I'm interested in exploring "pagan," "nature," or "magic" based spirituality

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

Years ago I briefly took a fleeting interest in the topic. There were a couple meetings I attended, as well as one sermon put on by the local UU congregation's Pagan covenant. But I never took any of it seriously.

Now, however, as I seriously am trying to connect to a Higher Power, I think I might be interested in trying again. I don't have a lot of inherent faith in magic(k) but am definitely interested in learning about it.

What would be a good place to start (local meetings, discussion groups, books, or some combination of them?) And particularly, to get a better understanding of both the "official" traditions such as Wicca as well as the more informal branches of Pagan and Magical ways?

One thing I'm definitely NOT interested in is jumping into a commitment without doing some exploration first.

[Dervill Crow]

1. I would say books are the place to start.

Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler is a very good first book. It's a bit dry, but it gives a good history and overview of modern paganism.

Witchvox.com is an excellent source on the internet and can give you information on the different traditions.

For meeting people, I recommend Meetup.com. There are Meetup groups all over the world for people with varied interests, and that might be a good place to look.

Bright blessings. :hi:

[intheflow]

2. For an easy read

I thought "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism" was a pretty good book, inspiring and smart, with a good bibliography at the end. The Adler book is dry as dust, imo. I've tried to read it many times but my eyes just glaze over.

I consider myself a pagan, but the magick thing in Wicca doesn't work for me, I'm just not into rituals. My pagan path has two main components: The Tao Te Ching and a book called The Sacred Depths of Nature by Ursula Goodenough. The Tao Te Ching speaks to what is beyond our limited human perceptions through natural and political imagery (feeding both sides of my brain). Goodenough is a cell biologist who writes about a kind of religious naturalism, a blending of faith, science (not creationist) and reason. That's how I found a personalized nature-based path. The worst part is that it's a solitary practice, but sometimes, that's the best part, too. :)

Best of luck on your journey. :hi:

[Ilsa]

4. Thank you! I just ordered Goodenough's book.

It looks really wonderful. I read a few bits on Amazon.

Baby steps.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

3. I'll look for one of these books.

Can't promise I'll read thoroughly cover to cover, but if it gives me an insight into the different traditions and the idiosyncracies and protocols of each branch, then it's worth a shot.

Will also check into the local Pagan scene, as I'm sure we have quite a few groups around here.