How long have you been actively Pagan?

[RainInanna]

Hello,

I'm interested to know, how long have you been actively practicing Paganism? In other words, how long have you been celebrating Sabbats and casting circles as a Wiccan, doing ritual with the Netjer in your Ancient Egyptian temple, practicing ceremonial magic, etc.?

[RainInanna]

You may be interested in this related poll (http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?p=2188311) which asks "How old were you when you found paganism/wicca/etc?"

[Childof_theMorrigan]

7-8 years known, 4-5 years practicing

[Kalika]

'bout 12 years.

:woot:

[RedRaven]

about 8 years here

[IvyWitch]

About 9 years. Though, that's not counting the year I was too depressed to do anything, so an active practitioner for 8 years I guess.

[jcldragon]

If you count Western White Magic, and Esoteric Eastern philosphies as Pagan, then 38 years in this incarnation, and I'm now 54.

[LyraDragonStar]

Generally for about a year or two. I've known about it longer than I've been inclined to practice it. However, it's just like a part of me now though.

[Dark Phoenix]

Four years and half years.

[LostSheep]

I couldn't really put anything definite on it, I just kind of gradually realized that Christianity didn't 'do it' for me, but that there was something i'd just kind of always believed, and I gradually realized that Paganism fitted what i believed. It's really only this year that I've felt brave enough to call myself a pagan, so hey.

[Everwynd]

Going on 21 years...*wonders where they all went*

[StarCraftLia]

.

[WinterTree]

About 2 and a half years now.

[Bix]

About five years.

[LadyKaty]

Edited because a sentence did not make sense...yeah, it's getting late here....

Fairly new to paganism/being a "heathen" here.

I've known I wasn't on the right path as a Christian for years.

However, I didn't want to break free from the chains of conformity, because I didn't know what would happen. I didn't know if I'd still have the relationships I had, with family, and friends.

I've lost friends, because I won't conform to the Christian perspective. If they can't accept me for who I am, too bad for them.

My husband? Takes it pretty well. He jokingly says I'm one of those "First United Church of Heathens" heathen. He understands. Christianity is his path, but it's not mine.

I'm still pretty much "in the broom closet", as far as being willing to cast circles and spells, or at least in front of anyone. However, I have cast protection on my house lately, long story, but I have a former friend who is trying to insert herself into my life again, she's invading my space again. And she's not knocking on my door in the physical realm, she's coming after my psychically.

I've come out of the broom closet enough to be willing to read tarot in front of my husband. He was not okay with that at first, but now he understands that tarot is simply a tool to focus my intuition. I've always known I had psychic leanings, but it wasn't until my thirtieth birthday approached (I just turned 30, thank the Goddess I lived past my twenties!) that I was really willing to explore it. And now, not only does my husband not mind that I read tarot in front of him, he's learning more about how to read from me, and has even done readings for me as well as for himself.

So...I don't know if I qualify as a pagan. Heathen, definetly, as far as the definition my in-laws have of heathen goes (they give fundamentalist Christians a bad name because of how they treat people, especially those that don't line up with their beliefs). I guess I've got pagan leanings...but that's because my parents have always encouraged me to follow my own path, and not just go along with blind faith.

[Gerbillcat]

I'm 17 now and i started when i was about 10/11 that sort of age, so it's roughly been about 7 years. It doesn't seem that long though.

[blueiris]

Well I'm sixteen now and I started practicing when I was fourteen - so about to years, I guess, although I dedicated myself to the Pagan path this Mabon.

[Skye]

42.5 years ...I'll be 43 three in april!

[misty]

It's always been a part of me, though I didn't actually start "practicing" until about a year ago.

[Cyzarine]

I have been pagan all of my life...but finally woke up and realized it about 10-13 years ago.

[wintermagick]

My path always bounces and winds... but I "discovered" Paganism/Wicca in 1998 and have been somewhat there every since.

:yayhawaii

[Ninjakitten]

Only about a year and a half now, since Ostara 2004. I've been researching various pagan paths (mostly Wicca and LeVeyan Satanism) since before I was even a Christian.

[Dawa Lhamo]

well, I'm 22 and I put over 20, because I was raised Wiccan. My first Sabbat was probably Beltane or Midsummer of '83. Though I wouldn't say I was really active until I was at least 7 or 8... as with most children.... so you could amend that to 14 yrs..

