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Newbie here... A little help, a little guidance?

Well, in the past few days there have been quite a few posts on similar topics, so I hope you're not all too fed up about that xD Here goes anyway.

Thing is, I've always been very very drawn to Paganism and witchcraft, ever since I was tiny I've known that learning about the old ways and conjuring spells would be an interest that would be with me my whole life. So I found Paganism and Wicca, and was totally fine and happy finding my way until I read all these discussions about paths... and seriously, I feel phenomenally lost and overwhelmed by the whole thing.

I know that the most commonly given advice to newbies struggling to find their path is to wait, and it will come to you in time, so that's not exactly what I'm asking.

What I want to know is, how important is it? I mean, say I was to just carry on the way I am now, picking up bits of information on Sabbat rituals or Gods and Goddesses from the internet and books, and using them where I feel it fits, am I just being lazy? Will it have en effect on anything else other than how easy it is to identify myself to people who ask me about my spirituality?

Again, I realise that a whole load of questions like this are being posted right now, so again I apologise for that XD Many thanks xox

Tags: advice, branches, help, new, newbie, paths, queries, question, wicca, witch

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ritalin-Bunny on August 24, 2012 at 5:31pm

I don't think you're being lazy. What's going to work for you, that's the thing. People can write all sorts of what's wrong and the right way, but in the end it's still you're deal, it's still your life.

Get what you want out of it - if that's to be a disciple to a belief or a distinct group that does things in a certain discipline, great. I wouldn't, seems cultist to me, but that's me.

If you're cool picking up odds and sods and can make it work for you, well everyone else will just have ot live with that, whether they think they're the authority or not.

No one can excommunicate you from paganism.

Nana nana hoo hoo, to any that would try!

Permalink Reply by Ronaele Bell on September 1, 2012 at 1:03pm

XD

"Nana nana hoo hoo"- I'm just gonna remember that phrase whenever I meet with any hostility, Paganism related or otherwise :')

Seriously though, thanks for your advice- I mean so far I've just been going along, picking bits up here and there anyway, but it's always reassuring to hear from someone else that that is ok, even though it was my gut feeling anyway :) thanks for the reply as well!! xox

Permalink Reply by Celticlass...FAERIE QUEEN on September 1, 2012 at 1:06pm

Its COMPLETELY,absolutley and wonderfully ok!!  Your dance around the Pagan circle is your own! ENJOY!!  many here are happy to visit,chat and share non judgementally.....feel free to ask and share!

Permalink Reply by punkypagan on August 24, 2012 at 5:49pm
Welcome to paganspace and to paganism in general. Ok first off take a nice deep breath. Nah it's not nessicary to follow a path. I am cutting my own blade in hand. Nor do you need to decide right away weather you want to follow a path or blaze your own. I belive the assage is "not all who wonder are lost"
Now what you are currently doing is called eclectic paganism. Personally if you use the word wicca I don't care, however thier are some who feel that wicca is an inication only religon meaning if you want to be wiccan you will need a linaged teacher.
No I don't think it is very likely you are being lazy. The only sujestion I could add is start a meditation practice if you haven't all ready even though I personally am terrible at it.
It's totally ok to be new to something and you shouldn't need to appologise for it even if others give you bad looks.
Also feel free to add me as a friend and I will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Permalink Reply by Ronaele Bell on September 1, 2012 at 1:23pm

Thanks for the welcome :D

I actually found what you said really helpful-I'm not the kind of person who, in general life, likes the use of labels etc, but right now, while I'm just beginning here, I've discovered that being able to identify as something "solid" to kick off from is helpful. Eclectic Paganism sounds like a good starting point; before I discovered Wicca, Paganism was my starting point so I can be fairly confident in that, and I know that I'm definitely eclectic right now XD

Meditation, now that does interest me. I've been reading about it recently and I think that since I've always had a very very vivid imagination, it could be something I really get into. It's the concentration and relaxing that might pose the challenges, but hey, we'll see :')

Thanks for taking the time to reply :D xox

Permalink Reply by Celticlass...FAERIE QUEEN on August 24, 2012 at 6:02pm

WELCOME and hello.lazy? Oh no way at all!! Just relax,enoy and be yourself!! The Powers that be may make it clear to you where your niche is......50 years from now or tomorrow. We all keep learning,growing expanding.....You may want to ask yourself WHY are you drawn to Paganism? Myself,in my family,my roots,we accepted witches,seers,cunning folk,so you may want to look to your own ancestry ,possibly. I firmly believe YOU are your own magick. Please feel fre to join my Large,Loud and very active group here on Pagan space,FEISTY WITCHES. I am also the Community Manager ,so I'm happy to help you navigate the site too,just ask!! lots of great folk here!! Enjoy! HUGS!!

