Hey everyone. New to Paganism and thought I would see how this goes. I live western North Carolina which is very rural, 2 hours to anything and there aren't really any Pagan groups and I only know of one other person that practices Wicca and no one else nearby that I know actively practices any sort of Pagan path. I do want to make a thread in the SAFE Zone to go more in depth but here's a little background about me and where I am and why I have decided to start taking a more serious approach to my spiritual and religious path.
I did not grow up in a religious household, I've only been inside a church only a few times and most were funerals. I never had much interest in Christianity or religion for a long time. Several years ago I was invited to go to a church service. I went and the vibe was awful...I just didn't feel welcome there at all. Maybe my clothes weren't nice enough? I don't really know, but I was just glad to get out of there when it was over. The person who invited me didn't even acknowledge me. Needless to say, I didn't go back and have declined any invitation to go to another church since. Now I don't want to make this thread about crapping on Christians so that's where I'll leave it. I can't remember the moment that Paganism drew my interest but it was earlier this year, right before the pandemic broke out and the word "Pagan" without really knowing the definition does have an Earthy vibe to it and not surprising that Earth-centered religions also happen to be Pagan.
When I was a kid my mom and sister got into Wicca for a while but it was more of a fad I think and being 12 years old at the time a lot of things we over my head and I wasn't into it as much as they were. So I have been exposed a little bit to different things. So recently decided I would look more into Paganism. I got an audiobook (not much for being a bookworm) "Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions" and I listened to it probably 3 - 4 times while I would go on walks. I do think it is a good book even from someone like me who basically knows nothing about any religion. The concepts of celebrating nature, the seasons and the universe seems to align better with science and my observation of reality...for lack of a better description. The book went in on Bohm's implicate and explicate order which to be honest, went over my head and not sure how important those concepts are to someone exploring Paganism or their spirituality. I suppose the takeaway is that the universe is a complex place let's just say and we can't simply go by our senses alone to say the least. Anyway, going to avoid going on a rant of what would most likely be just conjecture. I think a separate thread going more in depth of where I am at spiritually, what I currently believe and why and how I got there would be much better.
I also started listening to some of Bernard Alvarez's podcasts and some of his stuff I found helpful but the turn for me are all the membership stuff and the costs associated with services he provides, I get it, that's what he does, that's career, its his livelihood and so on whatever. I just can't afford that sort stuff. I can afford books but not spiritual counseling and I'm not knocking Bernard in any way.
So anyway, been trying to figure out what the next steps should be now that I have read the book, listened to some podcasts and some research (a little), done some thinking and so on. I get that there is no one answer, but I think coming to peace with my beliefs and not just believing something because someone else told me to. Seeking guidance and understanding why Pagans believe what they believe and perhaps some core principles...perhaps a foundation are all good things. I did look over the Newbie Guide to Paganism thread and it's great...a lot of information but it is all good. Same with the book. It is a lot to navigate. In one hand I don't have to throw out all the stuff many have from other religions as I'm somewhat of a blank slate, but on the other I have no foundation other than beliefs and perspectives I currently have which came from somewhere, I just don't know how I arrived with my current perspective but whatever the case it has landed me here.
I did not grow up in a religious household, I've only been inside a church only a few times and most were funerals. I never had much interest in Christianity or religion for a long time. Several years ago I was invited to go to a church service. I went and the vibe was awful...I just didn't feel welcome there at all. Maybe my clothes weren't nice enough? I don't really know, but I was just glad to get out of there when it was over. The person who invited me didn't even acknowledge me. Needless to say, I didn't go back and have declined any invitation to go to another church since. Now I don't want to make this thread about crapping on Christians so that's where I'll leave it. I can't remember the moment that Paganism drew my interest but it was earlier this year, right before the pandemic broke out and the word "Pagan" without really knowing the definition does have an Earthy vibe to it and not surprising that Earth-centered religions also happen to be Pagan.
When I was a kid my mom and sister got into Wicca for a while but it was more of a fad I think and being 12 years old at the time a lot of things we over my head and I wasn't into it as much as they were. So I have been exposed a little bit to different things. So recently decided I would look more into Paganism. I got an audiobook (not much for being a bookworm) "Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions" and I listened to it probably 3 - 4 times while I would go on walks. I do think it is a good book even from someone like me who basically knows nothing about any religion. The concepts of celebrating nature, the seasons and the universe seems to align better with science and my observation of reality...for lack of a better description. The book went in on Bohm's implicate and explicate order which to be honest, went over my head and not sure how important those concepts are to someone exploring Paganism or their spirituality. I suppose the takeaway is that the universe is a complex place let's just say and we can't simply go by our senses alone to say the least. Anyway, going to avoid going on a rant of what would most likely be just conjecture. I think a separate thread going more in depth of where I am at spiritually, what I currently believe and why and how I got there would be much better.
I also started listening to some of Bernard Alvarez's podcasts and some of his stuff I found helpful but the turn for me are all the membership stuff and the costs associated with services he provides, I get it, that's what he does, that's career, its his livelihood and so on whatever. I just can't afford that sort stuff. I can afford books but not spiritual counseling and I'm not knocking Bernard in any way.
So anyway, been trying to figure out what the next steps should be now that I have read the book, listened to some podcasts and some research (a little), done some thinking and so on. I get that there is no one answer, but I think coming to peace with my beliefs and not just believing something because someone else told me to. Seeking guidance and understanding why Pagans believe what they believe and perhaps some core principles...perhaps a foundation are all good things. I did look over the Newbie Guide to Paganism thread and it's great...a lot of information but it is all good. Same with the book. It is a lot to navigate. In one hand I don't have to throw out all the stuff many have from other religions as I'm somewhat of a blank slate, but on the other I have no foundation other than beliefs and perspectives I currently have which came from somewhere, I just don't know how I arrived with my current perspective but whatever the case it has landed me here.
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