What is Paganism? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Modern Pagan Belief

Discover the rich world of modern paganism, its traditions, beliefs, and practices in this comprehensive beginner’s guide.

Introduction: Understanding Modern Paganism

In our increasingly connected yet spiritually searching world, many people are turning to ancient wisdom and nature-based spirituality for meaning and connection. Modern paganism represents one of the fastest-growing spiritual movements in the West today, offering a diverse collection of earth-centered beliefs and practices that honor both ancient traditions and contemporary spiritual needs.

Whether you’ve felt a deep connection to nature, been drawn to ancient mythologies, or are simply curious about alternative spiritual paths, this comprehensive guide will introduce you to the fundamental concepts, practices, and traditions within modern paganism. From understanding core beliefs to exploring major traditions like Wicca, Druidism, and Asatru, we’ll provide you with the knowledge you need to begin your own spiritual journey.

What is Modern Paganism?

Modern paganism isn’t a single religion, but rather a religious movement that includes many diverse spiritual paths. It’s centered around four core concepts where modern pagans gather: Nature, the Gods, the Self, and Community. Neo Paganism, also known as Contemporary Paganism, is a modern spiritual movement that draws inspiration from ancient polytheistic and nature-based religions. It emerged in the mid-20th century and has gained popularity among individuals seeking a more personalized, Earth-centered spiritual path.

Defining Characteristics

Paganism is more of an attitude of mind than a fixed creed. It is always tempting to ask, “what do Pagans believe?” but a better question is “what do Pagans do?” This practical approach to spirituality emphasizes personal experience over dogma and encourages practitioners to develop their own relationship with the divine.

Key characteristics of modern paganism include:

Nature-centered spirituality that views the Earth as sacred
Polytheistic or pantheistic beliefs honoring multiple deities or seeing divinity in all things
Emphasis on personal experience and direct spiritual connection
Cyclical worldview following seasonal and lunar cycles
Gender balance often honoring both masculine and feminine divine aspects
Ritual practices that connect practitioners with natural and divine energies

Historical Context and Revival

Wicca draws upon ancient pagan and 20th-century Hermetic motifs for theological and ritual purposes and was introduced to the public in 1954 by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant. However, the broader pagan revival began earlier, with modern Druids developing fraternal organizations in the late 18th century and continuing through various waves of interest in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The movement gained significant momentum during the 1960s and 1970s, coinciding with increased environmental awareness, feminist movements, and a general questioning of traditional religious authority. Today, modern paganism has spread globally, with modern Druidry having spread to 34 nations, across 6 continents, and taking root in 17 diverse biomes by 2020.

Core Beliefs and Principles of Paganism

While modern paganism encompasses diverse traditions, certain fundamental principles unite most pagan paths. Understanding these core concepts provides the foundation for exploring specific traditions and developing your own practice.

Sacred Nature and Earth-Centeredness

One of the fundamental tenets of Neo Paganism is the belief in the interconnectedness of all beings and the sacredness of nature. Practitioners often emphasize the importance of living in harmony with the Earth and strive to develop a deep spiritual connection with the natural world.

This earth-centered approach manifests in various ways:

Seasonal celebrations that honor natural cycles
Environmental consciousness and activism
Outdoor rituals and meditation practices
Working with natural elements in spiritual practice
Viewing the Earth as a living entity deserving respect and protection

For many pagans, spending time in nature isn’t just recreational—it’s a fundamental spiritual practice. Paganism is rooted in the natural world. Spend time outdoors, observe the changing seasons and develop a relationship with the elements.

Divine Plurality and Personal Connection

Unlike monotheistic religions, most pagan traditions embrace polytheism or pantheism, recognizing multiple divine beings or seeing the divine in all aspects of existence. Most Druids identify with more than one theological category: 64% of Druids identify as animists; 49% of Druids identify as soft polytheists, 37% of Druids identify as pantheists, 15% of Druids identify as hard polytheists, 7% of Druids identify as monotheists; 7% are agnostic; and 2% identify as atheists.

