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Medi
September 10th, 2001, 07:23 PM
Hello everyone :)

I sort of stumbled across this site accidentally, and I'm hoping maybe even just one person here can be of some help ... be warned, I'm about to tell a long and boring story about me.

I know absolutely nothing about pagan religions/traditions/what have you. Nothing of value, anyway- not at all. This is almost certainly entirely my fault, because it's been in the back of my mind for about three years now; you'd think I would've learned -something- in three years...

I'm a freshman in college. I started buying books my sophomore year of high school- just picked up a random book off of a shelf and bought it, on impulse. It turned out to not be the greatest book and I lost interest; I bought another book, which turned out to be not what I was looking for either, and lost interest again ... I picked up Drawing Down the Moon sometime during my junior year, which was interesting but not anything that really educated me. About a year ago or so I bought Phyllis Curott's book. I started to get discouraged right around the point when she began talking about strange experiences that lead her to her path, and stopped reading right there. (I've had no such experiences!) A few months later I bought a Scott Cunningham book, which has probably proved more useful than anything else- but I started getting discouraged as I read that too, and stopped a short way in.

I have read about people having psychic experiences that drive them to a particular pagan tradition; I have read almost too much about people feeling like they've "come home". And I'm confused. Sometimes it's seemed as though these are required things, tokens of membership in an exclusive club, something inaccessible to me. I don't know where my own religious beliefs lie. I was raised Christian, and I spent a year after leaving that behind just ignoring religion altogether. Sophomore year, as I said above, I bought a book on impulse and for three years since then I've been returning to the search for information on pagan traditions at different times. I ended up here because it's a beautiful day outside and I spent an hour just sitting out there in the sun on the grass, feeling like something was lacking ... and I wandered into my dorm room and started running around the internet looking for something useful, and one thing lead to another and I stumbled across this site.

I'm rambling, which is probably a bad thing to do in front of complete strangers. And considering the amount of information I've had available to me, none of you are probably all that interested in my problem. But ...!

If anyone can offer me any help at all, I would really appreciate it. I'm not even sure what kind of help I'm looking for, myself. Perhaps just a little guidance. Anything at all.

SpikesPet5150
September 10th, 2001, 08:31 PM
Of course we're interested!

I think I know how you feel.. I went through a time of emptyness, too. And no matter what I did, nothing seemed "right." Everyone comes into their paths differently. Nothing pushed me toward Wicca.. in fact, things were kind of pushing against it. I read alot of books, too.. but it did nothing for me. Then, I helped my best friend with her Yule ritual, and boom, there I was, happy and knowing what was right.

Don't get discouraged because you don't feel exactly what other people feel. You're a unique and special person, and your life experiences should be unique and special to you.

I'm glad you found your way here.. this is a fun little community! Good luck with your journey and please keep us updated! :)

Welcome and Blessed Be.
~Bree
:elf:

Spirahl
September 10th, 2001, 08:41 PM
Hello.:)
Perhaps it's just a matter of perspective.
I'm the type of person that thinks everything happens for a reason and that there are no coincedences.
If I were you, I may look at the experience of impulsively buying that book in a different way. I perhaps may have said that the book picked the reader, that the book "spoke" to me.
I may have also seen stumbling upon this site as no accident either. Perhaps you were brought here, led here, for a reason. Perhaps you have something to teach us, perhaps you will learn something here that will be of great use to you in your life.
Perhaps these are your "psychic" experiences, for I believe everyone has them, but not all see them that way. I don't believe that it is unnatural, or that only "special" people experience such things.
I don't believe that you need a membership card even...;)
Just continue to read what you can and poke your nose around for awhile. Many of us here do not prescribe to a particular religion or train of thought, but simply are what we are and believe. You'll find your place and your own path too.:D
Good luck!

Myst
September 10th, 2001, 08:44 PM
When you look for your path, I hope you find it according to what principles, morals, and beliefs you find useful in it. I also hope it makes you feel better or helps you see the world in a clearer, more positive way. Those "profound magickal" experiences may come to you sometime, or they might not. I don't think they are required at all. I know I didn't have any of those when I started studying Paganism - years of being taught that certain things are make believe certainly closed my mind to some very magickal stuff. No one can tell you for sure that this is the right path for you, but I don't think you can assume it's not because of things that happen to someone else that haven't happened to you. Don't worry about it too much, if you decide this path is right for you later on maye you will also experience those things.

Brightest blessings!

loopy
September 10th, 2001, 08:49 PM
Oh Gods, I SO know how you feel on this one! I did almost the same thing... reading about others having spiritual experiences and stuff that led them to their paths really got me down. Even now I sometimes feel I have to justify myself as a Pagan. Heck, I first *heard* about Wicca and Paganism and Witchcraft from a movie. :rolleyes:

But you know, if this sounds like the right path for you, then you have no reason NOT to follow it. Who knows-- your picking books randomly off the shelf might have been *your* unconscious spiritual awakening. And if it wasn't, if it was just a fluke, well, the important thing is that it got you where you are. And this path might be yours to follow.


And considering the amount of information I've had available to me, none of you are probably all that interested in my problem. But ...!

Don't sell yourself short. :D I care! And nearly every person here has at one time known the amount of knowledge you have. People learn through years of experience. You're just starting on your journey, and years from now you'll have gained more knowledge and experience, should you choose to take this path.

Raynewitch
September 10th, 2001, 09:36 PM
Hi there :)

I have to agree with Willow Raven on this one..being taught certain things can affect the way we see things magick or not...our minds might not be "open" enough to see what we are being shown :( I for one know that it has happened to me, I get the feeling something has passed and I missed it if you get what I mean (which would be quite hard since I make no sense hehehe).

As for "visions" and the psychic stuff. They are by no means a prerequisite :D you just feel what you feel, and see what you see. I for one have had one "vision", I call it that because I dont know what else to call it, and that was after I had started on this path. The thing that started me off, was a recurring dream that was so terrifying and horrible that I would not want anyone else to have. But it did lead me to research and therefore to Wicca.

I think you need to think about the fact you bought things on impulse and you keep coming back to Paganism, because that would say to me that someone is trying to tell me something....

Anyhoo welcome to the clubhouse :D

:elf: Rayne :elf:

Medi
September 11th, 2001, 02:25 AM
Hey guys ... THANKS! A bunch. I feel much better already. :)

And I agree that the fact that I keep coming back to this has importance - that's why I'm here.

reanna
September 11th, 2001, 02:31 AM
Well, everyone stated wonderful stuff so I'll just give you a big huge welcome!! :wave: :wave:


So very pleased to meet ya!! :D:D:D

moonmagick4
September 11th, 2001, 07:08 AM
MERRY MEET AND WELCOME!!!!:) :) :)

Socharis
September 11th, 2001, 08:25 AM
:D:D:D WELCOME :D:D:D

QueendeQrash
September 12th, 2001, 01:34 AM
Merry Meet and Welcome! Hope you can find what your looking for. It will come with time. Until then, enjoy yourself.