What do you think?
Rate this book
Pagan Pathways
This book offers a perfect introduction to the subject, covering a fascinating range of topics including a discussion of the goddess as a source of healing for modern women; How Wicca is practiced; and what it means to be a Celt today.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2001
About the author
Graham Harvey
22 books1 followerGraham Harvey, Ph.D. (University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1991), is a religious studies scholar specializing in modern Paganism, indigenous religions and animism. He was was head of the religious studies department at the Open University (2013–17), reader and principal lecturer in religious studies at the King Alfred's College, Winchester (1996–2003), and taught religious studies at his alma mater (1991–95).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 26, 2026
A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF ESSAYS BY A VARIETY OF AUTHORS
Co-editor Charlotte Hardman wrote in the Introduction to this 1995 book, “Paganism or neo-Paganism is fast developing as the new religion of the 21st century, a religion based on Nature worship and ancient indigenous traditions. The contributions for this volume were brought together to fill a gap in the literature on Paganism. Although there is a growing literature on Druidry, Wicca, Shamanism, and Goddess Spirituality, there are few looking at Paganism in general.’’
“The number of Pagans in Britain and the United States is growing fast… the number given by Margot Adler for active, self-identified Pagans in the United States is 50,000 to 100,000… In spite of this increasing popularity Paganism remains a much misunderstood new religion. Most people’s prejudices are based on misrepresentation by the media and opposition from Christians who often, without knowing much about it, see it as New Age or occult and hence evil. Paganism has become for many a loaded word along with the pejorative use of the word ‘pagan’ meaning ‘uncivilized,’ ‘heathen,’ or ‘irreligious because unchristian,’ rather than its literal meaning of ‘rural.’…”
“For all Pagans there is no place for either dogma or proselytizing. The Pagan Federation Statement of the following three principles reflects the basic beliefs of many Pagans: *Love for and Kinship with Nature; *The Pagan Ethic: ‘Do what thou wilt, but harm none.’ This is a positive morality, not a list of thou-shalt-nots… *The Concept of Goddess and God as expressions of the Divine reality.” (Pg. ix-xi)
Prudence Jones explains, “Let me state what I mean by ‘Pagan.’ A Pagan religion has three characteristics. It is polytheistic, recognizing a plurality of divine beings… It sees the material world and its laws… as a manifestation of divinity… Finally, Pagan religions recognize the female face of divinity, called by modern Pagans the Goddess.” (Pg. 34) Later, she adds, “Some modern Pagans even call their way the path of ‘individually experienced religion.’” (Pg. 37)
Co-editor Graham Harvey wrote in his essay, “While most modern Pagans claim Celtic origins for their tradition, many of the ancestors of the people of Britain were Germanic or Scandinavian in origin. A growing number of groups and individuals are drawn to the traditions and history of these peoples for inspiration. Many (though not all) such people and groups prefer to name themselves ‘Heathen’ rather than ‘Pagan.’ (Heathen is a north-European equivalent of the Latin-derived name ‘Pagan,’ having similar connotations for those who use it.)” (Pg. 49)
He also notes, “Some … Heathen groups have expressed concern (and considerable opposition) to Edred Thorsson (at least partly) because of his status as a leading member of the Temple of Set, a ‘Satanist’ organization. Indeed his books on the Runes are frequently indistinguishable from his Temple of Set writings… However, previous to their discovery of his Temple of Set connections these same groups warmly recommended Thorsson’s ‘Futhark,’ if not his other works. It seems they have fallen prey to the more widespread ‘Satanism scare,’ now hopefully dying away.” (Pg. 58)
Vivianne Crowley observes, “The role of women is important in all modern Pagan traditions. Women are usually seen as essential in the priesthood. Since the divine expresses itself as female and male, the gods are best served by priestess AND priest." (Pg. 84)
Richard Sutcliffe explains, “It should be noted that this differentiation of ‘occult’ and ‘esoteric’ is somewhat different from a more common and, it must be said, ideologically loaded understanding of the terms which reflects the Left-Hand (occult) versus Right-Hand (esoteric) approaches to ritual magic which have emerged as discrete currents of Western esotericism during the 20th century.” (Pg. 113)
Adrian Harris states, “For me, Paganism is not so much a set of beliefs as a way of relating to the world. The wholeness I have spoken of, that oneness of everything which we experience in moments of spiritual knowing, is what I call the sacred, and Pagan ritual is both a path to the sacred and a way of honoring it. In our rituals we reconnect with ourselves, healing the rift between body and mind through ecstatic dance, chanting and the drama of ritualized myth. We lose our ego-centered selves and achieve that somatic knowing of the unity of everything. It is in these moments of spiritual ecstasy that we know the wisdom of the body.” (Pg. 153)
Marion Bowman says in the closing essay, “Pagans tend to associate New Age with the marketing of spirituality, but there is undoubtedly a commodification angle to the current pagan Celtic scene. At the general level, it is possible to buy a huge variety of Celtic or quasi-Celtic consumer goods: Celtic jewelry, Celtic coasters, Celtic watches, Celtic socks, Celtic clocks, Celtic mugs, Celtic T-shirts, Celtic ties, Celtic cards, and so on. Many people are attracted to such merchandise because they find it visually pleasing, and use it to express their affinity with things Celtic… There is an element of consumer choice in people’s brand of Paganism, in their brand of Celticity (e.g., Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Pan-European, universalist), and in the practical ways they choose to acquire and express Celticity (e.g., as Celtic shaman or Druid/Druidess in one of the increasingly numerous and varied orders). ‘Mix and match’ spirituality is NOT the sole preserve of New Age.” (Pg. 249-250)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying any one of a number of ‘Pagan’ paths.
