I popped on over to dictionary.com and looked up the word ‘pagan’.  Here are the definitions:

one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks.

a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.

an irreligious or hedonistic person.

Hmmm…interesting.  But no help whatsoever. When you think of the whole world then minus the said Christians, Jews and Muslims you’re still left with a whole bunch of Pagans.  And they’re all very different.  Pagans can be, by definition, Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus and other people, you know, the ‘Pagan’ Pagans.

I often ponder on what exactly makes me a Pagan and witch. Just for the record it isn’t hedonism – having kids sort of makes that impossible!  But seriously, what is that vital spark or criteria which puts you firmly into the Pagan category?  What are you rules you follow?

When I have to break it down, these are my 4 rules to being a Pagan:

• Finding the Divine everywhere and in everything
• Reconnecting with the Divine feminine
• Taking a step back from modern day life and looking towards our ancestors for guidance
• Being tolerant and accepting of others

But those are my logical, left brain statements. When I connect with my heart I’m Pagan because it feels right and, as an added bonus, I love to make my own rules!

I’ve noticed it can be extremely difficult, if not impossible to find books about local folklore or traditions.  Often, here in England, our own home grown histories and roots are put aside so popular categories can take centre stage.  This is a shame because our history is diverse and with a little effort you can trace the locations and artifacts which are nothing less than magickal.  Aside from the ‘big’ attractions like Stonehenge and Avebury there are many smaller scale places to connect with heritage and Pagan roots.  It requires some digging and patience – either online or in the library – but it can be done!

I’ve written before about churches here in England which very often have been built on ley lines or old pagan worshipping sites.  You don’t have to be a Christian to enjoy the magickal aspect of the land!  There are ley lines themselves which can be traced and walked.  Forests which still remain usually have folk tales attached to them or even fairy sightings.

Often in the past I’ve neglected my magickal roots.  I’ve been dazzled by the ancient traditions of other cultures and wowed by their sacred sites.  But there’s something special about learning and appreciating where you live – wherever that may be – and understanding the land and the past which has shaped the present.  It’s really worth investing some time researching and, if you’re able, getting out and about in the place in which you live.  You never know what you’ll uncover and what Pagan connections you may find.

I think sometimes we get caught up in the ‘more is more’ way of thinking even when it comes to our Pagan holidays.

Usually to honour the Sabbats I perform a candle ritual and make a cake to share with my family. Sometimes they’re more elaborate especially at Samhain which is my favourite time of the year but generally I keep them simple.  During the day I ponder on the ever changing wheel of life and look forward to the time ahead. I’m mindful and that I think is the essence of celebration.

I’ve always been instinctively pulled towards the full moon and I have my own monthly ritual to honour the beautiful Luna.  Each month I try to capture her essence in my photography.  I stand alone in the garden and spend time admiring her beauty through my lens. It’s a very personal time for me and even if it’s freezing cold I look forward to taking this time when I feel at one with the Goddess.

Obviously everyday should be a celebration of life and not just saved up for the Sabbats but this is often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of daily life.  For me candles are extremely important in my daily thankfulness.  If nothing else I can sit down to work, or relax after the day, light a candle and as I do so give thanks to the Universe.

There are other little things I do during the day which reminds me of my spiritual path and the beauty of life.  I open the curtains and greet the sun (or rain).  I talk to my plants, I’m thankful for my food and I stand outside to admire the stars.  It’s all about taking a few seconds and remembering instead of getting swamped down in laundry, meetings and the eternal cycle of food preparation and clean up!

How do you bring the spiritual into your busy life? Do you struggle to make the time sometimes or do you have it all figured out?  Leave a comment and share

Luckily we faired quite well here in the South of England with only 1 heavy snowfall but it’s been so cold.  Freezing cold (and I’m not a big fan of being cold).  Now I can see signs of life returning and it’s giving me hope that the chilly weather is finally waning.  In the garden there are tentative buds on a tree and a few snowdrops have sprung up in the flower beds.

