3 Pagans And A Cat: Sharing Our Paths In Ritual

My family is unusual in that we are all Pagans but on different paths. I am a Modern Hekataen Green Witch, Car is a Druid, Ode is a Heathen. And our youngest child, who is not part of the 3 Pagans and a Cat podcat, is a Hedge Witch. Each one of us is a solitary practitioner. In fact, the very premise for the podcast is based on conversations we were having at home about our indivual beliefs, deities, and paths.

Even though we have different ways of performing ritual or practicing the Craft, we enjoy coming together to celebrate the Wheel of the Year.  In fact, we use the sabbat rituals of Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh and Mabon to learn from one another. We come together, each sharing a small part of our path, to combine in one ritual honoring all of our deities, practices, and beliefs.

There may be some people who wonder how we do this? How is it possible to bring together our multiple paths into an understandable and cohesive whole for ritual?

Patience and Planning.

There are many ways in which our individual paths intersect when it comes to rituals. So, one of the first things we do when planning a syncretic family ritual is determine what are the similar elements. For instance, I prepare for ritual with a bath or shower. Car and Ode often prepare for ritual with cleansing smoke. When we come together, we combine these by having a bowl of water and a towel to use beforehand. We use incense or an herb bundle for smoke cleansing as well. In this way, both purification approaches are honored.

We approach deities to work with in ritual in a similiar fashion. Are there particular deities whom we each choose to honor during a particular sabbat or ritual? Do we want to include a hymn or prayer for all or focus on one in particular? For example, Lugh is honored during Lughnasadh (it’s his party) as well as Tailtiu. Therefore, Car (who works with Celtic deities) will read the prayer and invocation to Lugh and Tailtiu. I work with the Earth Mother, Hekate, Frigga and Brighid. Therefore, I will include hymns to these goddesses, asking them for their attendance. Ode will be reciting “Hails” to Frigga, Ymir, and Freyr. There will also be some “bribing” of the “Outdwellers” in the way of the Druids and Heathens.

Some of you are may be breaking out in hives right now at the thought of so many deities from different pantheons being hailed and called to one ritual. What can I say? It works for us. We create a sacred space (well, I do. That is from my path, so I create the space) which is welcoming to our deities, ancestors, and spirits. Then, we continue by adding other elements of ritual and/or spellcasting (because I’m a Witch and I always want to include a magickal working) which are meaningful to each of us and the theme of the sabbat.

I’m not going to describe our entire process for creating a syncretic sabbat ritual in this post. What I am going to say, is it is possible to do so in a meaningful way which honors multiple traditions and deities. Maybe it’s because we are family, but for me, these rituals are always beautiful and I learn something new about my loved one’s paths or deities every time (depending on what sabbat or ritual we are observing).

What we do is non-gendered. We all participate as equals in leadership of the rite. And I believe it is an experience others could embrace in public ritual given the time and opportunity to do so. Well, I hope, anyway.  Because my family and I will be leading our syncretic Lughnasadh/Lammas ritual for our local Pagan community at Artes and Craft on Sunday. Those participating will judge whether it is a beneficial experience for themselves.

The reason I’m writing about this is there are a lot of paths/traditions in Witchcraft, Wicca, and Paganism as a whole. Many people practice as solitaries and the only time they come together in the wider community is at events. There are plenty of rituals offered during such events, I know. Rituals which reflect various tradition or paths as a singular experience. How amazing would it be for people to go to at least one ritual where multiple  traditions are honored?

I know this could be a hot mess when you have people working together who might not have reason to do so otherwise. I’m sure it can be hard to get people from the same tradition to work harmoniously in a group setting. However, if people of varied traditions/path can share an intention, are willing to compromise (as in check their ego’s at the door), look for the similarities and rejoice in the differences, then you have the means to create something  powerful.

Just a thought.