a Neo-Pagan. If you've ever written a birthday card to someone and wished them a happy birthday, you're writing a spell. If you've said, "Bless You" to someone who sneezed, you're using a spell. We all use spells in our everyday lives, and most of us don't even know it. Be careful of saying negative things to people because those are spells, too.

There's a lot of information on the Internet about Paganism, but how do you know what's true and what's fantastical? One of the first things to understand about Neo-Paganism is that it's okay to apply common sense. At its core, Neo-Paganism is an earth-centered practice, which means it's grounded. So it's okay to use your mind and not just your senses.

We've all seen that person with long gray hair, hoop earrings, colorful clothing, and a tendency to babble excitedly. I'm not criticizing her. She's being genuine to herself and what she enjoys. But I know people often think that's what a Neo-Pagan is, and they don't want to be viewed as "crazy."

There is room for everyone. If you're a practical person and you want to find a way to be more connected with your inner self, Neo-Paganism is perfect for you. If you're artistic and you want to express yourself creatively, it's perfect for you, too. That's one of the most exciting things about Neo-Paganism. It's all-inclusive.

The world is filled with things we don't understand. There are many religions, but a significant number of people are moving away from organized religion. They are seeking a more earth-centered, personal experience that allows each individual to express themselves uniquely without breaking religious rules or dogma.

Practicing Neo-paganism can be as complicated or as simple as you choose it to be. It's a practice that's all about you and your connection to the world around you. The globe is massive, and the land is as varied as the people who live on it. There's no one-size-fits-all religion, nor should there be. We all have one thing in common, however. We use language in many ways to express ourselves.

Are you frustrated with your neighbor being cruel? Is your boss being unfair at work, and you feel you have no way of dealing with him? I'm not suggesting you cast a spell on him or your neighbor, but you can use words to help the situation. Casting a spell has a negative connotation. It would be best if you weren't sticking pins into an effigy of your enemy, either. There aren't any rules in Neo-Paganism that you have to follow. However, there are ethics. One of them is, much like a doctor, to do no harm. The belief behind this is that whatever you send out (energy-wise), expect it to come back to you seven times.

Not all Neo-Pagans believe this, but it is an excellent place to start. One of the reasons for being attracted to an earth-centered practice is to do right by nature. Your fellow human beings are part of that nature, so doing right by them is an excellent place to begin your practice. Think about your words and how you use them. They are powerful. You might already be a practicing Neo-Pagan without realizing it.

Let's begin with the history of Paganism and how it has evolved into a practice that works for possibly millions of people in this modern world.

Neo-Paganism, or "New" Paganism, is a modern adaptation of an ancient practice. It's "a religious movement comprised of numerous traditions and individual paths. These sometimes wildly varying traditions find common ground in strong values, shared history, and an Earth-centric spiritual ethos." (Sebastiani, 2020)

Paganism was a Christian term for any religion that didn't fall within the Abrahamic religions. It was when Christianity arrived in the first century CE that a monotheistic, or one-god, religion that was widely practiced began. Up until that time, most religions were polytheistic (many gods). Christianity considered these religions idolatrous and that the gods they were worshipping were demons. They sought to eradicate all other religions but their own.

Paganism, on the other hand, was an inclusive religion. When other people brought their gods into a new land, they were often brought into the fold. They would be considered just another of the many gods. They had no desire to destroy other religions because they felt there was room for everyone.

Paganism was mainly a village or common practice. That's where the original name came from. Pagan wasn't a word the Pagans called themselves, but a label applied to them by those who later worshiped the Abrahamic god. The Latin name is Pagani, which literally means "people of the place." It was applied to the locals in the villages who would have worshipped in the ancient ways. Later, it came to be applied to anyone who wasn't a Christian.

Pagans thought of their practice as something completely normal and what they and their ancestors had always practiced. They lived on and with the land; therefore, it made sense for them to be completely connected to it and to observe the seasons. Their minds were not scientific, so they didn't understand all the technical reasons behind why things happened as they did. What they did understand was patterns. They observed and then built festivals and rituals around their observations. They had no control over the weather or how good their crops would be, so they worshipped the gods and goddesses most likely to benefit them.

Imagine if we did the same today. We'd have to worship the god of Bitcoin. But maybe we do this differently. The god of money is alive and well, but people call it by different names. Manifesting has become huge in our culture, even by people who don't call themselves Neo-Pagans. We are all looking for a way to either make sense of or find a semblance of control over our lives.