Tashi delek!
Dawa Lhamo

[Malcolm]

Seven years with a two year hiatus. I still considered myself pagan during those two years...just a really bad one.

[WitchJezebel]

I've always felt 'pagan' but since I was forced to go to catholic school I kept it quiet until I graduated high school. I'd say since I 'gave up' catholicism at around 18 years old then it's coming up on 20 years as a pagan.

[CalisticSunrise]

all my life.... so i guess that would be 21 years...

[MoonDragn]

Since I wasn't born in the US, my native relgion was not Christianity. My grandmother was Buddhist and my parents were really non-religious. Except they believed in ancestor worship. It was one of my uncles that actually introduced me to the moon goddess when I was 3 years old. Plus I lived with my great grand-aunt for several seasons. She was a witch of a sort.

I have always believed in a moon goodess and at around age 21 I was introduced to Starhawk and then Wicca. I am still not sure where exactly my beliefs fit in but I guess it does make me pagan for most of my life (38)

[Dawa Lhamo]

Seven years with a two year hiatus. I still considered myself People during those two years...just a really bad one. lol. I never really understood what a 'bad Pagan' was supposed to be.

[FaeFollower]

I didn't vote because I still don't know if I can consider myself 'actively pagan'. I've been learning about pagan paths for about three years now, and I guess I consider myself some form of pagan, but I am still unable to participate as actively as I would like to. :(

[star_belfire]

I've been for the past 6 years. Sadly I can't say I've been a "perfect pagan" but I have tried.

I live in a catholic household so expressing my faith is a little harder then most. As soon as I move to my own place I'm going to be so much more active.

[raminda]

1-3 years. I spent a lot of time studying all religion in hopes of finding something that fit before I studied Paganism alone, then moved onto actually celebrating and the rituals.

The belief system I've had personally since I was young fits well with this, so it all seems natural. That's what I love about it.

[smckim]

_witchball 17 years.

[Dio]

Actively pagan for 12 years total. Out of those 12 years, I've been initate for 8 of those years. And out of those 8 years of being an initiate, I've been a priestess for 4 years.

[fay]

I started researching different religions and then different forms of paganism when I was about 13, but only really devoted myself to it a few years ago (I'm now 18).

[amakaliani]

expiermented for many moons prior to choosing the path of Kali worship

[DocBruce]

Been walking my path for going on 14 years now.

[blueangel]

It's been almost 3 years and MW has been with me all the way (well almost!)

[Bec_W]

Coming up for 7 years now.

[Vitkyng]

I have been ACTIVELY pagan since 1997, so about 8 years now.

Gee has it been that long already.

[amakaliani]

Time flies dunnit?

[amakaliani]

Time flies dunnit?

[Gede]

5 years.

[Amryn]

About 6 years.

[Garden of Eden]

Hrmmm. I began studying it roughly four years ago... but it was about a year after that before anything that could be described as 'practicing' took place. So three years really...

[enchancea]

6 years

[farm girl]

Nine years involved
Twelve years interested

[tiamat-4]

its been a touch over 10 yrs.

[Avalonia]

Actively Pagan? I think it's barely over a year, if that - and even then, I don't know if that counts. I only just recently discovered what I am, and what I'm truly comfortable with. However, I have been interested in Paganism for the past five, almost six years now. *nods*

[cartweel]

I first heard about Paganism and specifically Wicca about five years ago, and started practicing a year later -- so about four years, with periods of both high activity and low activity.

[catphrodite]

over 15 years. :}

[arianrhods_daughter]

About 9 but havent been excessively active till the last few years

[aislin_ryann]

About a year and a half of active practicing. I have known for about 8 years or so that it was what I wanted, I was just too scared to accept it. No looking back for me!

[Against The Tide]

I'm a baby at roughly 15 months.

Everyone cuddle the baby.

[Meabh23]

I have been Wiccan for ten years. Because I was young when I started, I had to learn mostly on my own until I was 18. Then I was invited to study with a group. After a year I was invited to join. It has been an adventure ever since.

[Xirian]

Going on 6 years now, and still learning tons.

[SilentDreams]

I voted "Year or Less".

I've been a Pagan for almost two years but my activity level drops and spikes. I like to them of them as "spurts". Normally I don't do much aside from nightly prayers and thanking the Mother and Father when it comes to me. Also the occasional sabbat celebration.

