Any Pagans? Thinking of taking that path

[Muttly]

It's not a new thought. It's something I've been drawn to for many years (decades?). For a variety of reasons I've never pursued that path but am serious thinking of it this time. Trying to figure out how to begin. Reading recommendations? Other suggestions?

 

[Ronin]

What are you drawn to, Muttly?

 

[somerandomguy]

Hey, turns out there's a thread for that!
Earth-centered Spirituality: Pagan, Wiccan, Druid, Native American, Other

 

[Freida]

I love the jesus story but his followers scare the crap out of me. I haven't met many pagans but the few I have run across seem much more centered and calm - plus less apt to prejudice. Not sure if that's how they all are -- I may have just been lucky meeting nice ones.
I'm really interested in hearing about your journey!

 

[Muttly]

@Ronin I will definitely come back to this when I don't have a splitting headache and a brain that's not at it's best. The short answer? Nature draws. Nature with a capitol N. I've always been deeply connected to nature and living things. And because of how deep that connection runs, I've always had spiritual ... beliefs is the word that comes up, but I'm not quite sure that's the word I want.

@somerandomguy - thank you. I did a search but somehow didn't find that thread. I appreciate you linking it and will wander through it

@Freida - well I've met a few that aren't particularly centered but they have been less prone to prejudice. And any path is going to have it's issues, but I think this one might suit me. I know I'm not a Christian. I am Jewish by heritage but that hasn't worked out well for me.

 

[Rose White]

Yesterday my T said, “Jesus was a witch,” so there’s that. It was funny, but she meant it in an honorable way. To be a witch, to work with the elements of nature in healing and transforming, is an honor. So it’s a way of not being scared of Jesus the man, the story, by putting the witch title on him. Sort of a backwards twist.

Anyway... that’s not the story most of his followers tell... and the followers of Jesus scare the crap out of me too, Frieda!

Muttly, I like how you said “Nature with a capital N.” That seems like a good place to start.

I consider myself pagan, but I usually call it spiritual in general population because I feel I am judged more by people making a caricature of the word. If I can tell that someone has pagan leanings, then I enjoy talking about it.

Astrology, herbs, and crystals can be intriguing paths of entry. Hiking and learning local plants and walking the waterways in my area help ground me. I have not yet joined an official group but I know some people who pull cards and that’s another curious entry into paganism, reading cards. Also, anything Goddess related. Welcome! Have fun! :D

 

[Innordinate]

And because of how deep that connection runs, I've always had spiritual ... beliefs

look into vision quests. there are companies that run them in north america.

 

[Fadeaway]

It can be overwhelming to get started because there are so many different paths. There is no set doctrine. The options are limitless, it is whatever works for you.
Some questions to ask yourself.
Do you need religious structure? Wicca might be right for you.
Do you believe in a deity or deities? Non anthromorphical higher power? Not sure? Sure they don't exist?
Do you believe in spirits?
Are you drawn to a specific culture?
Are you drawn to certain elements? Greater affinity for the sea than air for example.
There is no one book that encompasses it all. Generally people try many different paths before settling on the one that works for them.
Figuring out how you relate best to nature is better than any paganism101 book because paganism is so personal.
Also books on wicca tend to dominate popular paganism. If a structured religion isn't for you, you need to do a bit of digging, not too much though.
There are also known authors to stay away from due to misreprenting history or even blatantly making up historical facts.

Go out in to nature and follow your intuition on how to interact with it. Write down your experiences. You don't even have to follow anyone else's way but your own. if you are interested in a specific topic like shaminism, lucid dreaming, divination, herbalism etc. That is really your best route to start off with book wise.

 

[Eagle3]

I traveled the route from Christianity to Judaism (my heritage) to Buddhism to Shamanism. Pretty sure I'm finally in the place I need to be. Sure, books are a great place to start, but REALLY getting in touch with what speaks to you, either object or ritual, is the best signifier of Your Path. There was a time on my journey where the books I needed to read would literally jump out at me from the shelves of thrift stores when I went looking with an open heart. The Universe will guide you if you let it. Ask questions of yourself, answer honestly, and be open to opportunities for experiences. How your gut responds to those experiences will tell you what Your Path is. Find people who support you no matter what your journey looks like, and check Meetup for local groups to see if you like a particular way of celebrating/observing ritual. Good luck on your journey!

 

[Fadeaway]

How your gut responds to those experiences will tell you what Your Path is

So true, so true. Coming from fundamental Christianity, it was hard for me to wrap my head around this at first. What do you mean there is no one telling me what I am feeling is right or wrong? ?

 

[Muttly]

Sorry for the delay in responding. Between work and caring for all the critters, I don't have a lot of spare time and then I got sick. :P I have also been doing a lot of searching/researching.

I hear you all about the books. I asked about books because I live in such a small town, connecting with others will take time and effort. And my knowledge base was so low I didn't even know where to begin. Anyway, I haven't found any that have really spoken to me, although one maybe gave me the piece I needed.

Perhaps this will sound rude, but I'm not really looking for help interacting with nature. What I mean is, I already have a deep connection. I always have. I consider myself incredibly lucky in that way. I mean, sheesh, <blush> I talk to trees and have for as long as I can remember. And have been known to rest my hand on a tree and send healing it's way. Why? I don't know, other than it seems right. So that part of my spiritual life already exists. I guess, I have wanted that to spread more into other aspects of my life? Perhaps as @Eagle3 mentions, what I have been seeking is more about ritual?

@Fadeaway Good questions

"Do you need religious structure? Wicca might be right for you." Probably. I do think I crave some structure. I keep feeling somewhat off-put by Wicca. No offense to any practioners. I kept telling myself that I just needed to be more open minded but I am becoming fairly certain my path is pointing me in different directions

"Do you believe in a deity or deities? Non anthromorphical higher power? Not sure? Sure they don't exist? " Yes, although what it/they are I have no idea. I am curious as to what a non-anthropomorphical higher power would be?

"Do you believe in spirits?" I guess this depends on what you mean by that term. And... oh, I want to say no. I don't. Except that there are times when I do. heh.

"Are you drawn to a specific culture?" I don't know. What I do know is I am not comfortable with the idea of cultural Appropriation. And that means I am not going to be pursuing shamanism as it's not my culture in anyway.

"Are you drawn to certain elements? Greater affinity for the sea than air for example." Well the answer that leaped first into my head was "earth" although water also strongly draws me. Heh, of course me being me I also find myself thinking there is something amazing about air....

 

[Lionheart]

I once considered myself Wiccan. Here's the thing; all Wiccans are pagan, but not all pagans are Wiccan. When I was a part of the local pagan community I was told that these were the main differences between the two... Wiccans believe "Harm none, do what thou will" and Pagans believe in "Do what thou will" period.

Now I do not know if this is true or not, but it always seemed to me to be a major difference and I couldn't help but wonder how the two reconciled. Anyways, I found that the pagans I met, were Christian-bashing and hedonistic.

There was also a lot of power plays and politics going on. Anyways, it was just not my thing, so I went back to being solitary. Now mind you this was just my experience and I am not going to say that everyone behaves the way I described the local pagans here as behaving. This was just my experience.

I now identify as a Universal Christian. Still, I have a strong liking for the Wiccan ways. Anyways, I just wanted to share my experience with you. Just like in any religious group, there are both good and bad people; Not everyone in the group has your best interests at heart, so be careful and keep your eyes open. With that being said, my only other advise is to follow your heart and remember that God, (divinity), does not belong to just one group of people.