Salutations from Ontario, Canada :)

[theharmoniouscrow]

Welcome and thank you!! That would be great ^_^ what brought you to where you are now, exploring and all?

A dream brought me here (sounds pretentious, but that's the truth) or at least set me on the path to finding this. I am settling in, like a crow in her nest, and deciding what Path to choose, where I fit in and where I feel most comfortable. I'm reading voraciously, listening eagerly and asking lots of questions of anyone who will listen (and with this forum, that's pretty much everyone!) and I'm learning a lot.
Definitely check out Jenett's page - I am busy reading through that as well. It's most informative for people like me who don't QUITE know what direction they want to go yet.

[Kraken]

Any book suggestions are dependent on exactly which subject you want to read about. Under the Pagan umbrella in the most broadest sense* you will find:

• Those who practice philosophical/spiritual interfaith Druidry of the Georgian-Victorian and/or Counter-culture type, open for Deists, Christians, Jews, Pantheists, Pagans, Buddhists, Agnostics...
• Those who practice folk-magic Witchcraft (often simultaneously members of Christian churches)
• Those who practice folk magic, and don't self-identify as Pagans (it is imposed from the outside)
• Those who practice ceremonial magic, and don't self-identify as Pagans (it is imposed from the outside)
• Those who practice folk-magic and self-identify as Pagans
• Those who practice ceremonial magic and self-identify as Pagans
• Thelemites
• Initiatory Wiccans (Gardnerians and Alexandrians belong to this group)
• Non-initiatory Wiccans
• Feri practitioners
• Those who practice the 1734 tradition or are members of Clan of Tubal Cain or Ancient Keltic Church
• Those who practice another sort of Witchcraft they identify as a religion
• Those who practice polytheist Druidry
• Feraferia
• Discordians
• Church of the SubGenius
• Church of All Worlds
• Covenant of Unitarian-Universalist Pagans
• Other eclectic Neo-Pagans, many non-organized
• Sumerian reconstructionists
• Egyptian reconstructionists (aka Kemeticists)
• West-Semitic/Syro-Lebanese reconstructionists (Hebrew polytheists are closely related to this movement)
• Celtic reconstructionists
• Norse/Germanic reconstructionists (aka Asatruar, Heathens, Fornsi∂r-practitioners)
• Greek reconstructionists (aka Hellenists, Dodekatheists)
• Roman reconstructionists (aka Cultores Deorum)
• Slavic reconstructionists
• Baltic reconstructionists

I have no information if any attempts to reconstruct Illyrian (Albania), Thracian (Bulgaria) or Dacian (Romania) religions are going on.

Each movement consists of several denominations or local/regional units, which may take very different positions concerning various issues. The rift between inclusive reconstructionists and segregationalist/racist reconstructionists is very deep.

How very helpful! Wow! That's quite a lot to take in but I am very thankful I have some names and religions to look into...would it be possible to start with what I do believe about myself and go from there? It all seems so complicated...I just want to learn to give general thanks to Father God and Mother Goddess (I have a particular fascination with Mother Goddess) and practice regular prayer and blessings in my life...ah. Yes, I'm still a little lost on where I should begin. I like the idea of the "Pagan Christian" but my personal stance is that it is difficult to be both...and I want to try to stay away from Christian concepts as much as I can (as much respect as I have for Christians, I'm trying to abstain from Christian influence in my spiritual life ATM).

Its a matter of definition. Gareth Knight (who happens to be an Anglican ceremonial magician himself) use the term celebratory magic about such festive rituals which include visualization and a subtle sensation of non-empirical 'energy' (I don't like the last word, since it has the ring of pseudo-science. There must exist a better one, in order to speak about the designated personal experience). Reconstructionist rituals are lacking in this 'magical' aspect more often, than eclectic/wiccan/mesodruid rituals are.

* I write 'in the most broadest sense', since some persons and groups who are perceived as Pagans by outsiders, not necessarily self-identify as such. Some of them are devout Christians.

I see what you mean there. I suppose it could be, from my point of view, like a non-traditional and eccentric practice of Christianity. I don't mean that to be disrespectful. I'm just trying to visualize. My husband is reading a book on Rosicrucian Christian Philosophy (?) and has described to me their practices and it seems like they use magic in some cases too.

I think I'm aiming towards a more simplistic approach. Prayers, blessings, the use of stones, correct diet that reflects my beliefs etc...even though I don't know what that is yet...it is what I desire. Correct me if I am going all wrong about this.

[Kraken]

Welcome!

