Understanding Paganism, what does it mean for you?

[morelovetogive]

Despite the fact that i have always stated that i am an atheist i have always been very interested in religion and faith and have often questioned my beliefs or lack of. I think i have always thought i was atheist because i didn't know what else i was. Repeatedly i come back to Paganism as something that seems to make sense to my life but as i read about the different paths there are always elements that don't fit. So i thought i would write here what my beliefs are and see whether other Pagans think that they fit. I would also be very interested to know what being a Pagan means to you and how you incorporate Paganism into your life.

For me i dont believe in a god or godess and this is why i think i have plumped for atheism in the past, but i do have a huge respect for nature and see nature as a whole as an ultimate force that is greater than any one individual or species. I try to live my life in a way that is respectful of nature. I also like to celebrate the changes of the seasons and be grateful for what each season brings us but have never previously done this through the pagan festivals. As i learn more about them it makes more and more sense. I don't beleive in an afterlife as such but am open to the idea of there being some sort of transfer of energy.

I don't need a lable as such but am interested to know whether this is enough to define someone as Pagan and which path i lean towards.

This is not going to help you in the slightest, but I could have written what you have, almost word for word. I have always called myself an atheist too, as I can't place myself. But I am not an atheist and I find Paganism more and more appealing.
I do not know where I am going with it at all though. I am too busy with a young family to do the research properly, so I am left feeling a bit empty to be honest.
I will be back to this later, I have a very wayward 2 year old still roaming around, I really need to get him to bed.
Will be watching with great interest, and selfishly hoping to find a direction to go in myself!

That sounds pretty pagan to me!
I have never been one to be drawn towards a particular god or goddess, I do find the idea of say, the Green Man as a powerful spirit of the forests very interesting.

I would say I feel a general affinity with nature, the earth and the seasons. Which makes me sound like a bit of a hippy but I am one.

Pagans are wonderfully laid back though, paganism is a hugely wide umbrella that many many different people identify with.

Btw the pagan federation are having a conference type thing very near to me this year, I will be doing tarot readings at it, and I can't wait to see if we get any church going old ladies protesting outside!!!

It is nature for me.

Just that whole linked being. I wonder if the scientist in me draws me to it? The whole connection of atoms etc and other things zipping about that link us all. All of us being made up of the same things, it makes sense that all living creatures are interconnected.

Ah yes, we are all One.

Many Roads, One Source.
I find my spirituality blooms in Nature and I honour and follow the Goddess, The Earth Mother.
She is immanent and visible in all living things.
I am the Goddess, She is Me.
You will find a place in the Pagan Path, all who love and care for our planet and see beyond material gain, do so.
Bright Blessings, EM xx
(Sorry just disjointed thoughts )

Thank-you for your responses. I am quite excited at finding something i seem to be able to relate to at last! I have just reserved some books at the library about Paganism so i can get a deeper understanding. I hope this has been helpful for you too tummytickler!

I feel very similarly to you morelovetogive and have thought of myself as pagan for some time. I've read quite a few books around it over the years, but they never really hit the mark for me. I say this because imo if the books you have reserved don't do it for you it doesn't make you any less pagan, imo. That's why it's often refered to as a belief system rather than a religion, the lack of dogma. There are some things held very dear to some pagans (or stereotypes) that kind of turn me off... And perhaps this is why i don't often tell people in rl that i consider myself pagan, or make much effort to meet other pagans.

I don't really do anything formal. I just try to mark the passage of reasons in ways i feel appropriate. That might be as simple as a walk or meal. I have considered meeting with a local group who hold informal events, but haven't yet. Maybe there is something near you?

Paganism to me is worshiping the Earth our mother and the sky our father. I'm into Native American traditions and they sit well with our own pagan beliefs.

The green man is a powerful symbol of nature and all growing things and nature is full of 'spirits' and all together they are one force....Gaia.

I don't like organised religions as they are too dogmatic and are too much like a 'club'.
Paganism can be shared or done by yourself.
(I'm not practising by the way, but would like to when I'm an old lady )

this may be of interest to you but there are branches of paganism that do not worship/honour any gods or goddesses. instead its just want you described in your second paragraph. they honour nature, the changes and the life around them.

To me it's a nature based religion. Pagans worship nature instead of Gods.

I think I'm heading for it...

I began by honouring Nature, I have always, always had pebbles, twigs, feathers, nuts and berries arranged on a shelf somewhere, changing with the seasons.
I don't think you 'need' the Goddess to be Pagan, but I am glad I found Her.

Though when I think how that belief has challenged everything in my life i don't think it was an easy choice.

The Nature part, being aware of our connections in this Earth, a Web of Life, that's the most important part of my spiritual path.