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A Pagan View of the Afterlife

pagan view of the afterlife

I have found when people are curious about Paganism, one of the first things they ask is “What do you believe happens when you die?” It’s a valid question and seems to be important to people. So here is an outline of a very generalized Pagan view on the afterlife.

Before I get started, I would just like to point out that there is no single or set doctrine among Wiccans when it comes to the details of the afterlife. Some other Pagan paths do have a more specific mythology about it, which I mention in more detail at the end of this page.

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New Wiccan Traditions

Many of the Wiccan traditions are very well-known and well-established, such as the Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Reclaiming, or Dianic traditions. These trads have a history and documented background, giving them a strong sense of authenticity. And to be clear, I’m using the term “traditions” in the sense of different paths within Wicca, much like Christian denominations. I don’t mean “traditions” as in activities and rituals that they do regularly.

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On Solitary Wicca

Let me first say that there is no solid answer to this question, and much of this article is my own opinion.

Wicca was created by Gerald Gardner in the early 1950s. In its original form, coven membership was required simply because that was the only way to learn about it. Today, many traditionalists continue to feel this way. That the religion is designed to be practiced in a group. Coven membership is simply part of how the religion is defined. Continue reading “On Solitary Wicca”

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Your Pagan Label

This has come up so many times in conversation that I thought I would do a more official write up. The problem is that some people have great difficulty understanding what it means to be Wiccan, and get quite upset when someone tells them they are not.

The root of the issue comes from the mistaken idea that Wicca is about following your heart and creating your own unique spiritual path as you see fit. That would be a fine way to view Paganism in general, but not Wicca. Continue reading “Your Pagan Label”

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Maiden, Mother, Crone

Everyone has heard of the triple Goddess, in her forms of Maiden, Mother and Crone. The concept can be interpreted in different ways. It can be thought of as the phases the Goddess passes through, and can be seen through the Wheel of the Year or the phases of the moon. This point of view comes about when one sees Deity as a single Goddess, rather than a pantheon of separate and unique Goddesses. Continue reading “Maiden, Mother, Crone”

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What is Polytheism?

For all of our differences in beliefs and practices, one of the few characteristics that nearly all Pagans share is a polytheistic outlook when it comes to Deity. Generally speaking, we believe in the existence of many Gods and Goddesses. Of course, even this is not universal among all Pagans.

But if you were to ask a number of Pagans from different paths, what it means to be polytheistic, you might not always get the same answers. It’s not as simple as you may think. Continue reading “What is Polytheism?”