Answering YOUR Pagan Questions...

[@ScarletRavenswood]

What are your thoughts on these questions? 😊Would you like me to make a Part 2 where I answer more of your questions?

[@DreaFrederickmusic]

Definitely! This is great!

[@tyson7687]

It would be great to see a part 2. I'd like to hear a bit more about the Norse texts and how you incorporate the text into a religious practice. Does the practice look more like Wicca + Asatru or is it strictly Asatru?

[@warrenwestley8345]

Yes, please

[@druidriley3163]

Yes.

[@robertrdbrooks7658]

Yes! Perhaps these questions can lead to spin-off videos!

[@gemmadoherty8919]

An interesting video! As far as pagans who don't worship deities you might be interested in reading the book 'Godless Paganism'. It's an varied look at many different approaches that take alternative views like animism, pantheism, atheopaganism and other ways of celebrating nature as divine without the personification of gods/goddesses.

[@ScarletRavenswood]

Awesome, I'll definitely check out that book. :)

[@dougarnold7955]

Interesting. ✌

[@douglassmith3941]

My personal beliefs (love your channel) I am more animist in my world view. I'm a solitary eclectic practitioner. I don't ascribe to the wiccan religion totally, I am Norse/ Celtic/ Native American in my practice and philosophy of how I see the universe. I'm more spirit oriented than earth oriented in that we are spirit beings having a human experience. Our bodies are of the earth, but our spirits are of the gods. In the way I personally believe, our bodies die but our spirits are eternal and fall into the reincarnation category and past life. I have never been someone of prominent standing in my past lives, but I have memories. I live a holistic style life. I study many different religions and cultures and world views. I'm always open to hearing about new things, ways and beliefs of others. We are all connected.

[@heatherstubbs5372]

Does anyone remember the old Disney movie “ Thomasina” Love mist of Avalon I’m so waiting for another season of the Witcher 🍀🐌🌻

[@LucisFerre1]

I remember Thomasina.

[@plantifulalexandra]

You should really check out pagan metal bands, you're missing out! :o Highly recommend the band Agalloch, they're even from the US although the sound is very Scandinavian. ;)

[@MeagonHardy-sq3nm]

This is very interesting to learn about.

[@barrygormley3986]

Reading fantasy makes for an excellent companion to studying paganism.

[@jameslew2804]

Treading The Mill was excellent, glad you mentioned it.

[@danaprovenzano3961]

Oh I loved The Mists of Avalon so much !!! You should read Highland Raven by Melanie Karsak - def strong pagan themes and so good !

[@ScarletRavenswood]

Awesome! I'll definitely check out that book :)

[@elizabethgrey6040]

Hey! I loved your video and all the other ones I’ve watch from you so far! I will say that I respectfully disagree on the criteria for what you said could be considered pagan. This is just because I see myself as pagan but I only have a relationship with one god and while nature is appreciated in my beliefs I don’t necessarily centre my focus on it as much as other pagans do. The reason I consider myself to be Pagan despite this is that I worship a god who is considered by many to be a pagan god and existed before Christianity came and labeled him as a demon. If I’m correct, the word pagan was originally an insult used by abrahamic religions in order to demonize other cultural and local religions, right? Then I would argue that any sort of “native beliefs” which are “out shadowed by” or demonized by the major religions today could be called pagan. It’s true that most of these beliefs heavily incorporate nature and are polytheistic, but that’s a trend among them in my eyes rather than an exclusive part of the criteria. As an example, the Yezidi people have a unique religion which is inspired by but separate from Abrahamic religions, and they have been discriminated against devastatingly by ISIS and other extremist Muslim groups in the area because they label them as “pagans.” However, the Yezidis are technically monotheistic and while I don’t know how much of their religion focuses on nature, it doesn’t appear to be as much as Hellenistic or Norse or Celtic etc. Pagans. But because that label has been used against them and they are a pre Christian native cultural religion, I would say they have the right to reclaim that word as part of their identity if they were to choose to do so. I guess rather than seeing the three definitions (nature based, polytheistic and pre main religions) as all being necessary, I think each one of them is on its own a valid example of paganism. Idk those are just my thoughts but I’d love to hear what you think!

[@cleoh666]

Years & Years is my favorite Pagan themed band! I can't wait for the next season of the Witcher 😈💀👌🏽😤

[@ScarletRavenswood]

Awesome, I'll definitely check out that Pagan band. :)

[@_Slaze]

Can you make a Video about Herbalism?

