Pagan Reconstructionism: A Basic, "User-Friendly" Overview

Thing Assembly, used with permission. Photo originated here.

Pagan Reconstructionism:

A Basic, "User-Friendly" Overview

By Rebecca Radcliff, RadcliffsHearth@msn.com

In this modern day, when somebody hears the term “Pagan” or “Wiccan”, you may imagine a Coven of people dancing naked around a fire with horns and leaves, their altar adorned with cauldrons, athames, chalices, and a Pentacle. Who are their Gods and Goddesses? What do they do? Where is their lore? Where do their traditions come from? While Paganism (modernly, neo-Paganism) is growing like wild-fire these days, many of these questions remain to be unanswered…even among half of the neo-Pagan community! But, why? What is neo-Paganism? Does it differ from Pagan reconstructionism? These are some of the topics I will be covering through this article. So, as I would typically invite you to do…Take a mug of tea or a horn of mead, ease yourself into the comfortable sheep skin carpet, and explore with me Pagan reconstructionism vs. neo-Paganism.

Let us go back to the beginning of the first paragraph now, and offer simple definitions. Paganism is an umbrella term for various denominations of religions, globally. One of the most common beliefs between various Pagan faiths is that of connectivity in everything - the elements of the universe, deity, etcetera. Technically speaking, Paganism is very young. Religious peoples in pre-Christian times did not consider themselves Pagans (and, in fact when the Christians placed the name on them, it was not meant in kindness, eventually becoming an insult). That is where the term, “neo-Paganism” comes in, literally, “new paganism”. Some denominations under the Pagan umbrella are Asatru, Wicca, Santeria, Celticism, Hellenismos, Voodoo, and even Eclecticism. Notice I included Asatru in there? Some may not agree with this statement, but it is my personal U.P.G. (or unverified personal gnosis) that it both IS and IS NOT a form of neo-Paganism. Asatru itself is a reconstruction of the ancient religion of the northern European and Icelandic areas. However, it is not directly their faith. Much of the ancient lore and history has been lost in time and earth. In our modern times, we have gone so far in reviving that lore and history, but we still have to fill in the pieces…and we have to evolve! This is not a world anymore where one can declare murderous revenge on another at the Althing, nor where most people will sacrifice their goat with their own hands to offer to the Gods and Community. Not all women are wives/moms, homemakers, seamstresses, weavers, gardeners, and healers all at the same time anymore (of course not all of them were back then, either, but I think you get my point!). All in all, what I’m trying to convey here is that Pagan reconstructionism is in part neo-Paganism because it is a form of a new religion…However, reconstructionism is also fragmented bits of primordial religion reawakened, and is therefore the reincarnation of an ancient religion, and therefore not so new! Have I confused you yet? =)

So I briefly discussed what Pagan reconstruction is. Before I delve deeper, let me explain a few things it isn’t. For one, and probably the biggest, is that reconstructionism is not eclectic. Pagan reconstructionism typically comes from a specific area in our world. Asatru comes from northern Europe. Hellenismos is Greek Reconstructionism. Druidry is the reconstructionism of the ancient Druids. Kemetic reconstruct the ancient Egyptian religions. Therefore you will not find a reconstructionist who borrows Gods and Goddesses from different parts of the world, traditions (that some of them do not even know the origins of), and amalgamate that into a customized, eclectic faith of their own. I’m not saying such people are horrible for doing so, I am simply saying that reconstructionist’s do not usually do that.

Pagan reconstructionist’s acquire their resources from several places: historical texts, written & verbal lore, archaeological finds, art and daily living through the histories, linguistics, and so forth. For some reconstructionists, this can be potentially problematic. Therefore, gaps in time are filled in through what we call “direct divine revelation” (which incorporates personal experiences, meditation, etcetera) and U.P.G... Additionally, I should also mention that Pagan reconstructionism is not all about the academics. The academic aspect of reconstruction serves as the foundation for which the religion can become built upon, if that makes sense. It’s not just coming from some breath in the clouds. There are some people who cannot grasp a spiritual connection with academics and religion; feeling that the academics take away from the whole thing! [Which is probably where eclecticism comes in to play?] On the contrary, for most reconstructionist, knowing that history actually strengthens their spirituality. It offers tangible, plausible meaning…A real connection with what their religion is all about, the culture, and their ancestors (our ancestors!). This brings me to one last key point about reconstructionists: Ancestors and other “Spirits of place” tend to be strongly venerated among most Pagan reconstructionists, sometimes even worshipped as Gods themselves.

Now that you have a basic understanding of Pagan reconstructionism, let’s explore some of the most common paths of reconstructionism!

v Slavic :

Ø Spans over Russia, Poland, Czech, Ukraine, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Slovakian regions.

Ø Emphasis on Slav folk takes and national tradition, and the preservation of.

Ø Primarily dualist's – a complimentary system of dark/light, cold/hot, male/female, winter/summer, etcetera.

Ø Ecology and Nature spirits are an important part of their beliefs. Many groups use extensive symbolism from trees, lightning, sun, moon. Most of the religious ceremonies are outdoors, in sparsely populated areas.

Ø Resources are primarily from medieval chronicles, archaeological evidence, 19th century folklore, artistic invention and direct divine revelation.

v Baltic:

Ø The Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvian peoples.

