Are there any pagans on mumsnet. If so do you believe in any of the old gods/ godnesses

[Reallytired]

UnquietDad doesn't think that there is anyone left who still believes in the old gods.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/723564-Atheists-call-for-39-de baptism-39-should-be-39-An?msgid=14793800#14793800

I know of two families who are practicing pagans/ wicca. I am sure there must be other people. How many pagans are there in the UK? Is being a pagan and wicca the same thing?

By "old gods" I was referring to those from other mythologies, e.g. Norse, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, etc.

I'm sure some people do, but they aren't exactly common. One religion replaces another, much like fashion.

I am too floaty with my beliefs tbh. I go with sort of a swirling type deity thing that vaguely divides into "god" and "goddess", but is generally just one thing, no names or anything.

So I guess I fit with the non-believing side (never in my life thought I would agree with UnquietDad over religion )

Oh and no - pagan and wicca are not the same. Wiccans are pagan but not all pagans are wiccans. Kinda like all Catholics are Christians but not all Christians are Catholics.

Too many rigid things in Wicca for me - I know what I believe, and not all of it fits with Wicca.

Our goddess' and gods are not mythology to us. Some follow the belief systems you've mentioned, others have a more supreme being many facets idea.

All wicca are pagan but not all pagans are wicca. Wicca is witchcraft, pagans are worshipers many godessess and gods. Usually the emphasis is on the female. here

My Goddess is only 'old' in the sense that she has been worshiped a long time. As for how many of us it's estimated that there are between 50,000 to 200,00 of us. here

I'm Wiccan. I believe in the goddessess/gods. I think that focusing my energy on a particular goddess, for example Bast, helps to bring out that type of energy that is within me that is like her iykwim.

I follow the Goddess, celebrate Nature and the Wheel of the Year. As I'm based in Wales I guess there's a Celtic underpinning to my beliefs.

I'm aware of the pantheon of goddesses but don't feel drawn to them, though I enjoy the stories and can take meaning from them.

Thank you for posting, I found it really interesting. I guess that the definition of pagan incorporates a lot of different ideas and variation of opinon.

Just curious what is the the "Wheel of the Year"?

I hope you enjoy Ostara/ Equinox.

wheel of the year is the idea that time is circular not linear so a circle divided into usually eight festivals - Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Spring Eq/Ostara, Beltaine, Summer Soltice, Lammas, Autumn Eq. These are revisited each year with a focus on natural elements associated with them based on what is going on in the natural world at the time. Some people associate animals, trees, Gods, Goddesses, colours and crystals with each festival. Different festivals are more or less signifiant in different pagan paths. Oh they are also linked to the elements and sun/moon. Lots of different beliefs depends on the path/individual really.

As to the original question I feel drawn to certain gods/godesses - Brigid and Bran, these two I kind of recognise by name if you like though I tend to modernise them and talk about gods of various 'things'. I ma eternally grateful to the deity of car parking and often thank my angel for the space I have been granted where I was hoping to park.

I believe this to be similar to Hinduism (not the car parking bit) all the gods/goddesses are part of the whole but different families are more drawn to different ones according to circumstance.

Our family maintains a strong belief in the Norse gods and their teachings. We also believe in the existance of gods from other pantheons though we don't follow them.

Can I ask a little question about this too please?

Those of you how would see yourself as pagans, have you been brought up from childhood within a pagan belief system (being effectively "taught" by example by your parents) or is it something you have worked towards/discovered/drifted etc later on in life?

DH and I were both brought up CofE and are strongly atheist as adults. We have found ourselves slowly drifting into more pagan ideologies, particularly the idea of the wheel of the year and importance of nature etc. However, as it is not something we have "always" just believed and is something we are working through, it does feel a little awkward and silly sometimes trying to put it into words. As a result, we are floundering rather in our own self conscious failings to connect and make that definite move from "interest" and reading to belief or even [english stuck up shudder] putting it into practise!