I think sometimes it can be difficult to flow with the seasons and although I complain about the cold (ok, I admit, I also complain about the heat) I do really enjoy witnessing Earth go through her cycles.  As I’ve got older and have fallen more in love with my Pagan path I see the need for the seasons and how they correlate to my own life.

When the weather is fine I love to be outside: exploring the countryside, visiting old castles and the odd cemetery or two.  So when I can’t be outside so much it forces me to redirect my energies so I have been planning and sowing seeds for the new season.  This ‘hibernation’ period is the natural flow but as life speeds up to warp speed 9 it can mean feeling frustrated and out of sorts with the world if you don’t adjust.  Things are slower in winter – it’s just the way it is!

I’m looking forward to welcoming Spring this month. I have plans and projects ready to go and I’ve already begun bringing new things into my life.  I recently bought a drum (my first instrument purchase ever) and I’ve added a few CDs to my collection which are musically different from anything I’ve ever owned before.

The Earth is waking up.  So am I.  Bring on the Spring, I’m ready.

It was the first time my children (the eldest is 11) experienced what it was like to walk in snow and ice.  And yet when I was a child snow was a regular part of winter and I remember, not fondly, walking to school with cold, wet feet and wishing for the sun to reappear.  I have to confess to feeling pretty much the same way as an adult.

But with this rather unexpected winter-like behaviour in winter, it got me to think about the cycle of the seasons and how winter is a truly beautiful time of the year.

On the first day of snowfall the world as I knew it turned white.  A pure, brilliant white made from millions of unique flakes that had danced down from the heavens to land on the earth.  The ground, trees, cars, roofs were all covered indiscriminately.  And everything was chilled, frozen, in stasis.

It’s during this season when we’re all given a fresh start.  It’s the time to move with nature at her slowest pace; to hibernate away from the cold and to reflect on what you want to achieve during the coming warmer months.  We need to take our cues more from Mother Earth and dance her dance.

The snow didn’t last very long here – it was gone in just over a week.  And although it did cause some disruption, I enjoyed the opportunity to experience both the bitterness and beauty of the season.

I have a love of history which makes England the perfect place for me to live.  With the arrival of Christianity in the 1st century A.D. there’s probably no other invasion which has had such an impact on our history.  By the 10th century the rich land owners were beginning to build chapels on their land so the common folk could have the services of a priest.  However, the Lords who owned the land wanted to ensure their new investments would be used so what better location to build a church than on Pagan sacred ground?  The general public were not all for the new Christian faith and they held on to their Pagan practices so the new religion swallowed the old up.

The workmen who were used to build the churches were not all converted to Christianity, at least inwardly, and they took the advantage of incorporating Pagan symbolism into the masonry and carpentry.  Green men, Sheela-na-gig figures, pentacles and a wide collection of mythological beasts can all be found.   There are hundreds of churches scattered around the country which were constructed during this time so with a careful eye you can usually spot something which would look perfectly at home on a Pagan altar.  Later additions to churches and cathedrals are gargoyles and grotesques, which I find fascinating, but also seem to also look out of place on a church.

Last month I visited Winchester Cathedral and felt perfectly at home there.  In one section of the building (it’s huge) there were stone, ornamental carvings which looked exactly like pentacles and, at the front, an extremely large Christmas tree was on display.  And, as you know, a tree or log at Yule is an old Pagan tradition

Church graveyards also have an interest for me as I have a fondness for the paranormal.  From a quiet village church to a busy cathedral, there is usually a local ghost story attached to a graveyard (and sometimes even the church itself).  And nearly every abbey or ruined monastery has it’s resident spirit.  Just in my local area I’ve been out looking for the ghost of Florence Nightingale and a wandering monk!  It’s not really surprising that paranormal activity attaches itself to a church as many were built on ley lines.

In the UK, the church doesn’t have the appeal or the power it once had.  So it’s not unusual to visit a church and be the only (living) soul there.  And in our crowded, bustling society how many places can give you solitude and peace?

So next time you pass a church, especially if you live in England, don’t automatically pass it by because it’s a building not associated with your faith.  The building itself might sit on ancient Pagan holy ground, the architecture could have hidden Pagan symbolism and it’s a good place to hunt ghosts!