Permalink Reply by Ronaele Bell on September 1, 2012 at 12:52pm

thanks for replying, first off, and thanks for the invitation to your group :') will definitely be checking that out-feisty witches? sounds worth investigating to me.

Also, looking into my families past and ancestry is something I've always wanted to do, maybe this'll give me the push to actually do it.

Thanks for the welcome >< xox 

Permalink Reply by Celticlass...FAERIE QUEEN on September 1, 2012 at 1:29pm

Let me know if I can help too,as mentioned there are many helpful,non judgemental folks that mentor,work with and encourage new Pagans. I dont know what your roots are,but if you are Scottish or Irish,check electricscotland.com....you just need a base name to plug in. I follow a path of Scottish Witchery myself and the Irish Fey. Have a lovely day

Permalink Reply by Devil Sexton on August 24, 2012 at 6:10pm

Welcome to fold n all....

But there's simple easy answer to this of course, there are so many different shades... What draws you in? Are you looking to follow up on your roots (whatever they may be) that's often a great starting point that most of us use...

You've got Celtic, Native American, Kemetic (Egyptian) Slavic, etc... 

Then there's the neo-paganism if that strikes your chord, but as you'll see during further exposure, it's can often be frowned upon due to it's 'sugar-coated' nature and sometimes due to it's similarities to christianity...

In my experience, eclectic is a safer road to go then Wicca and the Neo-Paganism route. But again it's up to the individual....

Start with your roots, or what draws you in... There are countless books on the subject as well, I honestly think the best way is to read classic literature on the subjects. Study many and take what feels right to you...

For example, I have follow a blend of Celtic influence, Slavic based traditions/practices taught to me, Taoist philosophy, a touch of Shamanism, augmented by scientific principles.

all of which just happened from either experience or personal study.

Permalink Reply by Kixs on August 24, 2012 at 6:20pm

I grew up with my path, but I am the one that choose to follow it when I was grown. I remember having a simuliar conversation with my Granny, because the path I grew up with seemed normal to me, but I was finding all these really cool things about other pagan paths and wanted to use some of those things too and she told me, "even if your path direction is choosen for you, you are still the one that decides how to walk it." So no I don't think you have to have a certain path, religion, spirituality. As long as the bits and pieces you choose to use, you use them with respect and intelligents after all they are a part of someone elses path and well it's just not good medicine to be rude to any type of higher power, it could prove to be un-healthy lol. 

Permalink Reply by Ronaele Bell on September 1, 2012 at 1:35pm

"Even if your path direction is chosen for you, you are still the one that decides how to walk it"-I think that's a brilliant saying, your Granny sounds like a wise woman indeed :)

Thanks for the advice on borrowing from different paths-since it's something I do a lot, that was useful XD

xox

Permalink Reply by Liath Seraphim on August 24, 2012 at 6:26pm

First off I'd like to welcome you to the path of paganism and I wish you luck as you explore it.

As for finding YOUR path, there really isn't any "wrong" way to do it. An you're certainly not being lazy. When I first claimed the title of being a witch I learned entirely on my own. I read on my own, experimented on my own, researched on my own, and now-a-days I like to believe I have come to understand my path within the craft and who I am as an individual witch. For solitary witches (which I'm assuming you are?) then really the best way to learn is taking bits of information and accumulate as you grow. And in time, really before you even know it, you'll have formed who you are as an individual witch. The craft is a personal experience and the key is to take it step by step at your own pace and don't ever feel rushed to learn faster or pressured to follow a specific path before you've come to understand and get a feel for it first.

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