Rebecca introduced her talk by saying that a sense of the Sacred in our lives is essential to everyone. She firmly believes that we need to develop our Spiritual sides as the world becomes increasingly materialistic.

Rebecca’s personal quest for a sense of the sacred started during the 1980s when her health was compromised and her life as she knew it, fell apart. She began to feel that her illness, M.E, was a spiritual sickness, a sort of ‘wake up’ call inviting her to search within herself for a meaning and purpose for life. She felt her illness was caused by a spiritual lack, and this forced a major change in her life.

In her quest she observed that for her, the Christian church did not fill her spiritual hunger. What she was really searching for was the sanctity of a female, matriarchal Goddess to which she could align herself. At that time in the 1980s Rebecca found that the church was still very patriarchal. Most female aspects of deity were side-lined to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and consigned to a lady chapel within the churches themselves.

When questioned ‘how did you come to your world view?’ Rebecca’s reply was that there was real and persistent calling to search within her. It would not ‘go away’. The Sacred within us being at our core, led her to both her search and a calling. Rebecca explained that the Pagan tradition reaches back into the ancient world where Gods and Goddesses were part of life and the devil is not acknowledged (it being a Christian construct). However, goodness and evil are part of the Pagan culture. Pagans also believe in reincarnation.

Paganism is an oral tradition; there is no liturgy, dogma or holy book. In Pagan belief Isis is believed to be the Queen of heaven, the great mother figure. She is also the moon goddess. She is honoured because she is seen as accessible; she has an ability to connect to common problems and to people. Importantly she is also a Goddess who can alter fate.

Pagans look for and find the sacred in the natural world. They honour the Universal Spirit – the sun and moon, the tides, the earth, sky, forest, fields, moors. Sensing the presence of Spirit and seeking enlightenment through meditation, Pagans use their senses and the power of the mind – incorporating the concept of the ‘third eye’ – to follow their intuition and attain a connection with the Divine. Rebecca asked us to do an experiment in what Pagans refer to as journeying, i.e. visualising a journey to an inner-world in order to attain a change in personal consciousness.

Rebecca went on to say that Pagans honour the four elements, each of which has a specific significance. These are: Air (mind, inspiration, knowledge); Fire (reaching out to new experiences); Water (using one’s will to focus and probe); the Earth (to be silent). There are eight main Pagan festivals: Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas, Autumn Equinox Samhain and Winter Solstice. She also mentioned the gatherings, which usually take place outside, and where robes are worn and rituals performed before a decorated altar.

Strands of Paganism include Heathen/Wicca/Druidry/Faerie/ N.A. Indian/ Celtic. Rebecca ended by saying it is a cheerful belief system, which promotes joy and freedom and direct contact with the Divine. She closed her talk with an ancient prayer. We thanked Rebecca for an inspiring, informative and fascinating talk.  (Summary: Deb Mawson)