This diversity in divine understanding allows for:

Personal relationships with deities from various pantheons
Respect for different cultural traditions and their gods/goddesses
Flexibility in belief allowing for evolving spiritual understanding
Direct divine communication through meditation, ritual, and divination

The Wheel of the Year

The Wheel of the Year is an eightfold Wiccan festival cycle marking the solstices, equinoxes and Celtic fire festivals. It reflects nature’s cycles, honouring themes of birth, growth, death and rebirth. This sacred calendar includes eight seasonal festivals that many pagans celebrate:

The Eight Sabbats:

Samhain (October 31 – November 1): Honors ancestors and marks winter’s beginning
Yule (Winter Solstice, December 20-January 1): Celebrates the sun’s rebirth
Imbolc (February 1-2): Marks the first stirrings of spring
Ostara (Spring Equinox): Celebrates balance and new growth
Beltane (May 1): Honors fertility and the peak of spring
Litha (Summer Solstice): Celebrates the sun’s power at its peak
Lammas/Lughnasadh (August 1): First harvest festival
Mabon (Autumn Equinox): Second harvest and preparation for winter

Ethics and Personal Responsibility

Modern paganism emphasizes personal responsibility and ethical living. Most people in both of these paths believe in reincarnation and karma, and a version of the Wiccan Three-fold law – what you send out will be returned to you (3-fold, per wicca!).

Common ethical principles include:

Harm None principle – avoiding actions that cause unnecessary harm
Personal accountability for one’s choices and their consequences
Respect for free will and the autonomy of others
Environmental stewardship and protection of the natural world
Honesty and integrity in all dealings

Major Pagan Traditions and Paths

Modern paganism encompasses numerous distinct traditions, each with its own focus, practices, and cultural roots. Understanding these major paths can help you determine which resonates most strongly with your spiritual inclinations.

Wicca: The Most Well-Known Path

Wicca is a modern pagan, syncretic, Earth-centred religion that remains the largest Pagan denomination today. Wicca is typically duotheistic, venerating both a goddess and a god, traditionally conceived as the Triple Goddess and the Horned God, respectively.

Key Wiccan Features:

Dualistic deity structure honoring both Goddess and God
Structured ritual practices often performed in circles
Emphasis on magic (spelled “magick” by some practitioners)
Initiation systems in traditional covens
The Wiccan Rede: “An ye harm none, do what ye will”

Hallmarks of the practice evolved over time, but generally feature (1) an orthodox hierarchy typically governed by a Priestess, (2) gender-based dualism of deity, (3) magical practices (largely graftings from the above-mentioned societies coupled with British Isles folklore), (4) the notion of “perfect couples” (i.e., equal numbers of males and females, paired), and (5) ritual nudity (called “skyclad”).

Types of Wiccan Practice:

Traditional Wicca: Gardnerian, Alexandrian, and other lineage-based traditions
Eclectic Wicca: Individual practice drawing from various sources
Dianic Wicca: Goddess-focused, often feminist-oriented tradition
Solitary Wicca: Individual practice without coven membership

For beginners interested in Wicca, excellent starting resources include books by Scott Cunningham, Raymond Buckland, and Doreen Valiente. The Learn Religions Wicca section provides comprehensive information for newcomers.

Druidism: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times

Over the course of the twentieth century, and particularly since the early 1960s, Druidry increasingly came to be associated with the modern pagan movement. Druidic beliefs vary widely, and there is no set dogma or belief system followed by all adherents.

Modern Druidic Characteristics:

Connection to Celtic heritage and wisdom traditions
Reverence for trees and natural wisdom
Bardic traditions emphasizing poetry, storytelling, and music
Philosophical approach often described as a way of life rather than religion
Egalitarian structure with less emphasis on hierarchy than some traditions

Druidry is more a philosophy, a spiritual path, than a religion per se, as I see it. OBOD focuses on the Divine Child (the child we are all birthing) rather than on the polarity of the male and female. The OBOD course is very inner directed, an excellent way to get to know onself and understand ourselves.

