What do i mean by Pagan? Well, the definition of "Pagan” that i use most often is any religion that is not Christian, Islam or Judaism. Depending on who you talk to, this can include Hinduism, Buddhism, Native American spirituality, as well as the more traditional “pre Christian” Celtic religions, Roman and Greek paganism, Wicca, Santeria, Asatru, and many more. i am not a Satanist or a devil worshipper. The concept of "Satan" as absolute evil in opposition to absolute good is a concept that belongs to Christianity, and isn't part of my belief system.

Myself, i started out Wiccan. After years and a lot of introspection and personal growth, i am no longer Wiccan, but my beliefs and practice run very close to that path even now. My religion is an earth based, life celebratory spirituality that sees the divine in the form of a Goddess and a God, equal, opposite and complimentary. A spark of that Divine rests in every living thing, and in all aspects of nature. Because of that, we, as human beings, are part of this cycle of life, not apart or separate as we like to think, but dependet and involved. While we have the unique ability to think and reason, this also leaves us with a unique responsibility.... and it seems, a tendency to lose touch with ourselves and the greater Divine.

Many many books on paganism and Wicca say that ours is an ancient religion, pre-Christian and often from a golden time when cultures worshiped the mother goddess and women were revered. i have to wonder if they write this out of a wish for awe, a need for the romance of old tradition. The hope that if this religion is older even the centuries of Christianity, Judaism or Islam, we can earn respect from these faiths and from ourselves. That may be in some part, but i don't believe that the Wicca i practiced in high school, as i stumbled along with my first treasured book of ritual in my very first circle, is the religion as a girl my age, some 5,000 years before in the hills of what is now Ireland practiced. Not only am i sure i am butchering the ancient Celtic names of the Goddess, but my concept of life and living and my place in the world—my very relationship with the seasons and the soil—are so drastically different. Yes, i worship the Old Gods, i try to attune myself with the cycles of the seasons and look to myself as well as to the heavens for answers, but it is not, cannot be the same. i would offer, perhaps, that modern Paganism is the reincarnation of old spiritualities, reborn for new times. This religion is the spirit of ancient cultures, built on the bones of what we know of religion and culture of long ago, but fleshed out with words and rituals written in the 1950s, gaps filled in with Masonic ceremony, modified to become something new. And that is what is before you. A new, young and wholly living tradition.

i celebrate the 8 solar Sabbats every year—the quarters and the cross quarters of the year—and the cycles of the moon. While Pagans can practice and celebrate alone, i am part of a coven which is part of a greater (and more loosely organized) local pagan community. Circle Amaurot follows an eclectic tradition that focuses on the light and the dark in life and in ourselves. We consider ourselves a teaching coven and are active in the community with open full moon rituals, Witchcraft 101 classes and members that are open and willing to offer help whenever we can. Like many covens, we are a closed group, tho occasionally we take on new members (our first Seeker was initiated this past May) after much consideration—being asked into a coven is being asked into a family. It is not a choice to be made lightly.

What drew me to this religion was the focus on balance—both of the honoring of male and female, but the cycle of life and the respect for nature. Also, the emphasis on both personal power and also on personal accountability—that which to me is the definition of being an adult. While i am a child of the Divine, and beloved no matter what, i am also expected to behave in a way that befits a Priestess. i have no one to blame for my actions, i am asked to master myself, my emotions and to think before speak or act. To be aware. The gods know what lessons i need to learn, and they see when i tackle those lessons or when i make excuses and try to get around them with excuses, blame, whining.

If you are looking to learn more about Paganism and Witchcraft, my suggestion is to read everything you can. If you have any questions, please feel free to Email Me or i can be found on AOL or Yahoo IM at Ravynfyre and i will be happy to talk to you about Paganism.

i'm including my personal list of Good Starter Books, in no particular order, for those who want to give them a try.

1. Where To Park Your Broomstick ... Lauren Manoy - This one is new, just out and Fan-(beep)ing-Tastic! Definitely read this one!! She also mentions my Coven. (plug plug) It is a "Teen Witchcraft" book, but it has information that would be useful for any age group.
2. Wicca For The Solitary Practitioner…Scott Cunningham - The Classic. My first and still one of the favorites.
3. The Sabbats … Edain McCoy - i use this one all the time when writing my own rituals.
4. Drawing Down the Moon… Margot Alder - Bring on the history. This book is big and thick and full of history, it is not a "What Is Wicca" but more of a "Where did it come from?" book.
5. 21st Century Wicca…Jennifer Hunter - one of my very favorite books.
6. The Witches Goddess.. the Farrars - Know Your Goddesses
7. The Witches God - Know your Gods.
8. Buckland’s Complete book of Witchcraft…Raymond Buckland - Another classic aka "The Big Blue Book"
9. The Truth About Witchcraft Today.. Cunningham - One to help muggles see that Witchcraft isn't scary.
10. To Ride A Silver Broomstick....Silver RavenWolf - People get down on Silver for being too "fluffy" and yeah, some of her writing is a bit...however, these three basics are still in my favorites, and i do recommend them. Covers a lot of ground, easy to read. A good beginning.

For those looking for a pagan contact in your area, there are tons of pagan contact lists. For those interested, i maintain my own Pagan Pen Pal Page. My best suggestion would be to go to The Witches Voice and check out their Witches of the World section. They have very in-depth lists and are very good about checking dead links (i am deeply envious of that ability, as a Weblady myself.)
Another option is to write to (i'm talking real honest to the gods Postal Mail here folks):

WPN Contact
c/o PagaNet News
PO Box 61054
Va. Beach, VA 23466

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