Nehalennia's Lowlands:Neo-Paganism in the Netherlands

Summary The thesis covers five contemporary Pagan movements: Wicca (or Modern Witchcraft), Druidry, Asatru (or Heathenry or Modern Heathenism) and the Goddess movement. Neo-Paganism is an umbrella term for several religious movements that find their inspiration in pre-Christian Pagan societies, or contemporary indigenous cultures. The research focusses on the ritual practice within Neo-Paganism in the Netherlands, especially the practice of divination and magic and the importance of spiritual, trance experiences for the adherents. The material approach, discussed by Meyer (2006, 2020, 2012), M... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Minkjan, Johanna Catharina
Dokumenttyp: Buch
Erscheinungsdatum: 2021
Verlag/Hrsg.: s.n.
Schlagwörter: Nederlands Neo-Paganisme / Moderne Hekserij / Druïdisme / Asatru / Godinnen beweging / Neo-Sjamanisme / ritueel / divinatie / magie / symbolische healing / Dutch Neo-Paganism / Modern Witchcraft / Druidry / Goddess movement / Neo-Shamanism / ritual / divination / magic / symbolic healing
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-26687336
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/e420f033-e2fd-46be-b4f0-9fc6b4190479

Summary The thesis covers five contemporary Pagan movements: Wicca (or Modern Witchcraft), Druidry, Asatru (or Heathenry or Modern Heathenism) and the Goddess movement. Neo-Paganism is an umbrella term for several religious movements that find their inspiration in pre-Christian Pagan societies, or contemporary indigenous cultures. The research focusses on the ritual practice within Neo-Paganism in the Netherlands, especially the practice of divination and magic and the importance of spiritual, trance experiences for the adherents. The material approach, discussed by Meyer (2006, 2020, 2012), Meyer and Houtman (2012), and Orsi (2005, 2012) is suitable for the manner in which I was inclined to do the research. I situate my research within the broader research field of Dutch Pagan studies. Whereas other authors concentrate, for instance, on power relationships or a psychological framework, my thesis concentrates on the meaning of the repertoires for the daily life of the “average” adherents. I argue that the diverse practices create a relationship with a greater order of existence, induce self-actualisation, and can function as coping mechanisms, and sometimes even have therapeutic meanings for the adherents. Chapter 1, offers the research design, the execution of the research plan, an overview of the Dutch Neo-Pagan field and the main characteristics of Neo-Paganism. The chapter discusses, consequently, the “fuzzy” Pagan community and the “patchwork” character of the Neo-Pagan field and elaborates the main characteristics, such as the organisation in small groups, the importance of religious experiences by means of trance induction and trance states, the preference of secrecy, and the religious bricolage. Moreover, the chapter gives a justification of the methodology of ‘experiencing participation’ (Ots, 1994). This chapter discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this methodology. I created the method of reflexive boundary analysis in order to prevent becoming too close with the group under study. Chapter 2. ...