Merry Meet

This entry is in response to fellow Today.com blogger Hava, who commented on my last entry. Hava asked about recommended reading for those wanting to know more about paganism and pagan paths.

Before I provide a short list, I’d like to say that the easiest way to find information and/or spiritual guidance in any given path is to follow your instinct. Do whatever it is you do that leads you to take an interest in something. Explore the interests you have. I have always taken an interest in Celtic and shamanistic paths due to my Irish and American Indian heritage, respectively. This led me to find out more about what my ancestors believed and practiced. Not everything I learned necessarily led me down a pagan path in particular–I was also able to learn about cultures along the way. My Irish ancestors were Catholic, and I learned more about Catholicism and realized that my own beliefs had more in common with the Irish brand of Catholicism than not.

Researching a particular heritage or faith doesn’t make you commit to it, either. In fact, one of my few resolutions this new year is very concrete: read the Qu’ran. I consider a scholarly attitude to be part of my spiritual fulfillment.

There is a great deal of debate out there about which sources are ‘real.’ Some authors and/or spiritualists make up or rearrange rituals and publish them in books and as guides to others. They are criticized for doing this. I personally feel that internalizing a ritual or even making a new ritual is not necessarily wrong, but to do so and label it in a rigid fashion as strictly one thing might be misleading. This may be applicable to rituals in the Wiccan path.

To anyone interested in paganism, I’d suggest a multifaceted approach. Here are some suggestions:

• Choose one book from a path or culture that catches your interest. This can include especially ancient cultures like Egyptians, Celts, and Greeks.
• Select something that is written as simply and objectively as possible, like an Idiot’s Guide.
• Pick something general and potentially fluffy. I read An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions.
• Find a book that describes common pagan festivals and their meanings, like the Book of Days.

It’s also helpful to do some general reading on pagan symbols, such as the triple moon pictured here. They tend to be very archaic and deeply stirring.

Most importantly, I think it’s important to read spiritual literature through two lenses: a critical and an emotional. Don’t take everything that you read as fact, because it probably isn’t. Think about what the writers or practitioners intend(ed), and analyze how it makes you feel. If something makes you feel off base or uncomfortable, it probably isn’t for you. If you find yourself nodding or feeling connected to the literature, read on!

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