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Paganism
Any of a number of earth-centered spiritual paths and faith systems, including but not restricted to: Asatru/Norse; Blended (Christo-pagan, Judeo-pagan, etc); Celtic (Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Faerie, Druidism); Ceremonial Magic (Golden Dawn, Rosicrucian); Eclectic; Egyptian; Italian/Strega; Shamanism (North American, South American, European, Asian); Voudoun/Santeria; Wicca (Gardnerian, Dianic, Alexandrian, Solitary, Family Tradition).
904 Questions
Which people have the oldest continuing celebrations?
Almost everybody has the same oldest continuing celebration. That would be the recognition of an upcoming new year! This tradition dates back all the way to the times of the ancient Babylonians. New Years is by far the oldest tradition.
The word "warlock" was a word conceived and used by the Christian church meaning oath breaker or traitor. It was used to describe anyone, male or female, who by their (the Church's) terms had "broken faith or their oath with God (the Christian one)."
The word eventually became common usage to describe a male practitioner of magic (a male witch). This resulted in it's being picked up by fiction writers of books, comics, movies and on-line games.
As I understand it there is also a band called Warlock.
Most of the pagans I know consider this to be one of the more derogatory terms used against us, and it is still common usage by people who do not know, understand or in some cases care about the insult they are speaking.
How do you spell out the longest real word?
"Antidisestablishmentarianism" (28 letters) is the longest non-coined, non-technical word in the English language, and refers to the doctrine opposing the removal of state support for an established Church, which in the original usage was the English Anglican Church.
The longest English word that appears in dictionaries (although labeled as factitious) is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (45 letters)
(see related link below)
What is the importance of sacred stories to the beliefs and practices of Celtic paganism?
Most spiritual paths have basic beliefs and stories. Celtic paganism is no different.
Early cultures used stories to teach their young about the culture, ethics, beliefs, history and legends that ruled and effected their lives.
The Celts particularly have an ancient tradition of oral history.
When you think of Bards, you are thinking of the people who were the walking encyclopedias; libraries; historical, legal, and traditions reference; they were even the local newspaper, post office and magazines of the time.
As each bard travelled from place to place, they carried stories of places they had been, messages for people from others far away, new laws that had been enacted, old histories and favourite tales, songs and everything else that a society that wrote things down kept in their books.
Even today, if you have ever sat at your dining room table, surrounded by your aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, and siblings, listening to family stories about great grand dad who came to this country from the old country, or how Uncle Bill learned how to milk a cow, or any of the other things you hear there, you are learning who you are, where you came from, what your family's ethics and beliefs are. They may not be "sacred" stories, but to your family they are equally important.
If you read bible stories or other religious books you are getting the sacred stories of that belief system. All cultures, spiritual paths, clans, and families have them, they are what makes us who we are.
If you mean Anunnaki, and they are a group of Summarian/Babylonian/ Assyrian/Akkadian deities, they were also known later as demons or the fallen ones when Christianity was on the rise.
How was it detmined if she wasnt a witch or not?
first of all, the courts would decide if you were a witch after they looked at your apperance. Then they would decide if you were innocent or guilty. then they would decide your punishment (burnt at stake, excecuted, stoned until death or eyes exctracted with a pitchfork or spoon).
Weigh her, if she weighs as much as duck, she is a witch.
Name placed in salt what kind of spell is this?
A name written in salt (as in the salt is poured in the shape of a name) is usually a binding spell. These are fairly rare and unless done properly are of little or no effect.
Try to trace the source and ask the person who did it their intention
What does -An ye harm none do as ye will- mean?
I believe it means that if you are going to do spells or magic of any sort, that you do not use them to try and hurt anyone, or go against their free will. It also means to live your life how you want, but don't hurt anyone.
The Wiccan Reade "An ye harm none, do as thou will" has many interpretations.
At one end of the scale, some say - as long as your intent is "good" you can do anything you want. At the other end of the scale are those who believe you shouldn't do anything that could in any way harm and living thing. (this includes becoming vegetarian and many other life style choices)
I believe the important thing here is define the words "harm" and "none" as being the pivotal part of the concept.
Is there a witch or wizard trainer?
If there were 'witch or wizard trainers', they certainly could help someone, but sadly there are no 'witch or wizard trainers'.
A Pagan Response
Learning witchcraft in today's world is much easier than in times past. There are hundreds of books, numerous web-sites and if you look in the right places, practitioners who might be willing to take on a serious minded and conscientious student.
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Like most religious traditions, Witches and Wizards (Wiccans) typically learn from elders and others within the faith community. Someone who sets up as a "trainer," charging money like a personal trainer in a gym, probably should be avoided as a charlatan.
