Exploring pagan traditions through sacred music

Pagan songs, also known as pagan music or neopagan music, are a genre of music that is closely associated with the pagan religious movement. Paganism is a modern spiritual movement that draws inspiration from ancient and pre-Christian beliefs and practices. Pagan songs often revolve around themes of nature, spirituality, mythology, and the worship of various deities. The origins of pagan songs can be traced back to the early days of the neopagan movement in the 20th century. As paganism began to gain popularity, individuals and groups within the movement started creating music that reflected their beliefs and values. These songs served as a form of spiritual expression and a way to connect with the natural world and ancient traditions.

We are ripening
Ripening together
Babies, elders, bozos and angels
This is how we grow
This is how we get to know
This is family
This is sacred
[Chorus]
© Buffy Sainte–Marie

So, selecting the right songs can really make the difference between a decent ritual and a fucking amazing one, where everything just seems to flow together perfectly. Along with other chants by Lindie Lila, I often play this one while I m lighting candles and incense, smudging the room with sage, or doing any other preparations for magical or ritual practice.

These songs served as a form of spiritual expression and a way to connect with the natural world and ancient traditions. Pagan songs can encompass a wide range of musical styles and genres. Some pagan songs draw influence from folk music traditions, incorporating acoustic instruments such as the guitar, flute, or bodhran.

Pagan Chant Library

When people gather and sing together, they share a language stronger than just words.The harmonies created as human voices blend open our hearts and lift our souls. EarthSpirit is an extended community which gathers together throughout the year to celebrate our connection with the sacred Earth. Since the late 1970s, we have evolved our own culture of ritual, music and song that binds us one to another and each to the natural world. Whether celebrating the joy of new life in the spring, the rite of passage of a young person into adulthood, or quietly honoring our ancestors, our music holds the threads of the web we weave together.
Deirdre Pulgram Arthen, Glenwood Farm, Winter, 2006

EarthSpirit sharing the abundant creativity within our Community with our collection of songs and chants in the Pagan Chant Library.

Air I Am

All Beings of the Earth

All beings of the Earth…
Sing the healing song, rising;
All beings of the Earth…
Will the healing fire, changing;
All beings of the Earth…
Swim the healing deep, feeling;
All beings of the Earth…
Walk the healing earth, being.

Ancestor Chant

For those who’ve gone before us,
For those who’ve gone before them,
we raise this cup in honor… of their lives…

Ancient Mother

Ancient Mother, I hear you calling,
Ancient Mother, I hear your song,
Ancient Mother, I feel your laughter,
Ancient Mother, I taste your tears.
©Robert Gass

Back to the river

Back through my blood
Back through my veins,
Back to the heartbeat
One and the same
© Abigail Spinner

Blessing Song

Blessings be upon you and upon each one here (x2)
We honor you
We sing to you
We open up our hearts to you
Blessings be upon you and upon each one here.
©Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

Blood of the Ancients

It’s the blood of the Ancients
That runs in our veins
And the forms pass
But the circle of life remains
©Charlie Murphy

Cauldron of Change

The Circle Shapes Us

Circle Skin and Bone

We are people of the Earth
We come from many nations
We are sculpted and formed
By the hands of time
We are circle, skin and bone
We come from different places
We are sculpted and formed
By the hands of time
© Imani

Darkest Time of Winter

Now the darkest time of winter,
fire is burning in the hearth;
still the cold trees.
© 1991 Sarah Stockwell

Deck the Hall

Deck the hall with boughs of holly,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
‘Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
While I sing of Yuletide treasure,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses!
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Sing we joyous all together,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
©1862 Thomas Oliphant

Earth My Body

Fire in My Soul

Fire in my soul
Feeds the fire in my belly
Puts my feet on the path
Makes it happen
Feeds the passion of the (fire in my soul)
© Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

Fire Song

We can rise with the fires of freedom,
Truth is a fire that burns our chains,
And we can stop the fires of destruction,
Healing is a fire running through our veins.
© Starhawk

