Since Pagans do not have temples in the way that other religions do, most ceremonies take place outside. Secular buildings may be used if necessary, but other religious venues are generally seen as inappropriate.

Prayers - The Pagan Journey

A perhaps controversial element of a natural burial is the shallow grave. While six feet is the usual depth, the less soil on top of the body, the easier it is for oxygen to reach it and hasten the microbial activity which begins the process of returning the body to the earth. Pagan Funeral prayers The desires of your heart. While we all want to avoid sounding like a kid sitting on Santa Claus’s lap, there is nothing wrong with speaking the desires of your heart to the Gods. What is it you want most? What is it you value most? What calls to you, perhaps softly and perhaps with a screaming voice? I’ve heard people scoff and say they don’t kneel down to their gods, that they stand tall and proud with them. And that’s all well and good. You should have a cordial relationship with your deities, be comfortable around them, be proud to do their work on earth. But don’t you think occasionally you should pay your respects? After all, we’re talking about gods here, not imaginary friends. They’re ancient and powerful and deserving of homage.

Like conversations with friends and family, our conversations with the Gods draw us closer to Them. It reminds us to listen for Their presence, and to keep Their virtues and values foremost in our lives. Scripted or extemporaneous

Prayers for Healing – PaganPages.org Prayers for Healing – PaganPages.org

Like all spiritual practices, prayer works best when you work at it on a regular basis. Write or find a prayer you can say every day at the same time. It doesn’t have to be long – in many ways it’s better if it isn’t. My morning prayers are extremely short, because getting up in the morning is hard enough as it is. The truth is, there is no definitive guide to Pagan funeral customs. Pagans do not have holy books to draw from, so their beliefs about death differ – sometimes quite dramatically – from person to person. That being said, certain elements are likely to crop up at any pagan funeral. Here are just a few: The Carmina Gadelica features hundreds of poems and prayers that folklorist Alexander Carmichael collected from residents in various areas of Scotland. There is a lovely prayer in the Gaelic entitled simply Am Beannachadh Bealltain (The Beltane Blessing), which pays tribute to the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This is a much shorter version, and has been adapted into a Pagan-friendly format for the Beltane sabbat: The purpose of prayer is not persuade the Gods to give us stuff, and it’s not reinforce fragile egos with constant praise. The Gods know They’re Gods – They don’t need us to remind Them of that. We, on the other hand, often need to remind ourselves that while we are sacred beings of inherent value and worth, the Gods are Gods and we are not.

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If your religious upbringing was like mine, I strongly advise starting with some good scripted prayers. They’re different from what you’ve heard so they’re less likely to trigger bad memories. They also require more concentration, which will help you focus on the deity or spirit to whom you’re praying. Since the Pagan community understands that their traditions are varied and not necessarily known or understood by the general public, they’ll nearly always inform funeral attendees of the proper etiquette before the service. Something I enjoy doing in the morning, draw one rune or one tarot/oracle card for the day. It might give you a sneak peek of what’s to come or just provide some sage advice. Either way – drawing one rune or card of the day is one of the easiest and enlightening daily pagan rituals. 24. Use Herbs in Cooking Simply put, Paganism involves the veneration of nature and multiple Gods and Goddesses. It is often conflated with witchcraft, though not all Pagans consider themselves witches, nor do all witches consider themselves Pagan.

Prayers for the Summer Solstice - Learn Religions Litha Prayers for the Summer Solstice - Learn Religions

The Pagan tradition centres on the reverence of the natural world, so many opt for the most natural form of interment. A natural burial involves the burial of the deceased in a way that would encourage its decomposition and the fertility of the land in which it’s interred. Requests. The Gods are persons, not vending machines where you insert offerings and blessings fall out. I still see some Pagans who have no qualms about approaching a deity they’ve never met and asking for huge favors. That works about as well as when a stranger walks up to you and asks for a substantial gift. In most Pagan traditions, your life on earth is the most important thing. Pagans do not believe in reward and punishment after death for the lives they have lived, only that living with a sense of honour and morality is a reward in itself. That being said, belief in an afterlife, as well as reincarnation, is common. Summerland As Paganism is a very diverse religion with many distinct though related traditions, the forms of Pagan worship vary widely. It may be collective or solitary. It may consist of informal prayer or meditation, or of formal, structured rituals through which the participants affirm their deep spiritual connection with nature, honour their Gods and Goddesses, and celebrate the seasonal festivals of the turning year and the rites of passage of human life. The second approach is simply to pray. Now, I don’t believe in praying to “the Universe” like some Christians pray to their God. That practice carries assumptions and implications I don’t believe are true.

Fiction

This means shunning typical Western customs such as embalming (which slows the decomposition process and releases chemicals into the soil) and using coffins or containers that would take a long time to naturally break down. Instead, natural burials see bodies interred in simple shrouds or biodegradable caskets such as willow baskets. I grew up in a religious tradition where prayer was expected. We said prayers at night. We said prayers before meals. We went to church on Sunday, where there was organized prayer for adults and children alike. As a young adult I took confirmation classes where we learned meanings and techniques for prayer. I guess I took it for granted that people knew what prayer and contemplation were. Of interest to modern Pagans is the work of Galen Gillote, who wrote Book of Hours: Prayers to the Goddess (2001) and Book of Hours: Prayers to the God (2002), and also Ceisiwr Serith, who wrote A Book of Pagan Prayer (2002) and A Pagan Ritual Prayer Book (2011). These collections, though imperfect, seek to illustrate a pathway to organized, prepared prayer to the gods in a manner that honors the proud tradition of prayer in historical paganism. Gillote’s prayers are intimate and contemplative, suitable for organized prayer at home. Serith’s prayers span a wide variety of deities and occasions, both public and private. The consecration of the deceased with salt and water, the sharing of cakes and wine, and libations are also common in all Pagan traditions. What is your opinion on the importance of prayer in Paganism? What style of prayer do you use with your Gods – formal / recited, or more casual / conversational?

Prayers for the Pagan Mabon Sabbat - Learn Religions

On nights when the clouds are clear, go outside and gaze at the moon. Feel the lunar rays on your skin. 28. Plan the Next Sabbat Remember that the world runs on reciprocity. If a God grants your request, They may later ask you for something in return – that’s how my relationship with the Morrigan began. While there is no one preferred method for the disposition of the body, a lot of Pagans choose the most eco-friendly option. Cremation That being said, the usual etiquette also applies – be respectful, arrive early, wait to be seated, turn off your phone, avoid platitudes and don’t eat or drink unless it is provided or offered by the main funeral party.Exact rites differ massively between groups, as they are often written specifically for the deceased according to their place in their community. Pagan funeral etiquette Throughout your day, pay attention to any nature signs or omens. This could be anything – a praying mantis on the windshielf, a blue jay that seems to repetitively visit you, a cloud in the shape of a heart, a snail that’s entered the house, etc. The gods and ancestors often use nature to communicate with us. This is one of the most enriching daily pagan rituals in my practice. 10. Light Incense When Denton CUUPS is preparing a ritual, I will pray to the Deities of the Occasion whether I know Them or not. I occasionally pray to unknown deities on behalf of a friend who follows Them. Book Review – Psychic Skills for Magic & Witchcraft: Developing Your Spirit, Intuition, & Clairvoyance by Cat Gina Cole Have a garden with herbs or vegetables? Use them in your cooking on a daily basis. If you don’t have a garden, choose spices from your kitchen cabinet for specific purposes. For example – cinnamon for money. Sugar to sweeten up situations and people. Rosemary for love. Etc. 25. Pray to the Ancestors