Pagans, have some questions for you =)

[MaddLlama]

So, admittedly, it's been a few years (like, 3) since I've considered myself a Pagan (just go with me, it's a long story), and lately I've been interested in the path again. Thing is I want to start from scratch. So, here are my questions ^_^

Before deciding for yourself that you were a Pagan, what did you do? Did you do a traditional "year and a day" study? Did you do something similar? What did it involve? Study, writing, practice, anything.
Or, did you read about it and decide that you had always been Pagan, and just adopted the label? If you did, how did you begin your study and where did you go from there?

That's all I can think of for now. =) Hopefully I'll have time to come back and respond tomorrow, if anyone sees this then. If not, I'll have to leave it until next week. =(

 

[Draka]

Once I started to read up on Wicca and Paganism I had realized that my beliefs already fell under the category of pagan beliefs. I had went ahead and dedicated to studying for the year and a day apprentice time. During that time I referred to myself as a Wiccan Apprentice, however I was always Pagan.

What the heck I am now is something I have yet to figure out. I've been thinking on it and my beliefs go so much further than Wicca. Wicca is a chosen practiced religion to me. One that falls under a greater heading...and I'm not referring to Paganism either. I have to come up with a way to describe it all and when I do I'll post it here in this forum somewhere.

 

[Mike182]

So, admittedly, it's been a few years (like, 3) since I've considered myself a Pagan (just go with me, it's a long story), and lately I've been interested in the path again. Thing is I want to start from scratch. So, here are my questions ^_^

Before deciding for yourself that you were a Pagan, what did you do? Did you do a traditional "year and a day" study? Did you do something similar? What did it involve? Study, writing, practice, anything.
Or, did you read about it and decide that you had always been Pagan, and just adopted the label? If you did, how did you begin your study and where did you go from there?

That's all I can think of for now. =) Hopefully I'll have time to come back and respond tomorrow, if anyone sees this then. If not, I'll have to leave it until next week. =(

i started studying through a good friend of mine.... we hadn't really talked at all during school, but in college we were put in the same tutor group... both being alternative in fashion, we started talking a bit, and we've ben great friends ever since.

anywho, her boyfriend at the time was Pagan, and teaching her... i don't know what specific path he follows, more of a miagical path than a religious path... but that's where i first learnt the basics, and then it was just reading a few good books on the subject.

 

[MaddLlama]

Once I started to read up on Wicca and Paganism I had realized that my beliefs already fell under the category of pagan beliefs. I had went ahead and dedicated to studying for the year and a day apprentice time. During that time I referred to myself as a Wiccan Apprentice, however I was always Pagan.

What the heck I am now is something I have yet to figure out. I've been thinking on it and my beliefs go so much further than Wicca. Wicca is a chosen practiced religion to me. One that falls under a greater heading...and I'm not referring to Paganism either. I have to come up with a way to describe it all and when I do I'll post it here in this forum somewhere.

When you did your year and a day, what did you study? How did you forumlate you plan for study (if you did, anyway).

 

[Gentoo]

So, admittedly, it's been a few years (like, 3) since I've considered myself a Pagan (just go with me, it's a long story), and lately I've been interested in the path again. Thing is I want to start from scratch. So, here are my questions ^_^

Before deciding for yourself that you were a Pagan, what did you do? Did you do a traditional "year and a day" study? Did you do something similar? What did it involve? Study, writing, practice, anything.
Or, did you read about it and decide that you had always been Pagan, and just adopted the label? If you did, how did you begin your study and where did you go from there?

That's all I can think of for now. =) Hopefully I'll have time to come back and respond tomorrow, if anyone sees this then. If not, I'll have to leave it until next week. =(

I was lucky to be in the presence of a Druid at the time, and she helped me really figure out what I believed in and what I wanted to get out of being pagan. She gave me books to read, and even her Disk of Shadows as a place to start. Everything I read, I wondered, do I believe in that? If yes, I'd read more on the subject, and if not really, I'd still continue reading about it. And if a resounding NO, then I would find another subject.

I made sure to really understand a concept before trying it out, and even then, I'd talk to my friend about it to see if I was on the right track. I asked her a lot of questions. I realized that I had crossed the line into pagan-ness when I couldn't stop thinking about it, agreeing with what I had read, and really wanting to try it out.

 

[Makhsihed]

I'd been drifting from Christianity for quite a while; by the time I got to college, "Christian" was more of a tag because I didn't know anything else and was trying to be Christian for my family (my dad's a Southern Baptist minister). During my freshman year at college, a friend invited me to the local ADF grove's public Samhain ritual (in October). I started researching more about paganism as a result, but still called myself Christian. A month and a half later, at Yule (in December), I had some experiences that Christianity didn't explain to my satisfaction, and felt I could no longer call myself Christian.

I didn't start calling myself Pagan until Imbolc (in February), after much research and soul-searching and trying to figure out what I believed and what was reality. I didn't start calling myself Kemetic until several months after that.

