seeking answers from those who know

[Derry]

Hi,
I'm new here. I have felt the calling to be pagan for a while, but ignored it because I am from a catholic/Baptist family and I was raised to believe it was wrong. Something about organized religion didn't feel comfortable to me because it seems like it mostly consists of man's laws. I'm finally going to explore the calling. I've bought some books and talked to a few people, but I have so many questions. I'm hoping I can find support here. I feel the calling of the celtic pagan path. Part of it is because I am mostly celtic in blood, but also, it seems to appeal to my nature side and I feel comfortable with it. If I post these questions..can I get some feedback please. I would really appreciate it.

1. I was told that Celtic Pagans are not Wiccan. Is this true? i've read some info that seems to relate Celtic Pagans to the Wiccan faith.
2. Is Celtic Pagan pantheist or polytheist? One person who tried to help me understand and help me come into the pagan life tried to explain the structure of the gods and Godesses in a way that I would understans. Since she knew that i was catholic, she put it this way. She believes that there is one God supreme(the same God for Pagan as for Christian and muslim, etc) and that underneath that one God there is a God(the Lord) and a Goddess(the Lady) here on earth to walk with us and keep us safe and to call upon. Underneath those gods and Godesses there are other Gods and Godesses that are there for specific needs(such as Erce, goddess of harvest). she said they are many deities, but of one entity. Like the trinity in the christian faith. When I was younger, I was told that when I prayed to Jesus or Mary or even called to one of the Saints, I was still ultimately praying to God because he is manifest in all of them. I understood that explanation, but then confusion came when someone told me a different version. This person said that all pagan, whether celtic, Wiccan or other is polytheist and each God and goddess is ulimately separate. Boy am I confused.
3. Are the gods and Godesses real? I don't mean this in offence. I want to believe. Pagan thrived for thousands of years before christianity so I believe that those people must have seen results or they wouldn't have resisted christianity when it was forced on them in ancient times. The hard part is what someone else told me. They said in a rude manner," calling upon a God or Goddess is like kneeling before a household appliance and expecting an answer or results, they don't exhist, onlt the one rue God exhists and miracles are the proof of it." What she said doesn't sound right. So many people are coming back to the old ways, there has to a reason. but can anyone help guid eme in this answer?
4. I've heard that some people mix a little Christian with Pagan and it feels good to them. Is that acceptable?
5. Do you feel frightened when someone tells you that you are going to go to hell for your beliefs? Or is this just a fear I have because I am sooooo new to this.
6. Do all Pagans cast circles during ritual? Is it Celtic, Pagan or both or up to the individual?

Sorry for so many questions, but where I live, I have no one to ask. Please help me so I can choose my Pagan path to my best needs.

Thanks so much ,
Derry

[MidnightSun]

Hi there and welcome to the Boards :)

1. No, Celtic Pagans are not Wiccan. You can be Wiccan and follow the celtic path though, but not all do.
2.I think it's Polytheist.
3.Personally I believe they are real, yes. Their presence can be seen and felt in everything.
4. All that matters is that it's acceptable to them. Don't worry about what others tell you is right or wrong..go with what feels right to you.
5. Nope, I sure don't, because I don't believe it exists. It is normal to have that fear in the beginning though, I know I did. I usually tell people like that that I don't believe it exists but if it does i'll be seeing them there...since judging others is against the Bible as well. *It seems many have forgotten that fact, eh?*
6. No, not all pagans cast a circle I don't think. It's not a requirement or anything...it's just to hold the energy you raise and to keep you protected.

I hope this helps :)

[Derry]

Thank you for your reply. It brought comfort to me. I can't express to anyone how nice it is to finally find a place like this where I can be excepted!!!!!

[MidnightSun]

You're welcome :) I am glad it brought you some comfort :)

I was introduced to this place by my sister..I love it here :) It's very friendly and it has a very relaxed atmosphere to it.

[Siarlas]

Greetings and Welcome, Derry! :wave:

1. Like MidnightSun mentioned, Celtic Pagan and Wicca are not one and the same. There are many different Pagan paths. Some stick to one, while other's follow a few.
2. I do believe it is polytheist... I don't recall reading about pantheons... but then again... I'm still studying it myself.
3. Well, do you believe they are real? I sure do. The Christian God never showed me any miracles, but others have.
4. Mix what ever you want! If it feels right, just do it! (NB: I do not in any way endorse Nike footwear and/or clothing :lol: )
5. I think being raised Catholic/Baptist, it's old fears that are affecting you. Personally it doesn't bother me. If the other person can't be more open-minded, that's their problem.
6. I don't. I barely even do any rituals. But if you want to, then do it. (NB: see note for number 4 :T) I believe it's completely up to the individual. Though, like MidnightSun mentioned, it does rather help for protection.


