Beyond Urban Mysticism: A Tour Through Earth-Based Spiritualities

When you think of Paganism, what comes to mind?

A bonfire under the full moon? A witch in all black? Maybe druids with staffs or goddesses with flowing hair? Or perhaps you’re not quite sure what it even is — except that it seems old, mystical, maybe a little rebellious. For some, the word Pagan conjures images of nature, ritual, and magic. For others it might trigger unease. Devil worship? Dangerous cults? Something dark and forbidden?

Let’s clear that up right away: Paganism has nothing to do with Satanism or “evil.” In fact, it’s often about honoring nature, cycles, ancestors, and community — with deep respect and care.

Modern Paganism may look unfamiliar to some, but at its heart, it’s a spiritual return to relationship — with the Earth, with story, with something sacred that lives beyond institutions and dogma. Let’s start there. Because Paganism, in the modern world, is less about aesthetic and more about orientation — a worldview that sees the sacred in nature, honors cycles, and seeks connection over control. And while it may draw inspiration from pre-Christian belief systems, modern Paganism isn’t about trying to re-live the past. It’s about weaving the old ways into the present moment — and making space for something alive, evolving, and deeply personal.

Think of Paganism as an umbrella — and under that umbrella are many, many paths.

Some people pray. Some don’t. Some cast spells, some light candles, some drum under the stars. Some go to festivals, some practice alone in their kitchen between emails and childcare. There’s no single dogma, no central scripture, no one right way to be.

And that’s part of the beauty.

A Brief (and Honest) History

The word Pagan originally came from the Latin paganus, meaning “rural” or “country dweller” — a term used by early Christians to describe people who still followed their traditional, local, often polytheistic religions. Over time, it became a label for anything non-Christian, often used with a mix of suspicion and condescension.

But the traditions now called Pagan weren’t one unified religion. They were a mosaic of spiritual systems — indigenous to their regions, woven into daily life, honoring land, ancestors, and local deities. From the Celts and Norse to the Greeks, Egyptians, and Babylonians, “Pagan” life was diverse, fluid, and often deeply rooted in the cycles of the Earth.

When Christianity spread across Europe, many of these traditions were suppressed, demonized, or absorbed. Sacred groves were cut down, goddesses recast as demons, and festivals rebranded with new names.

Fast forward to the 19th and 20th centuries, and something started stirring. Scholars, spiritual seekers, and rebels began to reimagine what it meant to connect with nature, the divine feminine, and ancestral wisdom. Out of this came Modern Paganism — also called Contemporary Paganism, Neo-Paganism, or simply The Craft, depending on who you ask.

Today’s Paganism isn’t a historical reenactment. It’s a living revival — shaped by modern values, identities, and needs.

Modern Paganism Is Not a Time Capsule

This is a crucial point: Modern Pagan paths are not frozen replicas of ancient religions. While they may draw from historical sources, myths, rituals, and archaeological records, they are being lived today by people with smartphones, trauma, neurodivergence, queerness, and feminist politics.

And unlike many organized religions that center sacred texts written centuries ago, most Pagan paths do not follow a fixed scripture. This allows the traditions to evolve — to grow alongside culture rather than being bound to it.

While ancient paganism—at least in part— knew patriarchal hierarchies and social hierarchies, modern paganism presents itself as far more inclusive, flexible, and ethically aware. Many of its traditions explicitly reject racism, sexism, and fundamentalism. There is space for queerness. Space for doubt. Space for you—and for a practice that feels authentic, not just inherited.

In short: Paganism today isn’t about looking backward. It’s about rooting deeply here, and blooming forward.

A Tour Through the Many Paths Under the Pagan Umbrella

Let’s meet a few of the many traditions that fall under the Pagan and earth-based spirituality umbrella. This isn’t an exhaustive list — more like a sampler platter to show the diversity and richness of modern practice:

Wicca

A modern witchcraft religion that emerged in the 1950s, Wicca honors both Goddess and God, celebrates the Wheel of the Year, and works with ritual and magic as forms of spiritual connection. Some Wiccans practice in covens, others walk a solitary path. It’s one of the most well-known Pagan traditions — but just one branch of a much wider witchcraft spectrum.

Druidry

Rooted in inspiration from ancient Celtic spirituality, modern Druidry honors nature, ancestry, creativity, and the rhythm of the seasons. Today’s Druids often blend philosophy, poetry, and ecological awareness into a practice that celebrates interconnection and reverence for life.

Heathenry / Norse Paganism

A revival of the pre-Christian traditions of Northern Europe, Heathenry centers on deities like Odin, Freyja, and Thor. Practices often include ancestor veneration, the use of runes, and ritual feasts known as blót. Some Heathens follow historically informed paths; others weave intuition and modern values into their practice.

