Pagans, Neo-Pagans, and Occultists

What's the deal with all the names?

A Pagan, by dictionary definition, is one who has polytheistic beliefs. Generally this term is applied to those who follow the older religions (like the ones back in ancient Greece).

Neo-Pagans are those who have a polytheistic belief, but follow a path that is more contemporary (Wicca is one of those paths).

Occult is an even broader term. Just like Christianity, the occult is divided into branches of beliefs (and even more subdivisions within the branches). I liken it to a super liberal Protestant church that allows homosexual clergy vs a super conservative Catholic church that doesn't allow women to hold the highest ranks. They both have the same core idea of God, but His characteristics and what you as a follower are allowed to do, are on two opposite ends of the spectrum. In occult, magick is that God, but who we believe is God (or are the Gods) and what we're allowed to do as followers, are different.

Classifications can be tricky within this community though.

So, Wiccans are Neo-Pagans in the Occult, if you wanted to classify it by those definitions.

However, there is often dissension within the ranks, so to speak. To use Wicca as an example, Occultists have a tendancy to look down on Wiccans. Some Wiccans even look down on other Wiccans.

Bear with me while I step up to my soapbox. 

As with most Occult or Pagan topics, you'll have many different views on what is or is not actually Occult, Pagan, or Neo-Pagan. Yes, given the definition of Occult, the beliefs are to be kept secret unless you're an initiated follower. Continuing with the Wiccan example: there are Wiccans who say you must be skyclad for a ritual, some say you must fast for 24 hours before ritual, and some that simply light a candle, fully-clothed, and do the whole ritual with only thoughts. With any religion you'll find the more self-sacrificing believers. I believe that the smaller rules are ok to interpret as your own personal preference dictates. By smaller rules, I mean the details in how you celebrate the Sabbats, how you choose to do your ritual, how many Gods and Goddesses you worship, etc.

One of the biggest things that I hear Wiccans say is that they don't try to convert people to their beliefs. If that's one of the "no-no’s" of being Wiccan (or really Pagan in general), then why does it not also apply to people of the same faith? More specifically, why would we tell other Wiccans that their methods are wrong? If it works for them, then hey... it works for them. If you are being initiated into a specific tradition, that's how your coven does it, it works for you, then great! However, I have seen arguments between Wiccans (and other Pagans/Neo-Pagans/etc.) about the proper way to create a ritual space, for example. A more constructive way would be a discussion on different variations, with reasons why you chose that particular way to do it. Some people can get quite adamant that their way is the correct and most Wiccan way to do it. The respect that should be present is gone. One of the beautiful things of religions like Wicca is that we don’t have a “bible” to follow. Even if we did though, just like the Christian denominations, the bible is interpreted in different ways and different churches worship differently.

It seems that more and more, there are seekers, but finding a coven is difficult if you don't live in a decently open-minded area. These seekers may not have access to someone who can teach them first-hand, so they look to books or the internet. They don’t research fully or they find bad information. They get excited and they want to tell everybody about how totally Wiccan (or Pagan) they are. Instead of being derogatory or exclusionary, we should sharing and inviting discussions of our beliefs and reasons for those beliefs.

Pagans are a small enough community in the world, it doesn't help to make it smaller by being closed-minded or snobbish.

Love, light, and blessings to all. May you find your connection to the Goddess and God, no matter what path you choose.