The modern reconstructionist movement that we call Asatru began in the 1970s. However, the faith on which it is based has been in existence in one form or another for upwards of 40,000 years.
Is it hard to love a witch and have her return love?
Witches are also human beings, they also have feelings like anyone else. In love, you could expect so much more from a good witch than from a normal person. Pagan/non-pagan relationships, like most interfaith relationships will have their difficulties. That does not mean you should not try. Tolerance, and understanding are essential but loving someone is not as dependent on sharing the same faith as sharing the same ethics.
The original fairies, or faeries, are said to have bestowed gifts upon newborn children, such as beauty, wealth and kindness. In the subsequent centuries people continued to believe this original function, but that they expanded their activities into other types of meddling in human affairs. Fairies can only be seen clearly by animals and seldom by humans, although if one is fortunate enough, one might catch a fleeting glimpse. There are a few exceptions however. The first is when fairies use their power (known as 'glamour') to enable a human to see them. Also, during a full moon on Midsummer Eve a mortal (human) might witness fairy dances or celebrations. And finally, by looking through a self-bored stone (a stone in which a hole has been made by tumbling in the waters of a brook; not found on a beach) one can see fairies distinctly. The rulers of the fairy races are Queen Titania and her consort Prince Oberon, their court being in the vicinity of Stratford-on-Avon. Other synonyms and euphemisms for fairies are: the Little People, the Green Men, the Good Folk and the Lordly Ones.
(REF: Encyclopedia Mythica)
2nd answer: We do not need them personally. The world needs them. They are caregivers of nature. The best thing the human race can do is leave them alone, unless you are a lover of nature and can be of some help to them.
Which receptors are responsible for us being able to see in color?
The millions of photoreceptor on the cones allow our eyes to depict color. There are two theories as to how we can see color the trichromatic theory that says we only see Red-Green-Blue and they blend to make the other colors. The other theory is called the opponent process theory which explains that some colors can not be seen over others (black-white, red-green, blue-yellow).
Is being born on the seventh day magical?
No more so then being born on any other day. (ex. Does being born on December 25th make you more holy?) It's not when you are born that matter but what you do with the life you have been given.
What is an example of a wizard?
There is not really any such thing in the world of real magic. A wizard is a made-up term for a male witch. In the pagan and Wiccan world, a witch is a witch.
Fiction writers use terms like wizard and sorcerer to mean male witches, but actual witches don't use them.
What's a spell to bring your animal back?
I am sorry for the loss of your cat. It's always hard to lose a loved one, and even harder to think we won't see them again. Unfortunately though, it is not possible to bring them back. Bright bolessings to you and yours and I hope you heal soon.
Do druids have to make their own harps?
Although it's preferred that a Bard or Druid make their own materials, in today's societies, it's not uncommon to buy the tools, and in this case a harp. It's perfectly fine to buy one as it is to make one on your own.
Mithraism was an ancient Persian cult of the Sun God, adopted by many Romans, which was very popular in the first two centuries of the Roman Empire, especially in the Army.
Mithras was symbolised by a bull, and adherents of his cult tended to carry iron in some form - maybe a small badge, or simply an iron tool/ artefact of personal significance. They would "touch iron" to ward off evil, motivate themselves, or to summon up courage.
Mithraism emphasised the duality of dark and light, and initiates engaged in secret rituals in underground chambers (The ruins of a Roman Army Mithraic Temple stand at Maiden Castle, an Iron Age Celtic hillfort near Dorchester, Dorset, England; stormed/ captured by the Roman Army during the Conquest of Southern Britain, C1st AD.) which certainly included washing in bull's blood - probably mainly symbolic, involving small quantites of blood...in most cases!
They had initiation rites very similar to Christian baptism, and also believed Mithras to be a personal saviour who had risen from death to redeem humankind from the consequences of evil. Some initiates entered ecstatic trance states in which it was believed they attained spiritual union with the Deity. Mithraists celebrated their Saviour's birthday... on 25th December!
The refrain of the "Hymn of the XXX Legion" indicates just why Mithras (a soldier in the service of Light) was so popular with Roman soldiers:
"Mithras, also a soldier, give us strength for this day!
Mithras, also a soldier, keep us pure until the dawn!
Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright!"
Question: Did Mithraism influence the early Christians in the Roman Empire? Go figure...!
Is Wiccaism and Paganism still considered to be part of the Occult?
That sort of depends on who you ask...
Wiccans and Pagans will tell you no. What we do is a belief system, much like any other belief system, those on the outside, who do not understand our ways, tend to bunch us all under the Occult umbrella.