Co-editor Charlotte Hardman wrote in the Introduction to this 1995 book, “Paganism or neo-Paganism is fast developing as the new religion of the 21st century, a religion based on Nature worship and ancient indigenous traditions. The contributions for this volume were brought together to fill a gap in the literature on Paganism. Although there is a growing literature on Druidry, Wicca, Shamanism, and Goddess Spirituality, there are few looking at Paganism in general.’’
“The number of Pagans in Britain and the United States is growing fast… the number given by Margot Adler for active, self-identified Pagans in the United States is 50,000 to 100,000… In spite of this increasing popularity Paganism remains a much misunderstood new religion. Most people’s prejudices are based on misrepresentation by the media and opposition from Christians who often, without knowing much about it, see it as New Age or occult and hence evil. Paganism has become for many a loaded word along with the pejorative use of the word ‘pagan’ meaning ‘uncivilized,’ ‘heathen,’ or ‘irreligious because unchristian,’ rather than its literal meaning of ‘rural.’…”
“For all Pagans there is no place for either dogma or proselytizing. The Pagan Federation Statement of the following three principles reflects the basic beliefs of many Pagans: *Love for and Kinship with Nature; *The Pagan Ethic: ‘Do what thou wilt, but harm none.’ This is a positive morality, not a list of thou-shalt-nots… *The Concept of Goddess and God as expressions of the Divine reality.” (Pg. ix-xi)
Prudence Jones explains, “Let me state what I mean by ‘Pagan.’ A Pagan religion has three characteristics. It is polytheistic, recognizing a plurality of divine beings… It sees the material world and its laws… as a manifestation of divinity… Finally, Pagan religions recognize the female face of divinity, called by modern Pagans the Goddess.” (Pg. 34) Later, she adds, “Some modern Pagans even call their way the path of ‘individually experienced religion.’” (Pg. 37)
Co-editor Graham Harvey wrote in his essay, “While most modern Pagans claim Celtic origins for their tradition, many of the ancestors of the people of Britain were Germanic or Scandinavian in origin. A growing number of groups and individuals are drawn to the traditions and history of these peoples for inspiration. Many (though not all) such people and groups prefer to name themselves ‘Heathen’ rather than ‘Pagan.’ (Heathen is a north-European equivalent of the Latin-derived name ‘Pagan,’ having similar connotations for those who use it.)” (Pg. 49)
He also notes, “Some … Heathen groups have expressed concern (and considerable opposition) to Edred Thorsson (at least partly) because of his status as a leading member of the Temple of Set, a ‘Satanist’ organization. Indeed his books on the Runes are frequently indistinguishable from his Temple of Set writings… However, previous to their discovery of his Temple of Set connections these same groups warmly recommended Thorsson’s ‘Futhark,’ if not his other works. It seems they have fallen prey to the more widespread ‘Satanism scare,’ now hopefully dying away.” (Pg. 58)
Vivianne Crowley observes, “The role of women is important in all modern Pagan traditions. Women are usually seen as essential in the priesthood. Since the divine expresses itself as female and male, the gods are best served by priestess AND priest." (Pg. 84)
Richard Sutcliffe explains, “It should be noted that this differentiation of ‘occult’ and ‘esoteric’ is somewhat different from a more common and, it must be said, ideologically loaded understanding of the terms which reflects the Left-Hand (occult) versus Right-Hand (esoteric) approaches to ritual magic which have emerged as discrete currents of Western esotericism during the 20th century.” (Pg. 113)
Adrian Harris states, “For me, Paganism is not so much a set of beliefs as a way of relating to the world. The wholeness I have spoken of, that oneness of everything which we experience in moments of spiritual knowing, is what I call the sacred, and Pagan ritual is both a path to the sacred and a way of honoring it. In our rituals we reconnect with ourselves, healing the rift between body and mind through ecstatic dance, chanting and the drama of ritualized myth. We lose our ego-centered selves and achieve that somatic knowing of the unity of everything. It is in these moments of spiritual ecstasy that we know the wisdom of the body.” (Pg. 153)
Marion Bowman says in the closing essay, “Pagans tend to associate New Age with the marketing of spirituality, but there is undoubtedly a commodification angle to the current pagan Celtic scene. At the general level, it is possible to buy a huge variety of Celtic or quasi-Celtic consumer goods: Celtic jewelry, Celtic coasters, Celtic watches, Celtic socks, Celtic clocks, Celtic mugs, Celtic T-shirts, Celtic ties, Celtic cards, and so on. Many people are attracted to such merchandise because they find it visually pleasing, and use it to express their affinity with things Celtic… There is an element of consumer choice in people’s brand of Paganism, in their brand of Celticity (e.g., Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Pan-European, universalist), and in the practical ways they choose to acquire and express Celticity (e.g., as Celtic shaman or Druid/Druidess in one of the increasingly numerous and varied orders). ‘Mix and match’ spirituality is NOT the sole preserve of New Age.” (Pg. 249-250)
This book will be of keen interest to those studying any one of a number of ‘Pagan’ paths.
August 4, 2011
This is a re-release of Paganism Today (1995) by the same editors under a newer and more attractive cover. While I really liked the articles, I detest the marketing of them as a "new" book.
June 7, 2009
This book was very good. I felt I could relax while learning. There was something relaxing in the way the words were arranged. Still analyzing this and the content of the book itself.
September 10, 2013
Fascinating look at the different Pagan paths and their places in the modern world. Essential reading for any Pagan, 'New Ager' or just someone with an interest in nature religions.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews