'Bewitching' Nature : Neo-pagan relationships to heritage and nature

This thesis researches the subject of neo-pagan environmental ethics, activity within nature safeguarding practices, expressions of ethics and actions in the celebration of the Wheel of the Year, and neo-pagan relationships to Pagan heritage. Through a literature review on previous works within the topics, and research consisting of two surveys (one for neo-pagans and one for non-pagans), and three semi-structured interviews with Swedish neo-pagan practitioners, the results suggests that 1; Neo-pagans feel a sense of imagined spiritual heritage and ancestry in Pagan tradition and place, despite the lack of direct lineages. 2; Neo-pagans sense a stronger spiritual and animistic connection to nature than non-pagans. Neo-pagans participate more in environmentalism and somewhat more in sustainability than non-pagans. 3; Neo-pagans partly incorporate safeguarding practices in their celebrations of the Wheel of the Year or other neo-pagan holidays in various ways.