Ethics and cautions

Common values

No authority sets one Pagan ethic, but many Pagans would recognise these ideas:

• Reciprocity. Give back for what you receive, from people, places and the gods.
• Hospitality. Welcome guests and strangers and treat them well. It was a sacred duty in many ancient cultures.
• Honouring ancestors. Remember those who came before, in your family and in your place.
• Respect for the natural world. Live lightly and take responsibility for the places you use.
• Honesty and keeping your word. Many traditions treat oaths and promises as serious.

Some groups state their values formally. Wiccans often quote the Wiccan Rede, An it harm none, do what ye will. Some Heathens use the Nine Noble Virtues, a modern list compiled in the 20th century from Norse sources and not an ancient code. Many Druids speak of honouring the land, the ancestors and the spirits of place. These are guides for living, not commandments, and groups interpret them in different ways.

Cultural borrowing

Paganism is a very open field, and people often mix ideas from many sources. That can be creative, and it can also cause harm when what is borrowed belongs to a living community that has not shared it freely.

• Living traditions are not free material. Native American ceremonies such as sweat lodges and the use of sacred pipes, and traditions such as Vodou, Santería and many Indigenous practices, belong to the communities that keep them. Some are closed to outsiders. Learn about them with respect, and do not copy their rituals.
• Resources matter. The popular use of white sage and palo santo has put wild stocks under pressure in some places. Grow your own herbs, or buy from sources that harvest with care.
• "Shamanism" is a loaded word. It comes from Siberian peoples, and many Indigenous groups object to its general use. Be careful about workshops that sell sacred ceremonies from other cultures.
• Ancient traditions are different. Reconstructing the practices of peoples whose religions died out, such as the Greeks, Norse or Egyptians, is a different matter. It still calls for care and honesty about what is known.

A useful test is to ask who the practice belongs to, whether they have said it is open, and what you owe them.

Judging sources

Much of what is written about Paganism is unreliable, and some of it is invented. A few questions help:

• Does it name its sources? Good books point to ancient texts, archaeology or named earlier authors.
• Does it claim an unbroken ancient lineage? Be wary. Most modern Pagan traditions began in the last two hundred years, and historians have found little evidence for secret survivals.
• Is the author a scholar or a practitioner, and are they honest about which? Both can be valuable if they are clear about it.
• Does it appeal to a single dramatic source? Some famous texts are forgeries, such as the so-called Book of Veles, and others, such as parts of Iolo Morganwg's writing on the druids, were made up by their authors.
• Can you check it? A claim that cannot be traced to anything is worth treating with care.

Scholars such as Ronald Hutton, Graham Harvey and Miranda Aldhouse-Green write clearly about the evidence, and most are available in public libraries.

Common myths

"Nine million witches were burned."

This figure is not supported. Historians estimate that tens of thousands of people were executed for witchcraft in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, mostly hanged, and not burned in every case. Most were not Pagans.

"Wicca is an ancient religion."

Wicca was founded in the 20th century in England. Margaret Murray's theory that medieval witches belonged to an ancient Pagan cult was influential but is now rejected by historians.

"Pagans worship the Devil."

Paganism does not include the Christian figure of the Devil. The belief comes from old accusations made by churches.

"The Wheel of the Year is ancient."

The eight-festival Wheel took its present form in the mid-20th century, from older customs. Individual festivals are often much older.

"Pagans do not have ethics."

Paganism has many ethical traditions. They are usually based on relationship and responsibility, not on obedience to a single code.

Finding people safely

Most Pagan groups and communities are friendly, ordinary and run by volunteers. Like any group that meets around belief, a few are not. Warning signs include:

• Pressure to pay large sums for initiation, courses or secret knowledge.
• Pressure to cut off friends or family, or to keep the group secret.
• A leader who claims special authority and cannot be questioned.
• Any demand for sexual contact, or for nakedness, as part of membership.
• Refusal to answer ordinary questions about the group's history and aims.
• Links to extremist politics. Some Heathen and other groups use ancient symbols to promote racism, and many Pagans publicly oppose this.

Sensible habits help: meet in public first, bring a friend, tell someone where you are, and take your time. Reputable groups will welcome questions. Those with young people should have clear safeguarding rules, and anyone under 18 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian at events unless the organisers have a proper policy.

If you are in the United Kingdom, the Pagan Federation is one national body that offers information and contacts. Other countries have their own organisations, and a local library or university can often point you to them.