INTRO TO PAGANISM, A MODERN NATURE-BASED SPIRITUALITY

Paganism is a spiritual path for the present times, reshaping old traditions and worldviews, adapting them to our modern minds and lifestyles, with a strong focus on the reconnection with our precious and beautiful natural world.

This session will introduce a variety of nature-based spiritualities that fit the umbrella term "Paganism". 

Some Modern Pagan traditions are inspired by pre-Christian European religions, others are mostly new, including ‘the only religion that Britain gave to the world’ (try to guess which one that is!). 

Some Pagans are solitary, or gather in small private groups, like covens or groves, while others are part of local and national organisations, more or less organised (as trying to organise Pagans is like trying to herd cats!).

Most Paganisms involve connection with the Divine through deities and spirits, but what those deities are, from external beings to psychological archetypes, is up to the individual to discover for themselves, and those understandings are likely to change and develop as their path develops too.

There are no dogmas in Paganism, about what Gods and Goddesses are, and what are the best  practices in these spiritual paths. Each individual’s worldview and practice should be celebrated as an expression of the Divine, an expression of the Gods. Paganism is very much flexible and pragmatic, that people’s spiritualities can be as diverse as people themselves are.

What we'll learn:

In this session we will discuss some of the more popular Gods and Goddesses of each tradition, including

• Hecate
• Cernunnos
• Cerridwen
• Odin
• Freya
• and several others.

We will also cover the Wheel of the Year, the multiple Pagan celebrations throughout the cycle of the seasons, from Yule at the Winter Solstice to the ancestor-focused Samhain (modern Halloween).

These celebrations, sometimes called Sabbats, are like a calendar that allow us to attune to the year cycle, and have lots of reasons for celebrations too!

All spiritual paths should lead to your self-knowledge, and awareness of the Divine, and Paganism is no different. What it gives you, however, is the freedom to choose what is better adapted to you at any particular point of your life, from many of the options available.

People of all genders, ethnicities and backgrounds are warmly welcome to this inclusive workshop and no previous experience is required.

About Andre:

Andre is a longstanding member of the Pagan community, with over 25 years’ experience on different Pagan paths. He has been active in the Norse/Anglo-Saxon Heathen communities in the UK and Europe for 15 years, and particularly in London.

Andre has led many public and private ceremonies, lectures and workshops on different aspects of Paganism.

Andre is an initiated Wiccan priest, and practitioner of other less known traditions. He pursued academic research for his Masters degree dissertation in Cultural Astronomy on the practices and cosmologies of contemporary Norse-inspired Pagans.

For more information about Andre, please click here.

Important:

• Accessibility: Please note that our classes take place in our Alchemy studio downstairs. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer wheelchair access at this time.
• Seating options: Chairs as well as an option available for sitting on a mat with cushions also available.