Friends, only love can bring peace

Friends, only love can bring peace
So let us love with all our hearts
‘Till the day is done, ’till peace is won
‘Till peace is won. ‘Till peace is won
© Timmon Mine Wallis

Fly Fly Fly

Fly, Fly, Fly. The Leaves Are Leaving The Branch
Cold Are The Winds. Winter Is Coming
© Peter Erdely,

Hecate Cerridwen

Hold Me Hold Me

Hold me hold me
never let me go
Hold me like the leaves
on the ends of the branches
and when I die
let me fly let me fly
through the air
like the leaves when they’re falling
Hold me hold me
never let me go
Hold me like the stars
in the sky high above me
and when I die
let me fly let me fly
through the air
like the stars when they’re falling
© Unknown

Holy Water

Hoof and Horn

Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All that dies shall be reborn
Corn and grain, corn and grain
All that falls shall rise again.
© Ian Corrigan

I am the Earth

I am the Earth…
The Earth is a healer…
The Earth is a Mother…
The Earth is a fountain…
The Earth is a mountain…
The Earth is in sorrow…
The Earth is in joy…
The Earth, She is crying…
The Earth has a song to sing…
I am a blackbird…
I am a river…
I am a healer…
I am a Mother…
What is the Earth…
Who is the Earth…
We are the Earth…
I am the Earth…
©1982 Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

In the Circle of Earth and Sky

In the circle of Earth and Sky
my heart flies to yours;
we gather, we remember,
and the pattern endures.
©2002 Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

In the Spirit of the Earth

In the Spirit of the Earth we are coming together,
in the Spirit of the Earth we are one.
In the Spirit of the Earth we are singing and dancing,
in the Spirit of the Earth we are one.
Hear our voices soaring high,
reaching for the sky.
Feel our footsteps even and strong,
they will echo through the night.
©2001 Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

Isis, Astarte

Let the Way be Open

Light Is Returning

Let’s keep it burning
Let’s keep the light of hope alive
Make safe our journey
Through the storm.

One Planet is turning
Circle in her path around the sun
Earth Mother is calling
Her children home.

Lyke Wake Dirge

Lyke Wake Dirge (chorus)
This ae nicht, this ae nicht
Every night and a’
Fire and sleet and candle lichte,
The Earth receive thy saule.
17th century, Anonymous

Now I Walk In Beauty

The Ocean Is The Beginning Of The Earth

(A call and response chant)
The ocean is the beginning of the Earth.
The ocean is the beginning of the Earth
The ocean is the beginning of the Earth.
The ocean is the beginning of the Earth
All life comes from the sea.
All life comes from the sea
All life comes from the sea
All life comes from the sea.
© Delaney Johnson, Starhawk

Opening Wide

In the Earth feel the power of the mountain
I am opening wide
In the Earth touch the belly of creation
I am opening wide
I am opening wide
I am opening wide
In the Earth touch the belly of creation
I am opening wide
© Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

Peace in My Heart

Rise Up

Rise up and spread your wings,
come across to the ones who see your change.
Rise up, reach for the stars,
hear our song celebrating who you are.
©2002 Carolyn Hawthorne

Round and Round

Round and round the Earth is turning
Turning always round to morning
And from morning round to night.
© Unknown

See the Sun

She Change Everything She Touches

Snake Woman

Snake Woman, shedding her skin
Snake Woman, shedding her skin
Shedding, shedding, shedding her skin
Shedding, shedding, shedding her skin

Bird Woman, taking flight…
Star Woman, shining bright..
Moon Woman, riding the night…
Star Woman, opening wide…

Standing Like A Tree

Standing like a tree with my roots dug down
My branches wide and open
Come down the rain, come down the sun,
Come down the fruit to a heart that is open to be
Standing like a tree.
© Betsy Rose

The Earth, The Air, The Fire The Water, Return

The earth, the air, the fire, the water
Return, return, return, return
The earth, the air, the fire, the water
Return, return, return, return
ae, ae, ae, ae aio, aio, aio, aio ae, ae, ae, ae
aio, aio, aio, aio
© Libana

