Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

PATRON

In most Western Magickal Paths and Traditions, a deity that an individual feels most comfortable with or sees reflected in his or her own personality. The number of patrons one chooses to have is a matter of choice though most people choose one as their dominant spirit. Patrons are believed to hear prayers, provide guidance, aid with divination, offer blessings and other bounties on those who devote their lives to them.

In my own case, the Norse God Loki was one of my patron deities, hence my own choice and use of the Craft Name of 'Falcon Lokisson'.

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc