Paganism, Witch and Shamanism
Overall, the annual cycle festivals have their origins in people's close connection with nature and the natural cycles of the year. They served to celebrate abundance, growth and the cycle of life and were important cultural and religious events in many ancient societies.
As I have been trained as a shamanic healer and also call myself a witch, here is a brief insight into the definitions. You can find the difference between a shamanic healer and a shaman HERE.
🧹 What does the term "witch" mean ?
It is important to emphasize that the term “witch” has historically often had negative connotations and has been associated with prejudice, persecution and stigmatization, especially during the witch hunts in Europe and other parts of the world.
A witch is a person who practices or is associated with the practices of witchcraft, magic or sorcery. The exact definition of a witch can vary depending on the cultural, historical and religious context. In general, witches are often associated with the following characteristics or activities:
🔮practices of witchcraft: Witches may practice various forms of magic or sorcery, including rituals, spells, incantations and other magical acts. These practices can be used to manifest wishes, promote healing, provide protection or achieve other goals.
🌟Use of rituals and symbols: Witches often use certain rituals, symbols, talismans or amulets in their magical practices. These may include traditional elements of witchcraft that have been passed down from generation to generation, or modern innovations and adaptations.
🍃Connection to nature and spirituality: Many witches consider themselves to be closely connected to nature and see it as a spiritual source and inspiration for their magical practices. They can honor and use the elements, seasons, moon phases and other natural phenomena in their rituals and ceremonies.
BBC Radio 4 has released a great podcast that explains what a witch can be in a way that everyone can understand. You can find the podcast HERE.
🧙🏼♀️ What does the term "paganism" mean ?
The term “paganism” refers to a variety of polytheistic, nature-loving and often pre-Christian belief systems. The roots of paganism date back to ancient times, and many cultures had their own forms of polytheistic religions that included local deities, natural forces and ancestor worship. One example of a polytheistic religion is the...
🍀celtic religion: The ancient Celtic tribes had their own polytheistic belief systems, often associated with nature and ancestor worship.
It is important to emphasize that the term “paganism” was often used by Christian sources to encompass all non-Christian belief systems, and that an enormous variety of traditions and practices developed within paganism.
🔥 In a nutshell 🔥
The term paganism refers to various polytheistic belief systems. One example of this is the Celtic religion. The annual festivals are an integral part of the Celtic religion. Shamanic healing, as I have learned it, is also strongly connected to nature.
🍃 However, shamanism in itself is not a unified religion with fixed beliefs or structures, so it is difficult to categorize it clearly as polytheistic or monotheistic. Rather, shamanism is a collection of spiritual practices practiced in different cultures around the world, often with a strong emphasis on spiritual connection to nature and interaction with the spirit world.
👀 In principle, these terms “shamanic healer” and “witch” emphasize that I work very close to nature and have a great knowledge of different healing approaches, all aimed at bringing you back to your natural origin.
