An Introduction To Earth-Centered Religions

History Overview

Earth-centered or Pagan religious traditions together constitute a major world religion—but with many unique branches. Paganism has many branches due largely to the individualized ecosystems, pantheon and mythology of the various cultures from which they have emerged. The branches often share their roots in ancient Goddess traditions. They include the pagan and earth-centered religions practiced before the introduction of Christianity as well as a growing and vibrant movement of the 21st Century.

Examples of Pagan traditions include: Asatr (based upon pre-Christian Norse religion and mythology); Greek (based upon pre-Christian Greek religion and mythology); Goddess worship (drawing upon different cultures and dating back more than 35,000 years); Druidism (based upon pre-Christian Celtic religions); and, Wicca (reconstructed from pre-Christian Western European religions).

Most of the Earth-Centered traditions went underground or vanished during the centuries-long period of Christianization wherein many Pagan holidays and traditions were absorbed into the Christian calendar and its practices. As an example, the Pagan holiday of Eastre celebrated the Goddess of Spring and the idea of fertility (through the symbolism of eggs and rabbits). Eastre became Easter, the Celebration of the Risen Christ.

After decades of dormancy, the modern Pagan movement began emerging in the 1950’s. It matured in the context of the ecological, civil rights and womenʼs movements. This emergence resulted in strong ties between Paganism and the social justice and environmental move-ments. Wiccan author and activist Starhawk is a popular articulator of the Pagan tradition. Today Pagan celebrations such as The Burning Man Festival and fictional Wiccan characters such as Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer have brought Pagan expression into mainstream pop- culture at a time when the tradition is growing in numbers and in visibility.

Beliefs and Values

The Earth-centered traditions are pantheistic or nature-worshipping religions. Earth-centered practices include rituals, creative visualization, affirmation and meditation—all designed to change consciousness and harness spiritual energies to bring about change. Many Pagan rituals mark either life passages (birth, death, coming of age, marriage) or passages of time (the moon cycle, solstices and equinoxes).

Pagans believe in both god and goddess and that “All Gods are One God, and all Goddesses are one Goddess.” Some Pagans consider the deities they worship to be aspects of reality which help them to focus on specific attributes of life such as strength, learning, or love. Other Pagans consider the deities to be external beings who embody those same traits.

Pagan religion is often confused with the Occult. Pagans do not believe in the Devil or animal sacrifice, and seek to live by the credo of doing no harm. They have a deep reverence for planet Earth and seek to both enjoy and commune with the natural world.

Holidays or Sabbats

 Imbolc on February 2 marks the recovery of the Goddess after she gives birth to the Sun on Yule. This holiday is one of the Greater Sabbats of the Pagan calendar.

 Ostara on March 20 celebrates the beginning of spring with a fire and fertility festival.

 Beltane on April 30 commemorates the union between God and Goddess.

 Midsummer on June 21 is held on the summer solstice, and celebrates the ‘peaking’ of the Sun God in his annual cycle.

 Lughnasadh on August 1 marks the first harvest of the year and is also one of the Greater Sabbats in the religion.

 Mabon on the Autumnal Equinox in September marks the fall harvest and the preparations for the coming of winter.

 Samhain on October 31 celebrates the end of summer and the awaiting the Mother Goddess at Yule. Samhain is also one of the Greater Sabbats.

 Yule on the Winter Solstice in December marks the death of the Sun-God and his rebirth from the Earth Goddess.

Books and Videos

• The Spiral Dance, A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess: Rituals, Invocations, Exercises, Magic by Starhawk (Harper San Francisco) • Truth or Dare, Encounters with Power, Authority and Mystery by Starhawk (Harper and Row) • Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by River and Joyce Higginbotham (Llewellyn Publications) • Chalice and the Blade by Riane Eisler (Harper One) • Burning Times, Full Circle, and Goddess Remembered - documentaries by Donna Reed

Earth-based and Pagan Web Connections in Louisville

Louisville Pagan Pride Day (September 25) www.louisvillepaganpride.org First Unitarian Church Covenant of UU Pagans www.firstulou.org/cuups Sacred Celebrations (Summer Solstice, June 21) sacredcelebrations.org

Other Web Resources: ÁrnDraiocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship - www.adf.org Starhawk - www.starhawk.org Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans - www.cuups.org Witchʼs Voice - www.witchvox.com