sticking with paganism (help!)

[licorice whip]

ive been studying paganism off and on for about four years now, and its something that i just love reading about. but i can never get myself to stick with it, to keep studying or to create an actual connection with the religion itself.

i fear that having not believed in a religion for so many years (i was raised catholic up until about this year, when i was confirmed, but havent believed in it since i was 9), that i will never really be able to truly BELIEVE in a higher power.

first off, is it quite necessary to believe in a higher power? because even if i try to, i just dont think it will happen. im too much of a skeptic (by the way, the paths im most drawn to are kind of the kitchen witch/folk magick sort of things).

second of all, how do i get myself to stick with it?! im going to be a junior in high school next year, and between all of that business, and my distro, i fear ill slack off again, just like have been doing in four years. does anyone have any tips to motivate?

[BlueFlame]

Well, I do think that belief in a higher power is nessicary for being Pagan, but not nessicary for being a Witch.

I think a great way to keep in touch with the Pagan in you is to have an Altar in your room. I don't know how thrilled your parents would be about that, but it dosn't need to be obvious. I look at altars as Spiritual artwork. Alot of times they are just ordinary things aranged in a way that is deeply meaningfull to you, and maybe no one else. Start by collecting some things that are special to you on your bedside table, or maybe on a shelf or a book case. Maybe some pictures of family and friends, maybe some souviners from vacations that bring back good memories, maybe a candle of your favorite scent, and just build it up. When your done, it will probably only look like decoration to anyone else, but to you it can be a reminder of Paganisim.

I also think belonging to a Pagan message board is a great way to keep in touch with Pagans, when there might not be any around you in real life. It can be a kind of Pagan community. Not having a community that is large and visible can be one of the hardest things about belonging to a non-mainstream religion.

[Lai]

Personally I look at the "higher power" concept as more of, well, a spiritual concept rather than actual, literal beings. To me they are just representations.

And I agree with Blueflame, chatting at this community and setting up an altar really do make you stick to it a lot more. I kept having problems of switching between Pagan and Atheist, but both of those things have made me "feel" more Pagan.

[Pesha]

The higher power can be anything sweety, the trees, the air ,the water...anything that makes you feel peaceful. an alter is a great way to begin the connection.....but I have to ask how your parents feel about this. So be careful in the alter area right now. Read good books, like Scott Cunningham and Ray Buckland. Great for beginners. Meditate and sit out at night during a full moon and just feel the peace and love that the Goddess sends. Your higher powers as I said at this point should be a peacful thing, or energy. It took me until I was ninteen years old to find my path and stay on it. Blessings to you.

BB
D'S...also known as...

[Equinox]

Hi!

One nice thing about paganism is that you have the freedom to believe as you must. I agree with Lai and Dragonsinger- you can see the divine as a metaphor or symbol of the force of life, or whatever way of thinking is spiritual for you.


I am completely a skeptic, a Pagan Humanist, and a scientist. I don’t think that any actual entities like gods exist, but that they are inspiring ways for us to think about perfection. Spells and the altar can be ways to focus your own thought, to clarify your own life. Mostly, know that you are free to believe what you know is true. Welcome home!

(I’m also a recovering catholic, - I think there are a lot of us here!)

Brightest blessings-

-Equinox

[licorice whip]

thanks so much for all of your replies! i really appreciate it.

dragonsinger, luckily my parents are indifferent to any sort of interest in paganism i have, so having an altar wont be much of a problem at all. :)

[Kitari]

I agree with the others who state that you don't have to believe in a higher power, or entity to be Pagan. Most of us believe in the old gods... but what we believe they are, is different to each of us.

I'm an animist, the gods to me, are personifications of the spirits of different things. To me Gaia is the spirit of earth, the Morrigan is the Spirit of death, Selene is the spirit of the moon. Its just how I relate to different forms of spirit.

As for sticking with it, an altar is a very good idea. I think that reading and talking to people online is useful too. I'm currently looking into Hedge Witchcraft/Folk magic, if its a path that interests you I would recomend Marian Greens books, especially A Witch Alone. And Rae Beth's books, like Hedgewitch. Also reading some myths and legends from different cultures will give you ideas about how you would like to relate to the gods/godesses.

Good luck, and enjoy yourself :)
Kitari

[Gareth]

Wow, I went for 15 years with no faith in anything/one. I'm not bragging,but I know what you're going through licorice whip.
I was a catholic, like you, until I was comfirmed. An interesting term, comfirmed, I was far from it. (anyways)
I looked at religion as the biggest joke mankind pulled on itself.

Why am I pagan now?
When I first really looked into the wiccan belief system, I was shocked at how many similarities "we" shared.
This was before I noticed the Lord and Lady aspect.
I simply took a leap of faith. Plus it wasn't too hard for me, I think I was already there.
If you're not ready for something like that, don't do it!
Find who you are, not what religion you should or have to follow. You may not find the answer overnight, but you will find it.