Occult Paganism

The year 2000, the new millennium, the bright new age of enlightenment, all brought a massive up-surge of information on all things Pagan, books by the score, mail order companies, distance learning courses, classes, and people claiming direct descent from ancient witches /druids /shamans etc.

The media always so fast to demonise anything pagan, had a field day! People from all walks of life flocked to paganism, and our numbers rocketed. A bright new era of inter-faith understanding happened over-night and we all lived happily ever after! But hang on!

True, with pagans now afforded legal rights as people of other faiths are, there has been progress – and I am sincerely, respectfully grateful to all those who fought long and hard to help to give us protection. But has it all sort of, well, backfired?

True, we see less of the hysteria including sensational press coverage of anyone who wares black and a pentacle and has tattoo being labelled a ‘Devil Worshipper’. In fact the media seems to be leaving us alone , even giving us positive coverage! Result! (Even if it’s possibly more about now having the aforementioned legal right, than a sudden sense of goodwill!). My Concern is about the possible dumbing down of our faith. I’m worried not just about my own pagan path, but all paths.

You see all those books – and lets be honest, the majority are crass, blatant rip offs of the ‘lets cash in quick’ type, which are being used by people to teach themselves (and others) the ‘correct way’ or what purports to be the real deal.

Fine, Okay. I know that any faith needs to meet the needs of the people as and when those needs change and evolve – or it becomes distant and slowly dies, so I am not protesting (too much) about knowledge being, er, interpretive. We’ve all probably read a score of naff American imports which all seem to say the same thing over and over again with out any true spiritual input.

These book are aimed at the fluffy bunny pagan you can say that it harmless to see a teenage girl reading “Teenage Girlie Witch spell craft book vol 3” – but I say it’s a waste of potential, Kids reading sugary so called spell books will try the spells contained with in find out they don’t work will lose heart and quit.

But what if said teenager found an honest, open account of what paganism actually is, the ethics, values and morals? What if they were then inspired to explore paganism, even attend a moot and speak with like-minded people?

This raises another question, fine, society is now more aware of pagans and the reality of who we are and the things we actually do –but at what cost? Altering rituals to be more acceptable to non-pagan audiences, the ‘softening’ of rites to be more conductive to interfaith movement, the merging of paths to mix elements of both into something that ends up being neither. These in my option are a problem.

Could it be argued that legal acceptance of paganism and it’s apparent need to become seen as safe and approachable is in fact sowing the seeds of destruction.

The earliest Christian missionaries here in Briton reported back the native populations spiritual beliefs and practices, the early church then slowly integrated Christian beliefs and practises alongside – and then slowly dropped the native stuff. The ancients were absorbed. My fear is that recent, apparent, acceptance is the beginning of a similar process – albeit one that may take decades or longer.

Occult means ‘hidden’ and I feel that we, as pagans, would do well to remember our history and ensure our rituals, rites and practices are kept safe and hidden from the fluffy bunnies and the more commercially – driven folk. If an individual is called to the ancient ways then they will find their way to a teacher eventually, regardless of how they start their journey.

I’m aware that there is no one answers to the questions raised here and I must admit that I have not only been tempted by and bought fluffy bunny pagan stuff in mail order catalogues myself! However we owe it to our faith to strive to keep our inner practices ‘occult’ as only in that way can we ensure they survive for the next generation.

Biarki.