Wicca 101: The Pagan Afterlife, Reincarnation, & the Summerland
Is There Life After Death?
Most Wiccans believe in the Summerland, which is a paradise much like the Christian heaven. All people, except spirits who remain behind lost and wandering, go to the Summerland, even the wicked. The Summerland will be different for everyone, their own version of Shangri-La. There, they can be reunited with their loved ones, look over those they left behind on Earth, and take time to recuperate from life. Our time in the Summerland is spent processing what we learned, recovering from the hardships, walking with the Lord and Lady and being one with them, and then planning our next life.
Most Wiccans agree that when you are ready, you are reincarnated. You may choose what form you take and even a little about your situation. You decide this based upon which lessons you wish to learn in your next life. Someone who was very selfish and arrogant may choose a life of humility to humble himself, for example. People even choose lives of hardship in order to learn their lessons, although they don't get to plan specifically what the circumstances will be.
Wiccans do not believe in Hell or in an eternity of punishment for one life-time of sin. Some, however, do believe that you may be punished for the harm you do. I believe that you may kept from reincarnating, if you are not yet ready, or reincarnated into an undesirable life as a means of punishment. There are other Wiccans who believe this, as well as Wiccans who don't. Like Buddhists, I and some other Wiccans believe the point of living is to learn and to perfect your soul, until you reach an enlightened existence.
Whether or not Wiccans believe in angels and demons depends upon the person. Those who do believe in such creatures each have their own opinions about them. As for me, I think that angels and spirit guides are simply spirits that have reached an enlightened existance after many lifetimes. They exist to guide us and to protect us, to help us become who we are meant to be. Demons, in my opinion, are tainted souls, corrupted with hate, greed, and even sorrow, so that they bare ill will towards all of life because of their pain. They are to be pitied--and feared.
Wicca is a very diverse religion. Most Wiccans believe in Reincarnation, the Summerland, or both, but not all do. Specifics about these paths vary from person to person. There are different traditions of Wicca just as there are different denominations of Christianity. Many Wiccans are solitary. Most of us just believe what makes sense to us. All of life moves in a circle, not a straight line, like the changing of the seasons and the water cycle. It makes sense to me that life itself should do the same.
Published by Heather B.
I'm young single mother of two boys, a liberal Democrat, and a born again Pagan witch for nearly 14 years. I write about natural family living, pregnancy, homebirth, attachment parenting, and religion or pol... View profile
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13 Comments
Post a CommentYou are incorrect when you say: "Christians believe that the good go to Heaven while the sinners go to Hell, "
The bible says there is no one good. And the entire gospel is that since we AREN'T good and can't be in the presence of a Holy God, we have to be redeemed by the blood of Christ for a future in heaven. By being born again again in Jesus we are seen as holy and righteous by God. We are ALL sinners. The difference is that are sinners saved by Grace, and sinners dieing in their sin.
So, Christians believe that one must be born again spiritually in Christ Jesus to enter the kingdom of heaven. Being "good" will get no one into heaven.
I just wanted to say that I thought that this article was interesting, informative, and well-written. If there had been a "thumbs-up" function here, I would have simply "thumbs-up"-ed this entry; but since there isn`t, I thought that I would leave this message. By the way, I would descibe myself as an "open-minded Christian".
Nice definition of the ways of the end/beginning Heather, try letting an ordained do it next time.
-- Spirit Guardian
I want to be Japanese in my next life. :]
)O(
i do hope that summerland is as lovely as i think it will be. :D Blessed be
That's unnecessary Leon.
errm this is actully a pagan fourm Jesus Christ is just irrelivent here so yeah you guys poke your nose into everything its hard to not dislike you Christians
Very interesting article. I never knew what Wiccans views were on the afterlife. I would say that, as a Christian, your statement saying that sinners go to Hell and the good go to Heaven is incorrect. All of us are sinners and only being good won't get you into Heaven. Christians believe you must accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and ask for forgiveness of our sins. By doing this, we are forgiven of all sins, past, present and future & will enter into Heaven. I'm not criticizing your article, just clearing this point up. Thanks for the read!
This is very interesting.
Another important thing to remember is that one person's truth may not be the same as another's. We are all here to find our own path to enlightenment and the divine. Blessings to each of you that reads this as you travel toward your vision of heaven, summerland, nirvana, or wherever you may find Spirit.