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| Author: Posted: Nov. 17, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 3,890,662 |
Question of the Week: 22 - 1/1/2001 What More Do You Want To Know About Paganism? We hear time after time that Paganfolk want to see/read more in-depth articles/books about Paganism. Is there anything beyond Wicca/Witchcraft 101? Okay. Let's help them (whomever they may be) out here. What do YOU want to know more about? Magickal practices? A Pagan Philosophy of Life? Pagan History-ancient or modern? What is it that YOU want to know that you are just not getting information about? Be as specific as you can. Pretend that you are interviewing some Pagan of renown, either living or passed on and in any time era. What questions do you want him/her to answer? |
| Reponses: There are 45 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| Greetings And Merry Meet... I Think It Would Be Nice To Have... | Jan 3rd. at 2:12:32 pm EST |
| Teresa Dawn (Gerrardstown, West Virginia US) | Age: 37 - Email |
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Greetings and Merry Meet... I think it would be nice to have "biographies" of Pagans who are prominent people in society as well as those who are in our own communities and doing helpful/positive things. We hear about what all Pagans are into, but knowing the actual life story of someone who is Pagan and has made it "in the big time" (or not so big time) I think would be quite interesting. |
| Though Paganism And Wicca Give Me A Lot, I Have To Admit... | Jan 3rd. at 12:26:22 pm EST |
| Cat (Asheville, North Carolina US) | Age: 34 |
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Though paganism and Wicca give me a lot, I have to admit that I still *want* a lot (though that may be no more than the human condition.) In terms of books, I'd like to see more novels with normal pagans as protagonists (and am writing one myself), and I'd like to see more books that stress the fact that magic isn't...well, magic, except in the sense that a skunk cabbage emerging from the frozen swamp is magic. Given the number of people, both pagan and non, who focus on the drama and the self-importance, I might feel safer, even, if more books called it "active prayer" or "focused meditation" or almost anything that suggests that you can be a witch or pagan even if (as is not improbable) you'll never shoot lightning from your fingertips, have a recognizably "psychic" experience of any kind, or use the term "energy work" without irony. Such an approach, as a sideline, might go a long way toward convincing skeptics (not Christians, but scientists) that we aren't a bunch of nutcases, and it might discourage people who are drawn to the faith by the trappings. However....dearly as I love books, books aren't really what I need more of. What I really want is PRACTICE of the relatively empirical side of magic, and someone to practice *with*. I want to work with someone who can tell me of her own knowledge, yes or no, whether an object's charged with my intent, and show me how to tell for sure--someone reliable, reliable as in if six priestesses check the same object in six different rooms, they'd all give the same answer. I want a group or a person who doesn't, pardon my language, **** around--who's not afraid to joke or admit to uncertainty, and yet who's not totally relativist, who will work with the letter and not just the spirit. (The spirit tends to get pretty evanescent once the letter is abandoned, although what the exact letter is can vary with the people involved.) I want to work with someone who understands that when you write a spell it helps to get the grammar right and choose your words, and that when you summon the north you REALLY need to know where north is--using a compass, if necessary. I want to feel a group's focus manifest itself from the effort of perfectly ordinary people: I've only had it happen once, and it was virtually unmistakable. I want practice and training that's unmistakable in the same way. And I want it with people who are okay about the fact that (around here, anyway) we're mostly European Americans, who don't have to go searching around for Irish heritage or Native American magic or Anglophile titles to make themselves feel special--who know that being special and being ordinary aren't antithetical at all, who can respect themselves without vanity or pomp. Want much--who, me? |
| I Have Been Drawn To The Craft All My Life, But Only... | Jan 3rd. at 3:28:59 am EST |
| Scarabia-LeoMoon Flower (Gauteng, Saudi Arabia) | Age: 25 |
