Why am I a Pagan?  I get this particular question a lot – especially from people who “discover” that I am a Pagan.  Its not like I hide who or what I am.  I just don’t wear it out on my sleeve for the entire world.  To me, my beliefs are a part of who I am – just not something I need to put on display with bright neon lights.  Shit, I’m the same as any other human being on the planet — I want to live my life on my own terms.  So, that brings me back around to the question:  why Paganism?

I actually didn’t pick the concept of Paganism.  It fit who I am.  I’ve always had a healthy reverence for the “natural” side of life.  I don’t see human beings as being separate from the rest of the planet’s life forms.  The concepts of Paganism dove-tail nicely into my personal perceptions of the world around me.  So, to answer the question – Paganism actually put a name to the perceptual concepts that I already had in my life.

In essence, that makes Paganism a label…a conventional descriptive of belief.  I don’t fit every single perception of Paganism.  My belief in polytheistic concepts has been labeled as “soft polytheism” by some folks.  That’s perfectly fine.  Its my own understanding of the world around me — and honestly, I’m the only person that can see the world from this particular perspective.  Unless someone can figure out how to swap consciousness with me….which I honestly would not be in favor of.

Regardless of all the perceptual posturing above…I’m a Pagan.  Its who I am.  Its what I am.  I’m not a Satanist.  I’m not an Atheist.  I’m not an Agnostic.  I’m not a Muslim.  Or a Hindu.  Or a Christian.  Or whatever other theological perspective one can come up with.  I’m a Pagan…and I’m me.  Its really that simple.