Ø The Baltic’s have managed to largely maintain their language, folk lore, pagan beliefs, and customs over the centuries!

Ø The Folk lore and customs are important elements in practice and for rituals.

Ø Revere nature as a sacred force.

Ø Practice harmony within individual and in society.

Ø Strong relationships with Gods and Ancestors.

v Religo Romana:

Ø Religio Romana is the pre-Christian religion of Rome.

Ø Attempts of recon as close to God/desses and temple rituals.

Ø Relies largely on historical and archeological evidence.

Ø Much emphasis is placed on original classical texts, writers, and language.

v Hellenistic:

Ø Polytheist worship, revering the Greek Olympian Gods.

Ø Offerings & gifts to Gods are an important practice in ritual.

Ø A highly developed ethical system based on moderation, hospitality & reciprocity.

Ø Great value is placed on scholarship and [especially] classical texts.

v Kemetic:

Ø Based on ancient Egyptian family of Gods/esses and concept of Ma’at (pronounced “ma at”) and Netjer.

Ø While many god/esses are revered, Most Kemetic’s are not polytheistic, rather they are “Monolatrists”, which means one God is manifested as many distinct personalities and divinities.

Ø They uphold their Ma’at by living in harmony with a balance in all things: the cosmos, the natural world and that of human society. It is the force that binds people together into communities - health within the self, within interactions w/ family and community, and with the cosmos as a whole.

Ø Netjer would be the divine force that balances the above, their Gods and Goddesses.

Ø Their rituals/ritual offerings are often elaborate.

Ø Great value is placed on the ancient texts, art, modern archaeological discoveries, linguistics, and research.

v Celtic:

Ø An umbrella term for followers of the culture & religion of the Gaelic & Brythonic peoples ( Ireland, Scotland, Great Britain area).

Ø Specific believes and rituals differ from each tribe, though most of them place great stock in history, language, and the surviving Gaelic literature, manuscripts, etcetera.

Ø Personal honesty, integrity, honor in deed and word, and scholarship are all highly valued among them.

Ø Celebrations often involve bonfires, dances, songs, divination and games.

Ø More formal/mystical rituals are based on traditional techniques of interacting with the Otherworld. For example, offerings are usually of food, drink, and art to the Land Spirits, Ancestral Spirits, and the Deities.

Ø Ritual structure is based on the ancient Celtic cosmology of the "Three Realms" - Land, Sea and Sky, with the fire seen as a central force that unites the three realms together.

v Druidism:

Ø A sect among the ancient Celts, their reconstruction/re-weaving comes from the remaining threads of wisdom, spirituality, and ritual framework of the ancient Druids.

Ø They are generally polytheistic.

Ø Druids almost exclusively passed lore and wisdom through close-guarded oral tradition, and because of that little is actually known about their authentic rites. Therefore, the lost knowledge is usually accessed through insight and direct divine revelation.

Ø Often denote levels of learning and expertise, like the ancients:

§ Bards: composer of verses, keeper of lore

§ Ovates: guardians and interpreters of mysteries, diviners

§ Druids: advisers; authorities of worship, law, and ceremony

Ø These “offices” can take many years to get to. One must be conferred and confirmed by the entire community that they serve.

Ø Druids are considered animists. They strongly revere other aspects of nature, such as sacred trees and groves, tops of hills, streams, lakes, and plants.

Ø Fire was regarded as a symbol of several divinities and was associated with cleansing.

v Asatru:

Ø Polytheistic faith of pre-Christian northern European beliefs – they are not the typical pillaging Viking raiders depicted in Hollywood, much in the same way Wiccan’s are not like the “witches” from the movie, “THE CRAFT”!!

Ø Much emphasis is placed on history and the heroic tales as recorded in the Icelandic sagas, The Eddas, archeological finds, linguistics, and art.

Ø Asatruar’s have a rich and complex ethical system where honor, truth, integrity, hospitality, and perseverance are some of the highly valued characteristics among the Folk.

Ø Worship includes Gods & Goddesses, the Spirits of our Ancestors, and Spirits of Place (Landvaettir, etcetera).

Ø Their rituals are considered a means of strengthening the bonds of friendship/community, respect & frith, and honoring the reciprocal obligation between ourselves, the community, the Gods, Ancestors, and other Spirits of place.

Ø In addition to the above-mentioned, Asatruar’s hold strong value with community relationship, hospitality and troth (which is loyalty, or faith; the bonds of Family/Kin and that trust).

Important Key Points about most Reconstructionist’s Homage:

Ø Rituals are usually (but not always) based on offerings to the Gods and building strength and bonds among community

Ø Worship does not just include God/desses, but also the Spirits of their Ancestors and Spirits of place.

Ø Holidays are typically based on agricultural year, therefore many times holidays are overlapped where the first frost forms or flowers bloom

Ø Most contain some sort of ethical system regarding honor, truth, and hospitality

Ø Emphasis tends to be places on spirits of place because most ancient pagans depended upon the land, hearth, waters, and sky for their survival.

Resources

This is mostly here for your own convenience, so enjoy!!

Slavic

Wikipedia on Slavic Myth & Folklore:

Slavic Myth & Religion

A Slavic Pantheon