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I have been drawn to the Craft all my life, but only recently over the past year or so have I actually been reading and putting to practice what I have learned. Now what I am fining is that the information that is available in books and on the web sites that I have seen is that there is information for the beginner and the advanced practitioner, but nothing for the intermediate. I am in many ways a beginner but I know the basics, of basics and now I need to know the relevance of the locations of the planets for spell workings. As well as the significance of the planetary hours with regards to spell casting. I would also like to know more information on the Gods and Goddesses and weather you can incorporate Egyptian Mythology and Norwegian Mythology together, i.e.; use the Egyptian Goddess Hathor and Norwegian God Odin in your spells, and exactly how would you do that? I would also like to know the dos and don'ts as far as making your own spells. Many books tell you the basics of casting a spell but forget to tell you that if the moon happens to be in the wrong sign then the spell won't work. I would also like to know more about the other aspects of Paganism such as: Druids, Bards and Magicians. I have found societies for these religions but no explanations on what the belief structure is and of the practices of these religions. |
| I've Been Conciously Paracticing Wicca For About Ten Years Now. I Have... | Jan 3rd. at 1:31:39 am EST |
| Maythen Apple (Redding, California US) | Age: 23 - Email |
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I've been conciously paracticing Wicca for about ten years now. I have been fortunate to find others that shared some of my passions and interests. There are so many wonderful books out there for those of us just starting out on this path. But when you get past basics, there seems to be no where to turn. I can go to my book store to learn basic candle magick, how to get started in Wicca, and how to begin in many aspects of the Craft such as herbalism. The problem begins when you start looking for anything beyond the basics. Not all of us can look towards others for these answers. A solitary often has no one around to help us when we have a need to move beyond the "Beginners Books". I would love to see books that move deeper inside the theory and practice of this religion. It's terribly frustrating to purchase a book that claims to be more advanced, only to find this wisdom couched in sophisticated psychobabble. Even more daunting is finding a wall of shadows and secrecy, half truths, and even outright lies. I can certainly understand the need that others feel to protect their ancient ways. But perhaps the need for such secrecy is coming to an end. I certainly hope so. There are many of us out here that are hungry for that knowledge. I'm hoping that there are those with wisdom and compassion who are willing to share the knowledge they have gleaned with those of us who are unable to locate a teacher. There is a world of magick before us. Let's all work together to teach each other. |
| I Would Have Loved To Sit Down With Scott Cunningham And Learn... | Jan 3rd. at 1:14:30 am EST |
| stephanie lynn (Sharon , Pennsylvania US) | Age: 22 - Email |
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i would have loved to sit down with scott cunningham and learn what he knew. to see what it took to accomplish all he did in so short a time as was given to him. i think i'd ask him something like how many times did it take to refine your recipes before you got them "right". what were the funny mishaps that happened along the way? i'd love to hear his responses. |
| I've Been Doing A Lot Of Studying For The Past Few Years... | Jan 3rd. at 12:24:16 am EST |
| Crystal (Edmonton, Alberta CA) | Age: 17 - Email |
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I've been doing a lot of studying for the past few years on the subject of paganism and lately have begun to actually practice and appply what I've learned. One thing that still confuses me though, is what exactly is a familar? I've read lots of articles and whatnot but none of them really explain it in clear terms or explain how you know if you've found your familar or how to find one. |
| I Would Like To Know What The Exact Translation Of Wicca Would... | Jan 2nd. at 4:05:23 pm EST |
| Ishtar (QuŽbec City, Quebec CA) | Age: 20 - Email |
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I would like to know what the exact translation of wicca would be in French. Although I am bilingual, my mother tongue is French, but I cannot seem to find any really good books in that language. I would also like more information about raising children in the Craft. Blessed Be!! |
| Intelligent Treatises Of Pagan Philosophy, Theology, Ethics And Metaphysics. How-tos Are Good... | Jan 2nd. at 2:55:49 pm EST |
| horse (Missoula, Montana US) | Age: 26 - Email |