Major Druidic Organizations:

Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids (OBOD): The largest modern Druidic organization
Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF): American-based group emphasizing scholarship
British Druid Order (BDO): UK-based organization
Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA): Focuses on practical earth-wisdom

The OBOD website offers extensive resources for those interested in exploring modern Druidism.

Asatru and Norse Paganism

Many people today follow a spiritual path rooted in the practices and beliefs of their Norse ancestors. Although some use the term Heathen, many Norse Pagans use the word Asatru to describe their beliefs and practices.

Asatru Core Elements:

Polytheistic worship of Norse gods and goddesses
Honor and warrior ethics based on historical Germanic values
Ancestor veneration and family/tribal connections
Blót ceremonies (sacrificial offerings) and sumbel (ritual drinking)
Nine Noble Virtues as ethical guidelines

To the Asatru, the gods are living beings who take an active role in the world and its inhabitants. There are three types of deities within the Asatru system: The Aesir: gods of the tribe or clan, representing leadership. The Vanir: not part of the clan directly, but associated with it, representing earth and nature.

Important Norse Deities:

Odin: The All-Father, god of wisdom and magic
Thor: God of thunder and protection
Freyja: Goddess of love, fertility, and war
Frey: God of peace, prosperity, and fertility
Frigg: Odin’s wife, goddess of wisdom and foresight

The Asatru are divided into Kindreds, which are local worship groups. These are sometimes called a garth, stead, or skeppslag. Kindreds may or may not be affiliated with a national organization and are composed of families, individuals, or hearths.

Resources for learning about Norse paganism include books by Mathias Nordvig, H.R. Ellis Davidson, and the Nordic Mythology Podcast.

Celtic Reconstructionism and Other Traditions

Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism (CRP) attempts to reconstruct ancient Celtic religions based on historical and archaeological evidence. Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism (CRP) “purists” tend to reject what they consider “inauthentic”, often found in other forms of Celtic spirituality.

Other Notable Traditions:

Hellenic Paganism: Reviving ancient Greek religious practices
Roman Reconstructionism: Focusing on ancient Roman religious traditions
Kemetic Orthodoxy: Modern practice of ancient Egyptian religion
Slavic Paganism: Reconstructing pre-Christian Slavic traditions
Eclectic Paganism: Drawing from multiple traditions

Each tradition offers unique approaches to divine connection, ritual practice, and spiritual development. Not at all! Wicca is just one branch of Paganism. Other types of Paganism include Druidism, an ancient pagan religion which focuses on the reverence of nature and plant life. Asatru, a revivalist religion, is based on Norse and Germanic mythology, while Eclectic Pagans blend aspects of different Pagan traditions and other spiritual or philosophical beliefs.

Understanding Pagan Symbols and Their Meanings

Symbols play a crucial role in pagan spirituality, serving as tools for meditation, ritual focus, and spiritual connection. Understanding these symbols helps deepen your practice and connect with the rich heritage of pagan traditions.

The Pentacle and Pentagram

The pentacle is a five-pointed star, or pentagram, contained within a circle. The five points of the star represent the four classical elements, along with a fifth element, which is typically either Spirit or Self, depending on your tradition. The points of the star represent the elements of earth, air, water, fire, and spirit. In the case of the pentacle, the circle around it is a protective element [that] connects all of the [other] elements together.

Elemental Correspondences:

Earth: Stability, grounding, material manifestation
Air: Intellect, communication, thought, inspiration
Fire: Transformation, passion, energy, willpower
Water: Emotions, intuition, healing, purification
Spirit: Divine connection, higher consciousness, unity

The Pentacle’s design is often incorporated into altar tools, such as athames (ritual knives) and patens (ritual plates), further emphasizing its role in ritual and magical practices. The pentacle is probably the best-known symbol of Wicca today and is often used in jewelry and other designs.

The Triquetra (Trinity Knot)

The Triquetra is revered for its three interlocking arcs and the symbol has different meanings depending on the interpreter: for Celts, the life cycle (life, death, rebirth); for Wiccans, the triple goddess (Maiden, Mother, Crone); for Pagans, the three realms (land, sea, sky); and for Christians, a means to convey the Holy Trinity.

