I realized as I was searching the web to inform this post, a naming system for pagansim is what I wanted. I don’t just want a classification system, though. I want to understand how different pagan paths fit together (or if they do at all). So, as I can’t seem to find a consistent nomenclature already in place, I’m going to attempt this on my own (with Jax’s help, of course). And hopefully with your help, too!
<<Several days of searching and thinking pass.>>
As it turns out…this is a huge undertaking. Far too ambitious for a single post. Jax and I are mulling over the best way to conceptualize the different paths in paganism. We think it should include a description of the type, such as eclectic or syncretic. The descriptions I’ve found on the web are:
- Eclectic – Usually personal and experiential and pulling from many different pagan paths, a sort of “melting pot†of paganism;
- Occult – A search for forbidden or hidden knowledge;
- Syncretic – A blend of pagan and (usually) non-pagan beliefs;
- Folkloric – Practice that is influenced by legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are cultural traditions;
- Reconstructed – Practice that is constructed (or reconstructed) using literature, archeology, music, etc. of a particular people using a single pantheon. There are several examples below, if you keep reading. 😎
The challenge is that all pagan faiths fall on a spectrum of these types, depending on what someone believes and how someone practices. We will keep posting on this topic (the development of a pagan taxonomy) so please chime in.
But to start, here are some of the ways all pagan faiths fit together. According to several sites, pagan faiths (aka neopagan faiths) in general have the following components:
- They are nature based and believe in immanence
- They are polytheistic
- They recognize feminine divinity
And here’s a run-down of the more widely known pagan faiths:
- Wicca – The most recognizable pagan faith in non-pagan circles. It emerged in the 1950s and 1960s with Gerald Gardner at the helm, but has evolved into a rich diaspora of faiths including Alexandrian Wicca, Dianic Wicca, Kemetic Wicca and Judeo-Paganism. Some of the major components of Wicca include rituals, ceremonial magic, and the celebration of Sabbats.
- Druidism – A pagan faith with a large following. It is build on practices of Celts from the Iron Age. Like Wicca, Druidism includes ceremonies (rites) and the celebration of seasonal changes.
- Ãsatrú – Also called Heathenry, this is a modern reconstruction of Nordic/Germanic Paganism. Jax has discussed Heathenry in an earlier post. It includes ancestor worship, offerings (called Blots), and feasts (called sumbels).
- Hellenism – This faith is a reconstruction of Greek religion and practices, including the Twelve Olympian Greek gods. Hellenic practices include ceremonies and offerings.
- Kemetism – This faith began as a reconstruction of ancient Egyptian beliefs and practices, but has evolved to include components from other African religions. The practices are too diverse to summarize here.
- Native American faiths – Traditional faiths practiced by Native Americans are also extremely diverse. Many share several components, including a connectivity between the natural and spiritual worlds.
Are we missing any of the major pagan faiths here? We can always update the post! Would you add anything to these descriptions? We really want your comments on this one, since we are starting from scratch. We’ll get into more details on individual paths later. If you’re interested in talking about your faith in more detail, consider signing up for a Finding Your Faith post!
42 comments
B says:
Apr 1, 2011
This is fantastic, ladies! What an amazing resource you are. I’m learning so much! Please keep sharing! 🙂
T.K. says:
Apr 3, 2011
Fascinating information! So much more than what most would conjure up at the mention of paganism.
Looking forward to more details.
Brenda says:
Jan 4, 2012
This is awesome! Just what I’ve been looking for. I’m a “beginner” Pagan seeking a path. I hope this will help me! 🙂 Thanks
GG says:
Jan 5, 2012
Welcome, Brenda! I’m glad you found the post useful. We have a number of other introductory posts. You can find them from our main page under the heading “Pagan Primer.”