But for the most part I wouldn't consider myself all too active. But every now and then I go through those "spurts" that I mentioned. Like these past few days, I've been very interested in my path and I'm even planning a celebration for Midsummer.

[Meadhbh]

20 years or more. Which for me takes skills. My mother has been pagan her whole life and when I was little I didn't really think of it as being pagan persay, it was just something that we did. Only when I got older did it occur to me that not everyone did the same things that we did. Thats when I started thinking of myself as pagan when I was little I really didn't have a lable for what we did.

[Duwayitheru]

About 10 years now, though not always in the same tradition. Hmm.. though, there was about a year in the middle where I was not really a pagan, more of a seeker I guess.

[angle kitsune]

I'm still a baby, only a year with a lot of actively

[fangedeshana]

I've been spiritual all my life. I found a label I could use to commincate my beliefs with people when I was about 13, thought knew about Wicca and other strands of Paganism by 11 without "claiming them".

I still don't think Pagan is an accurate term... and if asked how long I have been 'practicing' I say comming up to 8 years now... however I don't cast circles. I don't pray for deities, or do many formal rituals, nor spells. I just commune with the flow of nature, live my life, develop my knowledge and spiritual/life experience and I find that a very spiritual thing.

I have certain beleifs and morals.. but I find them just a natural part of my being, not a part of a religion.

[Romani Vixen]

This summer will make it 11 years for me.

Wow... I'm OLD! LOL

[Rick]

"How long have you been actively Pagan?"
Um... what time is it? :hehehehe:

Just shy of 40 years...

[Teresa]

Since childhood and I am now 42 years old .

[Wyrdsister]

Started learning about paganism and Wicca 10 years ago this summer, but I've only been active for 7. My year and a day turned into 3. ;)

[Pandy Fackler]

I've faded in and out for about 4 years, but I've been practising more seriously for about 1

[PeatBog]

I've been actively a People for over 20 years now, most of my life. I was briefly a Shmeeple, but it was just a phase. :spaceman:

[Philosophia]

I've been a "witch" since I was a child (I remember doing my first "spell" when I was 5 for pocket money. It worked but not in the way I wanted it to!). However, I've been actively practising since I was 11-12.

[Grimr]

Six Years.

[Sage Rainsong]

almost 10 years now.

[Nitefalle]

About eight years, for real.....but I did my first ritual with a friend when I was 13 *grins, thinking back*.....that was twelve years ago

[maiem]

I was Wiccan for about 4 years, then a general pagan for about 2...converted to Kemetic Orthodoxy about 3 and 1/2 years ago, but I don't consider KO pagan. I've been studying Heathenry for about 4 months.

[Aquarian_Moon]

Well, I've been 2 years now a pagan, but haven't been as active much during the last 12 months, since i became solitary. Never do rituals any longer, but still occasional spells, and meditative exercises, and I try to keep my altar clean and tidy.

[moonbride]

I "discovered" paganism/wicca around 1998 and have been reading and studying my butt off and learning all I can about it ever since but have only just recently started "actively" practicing. I'm not sure now what I was waiting for all this time.

[Lullebulle]

I began to call myself a wiccan last year, but I have almost always practiced magic. I remember that I constructed small rituals when I was just a few years old.

[MankyCat]

Always had the tendency in my childhood (as far back as I can remember.) But I started actively practicing and learning since I was about 11 (though my sister said I was doing stuff at around 10 or so, but she wouldn't teach me till I was a bit older... I had to go through a trial period to make sure I was serious and going to "be good and responsible").


That makes it 16 years or so.

[Bethra]

First got my bight doing Classical Studies in the third year of high school so that's ,,,,,, umm a long time ago LOL. However I was never much of anything else before that so I guess I just found my nitch and grew from there.

[SpiralDancing]

Wow! 15 years! I had no idea.. pretty amazing really.

[Eleisawolf]

About 18-19 years, actually. And counting...:cheers:

[Whitewolf]

A year and a month. I was into Shamanism and I still am but the first time I went to a circle was last year for Yule.

[Incendia]

7.5 yrs.

[Semjaza]

Seven years active

Passive since birth :)

Cheers,

Semjaza
FFFF

[Zhr Morgana]

Wow, when I voted, I was in the 3 year range...now it's almost five.

