any pagans on here???

[zzxxee]

can somebody explain what the summerlands are in pagan culture please??

[Answerprancer]

Isn't that the island in Wickerman ?

[jackthehat]

Summerisle, AP

[lumination]

i think so AP, arnt they very earthy or something? would they even own a computer? i thought they are really one with nature and stuff

[mazie]

I think it's a concept a bit like Heaven zzxxee. It's Celtic paganism. I think. You go to the Shadowlands first and then move on the The Summerlands. Rowan might know

[zzxxee]

thanks mazie x

[usathome]

Some Pagans trust in the Summerlands, a peaceful and enjoyable place of rest where they can recover from their past life

www.summerlands.com/

[zzxxee]

thanks usathome x and all who have replied on this post

[mazie]

They go to The Shadowlands first for a sort of Karmic cleansing, once cleansed, they move on to the Summerlands, I think they can choose re-incarnation or The Summerlands

[zzxxee]

all interesting stuff x
my brother has been a pagan for around a year and im due to visit him soon and would like to brush up on my knowledge to have something to discuss with him
thank you all x

[rowanwitch]

Depends what branch you follow....most strands have a heaven like option...I'm more a return to collective consciousness sort of pagan myself...each to their own...

[zzxxee]

its somthing to do with celtic paganism thats all i know rowan x

[usathome]

You are welcome zzxxee
enjoy your visit with your brother
I'm sure he will enlighten you even more to their ways
x

[zzxxee]

i am quite drawn to it i must admit but i want to find out a little more first x

[rowanwitch]

I have heard of it...I wouldn't look up things like that though....I would think you'd probably be better with views on the environment (Green) respect for the earth and living ethically which are core to more of the many variations of paganism... as just as many are likely to believe in things like multiple planes of existance. There are lots of really good 'introduction to' books as well as websites

http://www.paganfed.org/
the big one for uk lots of useful stuff on there you might even convert...

[mazie]

Here's a site with many more celtic pagan sites listed zzxxee. might be worth having a look

http://www.joellessac...celtictraditions.html

[Ice.Maiden]

Rowanwitch is correct. Pagan and Wiccan beliefs are based on nature and in harming none, but the belief in Summerlands is an individual thing - often envisaged as something like heaven, or a state of nirvana - reached by many cycles of death and rebirth. In this place, you can meet up with deceased loved ones, but again, there's no right or wrong with Paganism, and it's not an organised "religion".
Most examples taken from the internet or books on the subject, are just from the authors' personal point of view. There are so many variations that your best bet'd be to join like-minded people, and see if the group's ideas appeal to you.
Halloween's a good time, because this is the time when we believe that we're closest to departed souls than at any other time of the year, and there are many Wiccans and Pagans who'd be happy to expain this to you.
On Sunday, myself and friends will be celebrating Halloween - or Samhain, to give it but one name. It comes from a Celtic festival, loosely meaning "the end of summer".
We'll drink and make merry, but there's also a serious side to it, whereby we conduct rituals to enhance our - and others lives - or not, and to say goodbye to the "light side of the year" and to welcome in the dark months.
Summerlands is just a word to describe one part of our beliefs, but not used by all followerrs of the path
The sabbat, or festival is just one of many, and not everyone joins in with them - or any at all, but we follow certain rules or "laws" which we feel come under the natural laws of nature. We're generally a happy bunch, and your brother could learn much from how we live and what we believe in. Good luck to him.

[zzxxee]

thank you ice maiden and everyone else xx