The simple definition of a pagan is a country person. That’s also one of the oldest definitions. In centuries past the country people were less educated. The new Christan faith regarded pagans (or country people) as heathens because they would not give up their old ideas and rites.
As uneducated as they were thought to be, they understood the cycles of the moon. Using these cycles, they knew when to plant and when to harvest. If they lived by large bodies of water they understood how the moon effected the tides and when the best times to fish were.
They understood the power of fire. Not only to heat and cook and light the night sky, but how it could be used to place someone your self in a trance. They read the future in the flames and the ashes.
They knew that the sun, like water was a life giving force. They needed the summer sun for crops to grow. They mourned it’s shortened days of winter and praised the longer days of summer.
The idea, that pagan’s were uneducated is far from true. They may have been country people, but they knew and understood a lot about nature.
And all has not been lost. Many are returning to the pagan ways of nature. We are watching nature and looking for the clues that are left for us. We still use the moon to plant and harvest by. We are relearning the ways of using plants for medicine and cures. We will carry on the old ways.
