3 Ways Paganism Is a Path of Freedom

The thing I love most about Paganism is that it is a path of freedom. I was raised in a highly controlling religion where my freedom was severely restricted, and finding Paganism was a breath of fresh air. The principle of freedom is woven throughout my practice as a Pagan witch today, and I would argue that it is inherent in Paganism as a whole.

I wrote my book An Apostate's Guide to Witchcraft in part as a celebration of that freedom. For many people, finding a satisfying spiritual path after being trapped in a high-control religion can seem impossible. The fear of being controlled again overwhelms the desire to explore different paths. That is one reason I believe celebrating the freedom of Paganism and witchcraft is so important—to demonstrate the joy that can be found here, and to show that anyone can dip their toes with no commitment. They are free to explore and free to leave whenever they want.

This article showcases the three main reasons I describe Paganism broadly and witchcraft more specifically as paths of freedom. It is a celebration of the things that make our community so special, and a good reason why exploring Paganism doesn't have to be scary.

1. No Centralized Doctrine
Many belief systems today have some form of text or revealed truth at the core of their tradition. The high-control group I was raised in claimed to base their beliefs on the Bible, and selectively quoted it to justify any position they took. Every question I ever asked had a pre-determined answer, and every choice a "correct" outcome. My only responsibility was to obey the doctrine, never to think for myself.

One defining feature of modern Paganism is that there is no centralized doctrine. The term "Paganism" itself encompasses a wide variety of traditions and beliefs, all done differently. There is even a joke that I've regularly heard told that if you ask any three Pagans a question, you'll get four different opinions. Some people may consider this a weakness, but I believe it is a great strength, especially given my background in a highly controlling religion.

Another way of putting this is that Paganism isn't a revealed religion, where all the beliefs have been handed down in the distant past and must simply be adhered to. Therefore, the door to progressive revelation is left wide open. New Pagan traditions are constantly being formed, a beautiful expression of the freedom found here. In short, Paganism is equipped to respond to the challenges of the moment since it is not trapped in the distant past. It is alive and evolving, constantly reinventing itself to meet the needs of people today.

It is true that many Pagans will look to the past for inspiration, particularly to ancient mythologies. However, they are not treated as doctrine, nor are they universally adopted by all Pagan traditions. They serve as inspiration, as symbols in which people can discover enchantment. Individuals inspired by Welsh mythology can quite happily coexist with those inspired by Norse, and even those who look to none, while all walking the same broad and accepting Pagan path.

I personally attend many Pagan events and speak about that a little in the chapter about community in my book. At these events, people from an incredibly wide set of traditions unite under the Pagan umbrella, coming together to celebrate, to learn, and to be in community. To me, this is one of the most beautiful expressions of the freedom of Paganism. It does not seek to divide or insist on being the exclusive custodian of truth. It provides a path to individual enchantment and spiritual satisfaction, a path that cannot be proselytized since you must create it yourself. And that beauty is reflected in the fact that those who find this path can walk it together, regardless of the individual expression of their beliefs.

Building on this, Paganism does not claim to be the way to salvation. It provides a satisfying life in the here and now, but there are no consequences if that path is not for you. Therefore, it does not insist on one way of doing things and can coexist quite happily with other spiritual paths.

However, at the risk of being too corny, with great freedom comes great responsibility. Since there is no centralized doctrine, those who walk the Pagan path become active participants in shaping their belief system. It is not something you passively accept, but something you actively create. Your beliefs reflect your personality and individual values, which means anyone can be accommodated. This leads quite nicely to the second reason Paganism is a path of freedom.

2. Your Identity Is Celebrated
Another beautiful aspect of the freedom inherent in Paganism is that individuals are free to be who they are and express their identity. Doctrine is all too often used by bigoted individuals to justify their personal prejudices. The lack of a central doctrine in Paganism makes this far more difficult.

