Finding the right pagan path
A subject that is not often mentioned, if any examples are mentioned are slight at best and at worst are a list of do and don’ts. Like all religions paganism is not free of it’s nutters and weirdo’s their do exist.
For the more experienced pagan spotting these weirdo’s and steering clear be come second nature. But when you are new to paganism you have no real knowledge of what paganism is and you do all the things the books and the Internet says but at some stage a person will wish to either join a coven or find local moots and here is where the problems can start.
There are some but thankfully very few people whose views on paganism are to say less than pagan. These people use paganism as away of exploring their own perversion rather than exploring the way of the goddess these are normally very charismatic people often with a great deal of knowledge. The big problem is there is no right buy fertility drugs without a prescription or wrong way to be a pagan and anyone one can create their own path and get followers and members to join that path if they so choose.
When your looking to become a pagan or neo pagan there are a few things you need to think about before joining any group or coven, the first is your motivation.
Why are you motivated to join a group or coven, is their a need for community, a need to belong, a desire to learn or some darker motives. Examine your motives very closely, can you needs be met without joining a group or coven?
Once you have decided to join a group or coven it is a good idea to examine your ethics personal and spiritual and your needs create some question to ask group or coven leaders respectable groups and coven will happily answer any questions related to joining if they are not then they are not for you. One of the major question that seem to pop up is the question of Skyclad working naked for many people the idea of being naked in public is uncomfortable so you will need to find this out before you join. Other good questions to ask is “if I find the group or coven is not for me can I just leave” this may seem like a silly question you will not be held prisoner (Not going to mention Crowley) but their maybe rituals required to assist you leaving and helping you find the correct path good coven and group leaders will assist you as much as possible to help you find a path that is more suitable to you.
Other extremely important question to ask is cost you should never be charge for joining a group or coven but that being said there are costs involved in being a pagan such as books of shadows, athames, robes etc you may be asked to pitch in with the cost of supplies or food or even travel when required.
Once you have all the information that you need and you are happy joining a particular group you should not become a sheep and follow blindly if there is something that you feel is not right then challenge the leaders about these things. Group leaders should always be willing to explain why something has been done if you are not happy with the response then leave if you feel that your leaders are breaking the law in anyway contact the police and discuss your fears with them.
It is extremely rare to find a coven or group that is doing something illegal but it does happen and you will have to face your own conscience and choose the correct thing to do.
I have found that the goddess will guide you to where you need to be sometime that is learn a lesson other times it is to teach even as a beginner you have an important part to play in any group by questioning things will help you gain and give insight. No one has the right to tell you off for doing something and you should never be forced to do things that don’t feel comfortable.
Now you have all the required information you need to join a group the next thing is to find a group that can be a bit difficult since the pagan community is a bit secretive about covens the best place to start is to find a local moot information on moot are available on the internet and in pagan magazines as well as from the pagan federation at these groups you will meet other pagans many will be part of one coven or another so by showing your interest and communicating with other member of the moot will help you to connect to others some may even talk about their group or coven at which point you can ask for more information (remember your question). When and if connection form you may be offered membership to their group after a meeting with coven leaders. Remember that covens and groups have the same rights as you if they don’t want you to join then you don’t join and the same goes if you don’t want to join they cant force you to join.
What happens if you can find a group or coven to join for any number of reasons such as work commitment, location or even disability? Well that simple there is no law to say you have to join a group or coven to be a pagan be solitary in time you may meet others to share your path or interests you may even find that you will end up creating a new neo pagan path.
| Cyber Cauldron Shop Chronicles of Book Of Shadows and Journels | ||||
Related articles
- What is Neo-Paganism and Wicca? (brighthub.com)
- On Being godless (renaebair.com)
- Encountering Deities and Spirits: first post (beliefnet.com)
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2010 Cyber Caulron
Originally posted 2010-08-26 11:33:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