Sorry for so many questions, but where I live, I have no one to ask. Please help me so I can choose my Pagan path to my best needs.

That's the only way we're gonna learn. Lots and lotsa questions! I don't really have anyone around either, so most of the stuff I've learnt is off the net. Whether it be chatting with someone, or finding decent board, or finding articles.

My advice would be to search as much as you can. There are a lot of threads you could search for here, as well as take a peek at the stuck threads, not too mention what you could search for on a search engine (http://www.google.com). And if you want, I could share a whole heap of links that I've found useful.

[MidnightSun]

Oh yeah...I have some websites you might find useful...if u want them, let me know and I will post them. :)

[shnen]

welcome to MW! :wave:

[Tammy Sullivan]

The way I understand it is as such: the pantheon would be the celtic gods and godesses in their entirety, and there is more than one, so yes it is polythiest (the belief in more than one god). The greek gods and godesses are known as the greek pantheon and so on.

[Derry]

Thanks to those who replied!!! Yes, midnight Sun, I would like those websites if you could. I see now that not all pagans are wiccan....but every book I buy always starts down the wiccan path. It's not that I'm against it, I just don't feel I'm ready to handle that power yet. I may do it one day, but I'm still so new. I found a celtic pagan website that said" celtic pagans do not cast circles, work magik or cast spells". Well, ok. But if they don't do any of that...what do they do? I've bought some books and the current one I have is called"Celtic Myth and Magic" by Edain McCoy. I really like her writing and it has been very useful in the history and structure of the Gods/esses, but then it leads to how to work circles and spells. How do non-wiccan pagans approach their Gods/esses for a need or prayer? I know there is no one distinct answer and that's actually nice that there are so many ways...unfortunately...I'm clueless because every book I own..is wiccan. When I bought them I didn't know there was a difference. can anyone give some help, maybe tell me how they do it. Also, does anyone know any books that help in a non-wiccan pagan? Thanks so much.

[Derry]

Yes, those websites would be helpful if you could let me know what they are. I'm exploring all I can. It seems that I can find lots of info about wiccan, but not about other pagan paths. I'll ne patient...the door will eventually open up!!! :)

[Storm]

I am not wiccan...actually I am not religious at all. I do practice the craft. I cast circles. I don't really consider it a religious practice but rather a practical one. I feel it cantains the energy I raise until I am ready to send it off. I also believe that it protects me from negative energy and keeps out ANY energy which may be counterproductive to my purpose.

[delirium]

I'm a non wiccan pagan with a leaning toward things Celtic. I don't work with the whole pantheon, only Brighid and I don't usually cast circles, call the quarters, have an athame, pentacle, chalice etc. For me, (and it's only my personal way) I keep things really simple. I don't want or use many of the objects that most pagans use. I use my finger to direct energy if I need to and I consider walking in nature and cooking good meals for my family to be my forms of magic. I consider myself a hedge witch.

It's very hard to find books for non wiccans. Sometimes it seems that the whole pagan world is wiccan, but it's just not so. I would recommend reading something by Marian Green (A Witch Alone, Natural Witchcraft, Wild Witchcraft) for a non-wiccan perspective. She doesn't talk about a Celtic path, but you could certainly apply what you read to your own way of doing things. She mainly talks about getting in touch with nature and feeling the interconnectedness of all things.

I have been on the path for 14 years and when I first started I also had a small piece of me that wondered if I would go to hell for it. I didn't really believe in hell, but old beliefs die hard. I was raised Christian and went to religious school throughout my childhood, so it was drilled in pretty hard. Pagan=Satan worshiper. Simple as that. My recommendation is just to take things slowly and don't do anything that feels uncomfortable. When I cast my first circle (back in the day when I thought that was how I had to do it) I had some bad luck the next week. I was 14 then, and thought, "Oh no, God is mad. No more evil witchcraft" but as the years passed, I became more comfortable on my path and I no longer worry that god will smite me or anything. If you talk to the goddess (or god(s)) then you'll come to feel that the mean biblical god turning people into salt pillars and all won't be scary.


Good luck to you!
Heather

[FlamedLilly]

MM

I'm new to this path as well, I don't have any of the ritual tools. I don't know what path I'm on only that it's not any of the ones that I've read about so far. I'm definately not wiccan, or anything like that. I just do what feels right to me.