[ladyraven]

I put 10, because I was about 13 when I declared myself pagan and decided that it was the direction I wanted my life to go. I've been around magick and doing celebrations and rituals ever since I can remember, being raised around it and all, but I was also raised around many other religions so I think that declaration was when it all truely started.

[Desert_Witch]

Practicing the Occult in a strong way for thirteen years.

[Lightning Strike]

9 years

[bruja]

I've been pagan of sorts for six years now, but not practicing. I need structure for witchcraft and religion -which I haven't found- without it I'm lost. I've been creating my own structure as of late.

[Branwen_Yr_Hardd]

It's been my life bloody always.

[Nefeltari]

For a little over 5 years now.

[Chaos Hawk]

15 years

[Figment99]

About 13 years or so.

Sarah

[Theres]

i can't really say, as i'm not sure what "actively Pagan" means.

in a way i feel that to be Pagan means to not necessarily be actively anything... that's for the 'real' religions. i think that in a way being Pagan means to just be, and no politics or personal issues need apply.

but then what the hell do i know?

[FaeSpirit39]

I couldn't pick one.

While I have felt in my heart and soul that I have been Pagan for as long as I can remember, I didn't start learning about Paganism in all it's forms until I was about 13 - 14 years old.

If you mean active by the way of practicing all that I have learned and still am learning, then I have been "active" on and off for about 7-8 years now. I am doing more study to find the right path for me and am slowly going to incorporate other things into my life. I want to be more dedicated and make it stick this time around, no matter what stressors are in my life.

[Mits_Giotix]

I've been an active pagan for the past 2 years, after a 3-year search for the religion that "suits" me. And I was an orthodox christian before this :D

[Sethserpenthus]

About 10 years

[Tanya]

20 years

[patch]

Just over a year ^_^
Like..a year and 20 days xD

[NefertSatSekhmet]

About 14 years since I cast my first spell, and about 10 years since I dedicated myself as a Wiccan.

[RubyRose]

5 years ... although my practice has tapered off a little in the last few years.

[Voyager]

Wow! It's 9 years.

[ravenhecate999]

6 years. =]

[cheddarsox]

I realize now that I've been a pantheist my entire life, but I began to identify and practice as a pagan about 17 years ago. That is when I gave up the ruse of trying to practice the faith of my childhood, and began to practice the faith of my soul.

cheddar

[lunatala]

Without a specific word for it all my life. Always out in the woods exploring nature, feeling safe and at home in the outside and wondering why church didnt feel this way. Not understanding church at all. I continued to go through the motions of going just to see friends until I was 14 when I absoultly refused to go any longer. I was introduced to Wicca approx. 13 yrs ago. and havent looked back. By the way I am 37yrs old

[Astara Seague]

a very very long time when I was young I did without knowing what I was doing I found out when I was about 25

[electricpeppers]

I've been a Pagan all my life, but did not have knowledge to name it until the past few years.

[Phae Talon]

Damn. When you actually click that 10-20 years button makes it seem SO much longer! lol

I guess it has been a really long time since those first steps taken along the path. I remember being really nervous and unsure about what I was doing. Worrying in the back of my mind if I really was going to go to hell for it.

I barely recognize that girl anymore.

--Phae

[Enlightenment1]

About 2 1/2 yrs practicing Paganism, though there has never been a time when I can't remember not being a Witch :D

[shuvanilu]

17 years. There were times during those years that I stumbled off the path in some ways, but I started seeking and practicing 17 years ago.--shuvanilu

[Doodlebug]

For about a day. I just came back to Wicca today after having been away from it for a few years.

[Ladybug1258]

Personally, since I was 11 (38 years), and actively nearly 18 years. It was a slow gradual path that had some stumbles, diversions, and detours along the way but I always found my way back home again. Here is where I stay. The company here is much more honest, not nearly so hypocritical, as the way of my parents, who claimed to be Christians.

[Isabella SilverRain]

It's honestly been less than or around a year since I started actively being a Pagan. But, now that I looked back at all the post that I first made when I started my account here at MW, I see that I have grown much since I got here. When I started here I only knew about Wicca, so my knowledge was severely limited. But now that I know about the other paths that Paganism encompasses, I feel that I have grown more mature and not so silly! :)

[Rosana]

I was actively Pagan for approximately 3 weeks during my 7 year-old period of being passively Pagan.