Paganism finds its path in Leeds

A happy Debra in her robes at Stonehenge

Debra Scott, from Woodlesford, is a Medical Technical Officer at St Jimmy's with a penchant for buying too many handbags.

She is also very proud to be a witch.

Debra is one of Leeds' pagans and founded the organisation Leodis Pagan Circle.

Paganism is an ambiguous word because there isn't a single belief system, but it describes ancient traditions pre-dating Christianity.

This month, the Home Office officially recognised the Pagan Police Federation. Officers can now apply for leave on any of the eight pagan festival dates they deem relevant, in return for working on other dates such as Christmas which hold no significance to them.

Ancient faith was influenced by the natural world and the threat posed by the elements.

However, Debra definitely lives in the modern word, even describing herself as a 'techno pagan'.

Debra is used to explaining her beliefs and rituals to a sceptical audience because she is keen to correct the many wrong assumptions that people make, often assuming that rituals include devil worship, godlessness and hedonism.

Open ritual

She patiently explains: "Thoughts like that are completely wrong. We worship God and Goddesses and definitely don't believe in the devil.

The eight Sabbats Samhain - 31 October Yule - c 21 December Imbolc - 2 February Vernal Equinox - c 21 March Beltane - 30 April Summer Solstice - c 21 June Lammas - 1 August Autumnal Equinox - c 21 September

"We revere nature so we have evidence of our divinity in the nature around us."

Worship is carried out as an open ritual at several sites including a stone spiral and stone circle in Leeds.

Many Christian festivals are based on an older pagan celebration, one example is Easter.

"Ostara is our celebration of the Goddess, Eostre. The symbols of Eostre are the hare and an egg, so I really know what my Easter egg means to me when I eat it.

"We pagans predate many of the major religions of today."

Pagans do not worship the devil and their practices do not involve harming people or animals.

Rhythms of the seasons

Even some Christian churches are thought to be sited at places that already had a deep meaning to the local population.

In those pre-Christian days many people did not travel far from their home village and were closely connected to the land and tuned to the rhythms of the seasons that were vital to provide food.

"Our mythology is based around the growing cycle, our god sacrifices himself for the good of the community."

In those dim and distant times people were worshipping very personal gods that were sometimes only known and celebrated in their own locality. Travel was limited and many people did not leave their own immediate area.

"Pagan means 'of the locality' in Latin, really we were being called 'country bumpkins'. The majority of people couldn't read or write at the time, so many things were first written down by the only literate part of the population, monks, and they of course started with the Bible.

"That's why much of our ritual is in rhyme, making it easier to remember and repeat and that rhyming would have been especially useful when people were illiterate and everything was passed on by word of mouth."

Techno pagans

Despite been connected to a very old religion Debra and her fellow pagans do not live in the past, they use many modern contraptions to spread the word. Websites are used to help people searching for online information.

Debra is unapologetic, "We use modern technology because we live in the modern world, beside how far back do you go to be traditional?

"After much thought we even use battery-lit candles during some rituals and we use CDs if we have no chanters.

"I think we are techno pagans!"

Taking part in a Samhain ritual

Debra is currently planning a 'hand-fasting' or pagan wedding and is hoping for good weather or as she says "calling for the elemental guardians to come".

The Leodis Pagan Circle are working hard to be included with other faith groups in the city. Debra would also be keen to see an option of Pagan included on the census form.

"People of other faiths have been extremely accepting of us, we celebrate sameness and accept differences.

"As a group we have never experienced negativity from people. People have come up during our rituals and asked questions and even shared our food and drink.

"We don't proselytise. We believe if paganism is the path for you you'll find us".

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You can contact Leodis Pagan Circle by email [e-mail]

The Northern Oak Autumn Equinox Festival will be held in Rothwell on Saturday, 25 September 2010, organised by the Pagan Federation North East.