Once you've done that, you can really get busy. However, one problem many folks new to Paganism encounter is that there's a lot of reading out there, and it's hard to tell which books are worthwhile, and which should just be used as firestarters. In future posts, I will look at the different Pagan traditions, Pagan values, and Pagan concepts. a beautiful piece of writing exploring the Pagan world-view, which I have always found to be very poetic and evocative. So let us take a journey into the unknown. For instance, to follow a Druidic path you can't self-initiate, because it is an organized group with strict rules of advancement and titles to go with each level of achievement, so if you want to practice as a solitary, find a path that works better for people flying solo. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Wicca, a sect of witchcraft, is centered in ritual that Wiccans perform for specific purposes, such as communicating with or honoring Deity. 2) Respect and honour the gods and Goddesses. Which are the best books, websites, organisations? So go online and research different Pagan paths or Wiccan traditions, just to get some specific names. After all, you can't just fill out an application and get a handy membership packet in the mail. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. You can find them by clicking on the ‘FILED UNDER’  link at the foot of the blogpost. I have realised that, despite all the many wonderful articles out there about Paganism, many of them assume a basic level of knowledge about Paganism, and if you don’t have that basic knowledge, it can be very difficult to know where to find it. I will also provide a glossary of terms. Paganism is a widely diverse religion with many different traditions and beliefs, but, all are based on the few basic but fundamental principles that have been its foundations for centuries. The public library is a great starting point, and they can often order in specific books for you, but once you have chosen a specific group (or groups) to study, you may even want to hit used bookstores or online markets to obtain the materials you need. Paganism for Beginners :An Introduction to Pagan Beliefs. Planet Earth is my home. Nowadays, it is acceptable for anyone to join our ranks, although it is a sad fact that many racists and white supremecists … Think of it as a foundation upon which you can build later, when you're ready. This week I learned of the death of someone who was a... Pagan & Shinto News: Couple Find 'Witchcraft Den'... Top stories in Paganism and Shinto this week: UK: Couple find ‘witchcraft... For most people throughout history, religion was not and is not about... One of the first things you learn when you discover Witchcraft is... there’s a divine feminine and a divine masculine, there’s one god or goddess with many aspects, deity or deities is/are immanent in the world. Plus the fact that we all spout jargon – though this is inevitable when we have a different way of looking at the world, and need the vocabulary to describe it. What do Pagans believe? All the posts in this series will appear in the category ‘A Beginner’s Guide‘. However, most people find they want to meet other Pagans to bounce ideas off, and to celebrate the seasonal festivals with. Paganism is more of an attitude of mind than a fixed creed. Today, we're going to discuss a few authors whose contributions have really made an impact on the changing face of Wicca and other Pagan religions in the past decades. Add to that the fact that there are so many people on the internet who are willing to dismiss your hard-won insights, peddle pseudo-history, and claim that theirs is the One True Way, and it becomes very hard to sift reality from fantasy and find some people you might actually want to celebrate with. This is a good time to start hanging around at your local metaphysical shop or join a Meetup, to see if anyone is already a practitioner or knows where to best get started in the tradition you're interested in. You can only get so much from book work and self teaching. I am a part of this large family of Nature, not the master of it. Paganism is an umbrella term for several different traditions, some of whose members identify as Pagan, and some of whom identify solely as a member of that tradition. Look for initiation requirements and find out how much you can do on your own if you decide it is a path for you. Instead, there are several things you should think about doing. Even as a solitary practitioner, there are places you can go to bounce ideas off people with a solid background in magic. So whether you're someone who has no idea what paganism is and would like to learn more, or if you've been practicing for a long time, I hope to share what I've learned and learn some new things along the way. Your next step is to get connected. It's a good foundation to build your studies on, and will better help you determine what road your path will eventually take. What is self-initiation and why are so many people dismissive about it? Are you more drawn to Discordian, Asatru, Neo-Shamanism, Neo-Druidism, Green Witchcraft, or Feri practice? Many people have tried and failed to come up with a comprehensive definition of Paganism that includes everyone who identifies as Pagan – so the simplest explanation is ‘you are a Pagan if you think you are one’. I will also do requests, so if you have a question or an idea for a topic, please leave a comment. First, get specific. Figure out which of these belief systems aligns best with what you already believe, and the experiences you've already had. The Rocks, the Animals, the Plants, the Elements, and Stars are my relatives. For starters, evaluate where you stand and what your goals are in studying Paganism or Wicca. Find a book, read it, and then ask questions about things that are of interest to you. Paganism Wicca and Witchcraft For Dummies Cheat Sheet. How to find a reliable source of information? It's a question that comes up a lot, but unfortunately, it's not a simple answer. All the posts in this series will appear in the category ‘, Identity Politics vs. Transactional Politics. What parts of the book seemed ridiculous? Here’s where to start in Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism, including beginner witchcraft books, pagan books, Wicca resources and simple steps to get you started on your unique pagan path. But where to start? What did you read that you need clarification on? Paganism for Beginners – Overview May 20, 2015 Yvonne Aburrow Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Reading generic Pagan/witchy books will leave you feeling like it's all just one big melting pot of gooey tree hugging goodness. original sin (or similar concepts) does not exist. Other humans are my sisters and brothers, whatever their races, colors, genders, sexual orientations, ages, nationalities, religions, lifestyles. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. – Selena Fox. Next, go online again and get the basic background for each specific type of Paganism that catches your eye to see which really interests you. Please also opt me in for Exclusive Offers from Patheos’s Partners, "Yes it's very cool that it exists but it's not the only book on the ...", "Yes, Liz is a friend of mine.I think you need a manual and works of ...". 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