Pagan paths: Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry & nature-based faiths

Pagans may honour many deities, the Goddess and the God, a divine life force within all things, or the whole of nature as sacred. Some see gods and spirits as real beings. Others understand them as poetic or psychological ways of expressing deep truths, and there is a growing number of Pagan atheists.

Paganism is not a religion of one book. The main source of authority is personal and shared experience. Respected teachers, writings and traditions still guide many people, and some Heathens study medieval texts like the Eddas.

Most scholars see today’s Paganism as a modern revival that draws on what is known of ancient religions, rather than one unbroken secret tradition. Historians such as Ronald Hutton have shown there is little evidence of an underground survival through the Christian centuries. Many Pagans are comfortable with this: the traditions are living and still growing.

Many Pagans see humans as equal partners with animals, plants and the land in one connected web of life. Care for the environment is a central part of Pagan ethics for many people.

Wicca began with Gerald Gardner in the 1950s and focuses on the Goddess and the God. There are several branches, such as Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca, and Dianic Wicca, which is usually for women. The word is also used more broadly for modern Pagan witchcraft.

Druids draw on Celtic traditions and celebrate nature, especially the local landscape and the sun. Many speak of “awen,” the creative inspiration flowing through all nature. Well-known groups include the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, founded in 1964.

Heathenry honours the Norse and Germanic gods, such as Odin, Thor and Freyja, along with ancestors and the good spirits of the world. Reciprocity, or fair exchange, is a central value, and deeds matter more than beliefs. Around half of Heathens don’t call themselves Pagan.

Goddess spirituality honours goddesses from many cultures, often seen as faces of one Great Goddess who is nature itself. Many women find it empowering, and men take part too.

Hellenic polytheists honour the ancient Greek gods with prayer, hymns and offerings, and place great value on reciprocity: giving and receiving in return.

Kemetic paths revive the religion of ancient Egypt. Kemetic Orthodoxy, started in the late 1980s, describes itself as an African Traditional Religion, with links to other African and African diaspora traditions.

Some followers try to practise as close to the ancient ways as they can, using history and archaeology. This is often called “reconstruction.” Others adapt the traditions more freely to modern life.

Some Pagans practise forms of animism, respecting all living things as sacred, or modern shamanism, using drumming and trance-like states to seek guidance. Some people criticise Western shamanism as taking from Indigenous cultures, so it is worth learning where a practice comes from.

Samhain means “summer’s end.” It is a time when the veil between this world and the world of spirits is said to be thin, and a time to remember loved ones who have died.

Around December 21, Yule marks the rebirth of the sun. Candles, lights and evergreens remind people in midwinter that warmth and life will return.

Imbolc marks the very start of spring, when snowdrops and early lambs appear. Candles are lit to strengthen the lengthening days, and the goddess Brighid is honoured.

Around March 21, day and night are equal. Ostara celebrates the new life of spring, often symbolised by flowers, eggs and hares.

Beltane celebrates the beginning of summer and fertility. Folk customs like choosing a May Queen are part of many celebrations.

Around June 21, Litha marks the longest day. Some celebrate on June 24, the older midsummer date. Gatherings at ancient sites like Stonehenge are well known.

Named after the Irish god Lugh, Lughnasadh marks the start of the harvest, with themes of the death and rebirth of crops. It is also known as Lammas.

The autumn equinox marks the turn toward the darker half of the year. For many people it is a time for gratitude and letting go.

In Pagan settings, magic (sometimes spelt “magick”) usually means using symbolic action to bring about change or transformation. Many Pagans stress that the change is mostly within ourselves, giving magic a spiritual or psychological meaning. Others believe it can also affect the outside world.

There are no commandments, but there are shared values. Some Pagans quote the Wiccan Rede, which asks people to harm none. Some Wiccans speak of a “threefold return,” where what you send out comes back to you. Heathens stress reciprocity, and many Pagans place great weight on personal responsibility.

Pagan rites may welcome new babies, celebrate couples through “handfasting,” and honour the dead at funerals. Goddess spirituality may also mark stages in women’s lives. Ceremonies can be shaped to fit the people involved.

The Covenant of the Goddess shares a collection of Pagan funeral rites for families.