Lots of new folks here who are still exploring their paths, myself included. So much wonderful acceptance, openness and positivity. These are fertile fields of collected knowledge and experience for anyone with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

Enjoy your stay and I'm looking forward to exploring along with you

 
Thank you I look forward to it too!

[Kraken]

Hi, Kraken, and welcome to TC!

If you are new to paganism, you are not alone. Everyone has to begin somewhere and everyone has questions. You've already gotten some great suggestions (a couple of which are repeated below), but here are a few more ideas to help you get started:

TC's Pagan Primer: This is a resource designed as an introduction. It includes basic information and links to more specific info on a variety of pagan topics, including "Common Questions About Paganism".

TC's Teens and Paganism FAQ: This resource was originally intended to address the kinds of questions teen pagans struggle with, such as talking to parents about religion. However, the final product turned out to include a lot of great info that is useful to new pagans of any age, including many links to very useful resources.

Seeking: First Steps & Tools:  This is a well organized and user friendly resource dedicated to providing the kinds of information and explanations that many new pagans don't even know they need.  The author, Jenett, is a long-time Cauldronite and experienced practitioner of a small religious witchcraft tradition.  (You can read more about Jenett's background in the "About Me" section of her site.)  The Seeking site includes detailed discussions of:
the basics of paganism
reaching out to other pagans
specific practices that are found in many pagan paths
some of the common questions asked by new pagans
a suggested reading list
a description of Conscious Awareness of Religious Environment (CARE) -- a method for evaluating pagan and magical groups for problematic behaviors
Each section includes numerous links to additional relevant material.

TC's Religious Special Interest Groups: In addition to folders on a wide variety of paganism-related topics, this forum also includes Special Interest Groups (SIGs) dedicated to the discussion of specific pagan paths, including practices based on the traditional religions of specific cultures. There are "sticky posts" on resources specific to each path at the top of the SIG folder, so you can easily find additional, in-depth information.

As you probably know by now, TC is a discussion and debate forum. That means posters are free to challenge assumptions, correct faulty facts, and generally disagree. This can be a bit intimidating for people who are new to paganism. So we have created three areas specifically intended as "safe spaces" for beginners, where you can ask questions about any related topic and receive answers from posters who understand that you are not yet as experienced in paganism as many Cauldronites. The beginner-friendly folders are:
Paganism for Beginners
Books and Other Resources
Magic and the Occult for Beginners
Please be sure to read the sticky posts that explain the special rules for participating in threads in those folders.

A piece of advice: TC is a bit different from most other online forums, even other pagan forums. So, we generally recommend that people who are new to TC spend some time reading threads to get a sense of the board culture here before posting questions or comments. That will help you understand how posters interact here and help you avoid unnecessary anxiety about appropriate responses.

If you have any questions about TC, our rules, the board culture, how to post, or anything else, please feel free to post them in the Board Questions, Suggestions, and Feedback folder or send a private message (PM) to any staff member.

Welcome to TC!

Sunflower

P.S.  Please let me know (preferably via PM) if you find any broken links above.

(Many thanks to Aster Breo, who originally compiled this welcome/resources template!)

 
Thank you so much!!

[Kraken]

Welcome, fellow Canadian.


Coming from a Christian background can sometimes be daunting. This might be helpful: http://ecauldron.com/forum/showthread.php?10852-Christo-paganism&highlight=christo-pagan

The two books recommended in the first response in that thread are really helpful, I found, and I don't even have a Christian background.

Jennet's Seeking website is AMAZING and full of information. I keep going back, a year after first finding it, and I'm not even Wiccan.
 

I think the best way to find your path is to read about what's out there and then find what speaks to you. I knew I needed a nature-based path and I was drawn to Druidry because of it. But I was drawn to the Norse gods first and foremost, so I did research along that path.  I've spent a LOT of time reading since then.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. The people here are wonderful and so full of information. I've learned an incredible amount of stuff just by reading old threads.

I very much appreciate this I am very drawn towards a nature-based path as well...so for that, I supposed I could start with Druidry ^_^ thank you!

[Kraken]

A dream brought me here (sounds pretentious, but that's the truth) or at least set me on the path to finding this. I am settling in, like a crow in her nest, and deciding what Path to choose, where I fit in and where I feel most comfortable. I'm reading voraciously, listening eagerly and asking lots of questions of anyone who will listen (and with this forum, that's pretty much everyone!) and I'm learning a lot.
Definitely check out Jenett's page - I am busy reading through that as well. It's most informative for people like me who don't QUITE know what direction they want to go yet.

 
Wow that's so neat! I am a vivid dreamer as well and I don't think it's always reflections of our subconscious but something in our lives that must be addressed! I like that. Thank you for sharing this with me.