[MidnightSun]

http://www.wuzzle.org/cave/map.html
http://www.glasstemple.com/home/
http://www.1witch.com/witchcraft.html
http://www.geraldgardner.com/index/archive.shtml
www.whywiccanssuck.com
www.witchvox.com/xbasics.html

Those should give you enough to read for a while :)

[Siarlas]

Originally posted by Derry
Yes, those websites would be helpful if you could let me know what they are. I'm exploring all I can. It seems that I can find lots of info about wiccan, but not about other pagan paths. I'll ne patient...the door will eventually open up!!! :)

Patience, they say, is the key... not that I'm the most patient person in the world... :T

Can't remember if I mentioned it before, but there's two books I would reccomend. One is The Idiot's Guide to Paganism and the other is The Celtic Book of Living and Dying. Can't remember who the second one is by... I'll have to have a look..., but the Idiot's Guide is pretty good. It gives you the basics and doesn't just focus on wicca.

And as promised, a whole bunch of links for you to look at (http://kayalanashome.ableinternet.com/kayalana/derry.html). :D

edit - forgot to mention. There's probably some double up's in there cause I have yet to properly sort through and organise my favorites folder. Also, there are some links that are not specifically Celtic, but I thought you might be interested in them any way.

[Derry]

Thank you for the websites, booknames and kind words of support. I really appreciate it!!! It's a nice snowy day here so I may go buy some of those books so I can sit by the fireplace tonight and sip some champagne and read. My hubby and I aren't going out because the roads will be icy...and all our friends have moved away.( we're a military family). So...we thought we'd just curl up with our dog and read. May sound boring to some, but it works for us. Besides..I think the best way to break in a new year is with reading some good knowledge!!! :)

warm wishes to all,
Derry

[Tammy Sullivan]

sounds like a great idea to me

[Siarlas]

Originally posted by Derry
Thank you for the websites, booknames and kind words of support. I really appreciate it!!! It's a nice snowy day here so I may go buy some of those books so I can sit by the fireplace tonight and sip some champagne and read. My hubby and I aren't going out because the roads will be icy...and all our friends have moved away.( we're a military family). So...we thought we'd just curl up with our dog and read. May sound boring to some, but it works for us. Besides..I think the best way to break in a new year is with reading some good knowledge!!! :)

warm wishes to all,
Derry

You're quite welcome, Derry. :)

I didn't go out for NYE either. Partly because I didn't have a babysitter, but mostly because I just felt like staying in. Watched the fireworks on the TV with Amber and that was about it.

Merry New Year everyone

[MidnightSun]

You're welcome Derry :)
Oh curling up by a fireplace and reading sounds heavenly! I hope you guys have fun :)

[Derry]

I went to the book store today and found a book, it was closed early yesterday for new years. So I just sat around and drank champagne last night instead of reading. Naughty me!!! Anyways, as I was saying, I am one of those "history buffs" that loves to study ancient Ireland, Scotland and England. I've always read that the christian church banned the pagan way of life because the church was also the government and wanted absolute rule. But, I never really studied just how devoted the pagans were and why they really died for their beliefs. This book I bought breaks things down into an aspect that I can understand and relate to. I'm finding more and more that the pagan way of life is really beautiful. When people went into nature to have ritual, it was because the people were so thankful for the blessings that the Lord and the Lady have given them for a good harvest or hunt that they wanted to show appreciation and look forward as the seasons changed again. I just don't see how I could've believed what I was taught about it being an "evil religion". The pagan path seems to make our eyes see the world in an even more beautiful way. Also, I checked out some of the websites. Good info to have!!! Thanks for the help!!!
Hope everyone has a blessed new year!!!

Derry

[FlamedLilly]

Just out of curiousity, what book is that? I'm always on the look out for new books to read!

[Derry]

The name of the book is "Pagan Ways" by Gwydion O'Hara. It's not a very big book, but it is perfect for the beginer. It explains why there is actually a Godess and not just a God. Both are needed for balance and almost everything in the known universe requires male and female aspects to exhist. i don't feel guilty at all now for calling upn a Godess to help me in an area where a male God couldn't. Hope this info helps.

Hugs and blessings to all,
Derry

P.S. There was a series of great shows today on the science channel showing the orgins of civilization and how tribal cultures first developed religion becaused they observed life around them and realized that there were forces they couldn't control and that there were stronger beings to guide us. It's really facinating. I don't know when it will be shown again. It just goes to show no matter what time frame we live in, all humans have felt the exhistance of Gods and Godesses. Kinda neat , huh?!