[@druidriley3163]

Don't listen to many pagan bands either. I try to. I tend to find things I like by accident. Loreena McKennitt does a lot of pagan songs. Intentionally, I believe. Other mainstream artists, release tracks that are pagan if you listen to them/read the lyrics ("Hijo de la luna" - Sarah Brightman / "Windsong" - John Denver). I found the band The Moors by complete accident. They never put out another album as far as I know, which is a pity since their Celtic hard rock style is amazing - here is one of their tracks kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqrNn2x9nNGgb5I

[@woodwalker2264]

Has that Air symbol always been in bottom right?...damn i need pay attention lol

[@dragonofark2324]

newest member!! love the content!! but also sine you follow the norse path do you relive in Valhalla?

[@douglassmith3941]

What are some of your favorite personal studies?

[@PixelMurder]

As an atheist I would like to know if you as a pagan can believe whatever you find cool, whatever you see on Netflix or read in a book. I'm somewhat of a fan of the Nordic and Celtic culture but making a religion out of it would be a regression in my eyes. I just can't choose a religion by its coolness factor. I know that there is a concept like "all Gods of the same type are the same God(of smithing, of war, of creation) and all Gods are one God". But it looks very random and either like a hobby in my eyes when you collect Gods from every culture you find cool and make your personal religion out of it.

[@jeremiah.a4891]

As she already stated, she was initially drawn to paganism as a sense of self connection, especially when she discovered it revolves around the appreciation of nature. It didn’t have anything to do with wanting to play dress up, and casting sinister spells lol. It’s just something that fits her interests, which is evidently respecting nature, learning from nature, and utilizing nature for beneficiary purposes.

[@xXHanna84Xx]

Of course you can be pagan without worship. You can work with energies and see gods and goddesses as personifications of that energy.

[@chazzy1gamez80]

So you think magic is real?

[@bm6891]

You think it’s not??

[@jeremiah.a4891]

Our world & universe was a magical creation, undoubtedly. So many variables all had to play together, for in order to establish everything within existence, as is.

[@chazzy1gamez80]

@@bm6891 I dont know.if it is I guess it's very possible I just dont know

[@djhavenm]

I'm in the midst of reading "Godless Paganism" by John Halstead, which is a collection of essays from non-theist Pagans. Some might include gods and goddesses but not literally believe in, others focus their spirituality exclusively on nature. You should understand that there are a lot of us who are drawn to Paganism because of the desire to connect with the Earth. Some of us develop an appreciation for polytheistic gods (I know I have) and some don't.

[@nellh494]

Excellent point and recommendation, another book of interest in this same vein would be Atheopaganism by Mark A. Green for those how may lean in this direction or are interested in learning different viewpoints.

[@dianabakes1]

Yes! I consider myself pagan but don't really work with deities.

[@pagelucas5383]

I appreciate your thoughtful response to my question! Thanks! I come from a Christian upbringing, and I agree wholeheartedly with you that pagans are much more inclusive than Christians! I went to a church where I was wrongly taught that the term "pagan" is synonymous with "sinful person." When I first became interested in paganism I wasn't ready to sacrifice the traditions I had grown up with in church, so I wanted to adopt the label "Christo-pagan." I no longer believed in the Old-Testament (which condemns paganism/witchcraft/divination), but still loved Jesus (who embraced others of different faiths, cultures, etc) in addition to my newfound appreciation for the wheel of the year, nature, feminine divinity... My spirituality is ever evolving as I learn and open myself up to more. So, I try to avoid all labels now. I don't want to limit myself to one "ism" or another. My faith is unlabeled, and I'm fine with that for the foreseeable future. But again, thank you for your perspective! 😁 I was so excited to see that you answered my question!

[@brebytheway]

Hi Page! Just wanted to personally apologize to you that the Christianity you've experienced wasn't inclusive - we have no excuse for that and need to do so much better. There's not much that makes me more viscerally angry than Christians ostracizing other people instead of loving them and including them. im like shaking with anger right now just thinking about it lol

[@gmftr02]

Most books about Slavic Paganism is in Slavic languages, so I don't know what could I recommend you. I think books Živa, Rodosvit, and Jarga by Vladimir Kurovskij may be translated in English 🙂 Sláva Rodu

[@Purpleaggie05]

Christianity bent and morphed to try to accommodate pagans. For example, the saints are similar to the multiple deities and the holidays coincide with pagan holidays. This was done to get more people to convert and accept Christianity. You could morph your Christian beliefs to envelop your pagan deities. It tends to be more Catholic. Keep in mind, in different parts of the world, Catholicism is practiced very differently! In Mexico, Catholicism has a lot of folklore and saint worship that looks an awful lot like witchcraft. Hope that helps! 💜

