The word “pagan” carries many preconceived descriptions.
Pagans throughout history were condemned as heretics and persecuted.
But the pagan community in Ireland is larger than many people might realise. Morgane Stereden Lahidji (above photo) and a small group of pagan students have been gathering signatures for the establishment of a pagan society on campus.
They are now set to be granted provisional recognition from the Central Societies Committee (CSC).
They are now set to be granted provisional recognition from the Central Societies Committee (CSC).
Originally from Paris, is among the youngest of her fellow pagan students, who she says are mostly PhD candidates.
Her devotion to paganism, and commitment to establishing a space on campus for pagan students has led to the formation of Trinity’s newest society.
Her devotion to paganism, and commitment to establishing a space on campus for pagan students has led to the formation of Trinity’s newest society.
Lahidji wants to create a space where pagans can gather and talk among one another and recreate this culture”.
This seems to speak to a society in which pagans feel excluded: “It is still quite a great taboo.”
This seems to speak to a society in which pagans feel excluded: “It is still quite a great taboo.”
It must, then, at times, be difficult being a pagan in Irish society. Lahidji says, “it depends a lot on your own luck, the sort of family you were born in. On an institutional level, it’s not too bad.
But you can see that we don’t have any recognition whatsoever, and on a cultural level, there’s a lot of defiance.”
But you can see that we don’t have any recognition whatsoever, and on a cultural level, there’s a lot of defiance.”
Lahidji was surprised at how positive a reaction she and her fellow pagan students received in Trinity. In the process of talking to students and trying to get signatures for the creation of a pagan society, Lahidji’s own conception of what the society was changed.
Initially, they felt the purpose of the society would be to “set a space for people who are already confirmed pagans, just so they could talk about things that they are not free to talk about elsewhere. But it’s actually more than that.”
She says lots of students with no previous interest in paganism want to learn.
If the Pagan Society are ever assigned a room, one of the first things she would do is “invest in a few bookshelves and get a study space going”.
Newcomers can expect the society to be “totally welcome” to people who know nothing about paganism and just want to learn more.
Her dream for the pagan society is “a place where someone can just pass by and ask a question”.
Initially, they felt the purpose of the society would be to “set a space for people who are already confirmed pagans, just so they could talk about things that they are not free to talk about elsewhere. But it’s actually more than that.”
She says lots of students with no previous interest in paganism want to learn.
If the Pagan Society are ever assigned a room, one of the first things she would do is “invest in a few bookshelves and get a study space going”.
Newcomers can expect the society to be “totally welcome” to people who know nothing about paganism and just want to learn more.
Her dream for the pagan society is “a place where someone can just pass by and ask a question”.
What does it mean, then, to be a pagan in the 21st century? Lahidji describes the word “pagan” as a “bit of an umbrella word for basically any spirituality before the dominance of monotheism”. This includes everything from the ancient Greek pantheon, the Roman pantheon to the old Celtic religion.
In this part of the world, at least, the latter seems to form much of the basis of the everyday practises of paganism.
The festivals Lahidji celebrates include Samhain, the basis of what we would know as Halloween, the winter solstice, Yule at Christmas time and Imbolc.
For the founders of the new society, Imbolc in particular has a special significance.
Celebrated in Christianity as St. Brigid’s Day, Imbolc marked the day on which a pagan society learned they were likely to receive provisional recognition from the CSC.
In this part of the world, at least, the latter seems to form much of the basis of the everyday practises of paganism.
The festivals Lahidji celebrates include Samhain, the basis of what we would know as Halloween, the winter solstice, Yule at Christmas time and Imbolc.
For the founders of the new society, Imbolc in particular has a special significance.
Celebrated in Christianity as St. Brigid’s Day, Imbolc marked the day on which a pagan society learned they were likely to receive provisional recognition from the CSC.
For Lahidji, the effect that paganism has had on her life is undeniable.
Her personal beliefs are what she describes as “eclectic”.
She has taken from many different beliefs and formed her own “patchwork”.
Her spirituality has transformed her life. She says that through paganism, “I just discovered myself, it’s just as simple as that.
I rediscovered the world and everything in it."
Her personal beliefs are what she describes as “eclectic”.
She has taken from many different beliefs and formed her own “patchwork”.
Her spirituality has transformed her life. She says that through paganism, “I just discovered myself, it’s just as simple as that.
I rediscovered the world and everything in it."
