Pagan Worship Sites Prove Spirituality Doesn't Need Four Walls

New photo series highlights Paganism's close relationship with nature.
"Nine Ladies," a Bronze Age stone circle located in Derbyshire, England, is featured in Jack Pidduck's "Divination" photo series.
"Nine Ladies," a Bronze Age stone circle located in Derbyshire, England, is featured in Jack Pidduck's "Divination" photo series.
Jack Pidduck

Paganism may seem like the stuff of legends and folklore, but for thousands of practitioners around the globe it is a living, breathing religion.

The UK-based Pagan Federation estimates there are somewhere between 40,000 and 250,000 practicing Pagans in Britain ― a number that includes a range of spiritual communities typically grouped based on their veneration for nature and observance of seasonal cycles.

A recent photo project looks at some of the sacred sites and objects used by Pagans in the UK today.

Photographer Jack Pidduck, 22, said his curiosity about Paganism arose out of “a long-standing interest in theology and spirituality.” He decided to combine this interest with his passion for photography, and created the series, “Divination,” which served as his final project at Nottingham Trent University.

“I was always aware of Pagan belief and worship, but I really had no idea of the specifics of what it was, who they were, or how they practiced,” Pidduck told The Huffington Post.

Pidduck said he reached out to a local group, the Nottingham Pagan Network, to see if he could join their community and photograph some of the sacred sites where they held ceremonies.

“It was a daunting prospect to approach a seemingly closed group of people as an ‘outsider’ ― especially because one of my motivations for being there was to create a photographic representation of them and their faith,” he said.

But the group invited him to join their “moots,” or gatherings, and the “Divination” series came to life.

Inside a burial mound in Wales where offerings to nature deities are left on a ledge.
Inside a burial mound in Wales where offerings to nature deities are left on a ledge.
Jack Pidduck

”It was a pleasure to be able to welcome Jack to our moots and events, as it often is with people who don’t consider themselves Pagan or even as members of the Pagan community,” group member Ashley Mortimer said in an email to HuffPost.

The network doesn’t require participants to share their beliefs or practices, Mortimer said, but rather strives to foster “an environment where those interested in Paganism can discover, experience and learn regardless of the reason for their interest, whether it be personal spiritual journey or ‘outside’ enquiry.”

Through his own exploration, Pidduck decided to focus his project on the natural and man-made sites where British Pagans hold rituals and leave offerings to deities.

“On a base level, much of modern Paganism is inextricably linked to the natural world,” he said. “Fortunately, Nottingham is situated close to the Peak District National Park, which has a rich history of ancient sites of worship such as stone circles and burial mounds. These sites have been reclaimed as sacred places in recent decades as the open practice of Pagan faith has resurfaced in a substantial way.”

Scroll down to see a selection from Jack Pidduck’s “Divination” photo series, with captions from the photographer:

Jack Pidduck
"Bryn Celli Ddu; an ancient burial mound on the island of Anglesey, Wales. The site is still actively used by the Welsh Pagan Community."
Jack Pidduck
"Inside Bryn Celli Ddu, offerings are left on an offering table. The purpose and motivation for the offerings varies from person to person, but is often a coin or other object of personal value."
Jack Pidduck
"A standing stone inside Bryn Celli Ddu; its exact purpose is not known."
Jack Pidduck
"Nine Ladies stone circle in the Peak District at night. Hugely popular on significant dates of the Pagan Calendar, such as the Summer Solstice."
Jack Pidduck
"Nine Ladies stone circle at dawn, included in the series as an illustration of the passage of time and the day/night cycle, something hugely significant in nature. The celestial cycle was understood by those who built the circle and others like it, and many megalithic monuments were constructed to coincide with celestial events."
Jack Pidduck
"A cherub left hanging from a tree at the Nine Ladies stone circle. I found it interesting that something that is traditionally associated with Christian faith was left, possibly as an offering of sorts, at an ancient Pagan site. Many parallels can be seen in the ways in which worship and superstition manifest themselves within different belief systems. For example, the burning of incense, the importance of some form of offering, and the comfort found in objects and idols translates through time and culture. I think the point of what I’m saying is that one doesn’t need to look hard to see that Pagan belief, while little understood by comparison to larger religious practices, really isn’t so different on a basic human level. The need to align oneself with a belief system is an ancient and universal phenomenon."
Jack Pidduck
"A collection of wands skilfully crafted by Heinz, a member of the Nottingham Pagan Network. In all honesty I’m not entirely sure of the purpose of them, though I have seen them being used in rituals to help cast protective circles against negative energies and entities."
Jack Pidduck
"Doll Tor stone circle, Peak District. A beautiful and lesser-known stone circle, still bearing signs of active and frequent use by those who know it is there."
Jack Pidduck
"Froggat Edge stone circle, Peak District. Still visited and used for rituals by Pagans."

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