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The Wheel of Life

While traditional thought leads one to believe that time is linear, pagans believe in a more circular pattern. Where tradition states that this year will stop on December 31 and a new one starts on January 1, pagans find no separation between the two. Our year follows the sun, which never stops and starts but only continues. All pagan calendars will usually be round and there is never any need to through them away as the year is the same from one to the next.

We, as pagans, find the same idea true for life. I will use Disney's "The Lion King", to explain my next point. {I apologize. I understand that there are many people who are not fond of the large corporation but there is a very good statement made in this film.} The old king has taken his young son out to show him the kingdom. He explains that the antelope eat the grass, the lions eat the antelope, and when they die, the lions return to the earth to feed the grass. This is the belief of most pagans as well. Life cannot be without death.

A large percentage of pagans believe in reincarnation, the idea that there is no "heaven" or "hell", no eternity, but only life. You are born to live, learn, and teach so that you may die to be reborn and do it again.

Our wheel of life has eight phases, just as the wheel of the year. Each is associated with the other. Below you will find the list of life phases, though you may not have done them in the exact order, you have done (or will do) some of each of these steps.

Wiccaning/Paganing
Coming of Age
Initiation
Handfasting
Midlife
Priestess & Priesthood
Elderhood
The Final Passage