Robin says:
Oct 23, 2012
Hi there, you’ve missed out traditional witchcraft which is very different from wicca and high magic. Have a look here for a beginners site with more information. http://www.blue-moon-manor.com/
GG says:
Oct 23, 2012
Hi Robin! Thanks for commenting and welcome to the Realm! Do you have any interest in joining our “Finding the Faith that Fits You” series? It will give you an opportunity to tell us more about traditional witchcraft.
Robin says:
Oct 25, 2012
I’ll join anything that you think might help people find their way. 🙂 Let me know what you want me to do and I’ll do it for you. I’m a bit wobbly on finding my way around at the moment ha ha.
Cheryl says:
Nov 2, 2015
Thank you for the information. I am a Christian in a relationship with a “pagan”. He says he is a witch. He encouraged me to gather information on paganism, and now I’m confused even more. I will continue to learn about paganism because it interests me. thank you 🙂
Darren says:
Sep 21, 2016
Hi thanks for this! I’ve been looking for a long time, almost 33 years! I was 7 years old when I noticed a pagan path was for me. Over the years I have changed mg opinion’s on many things wiccan, pagan, etc. What was right for me at 16, is not right for me now. Nowadays I focus as much good energy where its needed in my own way but have had good experiences evolving from one to another. Please remember where there is light there can never be dark. I wish you all have fun learning.
Bobby b says:
Oct 30, 2012
This is a pretty good site for people just starting with these beliefs. Thank you very much for spreading the thoughts of Paganism
Adam Chapman says:
Mar 10, 2013
You forgot Goddess Spirituality
Linda Colbert says:
May 8, 2013
I am looking for Goddess Spirituality as well. My Sunday school is talking about the different from Pagans .1 Peter 4:3
Mother Wolf says:
Jun 13, 2013
Excellent job! There are two things I would add, though. Under the heading Judeo-Paganism
is the group to which I belong Jewitchery. This term has been coined by several people independently
of each other. I don’t know how many of us there are, but there is a mailing list run by the original Jewitch named Melissa.
I put us in a subcategory of Judeo-Paganism, because we usually practice witchcraft as well as honor Semitic Goddesses. And like all good Pagan movements we have almost unlimited diversity in belief and practise.
Another group I’ve been hearing of and would like to understand better is Otherpath or the Otherpeople.
I’ve seen two references to it – one derogatory on a Wicca site, and one on Patheos written by a practitioner.
mercedes says:
Nov 27, 2013
i wanna join the finding the faith that fits you series thank you very much this is my email address to send me webpages
mzepeda1995@yahoo.com
once again thank you 🙂
Jacqueline says:
Jan 10, 2014
This is fantastic, thank you for your help! I am new to all of this and want to learn what is right for me, I think i know what it is but it is the help and advice from lovely people like you that is helping guide me! So from a beginner to the more experienced Thank you all :o)
GG says:
May 19, 2014
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments and feedback. I am glad this post is useful! And I am inspired to learn and write about Goddess Spirituality thanks to Adam and Linda.
Jonathan Jackson says:
Jun 10, 2014
What about Lithuanian paganism?
Dragon's Eye says:
Oct 17, 2014
Currently,
I am working on a structure loosely based on the Serpent/Dragon cults of the Ancients as the basis of my belief system. There is a lot of shamanism and other means and methods of magical workings.
I have practiced my own particular path for years but there are not many who practice this kind of magic and spirituality. So, maybe someday, there will be a category or “niche” for this.
I also would like to add that many of the ancient pagan belief systems regarded the masculine and femine equally important and equally represented in Nature (for obvious reasons). We each come from the Father and the Mother in some way or form.
Nice article!
– Rev. Dragon’s Eye
futhark says:
Oct 17, 2015
hello, i am interested in the serpent/dragon magick religion have you discovered anything new regarding this? I realize its been a year today and you may not be active on this account anymore.
please let me know something,
Will says:
Sep 23, 2017
Aren’t you worried about what real or valid? I don’t mean to sound condescending but all I mean is what ancient lore specifically is this based on. I’d appreciate if you could message me on Kik. My name is Voldnight
Max Healey says:
Jul 1, 2015
I’m no beginner, I’m nobody deep into practice. I’m “outside the box” still deciding which path I should take. That’s why I’m exploring each path!