Celtic pagans or neopagans who are not of a Celtic cultural orientation may use the triquetra to symbolise a variety of concepts and mythological figures. Due to its presence in insular Celtic art, Celtic Reconstructionists use the triquetra either to represent one of the various triplicities in their cosmology and theology (such as the tripartite division of the world into the realms of Land, Sea, and Sky), or as a symbol of one of the specific Celtic triple goddesses.

Modern Interpretations:

Triple Goddess aspects: Maiden (youth/new beginnings), Mother (fertility/creativity), Crone (wisdom/endings)
Life cycles: Birth, life, death, and rebirth
Natural realms: Land, sea, and sky
Mind, body, spirit connection
Past, present, future temporal understanding

Other Important Pagan Symbols

The Ankh: The ankh is an ancient Egyptian symbol that is often referred to as the “key of life” or the “cross of life”. The ankh was used as a symbol of life and fertility and was believed to provide protection and good luck.

The Horned God Symbol: For such a simple design, the Horned God symbol conveys a variety of meanings. The symbol looks like a crescent moon on top of a full moon symbol. Many modern Pagan and Wiccan groups accept the idea of a horned nature deity as the embodiment of masculine energy.

Elemental Symbols: Each element has traditional symbolic representations used in ritual and meditation practice. Earth represents the physical realm, water signifies the emotional and intuitive aspects of existence, and the sky embodies the realm of intellect and spirituality.

Getting Started: Your First Steps into Paganism

Beginning a pagan spiritual path can feel overwhelming given the diversity of traditions and practices available. However, with patience and an open mind, you can gradually develop a practice that resonates with your spiritual needs and interests.

Self-Reflection and Goal Setting

For starters, evaluate where you stand and what your goals are in studying Paganism or Wicca. Once you’ve done that, you can really get busy. Consider these questions:

What draws you to paganism? (nature connection, historical interest, spiritual seeking, etc.)
Do you prefer structured traditions or eclectic approaches?
Are you interested in group practice or solitary work?
Which cultural traditions resonate with you?
What role do you want ritual and magic to play in your practice?

Education and Research

First, get specific. Reading generic Pagan/witchy books will leave you feeling like it’s all just one big melting pot of gooey tree hugging goodness. So go online and research different Pagan paths or Wiccan traditions, just to get some specific names.

Recommended Reading Approach: My recommendation would be to read widely and deeply, noting what you agree with, what riles you, and what attracts you. You don’t have to agree with everything you read. Rather you should engage with it, see how it affects you, think about any issues it raises for you.

Essential Beginner Books:

“The Path of Paganism” by John Beckett
“Paganism for Beginners” by Althaea Sebastiani
“Drawing Down the Moon” by Margot Adler
“The Spiral Dance” by Starhawk
“A World Full of Gods” by John Michael Greer

Online Resources:

Patheos Pagan Channel: Diverse pagan perspectives and articles
Learn Religions Paganism Section: Comprehensive introductory information
Wild Hunt: Pagan news and community updates

Connecting with Nature

Paganism is rooted in the natural world. Spend time outdoors, observe the changing seasons and develop a relationship with the elements. Practical ways to begin:

Daily nature observation: Notice weather patterns, seasonal changes, lunar phases
Gardening: Gardening (our favourite pass time) is a great way to understand the seasons.
Outdoor meditation: Find peaceful natural spaces for reflection
Element work: Spend time consciously connecting with earth, air, fire, and water
Phenology: Keep a nature journal tracking seasonal changes in your area

Building Your Practice Gradually

Embarking on a Pagan path is a deeply personal journey, unique to each individual. There’s no right or wrong way to practice—only what resonates with you.

Starting Practices:

Seasonal awareness: Begin observing and honoring the eight sabbats
Lunar observation: Track moon phases and their effect on your moods/energy
Simple rituals: Create basic ceremonies for full moons or seasonal transitions
Meditation: Develop a regular practice for inner connection
Divination: Learn tarot, runes, or other divination methods

Finding Community and Mentorship

Your next step is to get connected. Hook up with real people – they’re out there, even if you can only reach them online at first. You can only get so much from book work and self teaching. Eventually, you have to interact with like-minded folks who share your struggles and understand your beliefs and your choices.

