They will return, these Gods you have never stopped longing for.

Time will bring back the order of the ancient days.

- Gerard de Nerval

For the first time in almost two thousand years Paganism is on the increase in Europe, Australia and North America. It has become a mass spiritual movement offering a long awaited alternative to the established western religions. The Goddess has returned bringing much needed change. The old Gods are establishing themselves once more. In the dawn of this new millenium Paganism has been resurrected. Yet while the burning days may be over Paganism faces many challenges and dangers in its current revival. Challenges and dangers which could affect its shape and growth for years to come.

In reclaming our ancient spiritual heritage we are embracing the past and bringing it into the present. No longer is Pagan religion only for academic studies. No longer is it a derogatory term to describe non-christains. Once more Paganism is a positive, spiritual, living faith. As we enter a post-Christian epoch and a somewhat post-rationalist period in western society we are exploring the past to find answers for the present. The ecologically abusive ways of modern life and the patriarchal faiths seem to have awoke within hundreds of thousands of people the need to seek a more balanced approach to life and a more harmonious belief system. One which embraces their entire being and their environment. It is in resurrecting modern forms of the old religions that they are finding that which their hearts seek.

However one of the challenges which the global resurgence of Paganism is faced with stems from it's lack of recorded history. The lack of recorded history is largley due to the traditions of old being of an oral nature. Reading and writing, as we know and use it today, were practices not widely used and so consequently there is little written material. As the traditions of the ancient Pagan cultures were largely wiped out there remains little concrete to go on. This has left much of Pagan history open to interpretation and the imagination. Which is maybe not such a bad thing as this should make it eaiser in some respects to reclaim our Pagan ways and make them suitable for our modern times. Though with there being little written history this has indirectly made Paganism an open target for much misinterpretation which could lead to the spiritual essence being lost. If this happens, if the essence is lost, Paganism will crumble and be confined to history once more.

The rise of Pagan spirituality is reflected in the growth of Pagan based publications and products. The market, never slow to catch on to growing trends, has embraced the earth religions renaissance. This has raised serious issues, issues which in the long term could have a major role in the shaping of Paganism and influence it's continual growth or bring about it's decay. Being a Pagan myself, being part of a rapidly expanding faith, I feel we must ask if the commerical expansion is serving the needs of the people or if it is degrading and misrepresenting Pagan faiths. There are many dangers in the heavy commericialisation of Paganism. As a faith which has only recently experienced rebirth, it is still in it's early infancy and must cared for and nutured accordingly. Being so young leaves it exposed to the dangers of the modern world, the greatest of which is exploitation.

With the exploitation of modern Paganism comes a decline in spiritual depth and ethics. As many Pagans are involved in magickal practices the ethical decline could have serious consequences upon others as well as themselves. Magick is a neutral force, it is neither black nor white. The intent behind it is what produces it's shade. If there is a decline in ethical practices or maybe what is more likely, an ignorance to ethically practices, then magick can have negative consequences, which on occassion can be rather damaging. "If it harm none, do what ye will" is a primary tenant of Wicca which has spread throughout Paganism. Though it is doubtful is this ethical guideline is given it's due respect by those who are dabbling with the magickal side of Wicca, Paganism and ceremonial magick. Television programmes such as "Charmed" and films such as "The Craft" have jumped on the Witchcraft band wagon and fail to pay any heed to the ethics and responsibility which accompany ritual magick and magick in general. The commercial impact of such shows has gave rise to a whole new generation of Wicca-wannabies. The Pagan Federation in Britain, Europe's largest Pagan organization, receives about 200 enquires a month and at least half of these are from teenage girls. State side the growth in Witchcraft amongst teenagers is even greater but for many this is no doubt only a fad. Once they realise that they can't cast spells by the twitch of the nose, they will no doubt eventually lose interest and move on to the next trend. For those who dive deeper into the Craft and Paganism it will open up a world of wonders to them.

Are teens bewitched by Paganism or is it just a fad?

