Cyber Cauldron

Being a pagan does not require you to follow any particular path but when most people get interested in paganism they seem to end up looking at Wicca one reason is for this is that since the creation of Wicca it became published in books and magazines as well as the news. Since it’s creation and it public exposure Wicca seems to be one of the most wrote about pagan paths available to the everyday person with books that teach people how to be Wiccan.

Now I don’t want to put Wicca down it is a very valid pagan path which I was original train in many years ago, but it does have it limitations as a gay person it took a lot of searching to find a group which would accept me many wiccan’s saw homosexuality as an energy that could effect the energy created by a alternating male female circle. I will say that many new covens do not see homosexually as a issues and there are gay only Wicca groups which call themselves by other name but the practice and rituals are the same.

Now many people seeking to life a life with magicks and a spiritual connection will often find Wicca the first port of call and settle into Wicca and be very happy but for other the search will continue.

So if you have found a toehold on your belief through Wicca but feel that there is something missing what should you do? The first thing you need to work out is do you want to be part of a group where your leaders will instruct you and help you grow or do you want to be an individual.

For myself I loved group work and coven working but felt that I was being controlled not in a brain washed sort of way but in a way where I was not allowed to follow my own ethical beliefs living by the “and it harm none” jarred me sometime harm needs to be done … for the right reason. I went into working in the community and work with prisoners acting as minister. I learned much from people I thought at the start where the scum of the earth (and there are still some I believe are) sharing information on what it is like to live a life following a pagan life on the inside is hard not truly being able to connect with nature or the wheel of the year.

I met some very interesting, scary and dam right weird people over the 4 years I spent working as a prison minister. The first thing we did at meetings was say who we where and what path we followed and each in turn gave a description of what they believed many of which where not real identified paths but each was valid as they where created to suit the situation.

The problem I found as a prison minister was how do you include multi paths into a ritual for all to share, during this time I took a greater look at my own path absorbing some of the ritual and rite that where created to help unite the group. The more time I spent with these guys some whom I now consider as friends and teachers and the guest speakers provided from the pagan federation brought extra dimension to my own paths.

My personal practices had not always been Wiccan although group works where, I found myself less and less involved in Wiccan ideals and ethics I had seen the darkness in the hearts of men and Wicca prevented me from helping so I moved away gave up group work with in covens but continued to work with inmates both in the UK and USA and even tried to provide support to inmates with the pagan prisoners web site which failed with great effect due to the lack of support from UK pagan groups although the US pagan groups much more provided support.

As I moved further away from Wicca which was a bit of a yank as I had to close groups down and appoint new leaders but I had to find my own path which I new was going to be a solitary path which now combines many Wiccan ritual mixed with Hellenic polytheism, Oslac, shamanic workings to name a few and for many years have been trying without success to turn it into a path that other could follow or learn but being that it is such a personal path it does not allow other to follow as a religion and I know that it is just for me.

So when looking for your pagan path you have really two choices create your own path combining your beliefs ethics and practices or find a path that suits you.

If you choose your own path then create it for yourself alone or find information on a path that suits you there are many pagan paths that you can look up some of the most popular are:-

Alexandrian
Anglo-Romany
Anglo-Saxon
Ásatrú
Arthurian
Brezonek
Brittanic
Brythonic
Caledoni
Celtic
Celtic Shamanism
Creabh Ruadh
Cristos Wicca /
Christian Witchcraft
Cymri
Deborean
Deborean Wicca
Dianic
Druidiactos
Druidic
Dryad
Eclectic
Eireannach Faery
Family
Feri
Fennian
Gaelic
Gardnerian
Golden Dawn
Hebridean
Hibernian
Irish
Kingstone
Maidenhill
Majestic
Manx
Norse
North Country
North Isles
Northern
OBOD
Ordo Templi Orientis Pecti-Wita
Oslac
Reformed Druids
Romano-Gaulish
Sacred Wheel
Seax-Wica
Scotia
Scottish
Shamanic
Tuatha De Danonn
Ueleda Tradition
Welsh
West Country
Wica / Wicca
Wicce
Witan
Witchcraft
Wittan
Y Tylwyth Teg

In time I will discuss most if not all of these paths, which I hope, will help you gain an understanding of each path.

But if your interested in paganism or Wicca I recommend that you read as much as you can so you know what question to ask. Contact the pagan federation (PF) and they should be able to put you in touch with local groups.

If you’re interested in becoming a pagan minister to work with the community or prisoners please contact the PF.

If you have a personal account of how you became a pagan and wish to share no matter what path you are please email us using contact us form.