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Intelligent treatises of pagan philosophy, theology, ethics and metaphysics. How-tos are good for the beginner, or those wishing to explore new paths, but what I really find lacking in our community are the works of thought that move a religion into the mainstream. Questions I would like to see treated in a logical, coherent way are things like: what is the nature of the pagan soul, the pagan idea of Karma, the pagan consciousness. Also, meatier questions of pantheism, deism, spiritual planes, spirits and elementals. Questions of the physical, metaphysical and other workings of Magick. I am looking for original thought applied to these questions, not the same ideas rehashed in a slightly different manner. I know that these are sensitive questions that have a very divisive potential, but I think it is important to get pagans really thinking about these things. These are the kinds of questions you can spend a lifetime wrestling with, if you have to 'go it alone', but with a community rich in intellectual thought, we should be able to make some sense of the world in a distinctly pagan way. |
| I Am Still Relatively New To Witchcraft, But I Have Read Every... | Jan 2nd. at 2:50:29 pm EST |
| Moonsong (Watertown, New York US) | Age: 19 - Email |
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I am still relatively new to witchcraft, but I have read every book and webpage I can get my hands on, and have had many a theological discussion with others of like mind. but that still doesn't seem enough, what I would like to see is more books on the theological and spiritual aspect of paganism and wicca. not those boring old dust covered books I find in the library filled with so many old out of date phrases and "dark, hidden occult" secrets. I would love to read discussions of modern day beliefs and theological practices, of women and men of the 20th and now.. 21st century. not things hidden behind spells and alter designs, and rituals, but the basic beliefs. how is the goddess and god envisioned here, what are other's opinions of karma and the three fold law, how does the rede apply to your beliefs ?exactly what are this traditions beliefs on "creationism" and "evolution" I've heard a million times before, the best way to learn and build your own ideas, you have to read everything about everything and draw what strikes you as true into your own system. And I believe that, I have my own ideas and beliefs, but I'm curious of what others believe. |
| I Have Many Questions, But To Only Ask One I Would Have... | Jan 2nd. at 1:17:42 pm EST |
| heather d keckler (forest, Ohio US) | Age: 29 - Email |
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i have many questions, but to only ask one i would have to ask, how can a solitary practioner tap into the psychic abilities one has? |
| Greetings! (f) As Someone Who Is New To The Pagan Scene, And... | Jan 2nd. at 10:59:51 am EST |
| AndmeO (Preston, Lancashire, England UK) | Age: 27 - Email |
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Greetings! (F) As someone who is new to the pagan scene, and as a lover of interfaith dialog generally, I would like to see more ancient history notes and practical connections spelt out, that might enable me to trace where the common ground exists between various pagan & non-pagan traditions... From having so many wonderful people cross my spiritual path, Im tempted to think that people are not so very different at heart really... As someone who is new to the pagan scene, I cannot but help admire the diversity of expression on the one hand and the acceptance for such individual diversity on the other. Since your site serves to inform the unimformed as to the nature of the multifaceted phenomena that many term "paganism", it might be helpful to have a section that could dispell the myths and prejudices as to what the public think paganism is and is not... A section on the main branches of tradition might also be helpful, as many - like me - are guilty of lumping pagans altogether for lack of knowing anything about individual schools of thought... Happy New Year, and Blessings upon you all! (F) |
| As A Writer In/for This Community, You Should All Know That... | Jan 2nd. at 8:25:11 am EST |
| Trish Telesco (Western, New York US) | Age: 40 - Email |
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As a writer in/for this community, you should all know that we ARE listening. I isaw this survey and immediately emailed it to one of my publishers so they too could keep in touch with what our people need/want. 202 books are definitely a new venue but as someone here pointed out, it's one with some drawbacks (namely making sure the information doesn't get used by people looking for fast power instead of real responsibility, or minimally that it's presented in such a way as to encourage the responsibility necessary for advanced workings). Cultural books get difficult because so many publishers see them as too narrow for a large reading audience -- so perhaps a book that examines a variety of cultural paths in a comparative setting (that leads to more focused efforts) would be one idea. Ritual and spell books have been done to death so the key here is finding a new way to say old things LOL. Urban books are becomming more prevalent and I'm excited to say you guys can expect some technomagick books in your future (smile). Finally I do want to see more books that blend science with magick to provide some solid foundations. |
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