The internet is possibly the greatest example of the growth of Paganism, but you probably know this already since your are reading this! There are cyber covens and ebooks of shadows galore on the net. The quality of the content of many is good, others not so good. There are many spells on the net with ill intent and even spells on teen sites with the intent to raise the dead. This suggests a gross misunderstanding of the modern Pagan movement and produces a very undeveloped sense of ethical practice within the context of general Paganism. It may be a wise idea if Pagan web masters were to focus less on the magickal aspect of Paganism and create works which explore the philosophical, historical, ethical and spiritual elements of Paganism. As these are considerations which that have been largely unexplored on the internet and to a lesser degree also in Pagan literature. Magick in the form of spells, charms, talismans, etc. are not essential to Paganism, however spiritual and ethical virtues are.

Although commericalisation does pose potential difficulties for Paganism it does at the same time present the opportunity for Paganism to flourish. The opportunity of joining a deep rooted traditional group or having a enlightened teacher may never present itself to many Pagans. The only alternative for many to learn of Pagan paths is to be found in literature and the internet. Without the expanding range of Pagan literature available today and the continual growth in web sites this would not be possible. Many of us have found solice in reading our first Pagan book as it confirmed what we may have been feeling all our life. As Paganism continues to grow in size and numbers so will the literature. Spiritual quality is of utmost importance because if this suffers the movement will suffer also. Foundations are still being laid in Paganism and they must be strong to support it for many, many years to come. If the commericalisation of Paganism can grasp the core essence, if it can remain true to the Divine heart of Paganism, then Paganism will only grow stronger.

It seems that this is how the world's oldest living Pagan faith, Hinduism, has survived for countless years. Hinduism seems to have never lost its core essence. Even though it has went through many changes and faced many threats over thousands of years. By never losing sight of it's own essence it has managed to remain true to it's Gods and Goddesses, it's beliefs and it's practices. It has managed to exist when numerous other religions have long gone the way of the Dodo.

What can Hindusim offer contemporary Paganism? Modern Paganism, still in it's infancy, has not yet had the time nor the opportunity to mature and clearly define itself. Today's Paganism faces a great challenge. Modern society is forcing Paganism to grow up fast. The spiritual need to rediscover our Pagan roots seems to becoming ever more apparent. "I hope the Neopagan movement will understand the importance and the immensity of the task" said the renownd Hindu thinker Ram Swarup, commenting on the growth of Western Paganism. He continued, saying that "In certain Western milieux, Paganism has been welcomed because it was supposed to usher in sensuality and hedonism, sexual freedom. But those Pagans must understand that the ancient Pagan philosophers were great mystics and great moralists, and the European [and the entire modern] Pagan movement will have to understand Paganism in this way."

This is possibly where Hinduism can help Paganism to flourish once more in the West. Modern Paganism appears to lack the great mystics and moralists that once walked in it's midsts. Figures such as the ancient Druids, the mystics of the Celts, no longer exist as they once did. The esoteric and philosophical understanding also seems to be rather thin amongst many of us modern Pagans. Whereas the various schools within Hinduism still have their great mystics and moralists, and this seems to be greatest difference between Paganism and Hinduism. Hinduism remains home to those realised beings who are in perpetual conscious communion with their own transcendental Divinity. They have dropped their ego and realized that they are completely unified with the Divine source.

This is not to advocate Hinduism above Western Paganism. Hinduism like any religion has its own particular problems too. Rather it is an acknowledgement that within Hinduism's deeply ancient traditions, which have remained continuous unto this day, a real potential exists to realise one's identity with the Divine source of life. Paganism, as it largely appears on the internet and in literature, seems to be preoccupied with spells for material gain rather than reaching for the highest star which is to return home to the Divine source. Without the Divine being the guiding light, little spiritual depth can be reached. Magick for individual prosperity, although it may have its place within Paganism, offers little or nothing to the soul when the God/dess and their guiding light is forgotten or ignored.