Hellenic Polytheism (Hellenism)

A modern devotion to the ancient Greek gods — such as Hecate, Apollo, and Dionysus — grounded in myth, ritual, and ethics. Practitioners may observe traditional festivals or cultivate personal relationships with specific deities, blending classical philosophy with contemporary spirituality.

Roman Revivalism (Religio Romana)

A path inspired by the gods, virtues, and ceremonial traditions of ancient Rome. Some practitioners seek historical accuracy; others adapt Roman practices into modern contexts, honoring deities such as Jupiter, Venus, or Janus through offerings and ritual.

Slavic Paganism (Rodnovery / Rodzimowierstwo)

Drawing on the indigenous beliefs of Slavic peoples, this path honors deities like Perun, Mokosh, and Veles. Practices vary across regions but often include seasonal rites, ancestral offerings, and a deep connection to land and heritage. In parts of Eastern Europe, Slavic Paganism is experiencing a cultural revival.

Celtic Reconstructionism

Focused on reviving the pre-Christian traditions of the Celtic world — including Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany — with cultural respect and historical care. Practitioners often honor local deities and ancestors through offerings, storytelling, and earth-based ritual that reconnects spirituality with place.

Kemetism (Modern Egyptian Paganism)

A revival of the spiritual practices of ancient Egypt, honoring deities such as Isis, Osiris, Thoth, and Bast. Practices often include offerings, daily devotions (Senut), and alignment with Ma’at — the principle of balance and truth.

Animism

Not a single religion, but a worldview found in many cultures — the belief that all things (plants, animals, rivers, stones) are alive and possess spirit. Many contemporary Pagan paths are, at their core, deeply animistic.

Eclectic Witchcraft

A flexible, individual path that combines elements from various traditions, practices, and symbol systems. Eclectic witches often craft their rituals, deities, and magical techniques intuitively — guided by personal resonance, ethics, and self-empowerment.

The Reclaiming Tradition

A feminist, politically engaged form of witchcraft founded in the 1970s by Starhawk. It centers on social justice, personal healing, and magical activism. Rituals are often collective, improvised, and queer-affirming.

Animistic Christianity / Christian Paganism

Some people integrate Pagan elements — nature reverence, goddess imagery, or seasonal rituals — into a mystical or liberal Christian framework. These approaches often seek to rediscover the earth-centered and mystical aspects of early Christianity or Gnosticism.

Wait a Moment — What About Witchcraft?

You might be wondering: where’s witchcraft on this list?The reason is simple — witchcraft isn’t a religion; it’s a practice. At its core, it’s a set of magical, intuitive, and ritual techniques used to influence or align with energy — often through herbs, spells, divination, candles, moon cycles, and more. It can be spiritual, but it doesn’t require belief in gods or deities.

A witch can be:

• Wiccan

• Druid

• Norse Pagan

• Eclectic Pagan

• Christian

• Jewish

• Atheist

• Or completely non-religious

That’s why witchcraft appears across many Pagan (and non-Pagan) paths — as a tool, an expression, or a deeply personal ritual language. But it is not a religion in itself.

Respect vs. Appropriation

Here’s where it gets delicate: when exploring spiritual paths — especially those outside your own cultural background — it’s essential to distinguish between inspiration and cultural appropriation.

Inspiration asks: What can I learn? Appropriation asks: What can I take?

Earth-based spirituality is not an aesthetic, a costume, or a “vibe.” It’s about relationship — to the Earth, to ancestors, to stories, to mystery. And like any relationship, it takes time, respect, and listening. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to know everything. But you do need to show up with integrity.

So What Do Pagans Actually Do in Their Everyday Spiritual Life?

There’s no single answer — but here are a few things you might find in an earth-based practice:

• Honoring the seasons with small rituals, altars, or festivals

• Working with herbs, moon phases, or natural energy cycles

• Lighting candles for deities, spirits, or intentions

• Practicing divination (such as Tarot, runes, or pendulum work)

• Journaling, meditating, or walking barefoot to ground yourself

• Exploring myths, symbols, and archetypes

• Maintaining ancestor altars or honoring family stories

• Embracing both the sacred feminine and the wild divine in all its forms

• And often, simply living quietly in alignment with one’s values, intuition, and the Earth itself

In the End: Sacred Doesn’t Mean Outdated

If you’re new to this world — welcome. You don’t need to know every god or memorize every correspondence. You don’t need a cloak (unless you want one). You don’t have to look “witchy,” live in the woods, or reject modern life.

You just have to listen — to your breath, to the wind, to that quiet knowing inside that whispers: the sacred isn’t only in the heavens. It’s in the soil, the bones, the fire, and the messy, magical now.

Paganism isn’t about pretending we live in the past. It’s about remembering that the Earth has always been sacred — and that we belong to her.