Evil pagan rituals have been a topic of controversy and fear throughout history. Paganism refers to the worship of multiple gods and beliefs in nature and its spirits. While many pagan rituals were focused on celebration and harmony with nature, there have been instances where rituals took a dark turn. These evil pagan rituals often involved the sacrifice of animals or even humans. The purpose behind these sacrifices varied, but it was generally believed that they were done to appease or gain favor from the gods. The idea was that by offering something valuable, such as a life, one could ensure the gods' assistance or protection.
Paganism
Questions regarding the Pagan response to suffering and evil can best be understood as two separate issues, even if they are closely related. Suffering, or the experience of pain (whether physical or emotional/mental/spiritual), is an experiential reality, whereas evil is an abstract (metaphysical) concept. Because of this distinction, many in the modern Pagan community have distinct ways of approaching the problem of suffering versus the question of evil. Suffering is part of life. So areis loss, age, sickness, and death. Simply put, suffering is part of nature. We Humans cannot eradicate suffering any more than theywe can suspend gravity, and getting caught up in metaphysical explanations or arguments about suffering simply distract us from the real issue, which is finding ways to prevent unnecessary suffering and to alleviate or mitigate it when it does occur. Evil, which can be defined as a metaphysical principle which that causes suffering or harm, is more problematic than suffering - for while suffering can be documented, evil, as a metaphysical principle, cannot. Evil, therefore, is a matter of faith, and among Pagans, no articles of faith are universally held. Therefore, while some Pagans might choose to believe in the existence of metaphysical principles like good and evil, others argue that such principles are useless or could even be harmful, for example if used to attack or malign others unfairly. Many Pagans prefer terminology like "positive" and "negative," or "order" and "chaos" as alternatives to the categories of "good" and "evil," regarding these categories as so heavily freightedsteeped inwith Judeo-Christian assumptions that their usefulness is limited.
Nevertheless, because of the high degree of tolerance within the Pagan community, adherents are free to form their own opinions about the existence and/or the problem of evil. Whether or not evil exists as a metaphysical principle which that causes harm, and whether or not there may be one or more beings or entities who embody evil are therefore matters of personal opinion. World mythology does include many mythic figures that embody evil to a greater or lesser extent: In Irish mythology, Balor; in Jewish and Christian mythology, Satan; in Persian mythology, Ahriman; in Egyptian mythology, Set; in Norse mythology, Loki. It is important to recognize that not all of these mythic figures represent harm or evil in the same way; for example, while Satan is an embodiment of pure malice, a figure like Loki can be seen as morally ambiguous: chaotic as much as malicious. Beyond the allusions of mythology and the philosophical controversies surrounding evil, the reality of suffering and harm remain. Since these phenomena occur within the natural world, any response to them likewise must be natural. This is not to preclude a spiritual or metaphysical response to suffering; but many Pagans would regard a purely spiritual response to a natural problem as faulty or inadequate. There's no point in casting a spell over someone bleeding without first dressing their wounds. Thus, while various Pagan paths may include a variety of spells, rituals, or prayers to help alleviate or eliminate suffering, such tools would be preceded by "mundane" or non-spiritual responses to the problem. While many contemporary Pagans are critical of mainstream medicine and advocate a variety of alternative healing practices, most recognize that a combination of traditional and alternative healing practices may be necessary, particularly in serious or life-threatening circumstances. (Ffor example, it would be inappropriate to treat severe chest pains only with a healing touch practice like Reiki; a person experiencing such pain needs to be checked by a qualified physician for a possible heart attack.).
How do those who reject the idea of evil explain the existence of pain and suffering? Many say it is simply part of nature, and that questions about why it exists are not nearly as helpful as strategies to help alleviate it when it does occur. Regardless of whether suffering is met with natural or spiritual meansresponses, Pagans are free to respond to suffering in any way they deem appropriate. Seen on a purely naturalistic level, pain and suffering are markers of a condition that needs to change - whether the change comes about through healing the condition thatwhich causes the suffering (or, in extreme cases, through death). Even when a person voluntarily embraces suffering (for example, someone who delays their own personal ambitions in order to care for an elderly relative), the suffering in itself is meaningful only because it is undertaken in service of a clearly understood greater good (in this case, the good of caring for others). There is no dogma or belief that would suggest suffering is always bad (or, for that matter, always noble and virtuous). Any instance of suffering must be evaluated on its own merits, whether it is a problem that must be addressed immediately, or a sacrificial act freely undertaken in honor of a greater good. Few Pagans would subscribe to a belief that suffering is inherently virtuous, but rather would view pain as a condition that, whenever possible, should be remedied. Study Questions:
1. Contrast suffering and evil. Do humans have control over either?
2. How is evil embodied in mythology?
3. How is suffering addressed?
Pagan Faith: Beware the Evil Eye
Where: Pagan roots, believed in my modern Arabs, Jews, and Christians around the world, from India to North Africa, Scandinavia and Britain. Most prevalent in Greece and Turkey.