Some traditions keep certain rituals for those who have been initiated. Secrecy can lead to rumours, but Pagans stress that their rites do not involve harming anyone.

A large study in England found that people who spent at least 120 minutes a week in nature were more likely to report good health and wellbeing. It didn’t matter whether the time came in one visit or several.

In experiments, people who did a ritual after a loss, even a simple new one, reported less grief. Ritual gives shape to feelings that are hard to put into words.

Research on religious communities suggests that shared support, practices and meaning are a big part of how faith can protect mental health. A coven, grove, moot or online circle can offer that belonging.

Teenage witches and other young Pagans have found strength in a path that celebrates difference. Feeling proud rather than anxious about being different can help protect against the sting of bullying.

Pagans stress that their rites never involve harming anyone, and very few would say they worship Satan. In the 1980s and 1990s, false “Satanic ritual abuse” stories made it dangerous for Pagans to be open, until a U.K. government-commissioned investigation found the myths were without substance.

In some cultures, “witchcraft” means harmful sorcery, and accusations of it can lead to abuse. Modern Pagan witchcraft has no connection to those beliefs or that harm.

It is possible to be Pagan quietly, practising in private without telling anyone. You can be open with some people and private with others, and change your mind over time. Your safety, job, housing and relationships all count.

• Start with the person most likely to be supportive.
• Choose a calm time and a private place.
• Explain what your path means to you in a few simple words, like “It helps me feel connected to the earth.”
• Expect questions, and know it’s okay to say “I’d rather not go into that.”
• Have a friend or online group to talk to afterwards.

Employers must make reasonable changes for sincerely held religious beliefs and practices, unless it would cause undue hardship. Examples include flexible scheduling, voluntary shift swaps and dress exceptions.

Things Pagans sometimes ask for

• A shift swap for a festival like Samhain or Beltane
• A quiet space for a short devotion on a break
• Wearing a pentacle, hammer or other symbol

The EEOC says harassment is illegal when offensive remarks about someone’s religion are so frequent or severe that they create a hostile work environment. Most people have 180 days to file a charge, which may be extended by state laws.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers the Wiccan pentacle, the Hammer of Thor and the Druid Awen as emblems of belief on government headstones and markers.

Circle Sanctuary runs a ministry for active and retired service members and their families.

• Circle Sanctuary (U.S.): a Nature Spirituality church offering seasonal circles, gatherings and religious freedom support
• Covenant of the Goddess (U.S.): advocacy, education and interfaith work for Witches and Wiccans
• The Pagan Federation (U.K.): represents Pagans in wider society
• The Troth: an international Heathen organization

Pagans and Heathens know that, as in any community, some people may try to take advantage of others. U.K. Pagan and Heathen organisations have written a shared code of conduct for events about unacceptable behaviour and how to deal with it.

• You can ask questions and voice doubts without being punished.
• No one pressures you about sex, money or secrecy.
• You are not asked to cut off family or friends.
• Leaders are open to outside advice and don’t claim to be above any rules.
• You would feel free to leave without fear.

Some Pagan groups do not accept members under 18, and Pagan parents tend to avoid pressuring children to follow any path. If you are young and drawn to Paganism, books, trusted online learning and talking with family can be a safe start.

• “Have you worked with Pagan or other minority-religion clients?”
• “Will you respect my beliefs even if they’re unfamiliar to you?”
• “Can my rituals or seasonal practices be part of how I cope?”
• “Will you avoid trying to change my beliefs?”

Researchers who interviewed Pagan students created a resource to help counselors understand modern Paganism and the stigma clients may face.

• Ask what their path means to them, and listen.
• Learn about their tradition from Pagan sources and respected educators.
• Respect their festivals the way you would any holiday.
• Keep the relationship first, even if you believe differently.

Most adult Pagans were not raised Pagan, so many families are learning together.

Pagans and Christians share some seasonal festivals, a love of ritual and care for the earth, and interfaith meetings between them now take place. Focusing on shared values can help families who believe differently.

VA chaplains, for example, serve religious and non-religious people alike, offering comfort, counseling and grief support. You can ask to see a chaplain just to talk.

If visions, voices or spirit experiences start to feel frightening or out of your control, please talk with someone you trust and your clinical provider. The “Talking with spirits, deities & other entities” guide can help you think it through.