Paganism
Paganism
Essays
Ancient Roots, Historical Challenges
Although ancient Pagan religious practices, including deity worship and seasonal rituals, have been syncretized for millennia with Christian and other religious traditions, witchcraft was outlawed and persecuted in early modern Europe and America. A...
Traditions, Texts, and Values
A series of academic studies on Paganism in the mid-20th century, some of which have since been challenged, helped to revitalize the tradition and provided inspiration for contemporary practice. Pagan beliefs differ, but many uphold the pluralistic view...
Contemporary Resurgence in America
More and more Americans identify as Pagan today and are drawn to this tradition for many reasons, including its life-affirming spirituality and its reverence for the feminine. Although many Pagans tend toward more individualistic religious practice, many...
Sacred Bodies
Today, many people are drawn to Paganism for its affirmation of female, LGBTQ, and queer people. Prominent queer practitioners like Zsusanna Budapest and T. Thorn Coyle have helped pioneer the tradition for the modern era. Download (PDF) Many people have...
What Do Pagans Do?
Pagan traditions and expressions vary widely and can involve communal outdoor rituals, solitary meditation or contemplation, or the use of symbols, talismans, or altars. Pagan magick is a spiritual practice aimed at creating change in an individual and in...
Communal Worship, Rites of Passage
Many Pagans emphasize physical practice, often through rites of passage and regular or seasonal communal rituals. One particular place of focus for a plethora of Pagan practitioners is the lunar cycle, with the full moon serving as a time to meet and...
Cycles of Celebration
Pagan celebrations are often linked to agricultural cycles, reinforcing Pagans’ attunement to the natural world and its seasonal changes. Specific Pagan practitioners may celebrate additional holidays related to deities or historical traditions. Download...
Contributing to the Common Good
Pagans recognize a relationship between ancient religious cultures and many aspects of contemporary American society, including the holiday of Halloween. Issues of concern for today's Pagans often include environmentalism, religious liberty, personal...
Public Paganism
While Pagan practice is sometimes kept private, it is also made public through open rituals and festivals, interfaith dialogue, involvement in civil rights campaigns, and organization at conferences like the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Such...
Images
Selected Publications
2024
Kirner, Kimberly. American Druidry: Crafting the Wild Soul. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024.
Kirner, Kimberly. American Druidry: Crafting the Wild Soul. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024.
2006
Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon. New York: Penguin Press, 2006.
Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon. New York: Penguin Press, 2006.
2005
Barner-Barry, Carol. Contemporary Paganism: Minority Religions in a Majoritarian America. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2005.
Barner-Barry, Carol. Contemporary Paganism: Minority Religions in a Majoritarian America. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2005.
Explore Paganism in Greater Boston
Paganism has a distinct community in Greater Boston. Home to Celtic, Wiccan, Greek Reconstructionist, eclectic, and other pagan groups, Boston has a longstanding Pagan history. Salem’s historical connection to witchcraft has made it the modern-day locus of covens, activism for Witches’ rights, and other Pagan groups. Because of the stigma sometimes still attached to Pagan religions, many groups choose to keep their contact information, worship space, and membership information private.
