People talking together around a warm campfire

Dating

What Do Pagans Look For in a Partner?

The answers are more ordinary than the aesthetics suggest.

There is no Pagan answer to this question. There are only people answering it.

Shared language, not identical belief

Sometimes the attraction is simply not having to explain the whole subject from scratch. That does not necessarily mean wanting an exact doctrinal match.

Ordinary virtues

Kindness, reliability and the ability to apologise are no less important here than anywhere else. A shared interest in ritual will not make an unreliable person easier to date.

Time and energy

Festivals, moots and personal practice take time. So does a relationship. People look for partners who will not treat their spiritual life as a cute hobby or as a rival.

Acceptance of mess

Profiles and social media tend to show the tidiest version of a practice. Actual homes, schedules and attention spans are less orderly. It helps to expect that.

For the other side of this question — how to present yourself — see How to Write a Pagan Dating Profile.

About the writer

Clare Stowe writes about Pagan life and relationships for Pagan Dating.