The original pagans share some things with Neo-Pagans. They follow the rhythms of the earth in their practice. All of their rituals and ceremonies coincide with specific phases of the moon and seasons of the year. This is much like Neo-Paganism, but many modern Pagans live in cities and have to find different ways of observing.

Some Pagans believed in animism. It is a belief that all things are imbued with spirit. They believe that rocks, trees, and plants have an energy that, if you stop and listen, you can hear and feel. They respect all of nature and believe in being guardians of the earth and that they were put here for a purpose.

Neo-Paganism is considered to be the restoration of the European Pagan religion or practice. Some Neo-Pagans try to closely match the practices of the original, while others have adapted their practice to match their own needs.

There are many names for Neo-Paganism:

1. Wicca

2. Witchcraft

3. Druidry

4. Astrology

5. Green Witchcraft

These all fall under the Neo-Pagan umbrella, and they are just a few. There have been many practices created since the re-introduction of Paganism in the early twentieth century. One of the earliest modern Pagan groups was formed in the United States in 1939 and was called The Church of Aphrodite and was formed by Russian migrant Gleb Botkin.

The church worshipped the goddess Aphrodite as the sole creator of the earth and believed she ruled through love. There isn't a lot of information about this church as it died out with its creator in 1969.

One of the most significant Neo-Pagan groups is Wicca, which was introduced in the 1950s in England. It has grown to become one of the largest modern Pagan religions. Early Wiccans believed that their practice was a revival of a pre-Christian witch religion. Historians later rejected this belief.

Gerald Gardner, who was born in 1884 in England, is considered to be the founder of Wicca. He was initiated into a coven in 1939. He created his own coven, which he called Wica in his book Witchcraft Today (the extra c was added in the 60s). Gardner said the name meant "wise people" in Gaelic. Gardner died of a heart attack on a ship off the coast of North Africa and was buried in Tunis.

There are other branches of Wicca based on differences in beliefs, which are similar to many other religions that have many sects. Wicca shares many similarities with Druidism, and Aleister Crowley's idea of forming a nature-based religion inspired Gardner.

I believe there is a tie between feminism and Neo-Paganism. In most religions, women have had a minimal role or even a subservient one. Paganism empowers women and even sees them as having a vital role.

The beginning of Paganism "can be traced back to 30,000 B.C.E. with the origination of a small goddess figurine named Venus of Willendorf, whose replica is used for worship on many modern Pagan altars." (Modern Paganism Definition, Beliefs & Practices | Study.com, n.d.). Many modern altars have similar figurines representing various goddesses that the practitioner either worships or identifies with, such as Aphrodite and Gaia (Mother Earth). The goddess is an essential archetype in Neo-Paganism and could be argued to be even more followed than male gods.

For Neo-Paganists, the place of worship is usually in a location outside or in someone's home rather than in a specific building, like most other religions. The preferred location would be somewhere outside in nature as that places them as close to their source of power and belief as possible.

During the rituals, food and drink offerings are often given. Sometimes, they might even offer performances or poetry. If it is a group gathering together at a solstice, they would have specific rituals they would follow. If it's a solitary practitioner, such as a Green Witch, they might only follow their intuition. This is why Neo-Paganism is such a varied practice. It can be specifically geared to the practitioner or can be ritualized and practiced as a group, such as with Wicca.

Not all Neo-Paganists are religious. Some are even atheists. It's important to note because many consider any type of Neo-Pagans to be Wiccans, but that is only one branch in a giant tree.

There are many holidays that we celebrate in our society that are directly linked back to Pagan rituals. Halloween is a perfect example of a Pagan holiday. It takes place on Samhain or All Hallows Eve. It is meant to celebrate the harvest, and they would wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Many of our different holidays have myths and legends that might not be true but are generally believed.

Carving pumpkins were meant to turn away evil spirits. Black cats were considered unlucky or a witch's familiar. A lot of the different rituals and beliefs have gotten mixed up in our modern Paganism. Back then, witches were considered evil and scary, but now they are believed to be wise women with power. A lot of people who identify as witches now are simply people who believe in the healing power of nature and herbs and try to live as close to Mother Earth as possible.

The two colors of Halloween, black and orange, are considered to symbolize death, and orange symbolizes the harvest.

Christmas, or Yule, is another Pagan holiday that is now celebrated widely and considered to be a Christian holiday. It was historically celebrated as the return of the sun and increasingly longer days after the deepest dark of winter.