This site holds great information! Keep posting! 🙂
Lucas says:
Jul 27, 2015
I’m not sure if someone mentioned it but I would add Rodnovery to the list! It’s paganism based on the practices of the Ancient Slavs 🙂 so the people of Russia, Poland, Ukraine, ect.
Blue Saka says:
Aug 1, 2022
The problem with Rodnovery is that its framework is based on the Greek pantheon. The ancient Slavs saw things very differently.
Angelina says:
Aug 18, 2015
I think perhaps something on traditional witchcraft, as this had nothing to do with the modern version of Wicca. There is also Shamanism.
Marian says:
Oct 26, 2015
Although the tradition in which I trained labels itself eclectic Wicca, it has as its foundation a family based witchcraft tradition unrelated to what Gardner started in the ’50s. In the ’70s, my spiritual grandmother (my teacher’s teacher) noted the similarities between what the various Wiccan traditions (Gardnerian included) and what she was taught and started calling what she did and taught Wicca, in spite of having no direct connection with other Wiccan traditions or neopaganism.
miranda says:
Dec 11, 2015
it is a good fanacy
Cheryl potts says:
Feb 14, 2016
Ty for posting. I’m a beginner n looking for info on the paths to learn which is rite for me
Haley says:
Mar 2, 2016
Hello I’m always told I’m a flower child or a moon child, I’m very spiritual and I love nature. I just can’t find a religion that I would want to follow.
Wolfpup says:
Apr 26, 2016
there is also the Viking path as well, I have many Viking pagans in my circle of friends, I’m also a new pagan, they are showing me the ropes
Lovegodbob says:
Jul 9, 2016
Some of the most popular traditions I come across is Shamanism, Celtics, Hereditary witches, and Norse. Many of the ecclectic individuals I’ve interacted with incorporate Egyptian traditions and dieties. Love your site! Keep up the great work!
Leslie says:
Sep 15, 2016
Thank you for including African tradition. It is overlooked by so many and important to those who are learning and practicing it.
Dominique says:
Dec 15, 2016
Im a teen looking for a new religion and found this. Any advise where to start? Also I’m liking Kemetism and was wondering how to go about maybe converting and looking more into it
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Amy G. Dala says:
Jan 22, 2018
Very informative and concise website, nice to see someone put effort into helping those who are searching for information and enjoying the process. “Not all those who wander are lost”.
Kyrin says:
Feb 20, 2018
Can you be Eclectic AND occult? If so, what would THAT be called
Brittany says:
Oct 11, 2018
Does luciferian count as pegan i would think so
Thabks
Raven says:
May 6, 2019
I teach biweekly online study groups and this post really helped me help them understand this topic <3 Thank you very much and blessed be
Ms. Paige says:
May 16, 2019
This is so rad. I was lead to this page because I have had no idea how to “classify” what I do and am looking for like minded groups in my town. Closest thing is a Pagan meet-up and then I realized I didn’t really know what a pagan was; this helped a lot! Thank you for taking the time to share this information!!
Lenore Florio says:
Jul 3, 2020
Can I be an agnostic pagan? I don’t believe in gods/goddesses I believe in energy
Finding Your Path in The Craft – The Natural Craft says:
Dec 9, 2020
[…] Introduction to Pagan Paths Website […]
Blue Saka says:
Aug 1, 2022
I am late to the game.
Systems based in the ancient Mesopotamian beliefs are becoming more common. There are others, of course. Slavic, Finno-Ugric, other Germanic, varying Mediterranean systems, and we can’t forget the heavily diverse Asian and African beliefs.
Also, how can we forget the largest of all: Hinduism.
My own system is based in Siberian and Mediterranean/Central Eurasian traditions. It reflects my own ancestry and simply what I’ve been drawn to.