Any advice how to move on from this would be very welcome

I drifted into it later in life. I was raised going to Sunday school as my mum thought it would be a good grounding in life - we never went to church church (it was a little chapel, we did the evening service with sunday school once a month or so). Ooh I did scripture exams for a good few years too - loved that - am a geek who likes work and exams

My mum was raised catholic, but then after a crappy incident my gran moved away from the catholic faith and gradually found spiritualism and became a medium. I grew up with that, but didn't really see anything different - she still went to church, they just gave out "messages" at the end. I knew I liked that church much more, it felt nicer.

When I was about 16 (and got the internet) I was intrigued by Willow on Buffy using the words wicca and witch interchangeably and wanted to know what wicca meant - after a bit of googling I realised that a lot of it was what I believed but never had the words for. I read more, and gradually decided that I wasn't Wiccan, but "pagan" covers my beliefs the best

So, I have a fairly stable grounding the in New testament (less so the old), and have self taught about what I believe now. Pretty much I am of the opinion that we are all one.

...raises hand...

Late to the party, but...pagan with Druid and quantum physics undertones...

All my god/dess beliefs incline towards metaphor, and images that enable people to work with power sources that can be a bit tricky if you have issues with impersonal energy. I LOVE all forms of mythology though, Christian, Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Celtic, Arabic, Jewish...fascinating stuff, especially when the common threads become visible.

I'll join your party Cailleachna. It's the common threads that intrigue me most. Like Flamesparrow I only discovered late that the words to describe my thoughts were pagan derived. Initially wicca, then increasingly Druid. With some quantum physics thrown in....

As a child I was encouraged in a CoE direction so know quite a lot about that especailly as I was quite involved in church as a student. The real world taught me it didn't have the answers I needed.

I know what you mean about feeling self conscious and wondering how to try it out for yourselves.

A good start is home decor - find yourself a space, mantlepiece or something like and change the ornaments etc with the seasons - try coloured candles, crystals, flowers, animals, ribbons/fabric. Choose things that some up that festival for you or look up in book what other authors traditionally associate with that time. I started with the Hedgewitch book by Marian Green? and then have acquired the Modern Day Druidess by Cassandra Eason. Somethings I agree with, some I change to suit my mood. Try making a special meal for that day - like you would a birthday/anniversary. To begin with my lot just thought mum fancied a flashier meal as I hadn't gone public. Try it see how it suits. Outside pay attention to the moon - it has more effect on goings on than you might think, look at what is going on with the trees etc.

My daughter believes in all the Egyptian gods/goddesses, some of the Norse, Gaia, and a few others which I cannot now remember

I actually think it's important to maintain a "sensible" attitude towards paganism; as with many other imagery-heavy religions it's easy to get swept up in the ritual/trappings side of it and lose sight of what brought you to it in the first place. The trick is not to take yourself, or your paganism, too seriously! And remember it can gradually change over your lifetime as you are exposed to new ideas and possibilities.

FWIW, I was raised agnostic with heavy leanings towards respect for nature and interest in psychology, and then when I was 14 I read a book on Elemental Magic and thought, "good grief, that all sounds terribly familiar". Then I found out a friend of my mother's was a coven witch and it all spiralled (no pun intended!) from there.

I follow Paganism, I also do not follow any of the old pantheons.

I class myself as a Hedge/Kitchen witch, so I don't follow any strict path, I celebrate the seasons and festivals.

Wicca is a 'stricter' path, and if I remember correctly, Wiccans are more likely to follow the old pantheons, rather than just a God and Goddess of no specific name , which is what I do.

Should have read the whole thread before posting not just the op.

I was christened Church of England as a baby, although we as a family were never 'religious'.

I drifted into Paganism about 10 years ago in a serious way, and stared just reading everything I could about different aspects of paganism, traditions etc. The Internet helped a great deal.

I found my path after a couple of years of just reading, and following paganism, loosely.
My path is a simple one for me, I've always been into cooking, Herbs, Gardening, Crafts,Tarot and Semi Precious stones etc, and my following of my path is a simple one too.

The thing with Paganism is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you like. It is also true that is a life learning path.

agree moonmother, it is a life learning path for me too. Hence my falling somewhat along the druid way as they seem to encourage progressive approaches to the way rather than being keen to only recreate the old. Obviously the revivalists do this but there seems to be a kind of philosophy outside of that to blend what works for you. And that is what I like.