Pagans, have some questions for you =) (Jesus, ritual, mystic, tradition)

MaddLlama · #1 12-19-2006, 11:12 PM

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 · #2 12-19-2006, 11:23 PM

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 · #3 12-20-2006, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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. =(

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 · #4 12-20-2006, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · #5 12-20-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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. =(

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 · #6 12-20-2006, 12:48 PM

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 · #7 12-20-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaddLlama

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 · #8 12-20-2006, 06:29 PM

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 · #9 12-21-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neosnoia

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.