Ways to Connect:

Local metaphysical shops: Often host classes, groups, and events
Meetup groups: Search for pagan, Wiccan, or specific tradition meetups
Online communities: Facebook groups, Reddit communities, Discord servers
Festivals and gatherings: Regional pagan festivals and conventions
University groups: Many colleges have pagan student organizations

Finding a Mentor or Teacher: Some Pagan traditions are only taught one-on-one, face-to-face. But those traditions are very few. For others, a personal teacher is certainly nice to have, but it is not required.

Common Misconceptions About Paganism

Unfortunately, paganism faces numerous misconceptions that can create barriers to understanding and acceptance. Addressing these myths helps create a clearer picture of what modern pagan practice actually involves.

Debunking Harmful Stereotypes

There are many myths associated with paganism, the most common being: Pagan worships the devil and are Satanists. They can fly around and generally have supernatural powers. Pagan rituals are generally orgies, and the women are sex addicts. Pagans are immoral and have no code of conduct or ethics.

Reality Check:

Pagans do not worship Satan: Most pagan traditions don’t even believe in Satan, which is a Christian concept
Pagans are not supernatural: While many practice forms of magic, they’re ordinary people living normal lives
Pagan rituals are spiritual, not sexual: Most rituals focus on seasonal celebrations, meditation, and prayer
Pagans have strong ethical codes: Most traditions emphasize personal responsibility and avoiding harm

Understanding Reconstructionism vs. New Age

It’s important to distinguish between reconstructionist approaches that attempt to revive historical practices and neo-pagan movements that blend ancient and modern elements. Many Asatruar prefer the word “heathen” to “neopagan,” and rightfully so. As a reconstructionist path, many Asatruar say their religion is very similar in its modern form to the religion that existed hundreds of years ago before the Christianization of the Norse cultures.

Legal Recognition and Rights

Modern paganism is legally recognized in many countries. For example, Ásatrúarfélagið was officially recognized as a religious organization by the Icelandic government in May 1973. This gives it the legal right to perform marriages and other ceremonies and also entitles it to a share of the church tax in proportion to its number of adult members.

Building Your Personal Pagan Practice

Developing a meaningful pagan practice requires patience, experimentation, and personal reflection. There’s no single “correct” way to be pagan, allowing for tremendous personal customization based on your interests, needs, and spiritual goals.

Creating Sacred Space

Most pagan traditions emphasize the importance of sacred space for ritual and meditation. This doesn’t require elaborate setups—many practitioners begin with simple arrangements that can be adapted as their practice develops.

Basic Altar Elements:

Elemental representations: Stones (earth), incense (air), candles (fire), water bowl (water)
Deity images: Statues, pictures, or symbols of gods/goddesses you work with
Seasonal decorations: Items reflecting current season or upcoming sabbat
Personal items: Crystals, meaningful jewelry, family photos, ritual tools

An altar is simply a sacred space where you make offerings and perform rituals. There are no hard and fast rules about what needs to be on your altar, and it isn’t something you have to leave on display all the time.

Developing Ritual Skills

Start with simple, meaningful rituals that help you connect with the cycles of nature and your chosen deities. Both paths honor the Earth. Both recognize that we must care for the Earth if we are to survive. Both seem, to me, to see the divinity (however defined) in all beings on the Earth – humans, animals, trees & plants, and in less ‘animate’ beings such as stones and crystals.

Beginning Ritual Elements:

Grounding and centering: Techniques for achieving focused, calm state
Calling quarters: Invoking elemental energies from the four directions
Deity invocation: Inviting divine presence into your ritual space
Main working: The central purpose of your ritual (prayer, magic, celebration)
Gratitude and closing: Thanking energies and properly ending the ritual

Seasonal Practice

Both paths recognize the equality of women and men, as partners. Both seek to view the world through intuitive inner knowing at least as much, if not more, than the more ‘mainstream’ linear analytic way. Both emphasize the importance of accepting personal responsibility for our choices in life.

