I don't fit there, I get lost here

[Leeway]

Um, I disagree. There are plenty of paths that have rather clear-cut boundaries. I would think it would be hard to be a Kemetic pagan and not believe in Maat, or actively worship Apep. If I heard that, I would not consider the person a Kemetic pagan.

True, but I didn't get the impression from her post that she was talking about clear-cut boundaries she made for herself. In fact, the manner in which she presented her circumstance indicated to me that it was others who were trying to make her define clear-cut boundaries, or else risk being "wrong".

I disagree with that mentality and feel that as a person is exploring options they should be allowed to do so without being judged by a set of criteria that should be reserved for those more seasoned.

[CinnamonBrooms]

Wow! Okay my personal take on it is I would ignore the people that said those things. The majority of pagans I have met in person tend to believe in all those things. Personally I believe pretty much the same as you do on all a lot of these points. I think you just had an unfortunate encounter with a lot of idiots.

That's what I thought too, I just wanted to make sure

[Etheric1]

That's what I thought too, I just wanted to make sure

Yeah, unfortunately judgmental attitudes are not limited to non-pagans..

Not sure why I feel the urge to post this, it's a bit off topic, but enjoy!

[sephira]

First, I want to wish you luck on your journey!

There are a lot of people out there who like to hear themselves talk and when they do what they have to say is usually a load of crap. Just take it with a grain of salt. Like everyone has said, you are always going to come across these types of people who think they know what they're talking about, but in essence wouldn't know they're head from a hole in a wall.

I really like your view on reincarnation. It is a lot like mine and the Hindu idea of reincarnation. Their view on the afterlife is, of course, different from most views, but I won't bore you with the details.

As for your altar idea, I think you are so right! Although I have mine set up all the time, because I use it all the time, setting up your altar every time you use it
does make it special also, that way you can rearrange it to your needs.

When it comes to your views on Deities, I agree that you should have a relationship with them. I have a patron, but that's me. You don't have to, and may never have one and that may be your choice. Why someone would ever tell you that you [I]have[I] to pick or choose one is beyond me! Who knows, you may have your own divine experience, aka UPG, one day and get tapped on the head by one, or some, but until that happens, do what you want. It's a very personal journey, not one that should be dictated to you by others.

Oh, and Miss, the Hindus have said that everyone is right! However, I believe they were referring to there being One Supreme Being. I will research it.

[puppydangerous]

'I do not call myself anything, if someone asks my religion I'll say I'm a pagan. But apparently you have to be some kind of a pagan (wicca/witch/druid/etc). I am not. I'm just a pagan. People have absolutely told me I am wrong & I have to be a certain kind of pagan, but why?'


Pagan is a blanket term that covers a wide number of religions and belief systems. It isn't a system in itself. One can't follow 'paganism' because there isn't any set of rules to follow. Saying your pagan is just saying 'I'm not a member of an Abrahamic religion'.


The reason that people will ask you to be more specific is that the term 'pagan' doesn't tell us anything at all about your path or system. Pagan covers literally hundreds of belief systems, many of them completely conflicting.

The usual term for someone who as pagan beliefs but doesn't follow any specific path is Eclectic Pagan- though you'll even be asked for modifiers with that. Pagan can be used to describe everything from Wicca to Santeria. I mean, just look at this list from Wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ual_traditionsthere is a little section for Abrahamic religions and then pages of 'pagan' ones.

There is also a difference between someone who uses magic and a pagan. You can practice witchcraft and not be pagan.

'I find alot of online pagans who tell me I'm doing it wrong, because I'm not doing it just like them. But, is that really how it works? '

Yes and no.

On the 'yes' hand- certain traditions have certain rules and rituals that need to be followed. So, you can be 'wrong' in something that is relate to a particular religion or path.

On the 'no' hand, since the term and practices of pagans are so broad, you can't be wrong as far as your general beliefs.

'Am I now allowed to believe what I believe?'

Sure.


'For me this is okay, I know they are there, so is who they are really that important? '

It's important to have a connection with something that is more powerful than you are, what exactly this is, or you see it as being, is up to you.


'I believe the earth is alive & we are her children, but I don't believe that I need to worship her. I appreciate her but I don't feel she want/needs us to worship her. '

That's fine, but earth worship ceremonies are part of several well-known pagan traditions. You shouldn't participate in things you really don't believe in, or think are silly, so if you want to practice in groups you'll need to find one that isn't focused on earth worship.


'I have an alter, but I only put it up when I am feeling in the mood, does it really need to sit around all the time?'