What’s it about: Hypnotic negative energy caused by envy or ill words
Escape: Hang up a blue stone or garlic
Greeks have passed through many civilisations during their history and have, therefore, adopted foreign cultural elements that have now mixed in with and survived within their own culture. Among them are superstitions such as the Evil Eye, which has its roots in ancient Rome and Greece and shares elements of Paganism and Christianity. The Greek Christian faith accepts the Evil Eye, known as ‘Vaskania’, but strictly forbids the removal of the spell by anyone other than a priest. That hasn’t stopped a number of practitioners, however, openly practicing the removal of the evil eye from victims.
The Evil Eye refers to a type of negative energy transferred from one person to another. The science of parasychology describes the phenomenon as a type of hypnotism, exercising some kind of mind power which is held by certain individuals. Causes vary from staring at someone for a long time, showing admiration or envy, gossiping on a person’s looks, which can have an effect whether it is negative or positive. Compliments are usually believed to be the cause of the Evil Eye.
Common symptoms of the Evil Eye are strong headache, nausea, fatigue or simply a bad mood. According to believers in this superstition, spells can only be broken by people, usually women, who know the right prayers and have been trained to deal with these cases. Practitioners who release victims from the spells pass the prayers on to the next generation.
The idea was that by offering something valuable, such as a life, one could ensure the gods' assistance or protection. These rituals were often conducted in secret or secluded locations, away from the prying eyes of the public. Dark and forbidden practices were believed to bring power, wealth, or supernatural abilities to those who engaged in them.
How to Escape the Evil Eye:
Ways of releasing the evil eye from its victims vary according to the location, but one of the most commonly used methods is the following: The practitioner will take a glass of water, into which they will pour some drops of olive oil. If the oil stays on top then you are fine. If, however, the oil reaches the bottom of the glass or dissolves then the Evil Eye is on you, and the spell must be broken. By whispering prayers, making cross signs and crossing your forehead with the water and oil in the glass, the spell is slowly removed while you yawn. The practitioner should stand quiet yawning for a while, and as the spell is broken the ritual concludes. It might seem like an odd ritual but unless you experience it you can not really understand how intense it is.
Blue eyes are considered a protection against the evil eye, and for that reason, to avoid catching the Evil Eye a lot of people use a blue eye stone which can be seen hung up in houses, cars, or even used as a necklace or bracelet. Garlic is also used to ward off the Evil Eye. Another way to avoid the spell when paying a compliment is to start by spitting three times on the person to receive the compliment.
By Villy Ioannou
Romanian Pagan Traditions That Led Me to Jesus Christ
Last year I deleted over a quarter of my blog posts. Hours of work. It wasn’t easy. I’ll explain. But first of all, If you’ve been following Peasantartcraft for a very long time, then I must apologize for all those teachings I helped spread on my blog: Romanian pagan traditions, symbols and meanings. Something I wish I knew before I started my blog. I didn’t. I thought they were fairly innocuous, nothing but powerful stories in marketing. Stories sell.
So I began my research into ancient Romanian pagan traditions, rituals, signs and symbols and my fascination grew from there. I was attracted to all the sewing symbols and signs that originated from my ancestors’ thirst of communication with God. How they would represent symbols with meaning on clothes, textiles and even on their houses and gates. The column, the stair, the tree of life, the flight of the great bird as gates to the sky. How they would use magical symbols, like roosters and horse head carvings for protection against evil, or symbols to attract abundance or luck.
During all of this I was continuing to dig deeper into Romanian pagan traditions, rites of passage, pastoral rites so my posts got infused with magic. I participated in summer solstice (Sânziene) and winter solstice rituals (Malanca) and proudly shared on Peasantartcraft. Until the day I came across this:
Winter solstice ritual of The Goat: „Of all the animals, the goat is closest to the devil; he is often represented as a goat”- like baphomet-” the purpose of the Goat ritual lies in the transfer of powers from the sacred figure of the goat to the household and property of the farmer; the whole ceremony aims at obtaining fertility, guaranteeing the health of the hosts, and invoking abundance in livestock and animals;” (Capra / Dicționar de simboluri și credințe tradiționale românești – Romulus Antonescu)
Ritual of the Horse: A simple horse mask, under which a performer is hiding, or a wooden horse figure worn attached to the waist with a girdle, are part of the New Year’s rituals. The horse visits every household, where it “plays”, inciting the hosts. The manifestations are intended to ward off evil and fertilize. From a mythological perspective, the horse signifies evil and inclusion into the demonic space; In oral literature the horse appears as a vegetative demon. In Romania, horse heads are present at the end of the beams that support the roofs, on gates, benches, on children’s cradle etc. ( Cal / Dicționar de simboluri și credințe tradiționale românești – Romulus Antonescu)
And it goes on and on…
The Old Man and The Old Woman – Demons of the land;
The Bear – protective demon driving diseases away.