[@ScarletRavenswood]

Great point :)

[@xXHanna84Xx]

Here are some great pagan/folk artists: Akiko Shikata Elephant Revival Eurielle Erutan Hexentanz Lisa Thiel Peia Luzzi S.J. Tucker Zola Jesus Kellianna

[@michelaviles9889]

Omg you should definitely make a Part 2. Hearing your perspective on all these questions is super helpful for those like me who are relatively new in the Pagan world and are interested in learning as much as possible ✨

[@butterflymagicwithhottea9291]

There are godless pagan. Katey Flowers (youtube) did a book review on a book named: Godless Paganism: Voices of Non-Theistic Pagans Paperback - April 4 2016 , by John Halstead

[@natachaguyot]

Very interesting video! I felt drawn to witchcraft when I was in my teens, and popular culture definitely had a more Wiccan orientation! What I kept with me even as I navigated over a decade of religious turmoil was tarot/astrology/numerology. One thing I find interesting about Paganism vs Christianity is that in European countries such as Slavic regions or Celtic, the Church's approach to incorporate and build upon Pagan practices and choose sacred sites to build monuments had a dual consequence: it both aimed at enforcing the Church over Paganism; but we nevertheless kept some tolerance towards Pagan approaches if not the option of a dual faith (at least in a hush hush manner). Being raised in France, and living several years in Brittany, it was something I could observe, even though there are definitely philosophical differences. A book that is particularly interesting on the topic is "Christianity: The Origins of a Pagan Religion" by Philippe Walter. While I realized I could not remain a Christian for many reasons, I still honor my Slavic ancestry with my Orthodox icons of Mary as aspect of the Goddess, even now that I am growing more comfortable calling myself a Pagan (Slavic/Celtic leaning in terms of pantheons).

[@bpsara]

That's really interesting! Mexico did something similar as well, keeping many pagan and native traditions and disguised them with Christian symbols as a way to keep them safe/alive during the Conquest era. Some of these practices ended up merging with the current form of Mexican catholicism (plus catholic church borrowed a bunch of pagan stuff already). Some are more obvious survivors, such as Día de Muertos.

[@n.e.goldsteen342]

So, if I following your discription of when someone is a pagan: 'you have to believe in/make a relatonship with more gods', than i'm not a pagan. I dont believe in god(s) as persons. I even questioning if humans are 'persons', many times. (But the thing is, that I sometimes do pray to the Big Mysterie; like I did to God when I was a christian.) Loving history, I got inspired by many things from paleopaganism. Like, from the germanic/norse believe in Destiny (Wyrd). Like Spinoza: all things exist thru deterministic processes. and thoes laws of determinism are very lovely told in the in the depiction of the Three Fates, or Three Swans. I have a altar, tho! The cosmos isnt only rocks and lava. It is a fight between choas and order. Chaos is the primal state, order arises from there and following his cycle and goes back to the primal chaos.

[@may_b9466]

Not all pagans believe in God/God/Goddesses I personally don’t do any work focus on a God/Gods but I do respect them and don’t downplay the importance that someone may have with them

[@SeekerOfWisdom]

Great video Scarlet, I deffo think a second video needs to be done

[@ScarletRavenswood]

Thanks! Glad you liked the video :)

[@shadowwitch4796]

Yes please make a Part 2. This was very interesting and will help those who are new to paganism.

[@benjalucian1515]

I recommend "Lavinia" or "The Firebrand" instead of "Mists of Avalon. I prefer books that deal with pre-Christian pagan societies, I appreciate the authors and producers efforts to recreate a pre-Christian cultures without the Judeo-Christian values and morals. Which is why I also recommend HBO's Rome series since it takes place before Christianity was created.

[@danaprovenzano3961]

Oh I loved The Mists of Avalon so much !!! You should read Highland Raven by Melanie Karsak - def strong pagan themes and so good !

[@CrittersAndFetchers]

I loved this video! You should do a part 2! I am very drawn to wicca, excited to learn more about other pagan religions too :)

[@amethyst4990]

I didn't know about Marion Bradley till I looked her up from you mentioning she was horrible. I loved Mists of Avalon ): What a monster I canr look at that book or the movie the same now.