So I guess one could say that I took some-odd months before calling myself Pagan rather than the Wiccan year-and-a-day idea.

 

[Kay]

Before deciding for yourself that you were a Pagan, what did you do?

I was introduced to "alternative" religion in 1986 through a friend that was studying Kabbalah. The Tree of Life was way too confusing for me at the time but my interest was piqued.

I researched Golden Dawn a bit and was finally introduced to Wicca. I ran out and bought Ray Bucklands book, set up an altar, bought an athame, a tarot deck, made a robe and proceeded to do ... nothing. There were no covens or groups where I lived. I tried practicing solitary, but as a teenager, I really needed group support.

So, after about three years of trying to practice alone, I had what I thought was a message from God and I became a Christian. I was baptized in 1990. After 9 1/2 years of knocking on doors and bugging people on Saturday morning - I left.

I got married and moved to NYC. I read lots of books from ex-Christians turned atheist. I tried that on for awhile. Tried agnosticism on for a while. Went pack to Wicca. Left Wicca. Studied philosophy and metaphysics. Studied comparative religion. Listened to alot of Joe Campbell. I went back to Christianity, albeit a very liberal version. Researched mystical Christianity. Researched the concept of ontological duality. Researched the concept of ontological nonduality. Looked into Zen. Looked into Hinduism. Looked into Taoism. Went back to Christianity. Tried to look at Jesus through "Jewish eyes." Tried to look at Jesus through "Gnostic eyes."

Now here I am.

As far as books are concerned, that depends on whether you want to practic Wicca or Druidry or ... ? I really like Phyllis Curott's stuff, especially "Witch Crafting." I'm currently reading Joyce and River Higganbotham's "Paganism" which I really really like, but the book is not focused on magic or ritual at all. It's a bit more philosophical than other neopagan books I've read.

Anyway ...

 

[MaddLlama]

Wow, we sound a lot alike. I've done more than my fair share of religious ping-ponging. Did you have much time between them, or did you go from one right to another? Did you ever get so frustrated at not being able to settle on something that you considered giving up altogether?

I am actually reading the same book too. I really like it, even though I'm very slow at working through it. I figured it would be a good place to start. Do you think when you're finished you'll read thier second book (Pagan Spirituality)?

 

[Makhsihed]

I'm currently reading Joyce and River Higganbotham's "Paganism" which I really really like, but the book is not focused on magic or ritual at all. It's a bit more philosophical than other neopagan books I've read.

That's a rather amazing book; it's the best "Pagan 101" book I know of. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't know much about paganism or who's never really been exposed to it and wants to learn more.

 

[Kay]

Wow, we sound a lot alike. I've done more than my fair share of religious ping-ponging. Did you have much time between them, or did you go from one right to another?

I guess you could say that I went from one right to another. Basically what would happen is I'd be studying an idea from one tradition and then come across something that would make me look at another tradition. For example, Zen and Taoism, or Buddhism and Hinduism. I didn't practice any of those traditions, but did spend a lot of time studying the philosophical ideas that they all hold in common.

Did you ever get so frustrated at not being able to settle on something that you considered giving up altogether?

Definitely. I really tried to hang onto Christianity. First as a liberal (though literal) Christian ... then mystical ... then gnostic, but I just couldn't do it. The main reason I wanted to stay Christian (and this is hard to admit) was for the sociological/cultural aspect. I wanted to go to church, be with a group, make friends. Every week I'd determine to go on Sunday and every Sunday I'd find an excuse not to go. No matter how I rewrapped the story, I couldn't bring myself to sit in church and pretend to believe something I didn't. It would be the same for Judaism, or Islam, or Buddhism (I'm too much a theist), or Hinduism.

So I asked myself "Kay, what really moves you? What connects you to the Divine more than anything? What do you consider sacred?" My answers consisted of "The Earth" or "The sunrise" or "Cosmology" or some other "earth centered" idea. And I thought "Crap, you really are a tree hugging, nature loving mystic who would rather talk to the moon than sit in a church."

I am actually reading the same book too. I really like it, even though I'm very slow at working through it. I figured it would be a good place to start. Do you think when you're finished you'll read thier second book (Pagan Spirituality)?

I am DEFINITELY reading the next book. I'm really loving the depth of this one and hope that the next one is as good. Still, for personal practice, I can't recommend "Witch Crafting" highly enough.

 

[Kay]

That's a rather amazing book; it's the best "Pagan 101" book I know of. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't know much about paganism or who's never really been exposed to it and wants to learn more.