There is much ground for contemporary Paganism to reclaim. Much wisdom has been lost and obscured since the old faiths ruled the lands. Yet it is possible to hold this wisdom and knowledge once more and reclaim our Divine inheritance. By diving deep within ourselves and maybe with some assistance from the texts and teachers of the oldest living Pagan faith, Hinduism, Paganism may be able to fully reclaim it's complete lost spiritual heritage. Hinduism not only offers a living spiritual Pagan tradition but early Hinduism may also be the religion from which much of Europe's Pagan beliefs have their origin. Celtic religion may well be a form of European Vedantic faith (See The Celtic Vedic Connection: Part I) and Wicca appears to owe much to Tantrism. Therefore in exploring the various schools of Hinduism we may find insights into Celtic and Greek spirituality which have so far been unrecognised, the same goes for Wicca and possibly for other Pagan paths.

Certainly one Pagan in agreement with this is Christopher Gerard, editor of Antaios the main Pagan publication of the Societe d'Etudes Polytheistes. His thoughts on this matter is that "India is a conservatory of traditions going back into our most ancient prehistory. The Paganism of our ancestors has miraculously survived there ... Pilgrimage to India is basic for every European Pagan because it allows him to reconnect with the living tradition, which is moreover Indo-European."

We cannot ressurrect the old religions, as religions are largely social constructions. Which means that religions develop and grow in response to the culture and time that they happen to be present in. Within every religion the same spiritual truths can be found, the only differences lie in each particular religion's representations of these truths. The old Celtic religions or Greek religions can never be rejuvinated to exist as they once did. Practically everything has changed since they disappeared. The landscapes have changed, the environment has changed, the people's lifestyles have changed, the social structure, the means of production, education, social conditioning, all these things plus a thousand more have changed. It will never be possible to simply return to the old religions yet this does not mean that we cannot return to the old Gods. It seems that the most intelligent act we can perform is to go on what we know of them, continue to study, explore ourselves, to then reestablish the old religions for our modern age. The old religions must be adapted to our modern culture if they are to take root once more. For them to succeed they must fit our social and spiritual needs.

It is necessary to suitably reestablish the old religions to our present cultural climate. Yet many of the practices of Western culture run contray to modern Pagan ethics. Most evident is the abuse which the environment has suffered at the hands of man. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the 1850s the earth has consistanly been abused in everyway possible. For the greater part man over the last 150 years man has raped and abused his own Mother without giving it a second thought. Generally speaking, mankind's material aspect has came to dominate his spiritual nature and this is reflected in modern society. On the whole Western culture does not lend itself to a spiritual existence. In our modern society there is little place for that which is spiritual. It could be argued that most people today live largely in a spiritual vacuum, with avenues for spiritual development or philosophical consideration being few and far between. Can Paganism or any deeply spiritual path comfortablely co-exist ethically with modern day business, global Capitalism and many of the ways of our age? Is radical change needed at all levels of society and social practices? Where would we begin?

If we are to begin anywhere then it seems that we start by working on ourselves. This is the one place where we can be sure to have an impact. That's the whole point of any spiritual path, to change yourself, not others! We all have so many "if only this was different then the world would be a better place" or "if only you could change X,Y, Z about yourself then I could be happy". First of all we must change ourselves, if we could each do this then little else need be done. We can't change other people, only other people can change themselves. The only person you can change is yourself. If this was to happen, if we were to each work on ourself, then perhaps we could then see that everything, without exception, is completely, 100% perfect and is in accordance with the God/desse's will.

Paganism is experiencing unpresidented growth this now. Paganism as a young religion can no doubt learn much from Hinduism's ancient teachings and it's living testamonies. The greatest assistance it can offer would be helping to reestablish the consciousness of God/dess realization within modern Paganism. Like Hinduism's current mystics and Self-realized souls who having dropped their lower self and can say "I am Brahman", "I am Shiva" or "I am That". Perhaps then Paganism may find that amongst it's midst there will be those enlightened ones who have fully unified their consciousness with the Divine and can say "I am Cernunnos", "I am Isis" or "I am One with the God and the Goddess". If you and I, and every Pagan can strive towards finding this unity that already exists in the deepest depths of our being then this current global Pagan renaissance will be the last. For Paganism will be here to stay and need never be revived again. It will be a unshakable living religion full of joy, wisdom and truth. With it's feet firmly on the earth, it's head looking up towards the stars and it's heart shining like the sun with Love for the God and Goddess.

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