All space is sacred space. Every inch of Mother Earth holds a specially energized connection to some living creature, and is therefore to be honoured.

We believe the Earth is indeed alive -- every plant, tree, leaf and rock has it's own sacred space; every creature, from the smallest ant or spider through the greatest buffalo, elephant and ox are sacred, and to be cherished and honoured. We do not hunt for sport, but for necessity. Every animal who loses it's life by our hands has a prayer said over their body, a prayer asking forgiveness for taking it's life; and also of thanks and guidance, so that their spirit might find it's way to the summerlands in peace. Every single inch of the animal is put to use, from it's hide (or feathers) for clothing, blankets and shelter, to the meat on it's bones for nourishment. Even the bones are used, to make the tools with which we better our lives. Items such as needles, fastenings, small spearheads and more are made from the bones alone; and some animals bones are even used for divination and healing.

Wicca

Witches, on the whole, enjoy ritual; and they are naturally joyous people. Like worshippers of other religions, they find that appropriate ritual uplifts and enriches them. But their rituals tend to be more varied than other faiths, ranging from the formal to the spontaneous and differing also from coven to coven, according to their individual preferences and the schools of thought (Gardnerian, Alexandrian, "Traditional", Celtic, Dianic, and Saxon, to name a very few) on which they have based themselves.

But as the twentieth-century Wiccan revival matures, the inter-school "bickering" is all but a thing of the past. Some individuals of differing schools do still bicker over the finer points distinguishing one school from another; however, some condemn this petty bickering as pointlessly disruptive, and most ordinary covens are simply bored with it. The years have taught them that their own path works; and if they have friends of other paths, they have also come to the understanding that those paths work too.

Out of this mutual tolerance has grown an increased awareness of Wicca's common basis, its essential spirit which has little to do with the details of form. Also, with the exchange of ideas both through the printed word and through more open personal contact, there is a growing body of shared traditions on which everyone may draw.*

Suffice it to say, in summary, that we are not so very much different from anyone else. Just because our belief of who and what the driving force, the "powers that be" in the universe are or is, differs from yours, does that mean we are less than you, or anyone else?

If you are anywhere near honest with yourself, then the truthful answer to the above question is a resounding "NO"

Paganism

Although our Pagan ancestors honoured - even deified - natural forces in their religions, they did so because their lives were dependent upon these forces for successful hunting and a good harvest. Today, life is very much changed, and the average person is practically divorced from nature, and it would not be feasible for most of our modern Pagans to try to return to the more natural life-styles of the past. Therefore, modern Paganism concentrates on a more spiritual ideal; striving for higher consciousness and spirituality. But we do continue to revere the Earth-Mother, the power and beauty of the natural Universe, and the universal Archetypes within ourselves. By living in harmony with the rhythms, the tides and the forces of the Cosmos, we will be more complete persons; enjoying health of body, strength of mind, and greatness of soul.

Our rituals are deeply reverent and rich in symbolic content, but they are best performed where there is privacy. It is very sad that religious bigotry can still flourish in a nation that was founded on freedom of belief. Even though morals, ethics, and clean living are important to our way of life, we find it necessary to practice our religion in a subdued manner. We do not want to draw attention to ourselves and abuse to our children from people who may be prejudiced against a religion that is different from their own. Usually this prejudice is based solely upon misinformation and ignorance.

There are also a number of falsehoods circulating about Pagan religious practices (drug abuse, promiscuity, animal sacrifice and worse); and although we may try our best to be above board in every way, it may be a long time yet before we can put down these nasty accusations -- accusations that were originally contrived so that the Church could have a justification for executing all of its rivals. Today no one believes that Jews murder and eat little babies as part of their religious rituals; yet that belief was common in the Middle Ages. The Jewish faith has now won respectability, and by being exemplary in our moral behaviour and social usefulness, we also hope eventually to attain acceptance and respectability.**

IN SUMMARY

1) Native American, Wiccan and Pagan alike are all religions based on love of our Earth Mother; all of us, in our own way, prefer to believe that the Earth itself is alive; indeed, that it has a living, breathing presence, a voice, audible to those of us who wish to hear it and live in harmony with it.

2) No matter our base beliefs, our main goal and fondest wish is to live in harmonoy and peaceful coexistence with all who inhabit this great Earth; be the entities animal, insect, plant or human.

3) There are still rampant misconceptions about our various religions; ones we wish to banish, not with harsh words or violent protests, but with the quiet honour and dignity prevalent within our belief system.

4) And last, but certainly not least: Our "golden rule", put so eloquently by the first Wiccans known to exist, long before the birth of Christ.......

Mind the threefold law you should
Three times bad, three times good
Ever mind the rule of three
Lest in self defense it be

In closing, I would first like to state that this page is an ongoing project, always under construction, as I reach out and expand my own horizons of understanding about different types of Earth Based Religion.

I would sincerely like to thank you for visiting and taking the time to read (and hopefully understand) what I have presented here for you. Thank you, one and all, for visiting with me here today. I wish you safe travels, peaceful lives, pleasant dreams (both night and day dreams)and bright blessings.

Merry Part and Blessed Be