Agreed. It's definitely not a "fluffy" book. The meditations and visualizations are amazing. And they touch upon just enough ontology to keep me interested.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

For me, I officially stoped being Christian, and for alittle over a year, searched for the right religion. After much prayer (which was all I knew at the time), meditation, and a nearly fatal car crash, Douglas Monroe's "21 Lessons of Merlin: A study in Druid Magic & Lore" was revealed to me. I read it, bought my own copy, read it again, found a metaphysical store, studied some more, and spent every last dime on materials to study Paganism with. At first, Wicca was kinda pushed onto me, so it's what I considered myself, especially since the lady I looked to as a guide is Wiccan. Then I realised I didn't like being forced into it, and Wicca really wasn't for me. For about a year, I considered myself an Eclectic Pagan, while I continued to study and learn, while practicing a Druidic path. After that year, I started to study Nocturnalism, which I absolutly loved, and still do. I practiced that exclusivly for about two years, but I still had a love for the Druid path. Some time about the begining of this year, I combined the two into my beliefe system. Some of the Druid rituals are Solar based, but I found they work just the same envoking Nocturnal energies of the same nature, only they are dark.

 

[wicca_woman]

hello all , I am new to the forums but I just have to say WOW ! I am in the early, early stages of reading and learning on the wiccan/pagan stuff and reading this one forum just showed me that I have a lot more to learn !!! Don't worry I am taking notes and as soon as I sign out of these forums I am going to look some stuff up !!!

Thanks !

 

[wicca_woman]

oh yeah , anymore books you guys could tell me about that might be able to assist in the learning process ? I am reading Raymond Buckland's "Wicca for One" right now .
Thanks

 

[Gentoo]

oh yeah , anymore books you guys could tell me about that might be able to assist in the learning process ? I am reading Raymond Buckland's "Wicca for One" right now .
Thanks

I like Scott Cunningham personally, I know a lot of people don't necessarily like him though.

If you have any questions feel free to either ask the board or you can PM me I"ll be more than happy to help out.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

and reading this one forum just showed me that I have a lot more to learn !!!

I've been Pagan for a few years, and I'm still learning.
I reccommend books by Cunningham, Buckland, and McCoy.

 

[wicca_woman]

I HAVE READ BITS AND PEICES OF CUNNINGHAM'S WORK ON DIFFERENT SITES THAT I BELONG TO AND IT LOOKS INTERESTING TO ME...RIGHT NOW I AM WRITING DOWN EVERY NAME AND BOOK TITLE I CAN FIND AND WHEN I GET TO THE BOOK STORE I CAN FIGURE OUT FOR MYSELF WHICH ONES TO START NEXT !

I NEED ALL OF THE HELP I CAN GET RIGHT NOW . HERBS , CRYSTALS ,COLORS , INCENSE , ESSENTIAL OILS ETC.ETC. I NEED BOOKS TO TEACH ME ABOUT ALL OF IT !! THANKS AGAIN !

 

[Gentoo]

I NEED ALL OF THE HELP I CAN GET RIGHT NOW . HERBS , CRYSTALS ,COLORS , INCENSE , ESSENTIAL OILS ETC.ETC. I NEED BOOKS TO TEACH ME ABOUT ALL OF IT !! THANKS AGAIN !

With a lot of those things, there is no ONE way of doing things. Each person interprets the color green differently, it's one thing to use other people's defintions as a starting place (we gotta start somewhere), but once you have those things, you should really look at it for its own value and what you see in it. Good luck.

Here are some links that helped me out:
http://www.paganlibrary.com/
http://www.wicca.com/celtic/cc002.htm

 

[wicca_woman]

I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO PULL MY OWN MEANINGS OUT OF EVERYTHING AND ADD MY TOUCHES OR "SIGNATURE" TO THINGS BUT I REALLY DO HAVE A LOT FURTHER TO GO . I'VE ONLY BEEN LOOKING INTO ALL OF IT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS . PUTTING IN EXTRA HOURS AT WORK FOR THE HOLIDAYS IS PUTTING THE BRAKES ON MY READING RIGHT NOW THOUGH . IT IS ALMOST I NEED TO START ALL OVER AGAIN TO MAKE SURE I NOW UNDERSTAND WHAT I READ A MONTH AGO...YOU KNOW ?

THANKS FOR THE LINKS !!!

 

[Makhsihed]

Here's a bunch:

If you're interested in Celtic paganism, I'd recommend checking out paganachd.com/faq/readinglist.html - it's got quite a good list.

Anything by the Farrars is usually a safe bet for general pagan/Wiccan information. "A Witches' Bible", "Spells and How They Work", etc.

If you don't mind some heavy reading, Ronald Hutton's "Triumph of the Moon" is a good, solid, scholarly account of modern paganism (centering on Wicca, though) and its history. Everyone should know their history, IMO. Alder's "Drawing Down the Moon" is another classic that gets recommended a lot, though it's a bit out of date (or did the new edition come out yet? I think there was supposed to be one...).

ADF has a decent booklist as well at adf.org/training/resources/reading.html

I've had many people recommend me "Evolutionary Witchcraft" by T. Thorn Coyle, though I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Dunno what the consensus is on that book, just that I've heard it recommended a lot.

I'd also suggest a book or two on ethics. "When, Why . . . If" by Robin Wood is a good one. I've heard another book on pagan ethics recommended here and there, but can't for the life of me remember the title.

Hope that comes in useful. ^.~