Following the Wheel of the Year helps align your practice with natural rhythms:

Simple Seasonal Practices:

Solstices and Equinoxes: Mark major turning points with special rituals
Cross-Quarter Days: Celebrate traditional Celtic fire festivals
Monthly Full Moons: Regular times for reflection and energy work
New Moons: Periods for new beginnings and intention setting

Working with Deities

Developing relationships with gods and goddesses from various pantheons forms a central part of many pagan practices. This requires respectful study of mythologies, cultural contexts, and traditional worship methods.

Approaches to Deity Work:

Cultural research: Learn about historical worship practices and mythological contexts
Regular offerings: Simple gifts like food, drink, flowers, or incense
Prayer and meditation: Direct communication through formal or informal prayer
Devotional acts: Living according to values associated with your chosen deities
Festival observance: Celebrating traditional holidays associated with specific gods/goddesses

Resources for Continued Learning

Your pagan journey is lifelong, with countless opportunities for deeper study, practice development, and community involvement. Here are essential resources for continued growth.

Essential Websites and Online Communities

Patheos Pagan Channel: Articles from diverse pagan authors and traditions
The Wild Hunt: Pagan news, politics, and community updates
Learn Religions: Comprehensive educational resources
OBOD: Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids resources
Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism FAQ: Detailed information about CRP
Nordic Mythology Podcast: In-depth exploration of Norse traditions

Academic and Scholarly Resources

For those interested in historical accuracy and academic approaches:

Religious Studies departments: Many universities offer courses on pagan traditions
The Pomegranate Journal: Academic journal of pagan studies
Archaeological sources: Historical and archaeological evidence for ancient practices
Linguistic studies: Understanding ancient languages and their religious contexts

Local Resources and Communities

Building local connections enhances your practice and provides support:

Metaphysical bookstores: Often serve as community hubs with classes and events
Pagan Pride Days: Annual celebrations in many cities worldwide
Regional festivals: Larger gatherings featuring workshops, vendors, and networking
Unitarian Universalist congregations: Many welcome pagan members and host groups
Environmental organizations: Natural allies for earth-centered spiritual practice

Conclusion: Your Personal Path Forward

Modern paganism offers a rich tapestry of spiritual possibilities for those seeking deeper connection with nature, ancient wisdom, and personal empowerment. Whether you choose to embrace magic, honour deities or simply connect with nature in its purest form, the path is yours to shape. Take your time, explore different traditions and trust your intuition to guide you. Paganism can be as mystical or as grounded as you need it to be. What matters most is finding what feels authentic and meaningful to you.

As you begin or continue your pagan journey, remember that authenticity matters more than perfection. There’s no pressure to adopt every practice or belief within a tradition—adapt what resonates and leave what doesn’t serve you. Paganism is made up of Pagans, who are humans, who make mistakes. Sometimes bad mistakes. But on the whole it’s been a deeply fulfilling journey for me, and I intend to continue on this path for the rest of this life, and beyond.

The path of modern paganism offers opportunities for:

Deeper nature connection in our increasingly urbanized world
Personal spiritual empowerment through direct divine relationship
Community with like-minded individuals sharing similar values
Rich cultural heritage connecting us with ancestral wisdom
Environmental consciousness and earth-based ethics
Gender-balanced spirituality honoring both masculine and feminine divine aspects

Whether you’re drawn to the structured practices of traditional Wicca, the nature philosophy of Druidism, the warrior ethics of Asatru, or the scholarly approach of reconstructionist traditions, your pagan path awaits. Trust your instincts, continue learning, and remember that the most important teacher is your own experience.

Final Thoughts: If you still don’t know exactly what you want to study, that’s okay. Spiritual growth takes time, and your interests may evolve as you learn more about yourself and the diverse traditions within modern paganism. The journey itself is as valuable as any destination you might reach.

Start where you are, use what resonates, and create a practice that honors both ancient wisdom and your contemporary spiritual needs. The gods, the earth, and your own inner wisdom await your authentic engagement.