Pagen 101

[MamaJenese]

I am need of books. I was raised Roman Catholic. Did the whole thing with the family, took all my religous Education classes, time came around for confimation (around 15 in the RC church) I did not confirm, I just did not feel the connection to the religion (by the way my parents where totally cool with it). Have been sort of agnostic for years. I miss having a driving spirituality in my life. A reason to celebrate holidays rather than the secular/commercial drive. I miss belonging to a community that shares a belief system. I feel drawn to the Pagens I know and the little of thier beliefs I know of. Can someone please point me towards a good book ( I like to hold what I am trying to absorb rather then look at a screen) hopefully. Something sort of broad sweeping to help me see if this is the path I am meant to take. Also I know there are many different paths with in the scope of pagan, So I am not sure how to sort that out. Any help appreciated.

[honey-lilac]

The book I first read was Scott Cunningham's Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner. It's a pretty easy read, no complex theology there, just simple and inspired writing. I've re-read it a number of times and I always feel good about reading it. It's not flawless but it provides a good background and starting point, I think. A quick reading intro text that gives you good information without being (all) fluff.

You could always try a paganism for dummies type book too, but I don't think it'd quite have the same effect.

Or, do you already have other paths in mind other than Wicca? Shamanism, druidry, that type of thing? If you feel drawn to one of those paths we could make recommendations based on the specific path.

[MamaJenese]

Originally Posted by Kaleanani

The book I first read was Scott Cunningham's Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner. It's a pretty easy read, no complex theology there, just simple and inspired writing. I've re-read it a number of times and I always feel good about reading it. It's not flawless but it provides a good background and starting point, I think. A quick reading intro text that gives you good information without being (all) fluff.

You could always try a paganism for dummies type book too, but I don't think it'd quite have the same effect.

Or, do you already have other paths in mind other than Wicca? Shamanism, druidry, that type of thing? If you feel drawn to one of those paths we could make recommendations based on the specific path.

Bolding is mine. This is where I am most cloudy. I am not sure of the path. I don' know enough about each of them I feel like I need a little crash course in everything in order to find my path. I am leaning towards Wicca, but it may just be because I know the most about it compared to the others. My sister has a copy of the book you mentioned I am going to have to borrow it from her. Thanks!

[CariOfOz]

Just wanted to say hi and pop on over to this months pagan mamas circle (should be not too far below this post . Lots of friendly mamas there that might be able to help :

[ursusarctos]

Ditto Kaleanani's suggestion. It is a good intro to Wicca. Also how I found out that Wicca per se is not for me, but paganism is
I would highly recommend The Spiral Dance by Starhawk. It is comprehensive and includes both specific suggestions for rituals/practices and general Pagan philosophy.

[honey-lilac]

I would suggest starting a notebook or binder (can be your first book of shadows, if you want to give it a name) with different sections on each path you're interested in. Then you can file away notes or printouts in those sections. Maybe that's not the way you work but I'm a nerd and that worked for me in the beginning.

[wombatclay]

There are so many different paths under the "Pagan" umbrella, it may help you to sort of brainstorm what elements you feel drawn towards?

For example, the pagan umbrella includes paths that are polytheistic, pantheistic, and panentheistic.

[wombatclay]

There are so many different paths under the "Pagan" umbrella, it may help you to sort of brainstorm what elements you feel drawn towards?

For example, the pagan umbrella includes paths that are polytheistic (many gods or goddesses), pantheistic (everything is part of the divine), and panentheistic (everything is part of the divine but the divine has an independent existance as well). There are paths that emphasize a duality (a god and a goddess, this is much of Wicca), others that emphasize a whole pantheon (many of the traditional or recon paths), some that emphasize a more general sense of the divine (animist and some shamanistic paths), etc.

A book like Drawing Down the Moon is a classic overview of many different paths and options within the Pagan umbrella. It's a bit old (even the "updated" version ) but it's still a good place to start if you're ot certain which elements might appeal. And since it is an older book you can find it in many libraries and used book shops, which is always a plus.

Also, check out the pagan resource thread here at mdc for lots of ideas and book reviews! Plus the thread has links to the mdc Pagan Summer Camps which explore a lot of different paths and ways to "be" pagan.

[honey-lilac]

If you have a couple of bucks handy why don't you try this book here? I haven't read it so I can't vouch for it but it seems to be right up your alley. (I was window shopping Amazon tonight and when I found it I thought of your thread...)

[pinkgeek]

There's also a book called "Which Witch is Which?" that has a lot of information on different paths. It includes interviews with people from each path, where possible.

[Magelet]

I second Starhawk's the Spiral Dance. I honestly didn't really love Wicca for the Solitary practitioner, but the Spiral Dance I read and reread and reread, and still reread (even though my path has taken me further from paganism and towards judaism, I still reread and use and learn from The Spiral Dance, because I find it appeals to me very much and has much wisdom.)

[Collinsky]

This Pagan Primer article is a good place to start! It gives a bit of intro to some of the different Pagan paths, and some resources for them. If you click on the link in the article for Books & Reviews, it takes you to a page where tons of books have been reviewed -- scroll down and it has links for lists of books under specific themes, like Norse or Celtic, and also definitely check out the "Top Ten" lists, as that will be a *great* place to start.

[objet_trouve]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

There are so many different paths under the "Pagan" umbrella, it may help you to sort of brainstorm what elements you feel drawn towards?

For example, the pagan umbrella includes paths that are polytheistic, pantheistic, and panentheistic.

...and monotheistic ("the all", "the one"), and duotheistic (lord and lady), and henotheistic (many deities, one primary), and atheistic (gods as symbolic) etc. etc. etc.

what a crazy bizarre religion paganism can be This is why I love it!

I started with Cunningham, wicca for the solitary, graduated to drawing down the moon (I think)...Ok, so actually, I started with "are you psychic", but I was a little newly ex-christian living in the buckle of the bible belt, couldn't get my hands on anything better!

I'm asatru now. Dedicated to the goddess Lofn (forbidden love) and the god Bragi (music).

Even for non-asatru pagans, I strongly suggest "The Book of Runes" by Ralph Blum. Beautifully written, wonderful devotional style teaching.