Beginners to Paganism - Pagan Newbies

New to Paganism? Where do you start? When I first discovered paganism and wanted to find my own spiritual path, I didn't know where to begin. I stumbled across a pagan on MySpace, and pretty much bugged the person with questions. Then I went and joined a pagan forum, posted on there, asked lots of questions, and learnt a lot. Thankfully I found patient people on the forum willing to answer my questions and point me in the right direction. Not all people are as patient, and no doubt will get sick of answering the same questions over and over. So I will try to give you a basic head start here.

Don't think you have to learn everything at once, and that you must start practicing being a pagan and buying all the 'gear' immediately. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. You must learn first.


The best advice I was given, was to read. Read lots of different books on Paganism. It's the best way to start and get an idea of what paganism is all about. The first thing you need to learn is that not all pagans are the same, they generally follow an earth based spirituality, but there are many many different paths. I would start by reading a general paganism book on the main different paths as an introduction, and to help you get an idea of which path you might want to investigate to see if it is a path you want to follow. My personal favourite books for doing this is The Everything Paganism Book by Selene Silverwind, and Pagan Paths by Pete Jennings.


There are more of course, these are just my choice. One great piece of advice I got from one of Scott Cunningham's books, is to question everything you read. Do not assume that what the author says is right, or more specifically, that it is right for you. We are all different, which is perhaps why there are many paths leading to the same thing - spiritual fulfilment.

Some people, like myself, choose an eclectic path. One person recently described this to me as a pizza. He said:

• You got your base beliefs, like maybe reincarnation,
• Then you got your cheese and tomato sauce, your Gods and Goddesses, maybe, or spirits and animate 'inanimate' objects,
• Then you add your other beliefs and practices as toppings...

I really like this analogy, as you can imagine the pizza, which can have any combination of ingredients, and it's still a pizza. Just like you can draw the ingredients for your own personal path and set of beliefs, from any religion or spiritual path you like. Some people advise that if you wish to honour a specific God or deity, that you do so in the style and tradition of the path that you borrowed it from. For example, if you chose to honour a Norse God, you would probably honour that God with a Norse style blot (blessing). And if you chose to honour a Celtic God, you would probably do that in a Celtic Reconstructionist tradition. Likewise, if you chose to honour a Hindu God, you would probably do so in a manner in keeping with Hinduism.


I do enjoy learning about different traditions, and I recall learning that Hindu's happily add anything they discover and like about another religious tradition, and incorporate that practice/belief into their own tradition. I think all religions should be as open as this and willing to learn about other beliefs. Even though we may not always agree with them, it is definitely worthwhile learning about them, and always respecting others beliefs, as you would like your beliefs to be respected too.

I hope you enjoy your first steps into Paganism, and remember not to panic or rush into anything. You have all the time in the world. Live as if you only have today, Learn as if you will live forever.

Which Tarot Card Are You?

I am The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents, beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Magpie

Yesterday I was travelling through the countryside and thinking a lot of my Pagan Path and what I want to believe in. And whilst I was doing so all I could see all around me were Magpies. I haven't seen them quite so much following me around and always being there since I was last investigating a Pagan Path. It's like they're trying to tell me something, but I'm not quite sure what. I've been searching the internet to try and find the meaning of them. I often came across this cute rhyme that is so well known across the British Isles:

One for sorrow
Two for Joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told
Eight to wish
Nine to kiss
Ten is a bird you won't want to miss

The Magpies I saw so much of yesterday came in pairs, and some singly, throughout the day. It's almost as if they all specifically came out to see me, or show themselves to me. So after some searching, I have discovered on Wikipedia that Magpies, a member of the Corvid (Crow) family, are one of the most intelligent birds, and are considered to be one of the most intelligent of all animals. They have shown they can recognise their own reflections in mirrors, and have even used tools to clean their cages when kept in captivity. They are somewhat houseproud creating clever dome shaped nests high up in trees, and collecting shiny objects, which no doubt look pleasing to their eye.

Magpies are associated with omens and prophecies, probably mostly due to the rhyme above. In China Magpies are seen as a sign of good fortune, although in other countries they can be seen as a bad omen as well as a good omen. In England, if you see a Magpie alone then it is said you should greet them and acknowledge them to prevent bad luck. But if a Magpie looks you directly in the eye, he shows he respects you, and you do not need to greet him.

Magpies are often considered a thief, in Norway and Sweden especially they are considered to be associated with witchcraft. So perhaps I am seeing these birds more as I am redeveloping an interest in paganism which again can relate to witchcraft. There is also another reason I may be seeing them more - Magpies are associated with the month of April - the month of my birth. Could this even be my totem animal? I have seen Magpies a lot over the last 20 years, they have always lived closely around my house. Could this be the link? Whatever it is, I do love Magpies, and am always pleased to see them. Thank you for bringing joy into my life, beautiful, intelligent Magpies.

Summer Solstice

Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. But how should you celebrate it? Well, to understand how to celebrate it, I think you need to know what the occasion is all about. From what I have been able to garner online, the Summer Solstice is a celebration of life, of nature, and if you're inclined to include deities in your path, then it is the time of the God, associated with the Summer, the Sun, courage and strength. The Summer Solstice is a celebration of nature, of being alive in this wonderfully abundant time of year. Throughout the years, this has been celebrated in many towns and villages with parades and carnivals, there are even summer solstice parades in LA, beautiful colourful parades, people dressing up and expressing their pleasure in being alive.




For me, the best way I imagine to celebrate this solstice, is to enjoy the sunshine as much as possible. Get out in the garden, to the local park, anywhere outdoors you can appreciate the warmth and the light. Traditionally, the Summer Solstice has been celebrated with music and dancing, people making merry and feasting to celebrate the abundance of food now. As this is also known as a fire festival, you can light candles, celebrating your chosen patron god's warmth and light at this time of the year. You can decorate an altar dedicated to your god with warm golds, yellows and reds, recognising the fire element.



Many people believe the summer solstice begins the night before at dusk, as the sun sets. Midsummer's Eve is when they embark on merry making, having bonfires outdoors, much celebration and revelry right through the night, as they stay up to see the sunrise the next morning, welcoming the sun into their life on the longest day of the year, when the sun is at it's strongest. It is also said that the veil between this world and the spirit world is at it's thinnest on Midsummer's Eve, as it is also on Samhain (All Hallows Eve).




I haven't specifically marked the Summer Solstice this year, but I am starting to explore the festivals in the wheel of the year, begin to understand them and choose what I would like to do to honour and mark the occasions. I am taking baby steps at the moment and gradually introducing the festivals into my life. I don't want to rush to celebrate them and attempt elaborate rituals when I don't fully understand what I am doing!

Happy Summer Solstice everyone! Please feel free to let me know what you have been doing with a comment below! :)