First Steps: Creating Your Own Pagan Chant or Song

Pagan Songwriting Tips by Alexian

There’s something magickal about creating your own Pagan chant or song. It’s a deeply personal and spiritual act, a way to channel your creativity, connect to the divine, and give voice to the energies you feel swirling around and within you. But how do you even begin Pagan songwriting? Whether you’re transforming your thoughts into poetic harmony or invoking the Gods and Goddesses through melody, it all starts with taking that first step.

The good news? You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to be a musical expert to get started. Over my 35+ years of teaching music, both in person and online, and my lifelong practice as a High Priest of Alexandrian Wicca, I’ve helped countless students find their notes and their voices. With a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Berklee College of Music, triple majoring in Music Education, Songwriting, and Music Synthesis, I’ve developed a toolbox filled with techniques designed to make songwriting approachable and fun. And today, I’d love to pass a couple of these tools on to you.

Finding Your Inspiration

Every great song starts with an inspired idea. It’s amazing when inspiration strikes effortlessly, but let’s be honest, our muses aren’t always just a call away. Thankfully, ideas are everywhere if we’re open to receiving them. Need help getting started? Here’s a simple exercise you can do right now to spark your creativity.

Grab Five Random Books:
Look around your home and pick up five books, any books will do. Got them? Great.
Read the Titles Aloud:
Slowly read the title of each book out loud. Then, read it again, letting your Pagan perspective color your thoughts. Ask yourself, does this title invoke an interesting image, emotion, or concept?
Create a Pagan “Smash-Up”:
If a title sparks something, jot it down along with a short sentence explaining how it speaks to you. The unique connection between the book’s title and your Pagan path could form the backbone of a new chant or song.

You’ll be amazed at what you can uncover. And don’t worry about titles being “borrowed.” Ever notice that there are songs with the exact same title? Titles, whether from books, movies, or songs, can’t be copyrighted, so you’re free to use them as inspiration. Copyright law doesn’t protect short phrases or titles. How about a nice database full of ideas? https://www.copyright.gov/records/search.html You’re welcome.

Observing the World Around You

If other titles don’t ignite your creativity, step outside into the great wide world. Go to a park on a sunny afternoon or sit quietly in a busy café. Watch people, listen to snippets of conversation, and observe how words, actions, and nature interact. These observations can transform into profound lyrics when viewed through a Pagan lens. For instance, that bird hopping in the grass or the overheard comment about change might carry a deeper symbolic meaning when you combine them with your spiritual perspective.

One of my personal favorite sources of inspiration? My dreams. I keep a dream diary right next to my bed with two ready-to-go pens because I’ve learned how quickly memories fade after I wake. Jotting down those dream fragments or recording them on my phone’s audio app, has given me some of my most haunting melodies and vivid lyrics. I encourage you to try this too; you might discover a wellspring of ideas waiting in your subconscious.

Finding Your Song’s Perspective

Once you’ve captured an idea, the next step is deciding who is speaking in your song and to whom. This choice shapes the emotional tone of your piece. Try experimenting with these four points of view until you find what resonates most with your vision:

Third Person: Telling a story from an outside perspective
First Person: Sharing your own experiences directly
Second Person: Speaking directly to someone else, as in a conversation
Direct Address: Speaking to a deity, elemental, or spiritual force directly

Write your perspective choice at the top of your worksheet to keep it clear while writing. If you decide to shift perspectives midway through (and you can), do so with intention for artistic effect.

Songwriting as a Journey

The steps above are just the beginning. From developing your melody and adding harmonies to crafting a rhythm that complements the lyrics, every aspect of songwriting is equally important. But here’s the thing about creating your own Pagan chant or song: it’s a process. It’s not about rushing to the finish line but rather enjoying the evolution of your work as it unfolds.

If you’re ready to take your songwriting to the next level, I’d love to help you on this magickal journey. I’m developing online courses at AlexianMusic.com/store to help you create your own music, master music theory, play piano, compose chant and song melodies, and improve your singing with voice lessons. There’s so much to learn, and I’ve designed these courses to include interactive games, quizzes, and live sessions to make it engaging and fun.

Music is a powerful form of Pagan expression, and together, we can uncover your unique voice and musical style. Whether your goal is to write a personal chant for ritual use or share your spiritual songs with the larger Pagan community, the tools and wisdom are waiting for you.

I hope these tips help you find your spark of creativity in songwriting that captures something authentic and beautiful. If you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to visit AlexianMusic.com/store and explore the courses I’ve created to help you bring your songs to life.

Blessed Be,
Alexian

For more information about Alexian, including his collected articles here on Pagan Song, his bio, and links to Alexian’s sites on the web, check out Alexian’s artist page here on Pagan Song.

A huge thank you to Alexian for the above post and if you’d like to learn more about songwriting, here is an excellent songwriting post from the past, by Sharon Knight!

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