[@memep.9220]

I loved The Last Kingdom Such a good memory~😭😭😭 I mi ghb ht watch the witcher next I might just watch witch movies of all kinds~😊👽💖

[@ladybellabees]

Yay! Thank you so much for answering my question 😍✨🧚🏻‍♀️

[@ScarletRavenswood]

You're welcome! :)

[@redneckrebel6246]

Thanks for your views. Learning so much from you

[@ladybellabees]

Loved your recommendation. I watched and loved Vikings, but totally agree is it very violent! I’m super excited to look into the last kingdom tonight! 😍

[@LucisFerre1]

Using a nom de plume, nom de guerre or magickal name, put in the modern context of harrasing, identity theft, doxing or hacking, reemphasises the lessons learned from True Name Magick and/or The Law of Names.

[@johnoneill919]

Great video Scarlet, i enjoy these q@a type videos, you should definitely do another one.

[@invadertifxiii]

wait can u or someone please dive deeper into the hellenic pagan cuz i follow gaia and only gaia but i also follow more of the celtic paganism with danu version of mother earth but still more gaia. im like eclectic pagan. also if someone could help me understand slavic paganism and deities. i also felt for a bit i was spiritual pagan and didnt worship/follow any diety just the earth

[@invadertifxiii]

the craft and charmed inspired me, i also think outlander now is good cuz claire is a 1700s healer

[@thomaskalbfus2005]

What do you think of the show Vikings by the History Channel? What do you think of the various pagans in the series such as Ragnar Lothbrook, of Floki the boat builder?

[@ScarletRavenswood]

I'm definitely a fan of the show Vikings, Floki is my favorite character. :) Though I like the show The Last Kingdom even more - I think it does a better job portraying Viking history.

[@thomaskalbfus2005]

@@ScarletRavenswood it is fiction, even though it is the history channel, one thing that surprised me was the characters were drawn from legend or history, though I think season 6 took a serious departure with that hot air balloon in 9th century Kiev. Both Christian's and pagans were barbarians, though the Anglo-Saxons, and Francians had better Armor than the Vikings. I am still watching season six the way. I don't like the female Thor that Marvel is trying to push, there are plenty of goddesses in the Norse Pantheon, I don't know why they feel the need to make Thor a woman, and I also think it would be disrespectful.

[@thomaskalbfus2005]

@@ScarletRavenswood I'll take a look at the last kingdom, as soon as I finish with Vikings, I tend to binge watch. Also I don't watch live television anymore. I don't have the patience to tune in next week to see what happens next, I watch television shows on season at a time. You ever watch Indiana Jones? There was a character, who's last name was Ravenwood, that the protagonist ended up marrying and the end of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Marian Ravenwood was her name. Scarlet was the name of the main character in Gone with the Wind.

[@robgau2501]

You're basically the female version of me lol

[@dougarnold7955]

1:35...hmm, I think I had that book...Scott Cunningham...the cover looks different...🤔 ...I think. 🤔, That was many years ago, can't remember... ...3:40...oh yeah! 🤘😀 Practical Magic. (...okay, so I'm a guy and I'm not supposed to like chick movies...but, yeah that's one of my favs...I even had the companion sound track) 😊 ...don't tell anyone...😊 ...I liked The Craft too...

[@melodyart4499]

"True magick is neither black nor white; it is both because nature is both loving and cruel all at the same time. The good or bad is within the heart of the witch. Life keeps a balance on its own." I love the movie The Craft.

[@dougarnold7955]

@@melodyart4499 that makes sense to me. Thanks for the reply...☺

[@princesstar64118]

This was great! I'll love a part 2. 😁

[@BrysonTheRebel2005]

THE LAST KINGDOM!!!!!!

[@afreakaboucher1316]

💗💗💗 .

[@kattykit1710]

Yes to a Part 2 :) Also, do you know where one might find more information on finding one's Pagan name?

[@ScarletRavenswood]

Glad you liked the video. :) Here's a blogpost on the topic of choosing a Pagan name: www.patheos.com/blogs/sermonsfromthemound/2015/07/magical-names/

[@kattykit1710]

@@ScarletRavenswood This is just what I was looking for. Thank you for your help

[@druidriley3163]

Oh, very nice video by the way. I liked your approach to pagan-Christian. You're right, we read in history of many pagan polytheists (including emperor Constantine!) who just added Jesus to their roster of gods to honor, or how pagans back then, adopted Christianity, then dropped it and went on to something else. There was no rule book, as you said. OTH, Christianity does indeed have a rule book and one of their commandments is "Thou shalt not have any other gods before me", which is a buzz killer to pagan polytheists.

