My first experience with folks who self-identified as "Pagan" was a rather pungent one.
Fast forward to 2015: as I began explore what my personal take on spirituality is in a more formal manner, I once again encountered the concept of Paganism. Setting aside the silly memory of my first encounter with self-described Pagans, I decided to explore the etymology of the word.
"Pagan" derives from the Latin word for country, or rustic. Most often, dictionaries will point their definition towards the word "Heathen" (meaning anyone who practices beliefs outside of widely held religions, especially the Christian, Jewish, or Muslim faiths) or go on to address it as a polytheistic religion, involving the worship of more than one deity. It is also interesting to note that the term "Neo-Pagan" is sometimes used to describe the Pagans of today since so much of the old religion has been lost, erased, or modified to suit the Christian church; while the term "Heathen" is often bandied about in a derogatory fashion.
While the above definitions hold a narrow truth, I found I had to move on from the technical aspects of the word, to exploring it's conceptual nature in order to get an idea of what it truly meant, and how that related to a spiritual path. After much research and meditation, I am able to sum it up thusly:
Pagan: one who practices an earth-based belief system or spirituality, of which polytheism may or may not be an aspect.
A quick cruise around the internet will inevitably link up Wicca in relation to Witchcraft. I had heard of Wicca in conjunction with Pagan and Witchy lifestyles, but didn't know anything about it other than that connection. Is Wicca Witchcraft, and is Witchcraft Wicca? And how do these two terms relate to identifying as a Pagan?
Though Wicca and Witchcraft are often closely associated, they are NOT the same thing!
To define these two terms in their most simple format, Wicca is an earth-based (Pagan) religion, while Witchcraft is the manifestation of intent via ritual practices. Whether or not The Craft is practiced within a religious, spiritual, or even Pagan belief system is up to each individual practitioner; although it is uncommon to see it separated from a reverence for and connection to the natural world. Witchcraft is aligned with Shamanism, and the wise healers of the Old World. It's where we get the term "Witch Doctor" from, and it is one of the oldest forms of medicine in human history.
The important thing to keep in mind is that while all Wiccans are Pagans, not all Witches are Wiccans... Conversely, not all Wiccans are Witches, not all Witches are Pagans, and not all Pagans are Witches!
That brings us to the point that begs the final question: What kind of a Witch are YOU?
As for the Pungent Pagans I met earlier on in life, I certainly don't mean any offense in sharing that story. If anything, I share it as a means to pointing out my own ignorance at the time! I am proud to be able to count myself amongst their legions these days, and chuckle at my youthful assumptions of those 20 years ago... Although, I do still plan to take advantage of modern-day conveniences such as deodorant, since I can be a bit of a Sweaty Betty in hot climates... You'll just have to trust me that it's better this way for all of us.