No, not if you don't want it to. The general idea with magic items is that they get power based off of your attention. But they can accumulate both a positive and negative charge. If you feel an alter is silly, or ignore or think badly at all of it, when left up all the time then it should be taken down to avoid getting toxic.

I have a set of formal alter tools that I usually keep closed up somewhere, and then some informal alters set up around the house. The formal alter tools are used for spellwork, the informal ones are linked to ongoing spells or accumulating energy for a particular task.


'I don't do alot of things that (apparently) alot of pagans do, I don't do seances, meditation, divination, etc etc. To me, these things will either come with time, or I may never do them. Right now I don't know but I'm not going to force myself to do something I don't want to because someone else says I should. '

You shouldn't do things that you aren't comfortable with.



' what am I hurting by not having flashy/showy pagan items?'

Not a thing, there's no reason for other people to know. A magic item is, and always has been, something that is made to hide in plain sight.

(If this gets long, I'm sorry. If you manage to read it all, I'm thankful)

I

[ForeverLearning]

On the same note, part of me believes that your soul will end up where ever you believe it will go. So if you are a christian & believe your going to heaven, you probably will. If you believe your going to hell, you probably will. If you believe your going to be reincarnated, you probably will. Same with the summerland. If you are an atheist & believe your going nowhere, well, you probably will.

Well said. You have a very open point of view. I also believe this. I don't think the universe is defined by any one religion, so all religions have room to be correct. From the looks of your comments, I think you're a lot farther along then you think. You might find something that fits you, you might not--but understand that even though labels are comforting and easy to explain, deep inside everyone has some sort of belief that goes outside their religion, that cannot be labelled. Good luck in finding something that fits you

[Ainne]

(If this gets long, I'm sorry. If you manage to read it all, I'm thankful)
Let me start off by saying I was raised christian, IFBaptist, so very conservative. My mom however was a wiccan witch, so while this world isn't exactly new to me, I never listened/learned what she had to say because christianity was what I knew to be 'true'.
My mom died in Jan 2009 & in June 2010 I decided I wanted to become a pagan. How's that for too little too late?
You would think that with a pagan parent, this should all be easy for me. I wish.
I could go into my whole backstory & why I am who I am, but it's long & I'll probably just word it badly. So to put it simply, I can't remember a time when I've ever believed in christianity. I stayed because I was scared. But, at some point everyone hits the wall, when you realize that you don't fit in this mold & if you ever want to be happy, you are going to have to build a mold of your own.

I think I've done pretty well at this. But, I don't know that I am & I don't really have any pagan friends, so I guess that's what I'm looking for. That and some reassurance I guess? I find alot of online pagans who tell me I'm doing it wrong, because I'm not doing it just like them. But, is that really how it works? Am I now allowed to believe what I believe?
(A few examples
I don't really have any deities, I do but none that I know by name or that have showed me they are there. For me this is okay, I know they are there, so is who they are really that important? (I know OF deities, I don't know who mine are)
I believe the earth is alive & we are her children, but I don't believe that I need to worship her. I appreciate her but I don't feel she want/needs us to worship her.
I have an alter, but I only put it up when I am feeling in the mood, does it really need to sit around all the time? In my head it seems like having it sit around all the time cheapens it, if I bring it out, use it & put it away it stays special to me.
I don't do alot of things that (apparently) alot of pagans do, I don't do seances, meditation, divination, etc etc. To me, these things will either come with time, or I may never do them. Right now I don't know but I'm not going to force myself to do something I don't want to because someone else says I should.
I have 'witchy' things, but they blend in with my home. I live in a VERY christian area & if I don't feel comfortable telling someone I shouldn't have to explain the 2ft pentacle on my wall. Unless you are a pagan yourself you would probably never spot these things, so what am I hurting by not having flashy/showy pagan items?
I do not call myself anything, if someone asks my religion I'll say I'm a pagan. But apparently you have to be some kind of a pagan (wicca/witch/druid/etc). I am not. I'm just a pagan. People have absolutely told me I am wrong & I have to be a certain kind of pagan, but why?


I guess, I spent my whole life in one religion that told me who I had to be. That never felt right & now I finally get the courage to go to a religion I've always felt I was, only for people to tell me I'm not doing it right. Sometimes you can't win for losing.

It sounds like everything you're doing is completely NORMAL and OK! Don't let other people tell you how to live your faith. You do not have to be a certain kind of pagan. I was just pagan for many years, and most of my pagan friends are just PAGAN. Its like being non-denominational Christian. You don't have to do divination, meditation etc...you don't need deity by names, or explain yourself to anyone! In short, these people telling you that you are wrong, are the ones in the wrong. Your faith is YOUR faith, it needs to fit YOU. You are doing just fine my friend.