This is a matter of some debate in Pagan circles. Some hold very tightly to the belief that the bigger the ritual is, the more powerful the magick will be. Unfortunately for them, there’s no real proof of this belief. Let me clarify… Magick is all about energy and intent.…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 22 – You Need A Teacher To Become Pagan
Similar to the belief that you need a coven or a year-and-a-day of training, many have the idea that in order to become a “true” Pagan, they need to have a teacher and receive training. In truth, you don’t need another person to guide you on your path, though it…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 21 – There’s A Right Way To Do Magick
This idea can make it very difficult for newcomers to Paganism to find their way. Pretty much everyone you talk to has an idea of the “right” way to practice magick. Through practice or teaching, each Pagan comes to a belief of what works and what doesn’t, what rules should…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 20 – Wicca Is An Ancient Religion
Wicca, while it is a recognized religion, is by no means ancient. Wicca as we now know it was solidified somewhere in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner. Some of its roots date back to earlier in the 20th century, and the ideas and practices were cobbled together from centuries of…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 19 – Witches Can Fly And Shapeshift
Hollywood has done a great job of getting the public to believe (and fear) that witches can do all sorts of things, like levitate, fly, change their form, and shoot lightning out of their fingertips. The truth is, magick is a lot more subtle. Back in the days of The…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 18 – Magick Must Be Selfless
Ah, the great cautionary tale of Paganism! This one has been around for ages, the idea that you should never use magick for personal gain as doing so would result in horrible consequences. I have to say that a lot of Pagans do believe this, but there’s no proof that…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 17 – Magick Comes From Demons
This is one of those myths that stems from other religions’ fear and misunderstanding of the Pagan path. Particularly among Christians, it’s thought that magic is evil, and anything that doesn’t come from God must come from the Devil or his minions, namely demons. Since Pagans don’t believe in Satan,…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 16 – Year-and-a-day Training is Required
This is yet another belief often held by those first finding their way to Paganism. They think that they have to find a teacher, and study for a year and a day before they can truly be considered a Pagan. However, like the Rule of Three, this is something practiced…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 15 – Paganism Is Expensive
I have seen a lot of this going around lately, and it makes me quite sad. There are more and more people who are getting the idea that in order to be Pagan, you have to buy all sorts of fancy, expensive stuff like they see in all the Instagram…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 14 – If It’s In A Book It’s True
There are some really wonderful Pagan books out there, written by fabulous authors who chose to share their knowledge with the world. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of people who have written books just to mess with people’s heads or make a buck. You never know what you’re getting…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 13 – Real Witches Need A Coven
For a very long time, newcomers have believed that they have to find and join a coven to become Pagan or practice witchcraft. This is completely untrue. In all honesty, the vast majority of Pagans are solitary practitioners. They may connect with local groups from time to time for certain…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 12 – Being Pagan Makes You Cool
Far too many people come to Paganism as a rebellious act. Becoming Pagan isn’t going to make you more special, more important, or cooler than anyone else. As a matter of fact, becoming Pagan can have some rather harsh consequences. No one should come to the decision that they’re a…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 11 – Pagans Have To Be Vegan
There is absolutely nothing within Paganism that says you need to be vegan or vegetarian to be part of the faith. While it is expected in some other religions, it’s not in Paganism. Pagans have all sorts of dietary needs and beliefs, just like anyone else. Some may take their…
50 Common Pagan Myths – 10 – Titles Are Important in Paganism
Ever since Wicca got popular and Paganism started to get press, some practitioners have been throwing around titles. It sounds really impressive to be the High Priestess or Grand Master Mage, but you should be wary of those who put a lot of emphasis on their titles. In a coven,…