As a gay man, my identity was completely rejected by the religion to which I once belonged. More tolerant denominations do exist, but even amongst these more tolerant paths, there is a sense of conditional acceptance. You are accepted despite your identity, not because of it; some aspect of doctrine must be ignored or explained away for you to be accepted. Paganism has no such restrictions.

I personally express my Paganism in the form of Witchcraft, and would argue that witchcraft is inherently queer. In fact, there is an entire chapter of my book called, "The Queerness of Witchcraft." Historically, what we would today recognize as witchcraft was utilized by the marginalized in society as a way of claiming power when they had none. It can do the same today: empowering marginalised groups and individuals and providing a sense of community.

Since Paganism is a path of freedom, all the difference aspects that shape who you are can be integrated. Your path becomes a unique and beautiful reflection of who you are as a person, honoring everything that you wish to include. Discovering Paganism provided me with a belief system that honored my identity as a gay man. I did not have to hide who I am but could take pride in and celebrate my identity as part of my spirituality, not in spite of it. That is a freedom I will always cherish.

Of course, this does not mean Paganism is a perfect path. Sadly, there are still bigoted individuals who will identify as Pagan. The difference is that they cannot use their faith to justify their prejudice. They cannot hide behind the structures of their faith and must personally own their beliefs, making them easier to identify. And, on the whole, there is far less acceptance for bigotry among the wider Pagan community. Nonetheless, each and every one of us is responsible for protecting the community we cherish, and having a zero-tolerance attitude towards prejudice of any kind will help protect the freedom we enjoy.

3. The Freedom to Worship Anywhere
I do sometimes feel a twinge of sadness that most of the temples of old are little more than ruins today. In the Western world at least, most religious architecture is devoted to Christianity. While I do love a cathedral, and often visit the local one in Chester just across the border, there aren't really any comparable modern Pagan buildings accessible to me. However, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

For the modern Pagan, a forest, a meadow, or even the living room floor can be as sacred a space as even the grandest cathedral. There are methods for creating sacred space built into many of our traditions, from visualization to casting a circle, and everything in-between. However, perhaps the most sacred of all are those spaces sanctified by nature. Just as the Druids of old would gather in sacred groves, and our ancestors would cast offerings into lakes, Pagans today of all paths love to gather to celebrate and worship in the other-than-human world. The natural world becomes our temple, as sacred a space as any other.

This also strengthens our experience of community, as we forge strong relationships with the spirits who coexist alongside us. Our world expands as we accept not only the human individuals who walk this path alongside us, but also the vibrant world of non-human life. This brings us back to the second point, that Paganism is a path that celebrates your identity. If we can accept that trees have personality, agency, and the ability to communicate, and that they can let us know who they are, why would we ever question the identity another human reveals to us?

On the whole, Paganism loves and celebrates nature. We immerse ourselves in the green world, the land, sea, and sky. There is truly a great freedom in encountering the sacred wherever we happen to be, not confined to any one location but evident everywhere. We can worship wherever we may find ourselves, our gods and spirits are always available to us, walking alongside us among the trees.

The Path of Freedom
As a path of freedom, Paganism will constantly change. What works for us as individuals and as a community today may not always be what works, but we are free to adapt, and that evolution is a good thing. It means Paganism will always rise to the needs of the moment, rather than a static thing that only answers the questions of the past.

An Apostate's Guide to Witchcraft is a glimpse into the way witchcraft can tap into that freedom and provide a satisfying and enchanting spiritual path. But it is also an acknowledgement that Paganism is not the only way. There are many paths to enchantment, and you are free to discover or create the one that works for you.

Ultimately, the freedom of Paganism is rooted in our diverse community. By embracing and celebrating that diversity, both human and non-human, we ensure that freedom will always be a guiding principle on this path. However, it is also important to acknowledge that no belief system is immune to prejudice or being co-opted to exercise control, and that we must be vigilant in protecting the spaces that matter to us. We cannot take the freedom of Paganism for granted, but each play a part in creating and preserving this beautiful tapestry of beliefs and traditions.