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.

Where ancient Paganisms often upheld patriarchal structures and social hierarchies, modern Paganism tends to be far more inclusive, fluid, and ethically conscious. Many paths explicitly reject racism, sexism, and fundamentalism. There’s room for queerness. There’s room for doubt. There’s room for you to shape your practice in ways that feel right — 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 founded in the 1950s that honors a Goddess and God, celebrates the Wheel of the Year, and uses ritual and magic. Some Wiccans join covens, others are solitary practitioners. One of the most well-known Pagan paths, but not synonymous with all witchcraft.

Druidry

Inspired by ancient Celtic spirituality, modern Druids honor nature, poetry, ancestry, and the turning of the seasons. Druidry today is often philosophical, animistic, and environmentally conscious.

Heathenry / Norse Paganism

A revival of the pre-Christian spiritual traditions of Scandinavia and Northern Europe, centered around gods like Odin, Freyja, and Thor. Practices can include ancestor veneration, the runes, and blót (ritual feasts). Some follow historically informed practices, others a more intuitive path.

Hellenic Polytheism (Hellenism)

Reconnecting with the ancient Greek gods — such as Hecate, Apollo, or Dionysus — through myth, ritual, and philosophical ethics. Practitioners often observe ancient festivals and develop devotional relationships with specific deities.

Roman Revivalism (Religio Romana)

Similar to Hellenism, but focused on the gods, values, and rituals of ancient Rome. Some practitioners aim for historical accuracy, while others blend Roman elements with other traditions.

Slavic Paganism (Rodnovery / Rodzimowierstwo)

Based on the indigenous beliefs of Slavic peoples, honoring deities like Perun, Mokosh, and Veles. Traditions vary widely by region and are experiencing a cultural revival in parts of Eastern Europe.

Celtic Reconstructionism

A path dedicated to reviving the pre-Christian traditions of the Celtic peoples (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, etc.) with historical accuracy and cultural respect. Often includes offerings, land-based ritual, and a strong focus on ancestry.