[@roxxannel3699]

Im so happy I have found your chanel! I am still reading a bunch and learning my way. All your videos are so helpful.. my ancestors are French and I am leaning towards Celtic Paganism. I have so much learning to do, it is a little overwhelming thank you for being here

[@choedzin]

Have you seen the series "Luna Nera"? You might like it.

[@ScarletRavenswood]

I haven't heard of that series yet. I'll have to check it out. :)

[@choedzin]

@@ScarletRavenswood It's an Italian series on Netflix, but the English dubbing is (as I recall) quite good.

[@DJaneSyria]

I second this suggestion - loved Luna Nera! I hope there’s a second season.

[@druidriley3163]

I disliked Mists of Avalon, mostly because when these books are based somewhat in history, I always hate reading how the pagans lost the battle. I prefer books like Lavinia and series like HBO's Rome that pre-date the Christian era. Even the original movie release of Gladiator was the first movie about pagans in the Christian era that never referred to Christianity. It's a lot more fascinating to me to try to wrap my head around how the pagans lived and honored the gods back then without the Judeo-Christian influence or basically a monotheistic manual to constantly refer to.

[@lele-eh6hh]

this is really late but nothing happens to my candle on the usual but as soon as i put my hand near it, random black smoke starts coming from the candle, what does this mean? should i be worried about it?

[@jasonfilm1]

I appreciate Scarlet being so public about her beliefs.

[@savagerthebadger8082]

Have you seen ritual it's a norse pagan horror movie

[@douglassmith3941]

Definitely make a part 2

[@robertrdbrooks7658]

Hi Scarlet, Monday day off. I enjoyed your new video very much & it's nice to see you have a Patrion for your channel. I follow the Pantheons of Britain & Ireland. Seems it's a melding pot for many Pagan cultures. Celtic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Norse. ★ I had a conversation with a close friend of mine, who isn't "Pagan" or "Christian". Yet we enjoy conversations about the Mysteries of life. Occult, Healthy Living, Self Improvement, Psychic Energy, Chakras, Auras, Super Natural, Para Normal & so on. And that kind of gets me by. I explained to him. Every day, I see mundane people & have surface conversations about everyday life. Yet there's nobody that has in-depth conversations. & I love my mundane friends very much. Yet there's this other half of me that I need to connect with. He replied, "Oh!" Your missing fellowship in your life!" Thank You Scarlet, you help fill that for me & many others. I enjoy your videos, every one. Rusty Brooke.

[@ScarletRavenswood]

Thank you so much for your nice comment! I'm so happy you're part of our Pagan community. :)

[@Purpleaggie05]

Question on the magical/pagan name - I have a first name (magical), is there a purpose or need for a second name (last name)?

[@ScarletRavenswood]

You definitely don't need a last name but it's up to you. :)

[@elvin7rd]

Thank you .

[@taralloyd3820]

I'm drawn to Norse and Celtic paganism but I am also drawn to Wicca and kind of drawn to Welsh stuff, any suggestions? I also have Irish, Welsh, English, Scottish, and Norwegian and Swedish and German ancestry.

[@kylienoelle5593]

Celtic or Norse paganism can be incorporated into Wicca. You can invoke the gods and goddesses from those pantheons in your religious workings and witchcraft. For instance, I'm planning a healing spell and I will be invoking the goddess Sulis, a Celtic goddess of healing waters. I hope this helped a bit.

[@kellylouisebrown4954]

The Mabinogi is a good read for Welsh Folk Lore

[@gwheeler1609]

Scots ... Scotch is a drink

[@gwheeler1609]

@@EresirThe1st From a Scot, no, it isn't

[@gwheeler1609]

Sorry, that sounded blunt, which wasn't what I was going for.

[@jameslew2804]

Lighten up Scotland.

[@gwheeler1609]

@@jameslew2804 Sorry, just educating ;)

[@gwheeler1609]

@@EresirThe1st don't try that in Aviemore. Look, l posted because this channel does nice content, and I thought it would just help to correct some of the misconceptions you crazy cousins of ours across the water have. Wikipedia pages are not allowed as references in thesis in our Universities because it is erroneous. Possibly because someone who has never visited Scotland insists on telling my culture what we are bloody called. How about accepting that Scots know more about Scots and I won't correct you about how wrong you are about whatever culture you come from that I get from a cartoon or internet page.

[@hectoruriarte331]

The gods and goddesses are back i say it alive

[@nonreligionist]

How does a pagan tack on Yahweh when he's a jealous, bigoted, monstrous god??? That one would choose to add him to their pantheon baffles me

[@afreakaboucher1316]

Jehovah you mean but I get your point 💗💗💗 .