What’s the Difference Between Elves and Pagans? Do the Silver Elves Follow an Elven Faith?

 
“We elves get along quite well with Pagans for the most part….But these elves are not inclined to worship any gods and while religion is a personal choice of every elf, we expect that most elves, while having a fondness for this or that god or goddess, don’t tend to involve thems’elves in worship….”

Some dictionaries will tell you that pagans are simply hedonistic folks. Others may tell you that pagan is a term for anyone who doesn’t follow one of the main religions, while will describe paganism as polytheism. And this is the reality really that pagans merely follow a multiplicity of gods or goddess or in choosing a particular one to relate to acknowledge that there are others that one can worship as well. Although, our ancestors while being tolerant of other gods on their own pantheon were not always so open minded about those of other pantheons. And these elves have found that many of the pagans we’ve encountered are quite a bit on the hedonistic side of things.

Hinduism is one of the main forms of paganism in the world, tolerating a variety of godheads and beings. It should be noted that early Judaism was also a polytheistic religion but moved toward monotheism, the realm of the exclusive and jealous one god, as did the Egyptians. And it is quite possible that it was because of their sojourn in Egypt that the Hebrews gave up their many gods. Elohim being a plural noun.

Of course, when most of us in the Western world talk about Paganism we are referring to a paganism that has taken up the abandoned and often destroyed religions and gods and goddesses of our own pagan ancestors before Christianity came and both persuaded and forced itself upon them, like a suitor who when charm doesn’t work resorts to rape. The Paganism that most folks in the Western world practice has a lot of magic in it usually and is often akin, although different from, Witchcraft. Wicca is often seen as a combination of these two, which is to say it is sometimes used to indicate pagans who practice witchcraft or magic. Although you will surely find some who would argue with those definitions, but then you will find people who will argue with about anything. Still, for the purposes of this particular blog, these are the definitions we will go by.

We have attended a number of pagan gatherings in our time, although according to the above definitions they were really primarily Wicca gatherings for there was always a bit of magic and witchcraft going on at them. We elves get along quite well with pagans for the most part, both Western pagans and the Hindu one’s we’ve known (we’ve been to some of their gatherings as well). But these elves are not inclined to worship any gods and while religion is a personal choice of every elf, we expect that most elves, while having a fondness for this or that god or goddess, don’t tend to involve thems’elves in worship, although we will attend their services if there’s free food involved at some point, and we certainly always enjoy dancing with them in communication with the beauty of nature.

While the Elven Way is the spiritual Path of the Elves and one we have been following for over 40 years, it is not a religion and all elves are free to pursue whatever spiritual path they desire, or not as the case may be. We Silver Elves are magicians and follow no particular religious dogma and understand the world as a magical or miraculous phenomena, and that all beings, by pursuing their own true path, will become whomever they truly desire to be. The path of the Silver Elves is that of Love and Magic.

And though the Elven Way is not a religion, one could say that we follow an “Elven Faith” that is similar to the original “Faerie Faith” before it became more like a Pagan tradition, but with our own beliefs and nature spirits and impromptu rituals. We do not worship any gods or goddesses, but we do believe in them as real energies and we have respect for all Higher Beings. Although we Silver Elves do not follow Pagan traditions and ceremonies, we instead (and we do not speak for all elves as we are a varied magical people) tend to evoke Elven spirits of nature (see our An Elfin Book of Spirits: Evoking the Beneficent Powers of Faerie) and the Elven elementals (see our book The Elements of Elven Magic: A New View of Calling the Elementals Based Upon the Periodic Table of Elements) as helpers/partners or elf spirit guides in our magic for healing and enchantment, rather than worshiping elven gods/goddesses, even those gods and goddesses who some attest to have been part of our elven heritage from ancient days. It seems to us that any elf awakened to being an elf would have no reason to worship another elf (although elves are free to do so if they wish), for an awakened elf understands that all elves are part of the Divine Magic. From our elven point of view, if in history elves where worshiped (for instance by the ancient Celts who were said to be weary of the supernatural power of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the people of the goddess Danu and some say the god Anu), it was not by elves but by those who had an association with elves and respected and feared them.

