Question by Rook W.: Is there any Neo-Pagan rite or concept associated with fasting or personal sacrifice?
I know that in general Neo-Paganism isn’t quite as focused on asceticism as other religions, and I know that one of the central concepts of Samhaine is letting go of the old and the negative to embrace the new and the positive, but is there a particular time or rite associated with giving things up as during Lent?
Best answer:
Answer by Raith the Glitter Ninja
Not that I know of. I would assume that a Lent-like sacrifice of something would be a personal decision and working towards a specific goal.
What do you think? Answer below!
Yes – Mabon. Around September 21st – a sabbat in which one considers what one has gained the past year (and gives thanks for the gains) but when one also pauses to consider what was lost the past year and what one `gained’ from the loss. At Mabon one prepares oneself for the cold and the dark season to come and, if one wishes, one may fast between Mabon and Samhain as an offering to the goddess. This has two main benefits: One is acutely aware of the many blessings one enjoys every day simply by denying oneself food and Fasting heightens one’s spiritual sensitivity so that, on Samhain, when one breaks the fast, one is in a very good place to `let go of the old’ but, also, as the veil is thinnest between the two realms at Samhain, one is more likely to experience the reality of the `thin time’
All the best to you…………….
Not that I’m aware of. Pythagoras used to recommend
fasting for health reasons, but it wasn’t a religious thing.
Self-denial really isn’t a major concept in most ancient
religions.
Jean
Err.. well kinda yes & kinda no. As with the whole Pagan movement it’s eclectic. So something like the Catholic notion of Lent is not valid. As many consider their faith as also a lifestyle, it might take a more mundane form.
I consider all my volunteering as a form of spiritual sacrifice of time for the social benefit of the overall community.
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Not universally, but different groups do different things, and there are in fact ancient Pagan precedents of fasting or personal sacrifice at certain times throughout the year.
I’m Pagan and inspired by ancient Greek religion. There are various holidays and other events where certain things were abstained from for a period of time. Consider the Thesmophoria, for example.
Priests and priestesses especially might need to abstain from certain things — at least at certain times — as part of their sacred duty. Some modern Pagans do take up similar practices.
Also, I know a number of Pagans who have been inspired to make a particular commitment to abstain from something in particular on a regular basis. For example, I know a woman who fasts for three days once a month in honor of a particular Goddess.
None of this is dictated by generic “Neo-Paganism.” But some of these commitments are inspired by ancient practices, and are taken up willingly as personal spiritual commitments.
I agree that Mabon is the “traditional” time for this ritual, but paganism is a very open religion. You can do any ritual at any time and as long as your intentions are pure, you’ll do fine.
i havnt ever read any paqgan text that concerned fasting but i practice the rite of fasting every so often so as to humble myself i am also a pagan umm… i do know of several others who do the same as i awsome question not one normally asked