Can you be just pain ole Pagan

[Hærfest Leah]

Can you be just Pagan without followinig any specific type or tradition?

[Shanti]

Of course!!!!!! You are who you are no matter what lable is placed or not placed on your ways.

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

Most definately. You can use whatever label you feel best fits your needs. I was just Pagan for a long time before finding my trad.

Avalon's Blessings, ~Rhia

[ObsidianShenKa]

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

[Hærfest Leah]

I kinda figured so but it never hurts to ask and make sure. Labels are such a thing that it makes someone actually have to ask that question ya know.

[Hærfest Leah]

I was just Pagan for a long time before finding my trad.

Avalon's Blessings, ~Rhia

Ya know and who says you ever even have to chose a specific path either. One can just stay generally Pagan if they want.

[Romani Vixen]

Be who/whatever you are!!! Label yourself closest to what fits... or don't label at all!!! It's whatever feels right to you!

[Jenne]

Not to be flip, but you can be a purple banana if you wanna...

Seriously, I find that pagans/neopagans are usually enamored of their titles, or hate them with a passion...(or just plain could not care less!) I think labels are only helpful if you belong to a specific group who needs them for identification purposes. But then, that's just me!

So welcome to the "plain old pagan" group, lol. I'm one too! ;)

[AuroraSilvermist]

Not to be flip, but you can be a purple banana if you wanna...

Seriously, I find that pagans/neopagans are usually enamored of their titles, or hate them with a passion...(or just plain could not care less!) I think labels are only helpful if you belong to a specific group who needs them for identification purposes. But then, that's just me!

So welcome to the "plain old pagan" group, lol. I'm one too! ;)

Well said! I'm a plain ol' pagan, myself. I don't feel I need to hang a label on myself and, personally, I'd rather not draw a box around my spirituality anyhow. But I also believe there's much to be said for learning a specific path--LEARNING is the key word, there. I studied Correllian Wicca, and while I discovered that it wasn't really for me, I learned a great deal. In my opinion, it's best to be open minded, learn all you can, and follow your heart and spirit; they won't steer you wrong. :)

[Sibylle]

Jenne, I agree. Labels serve a function - if I list my (many) influences, people might get an general idea of what I believe in and what I'm practising without me having to explain it all in detail. Trying to avoid labels doesn't work, since all language, every word is a label ;) - and placing too much emphasis on them is missing the point. It's what you DO, not what you call yourself, that counts in paganism.

[asamananara]

Ya know and who says you ever even have to chose a specific path either. One can just stay generally Pagan if they want.
Being a "plain old pagan" does not denote eclectic tendencies.
I work within a strictly defined and rigidly structured tradition
which demands absolute exclusive subscription to the tenents
and practices unique to our path, yet I never feel compelled
to regard myself as anything but "pagan". Labels are only important
when comparing and contrasting abstracts.
It's interesting to note that nearly all primitive societies
refer to themselves as "the people", using collective names as
a means of distinguishing deviances among other tribes- relegating
outsiders the status of "nearly people".
As to the original question, I don't think it's possible to
be a pagan without a path. Even if you wander, you've still
left tracks others can follow. You still learn the lay of
the land and know how to navigate. You find which terrain
you prefer to walk, and what routes lead you where you need
to go. You may not have a name for your path, nor a map;
this, however, is how paths are cut through the wilderness.
One foot in front of the other.

[Hærfest Leah]

As to the original question, I don't think it's possible to
be a pagan without a path. Even if you wander, you've still
left tracks others can follow. You still learn the lay of
the land and know how to navigate. You find which terrain
you prefer to walk, and what routes lead you where you need
to go. You may not have a name for your path, nor a map;
this, however, is how paths are cut through the wilderness.
One foot in front of the other.


Thats makes sense. Thanks.

[halfwaynowhere]

i use the term "pagan" to describe myself. Because I have a very mixed belief system, I often go by "eclectic witch" as well. labels are never important unless you make them. Just call yurself what you feel comfortable with, and don't let anyone tell you whats right or wrong.

[fay]

i think asamananara put it quite well. you can say that you are a 'plain ole pagan' but you wont really be. your path wont be 'plain pagan', i dont think that theres any such thing, it will be you and everything that you love about paganism. you dont need to label it, you'll know what it is and thats what matters.
hope that made sense, not sure it did :bigredblu
blessed be

[docdoo]

Some people are very concerned with knowing where they 'fit'. I'm not really one of them, in short...your path is your own...follow it as truly as you can and always understand that you can change your ideas as you learn new things!

[{Tigress}]

I don't mind labels, but I've never found one that describes my beliefs and My Path very well, so I just think of myself as Pagan.