Elves and magic are like bread and butter, we just naturally go together. Actually, we’re even closer than that, for magic is to elves as close to us as our pointed ears, and perhaps to many even more so. While we don’t always have pointed ears we do always have magic! Thus we have a natural association with witches, witchcraft and magic in all its forms. And while we don’t involve ours’elves in wicked magics, we do know of them, have studied them and understand that we have a natural kinship with the Unseelie Fae even if we don’t, or hardly ever, agree or pursue the same paths. They are our kin, even if they are like the type of kin who come to the family dinner and spout racism and prejudice and whom you tolerate because, well, like or not, you’re related. Just in the same sense that Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader are related but use the Force in different ways. There is ever a hope in our hearts that we might redeem them and ever a hunger in theirs to seduce and corrupt us to the dark side. After all, what are relatives for but to work to give us a balance in our lives?

Our next blog will explore another question we are often asked, “What’s the difference between elves and witches?“

Kyela,
The Silver Elves
http://silverelves.angelfire.com

What sort of elf, faerie or other are you?
For years various kindred have asked us, the Silver Elves, to help them figure this out. Now we’ve created a questionnaire to help us do so. This is our gift to you. Simply follow the link & the directions. http://silverelves.angelfire.com/HAelfkin.html 

 

If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy finding out more about Elven Magic of the Silver Elves. Our magic practice is unique, as you will see in our book below on using the periodic table of elements to evoke spirits to assist you in life. You may read a sample chapter of this book on our website here:

The Elements of Elven Magic: A New View of Calling the Elementals
Based Upon the Periodic Table of Elements

THE ELEMENTS OF ELVEN MAGIC: A New View of Calling the Elementals Based Upon the Periodic Table of Elements is a book to use for summoning and evoking elements to help you in your life and magic. Taking a new look at the idea of the elements and the elementals, the Silver Elves have once again merged the reality of Science, which is Nature, and Occult tradition and have introduced the elements of Earth, Fire, Air and Water into the modern age of the Periodic Table of Elements. It is a new and original view of the Ways of the Ancients as expected of the Elves. The Silver Elves present for your consideration a new and elven way at pursuing the magical art of evocation of the Elements and the Elementals. Their wish is that it serves you well and hopefully evokes your own imagination and stirs your particular and individual style of magic.

 

THE CIRCLE OF MAGIC . . . .

The circle of magic
Goes ever round
What we did in the past
In the present is found.

And spells we do now
In the future unfold
In the time and the place
That our actions foretold.

So choose with great care
The choices you make
For all you will give
Is all you did take.

And all that you gift
Will be your return
To Elfin most fair
With the lessons you learn.
—From The Elven Book of Rhymes: Book Two of the Magical Poems of Zardoa Silverstar by The Silver Elves

 

 

We invite you to view the Table of Contents and an excerpt from one of our newest books
The Magical Realms of Elfin:
Answers to Questions About Being An Elf and Following the Elven Path

THE MAGICAL REALMS OF ELFIN: Answers to Questions About Being an Elf and Following the Elven Path contains questions and answers about being elven that many people who are exploring the Elven Way have posed to The Silver Elves throughout the 40 + years that they have been living and sharing the Elven Way. The Silver Elves have put them all in this one book for all those who need a convenient, yet thorough and easy-to-read, resource to explore their questions about who the modern elves are and about the Elven Way or elven spiritual path — past, present and future. If you are curious about elves and want to learn more about modern elves and the Elven Path, then you will surely find this book to contain many of your questions answered and it will be a great comfort and help in finding your way home to the Magical Realms of Elfin.

 

Dear Kindred, touch this Star above for an Elven Blessing!

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Tags: elf spirit guide, elven faith, elves and Pagans, elves and religion, Faerie Faith, paganism and polytheism, wicca elves