Watch it Burn

Watch it burn,
watch it burn and let it go;
the fire frees us,
frees our souls.
© 1990 Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

Watchers of Time

We all come from the Goddess

We all come from the Goddess
And to her we shall return
Like a drop of rain
Flowing to the ocean.
© Z. Budapest

We Are A Circle

We are a Circle Moving

We are a Circle Moving
One with another
We are moving together
We are one
descant:
i am spirit and I flow in you.
You are spirit and you flow in me
© Marae Price

We Are Alive

We are alive as the Earth is alive
We have the power to fight for our freedom
If we have courage we can be healers
Like the sun we shall rise
If we have courage we shall be healers
Like the sun we shall rise.
© Rose May Dance, Starhawk

We Are An Old People

We are an old people, we are a new people
We are the same people, stronger than before.
© morning feather/Will Shepardson

We Are Circling

[Chorus:]
We are circling
Circling together
We are singing
Singing our heart song
This is family, this is unity
This is celebration, this is sacred

We are spiraling
Spiraling together
Onward, inward
Creature to creation
Holy mystery
Mother Earth – Child Birth
This is Mother Nature
This is sacred

We are spinning ahh
Spinning all together
We are singing
Over the rainbow
This is harmony
This is community
This is celebration
This is sacred
[Chorus]

We are ripening
Ripening together
Babies, elders, bozos and angels
This is how we grow
This is how we get to know
This is family
This is sacred
[Chorus]
© Buffy Sainte–Marie

Weavers

Weavers (weavers),
Weavers (weavers),
we are weaving the Web of Life.
Descant:
Spirit weaver,Bone weaver,Breath weaver,Stone weaver,
we are weaving the Web of Life.

© 1994 Deirdre Pulgram Arthen

As a German Pagan folk band with an emphasis on traditional styles of music, their lyrics are rarely in English, often instead incorporating Latin, Greek, and Scandinavian languages along with German. However, you definitely don’t need to be able to understand the words to get the Pagan and witchy vibes.

Others incorporate elements of rock, metal, or electronic music, creating a more contemporary sound. Lyrically, pagan songs often explore the connection between humans and nature, the cycles of the seasons, and the worship of specific deities. Many pagan songs incorporate chants, invocations, or prayers in various languages, including English, Old Norse, Gaelic, or Latin. These lyrics often celebrate the beauty and power of nature and encourage individuals to honor and respect the earth and its creatures. Pagan songs can be heard at various pagan gatherings, rituals, or festivals, where they are performed live by musicians or sung collectively by attendees. In addition, many pagan musicians have released albums or singles that can be found online or in specialty stores catering to the pagan community. Overall, pagan songs play an essential role in the spiritual and cultural expression of the pagan movement. They serve as a way for individuals to connect with their spiritual beliefs and the natural world, providing a soundtrack to their rituals, celebrations, and everyday lives..

Reviews for "The magic of pagan hymns: invoking the gods with song"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Pagan songs". I expected a fresh and innovative take on pagan music, but instead, I found it to be repetitive and monotonous. The melodies lacked depth and creativity, and the lyrics were cliché and predictable. Overall, it felt like a lazy attempt at cashing in on the popularity of the pagan music genre rather than a genuine artistic expression.

2. Sarah - 1 star - "Pagan songs" was a complete letdown for me. The vocals were off-key, and the instrumentation was subpar. The entire album seemed like a collection of generic pagan-themed songs put together haphazardly without any real thought or effort. It lacked the authenticity and spiritual elements that attract me to pagan music in the first place. I would not recommend this album to anyone looking for a meaningful and enriching pagan music experience.

3. Michael - 2 stars - I was really hoping to connect with "Pagan songs" on a deeper level, but unfortunately, it fell short. The production quality was poor, and the overall sound was muddy and unpolished. The lyrics felt forced, and the melodies were forgettable. It lacked the emotional depth and resonance that I look for in pagan music. I believe there are much better options out there for anyone seeking an authentic pagan music experience.

Dancing under the moon: pagan songs for lunar rituals