Who are these people?

These people are practitioners of Pagan religions.

What are they doing?

They are holding a religious celebration to honor the Autumn Equinox.

Are they for real?

They are indeed. Today, there are many people turning to spiritual paths that hearken back to the polytheistic religions followed by tribal and pre-Christian societies. Those who practice these are trying to reclaim the word Pagan, as it is by rights the term that encompasses all their separate religions. Their spirituality is serious to them. And they seek to practice their religion without persecution, just as you do. That is why they celebrate here today, where you can see what they do.

What kinds of religions are covered under the term Pagan?

While pagan with a small “p” covers almost any religion that isn’t Judeo-Christian, those in the modern Pagan movement (sometimes differentiated by using the term NeoPagan) are people who base their religious practices on those of indigenous tribal religions, mostly European. Thus, you have Wiccans (or NeoPagan Witchcraft, or simply the Old Religion) basing their practices on ancient religious practices of the Irish, English, French, or Italians; Asatru honoring Norse Gods; Goddess-Worshippers encompassing the Divine Feminine from any culture from Sumerian to South America; Khemetics following the Gods of pre-Christian Egypt; Druids adhering to the Celtic order of bards, wise men and clergy; Reconstructionists recreating Celtic, Hellenic, or other ancient religions; and others simply calling themselves Pagan and drawing from both old and new sources.

Aren't they just a few fruitcakes from the West Coast?

Far from being a few isolated individuals, Paganism is enjoying a growing renaissance today all over the world. Though the individual nature of the religion makes it difficult to identify numbers of practitioners, the American Religious Identification Survey by the City University of New York identified a 1675% increase in the number of Wiccans in the US between 1990 and 2000. A Barnes and Noble bookstore marketing executive estimates a Pagan book-buying audience of 10 million. Witchvox.com, one of the premier Pagan sites on the internet, averages a million page hits every 12 days, with networking listings in every US state, all Canadian provinces, and more than 42 other countries. There are more than 100 Pagan Pride events like this one being held this year. And, as you can see in front of you, there are Pagans right here in your community.

What are their practices based on?

Pagans believe spirituality is very individual, so all Pagan practices may vary by the practitioner; there is nothing you "have to" believe in to be Pagan. There are some common themes, though. Pagans generally center their spiritual practices on natural cycles —the cycle of the Sun as the Earth spins through its solstices and equinoxes, the cycle of the Moon each month from waxing to Full and then back to New, the agricultural cycle as plants bud, bloom, give fruit, die, and are reborn from their seeds. They honor being in balance with nature, often symbolizing that through honoring the four classical elements —earth, air, fire, and water. And they honor the divine spirit, the “fifth element,” as the immanent Divine found in the Earth, in the natural cycles, in other beings and creatures, and in ourselves. Some Pagans do believe in magic, sometimes spelled magick, but they believe it follows natural (if sometimes un-codified) laws, and indeed is much like creative visualization and other motivational techniques. Because theybelieve that the world, and everything in it, is sacred, Pagans focus on positive actions like ecology, healing, and joyous celebration, not negative ones like intolerance, causing harm, or judging another’s actions when no victim is involved.

Why are they doing a ceremony today?

Today they are celebrating the Autumn Equinox. This is a time when night and day are in balance, so their ceremony will encourage balance of mind, spirit, emotions, and body. This is also traditionally the harvest season, so their rite also involves sharing that harvest with others through blessing the results of their food drive.

What do they do in this ceremony?

The ceremony today will begin by claiming the ground they stand on as sacred space, since most Pagans practice simply by sanctifying where they are, rather than going to a temple or church. They will then call to the elements and directions (the “quarters”) as a way to balance their rite. They welcome the Gods and Goddesses whom they call on today. They then will perform the ceremony specific to the day. They will bless the results of the charity drive, share food and drink in fellowship, and close the ceremony by thanking the Gods, the elements, and each other, for what they brought today.

Why are some of them wearing robes?

Some Pagans wear robes or Renaissance-style clothing for the same reason that some Christian ministers and Jewish Rabbis wear robes or vestments: in many religions, special clothing is chosen as set apart or “sacred.” In Pagan religions, each member is believed to be their own priest or priestess, with no intermediary needed; wearing the clothing emphasizes to the individual that they are in sacred space.

What is the table in the middle of the circle of people?

This is a Pagan altar. On the altar may be many different religious symbols. Candles are often lit in honor of the Goddess and God, and sometimes the directions. There are also often tools sacred to the directions. The wand or staff is related to Air, the power of change and new knowledge. The cup encompasses Water, healing, and emotion. Salt represents purification, foundation, and Earth. Incense stands for the merging of Air and Fire, the will to act, and helps set the mood for the ceremony. Statues of the Goddess and God are sometimes used, as are natural symbols of the elements such as seashells or stones. The pentacle, a five-pointed star in a circle symbolizing the four elements and spirit in the circle of eternity, is often used particularly in Wiccan ceremonies and may also be present both on the altar and as religious jewelry worn by practitioners.

Are they trying to recruit me or my kids to join them?

Absolutely not! Pagans believe that the path to the Divine is unique to each individual. While they will give you information about their religion, they will insist that your spirituality is your business, not theirs. They have no interest in telling you what to practice or believe; they do ask that they remain free to practice their religion without persecution or discrimination. Virtually no Pagan group will accept members under 18 without parental consent, and many will only take children of adult members. Most Pagans teach their children about many religions and encourage them to make their own choice when they come of age.

Where can I find more information?

Modern Pagans have traditionally been quiet about their religion due to reprisals from monotheists; however, as more Pagans “come out of the broom closet,” more information is available. Any search engine on the Internet will come up with thousands of pages related to Wicca, Pagan, Neo-Pagan or NeoPagan, Asatru, or Druid, and most bookstores and libraries have books in categories such as Metaphysical, Occult, New Age, Women’s issues, or (preferably and finally) religion, philosophy or spirituality.