My spiritual eyes opened and I clearly understood the force of these rituals. Even if they look innocent and playful, they bear unsuspected meaning in the spiritual realm. I strongly believe that they are worship of the demons that control this fallen world. Because people were always aware of the forces that control this world, they tried to make friends with these beings through offerings, sacrifices and magic. Not to mention that they always ask for your permission before playing. And people say yes without being fully aware of what they open themselves to.
I was shocked to know that even the New Year’s fireworks are pagan rituals intended to ward off evil. I came to the conclusion that these pagan rituals were not lost but were adapted to our modern times. „What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” I realized that all these rituals are wrong, just because they were not initiated by God, but by man and they actually add to the spiritual downfall into the occult.
So I went on searching for the way I can be saved from all this. I wanted to know what God says about it, so I began studying the Word of God. I repented and got into a relationship with Jesus Christ and He changed my life in ways I could never imagine, always for the better. I stepped back from paganism and deleted a lot of posts related to that. My blog today is only about crafts. But still, I sadly see that the seeds I sowed in those years of complete darkness are „bearing fruits” today, as some writings were featured on other channels too. Hoping to set the record straight, once again, I apologize for drawing you into those occult teachings.
This resulted in a deep sense of fear and mistrust associated with paganism in certain communities. Despite the negative connotations, it is important to note that not all pagan rituals were evil. Many ancient cultures celebrated their gods through joyful ceremonies and rituals aimed at fostering a sense of connection with the natural and spiritual world. These rituals often involved dance, music, and feasting. In modern times, evil pagan rituals are considered rare and are generally condemned by both pagan communities and mainstream society. The vast majority of pagans today practice peaceful and harmonious rituals, emphasizing love for nature and its spirits. It is crucial to distinguish between historical accounts and stereotypes of evil pagan rituals and the reality of modern pagan practices. The past should not define the present, and judgments based on outdated perceptions should be reexamined. Understanding and tolerance are necessary when discussing the topic of evil pagan rituals, as they reflect a small fraction of the rich and diverse history of pagan beliefs and practices..
Reviews for "Evil Pagan Rites: A Journey Through Horror and Devotion"
1. John - 1 out of 5 stars:
I found "Evil pagan rituals" to be deeply disturbing and offensive. The film capitalizes on stereotypes and misrepresentations of pagan practices, presenting them as inherently evil and destructive. As someone who follows a pagan spiritual path, I was offended by the film's blatant ignorance and lack of respect for diverse beliefs. It perpetuates harmful stereotypes and fails to provide any meaningful understanding or exploration of pagan rituals. Overall, "Evil pagan rituals" was a disappointment and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking an accurate portrayal of pagan practices.
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars:
I had high hopes for "Evil pagan rituals" as a horror film fan, but I was left disappointed. The movie advertised itself as a chilling exploration of pagan rituals, but it lacked depth and originality. The plot was predictable, the characters were one-dimensional, and the scares were mostly jump scares that relied on cheap thrills rather than genuine suspense. Additionally, the portrayal of pagan rituals was clearly sensationalized and exaggerated for shock value, which detracted from any potential for a thought-provoking storyline. Overall, "Evil pagan rituals" failed to deliver a compelling horror experience and I would not recommend it to fellow horror enthusiasts.
3. Emily - 1 out of 5 stars:
I watched "Evil pagan rituals" hoping for an intriguing portrayal of pagan practices, but the film was nothing short of offensive and culturally insensitive. The depiction of paganism as inherently evil and associated with violence and demonic forces is a tired stereotype that perpetuates misunderstanding and fear. Furthermore, the lack of research and accuracy in the portrayal of pagan rituals was evident and disrespectful to those who follow these spiritual paths. I was deeply disappointed by the film's failure to present a nuanced and respectful exploration of paganism, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a genuine understanding of these beliefs.
4. Michael - 2 out of 5 stars:
I was left underwhelmed by "Evil pagan rituals." The film built up the anticipation for an eerie and unsettling exploration of pagan practices, but it fell flat in execution. The storyline lacked coherence and the scares were cliché and uninspiring. Additionally, the portrayal of pagan rituals felt shallow and sensationalized, missing an opportunity to delve deeper into the intriguing aspects of pagan spirituality. While the cinematography was impressive, it couldn't save the film from its lackluster plot and lack of genuine scares. Overall, "Evil pagan rituals" failed to live up to its potential and I would recommend looking elsewhere for a more engaging horror experience.