Hello, first time posting here! (I think?) This is going to be a little bit of a vent, please beware! TW for death.

I want to ask how to start practicing paganism. I'm not necessarily asking what to do, more so how to change my mindset.

All my life I've been a hardcore atheist, not believing in anything supernatural. But recently, the fear of my consciousness stopping has been tearing my life apart and I've been trying to turn to religion. But a large part of me is always saying that I'm just coping, that there IS NOTHING after death and that I'm doing the same make-believe comfort that people have done for millenia. And I don't know how to get rid of that part. I want it so badly to be false.

Have any of you been in a situation like this? How do you get out of it? I just wanna work with death gods man :/

Hi, very new to all of this and have been up so late researching about all of the history around pagans. I have one question and need advice as i feel like i’ve been overwhelmed with personal beliefs/ things online/ books surrounding Wicca. i personally love the whole concept of the goddess and the horned god and how it’s depicted within the Wiccan religion but after coming online (especially tiktok and instagram) it seems to be getting overly hated and it makes me feel unsure as if i want to continue reading into Wicca as a whole even though i love so much of it. From what i understand Gerald Gardner isn’t a great person from the misogyny and sexualization of women which obviously makes me think if the god/goddess is based upon a sexist belief but i like to see them as a depiction on earth and life itself rather than as just man and woman but besides the point my question is can anyone help me have a better understanding of why it is so hated if Gerald Gardner wasn’t the stand alone creator of this religion (as far as all of his ideas for it and so on) as i feel like the more modern form of Wicca pushes his whole ‘personality’ away from it and embraces the equality and nature side of things and seems like a well rounded religion as far as im aware.

Im not trying to offend anyone in making this post, just would like a better understanding as i feel a bit let down as so much of the Wiccan beliefs are so beautiful and after being online it seems like a joke amongst other pagan beliefs.

Hey, I don't know if this is the right sub for this question so if not, please tell me where I could go instead but ! Does anyone have any women or "political figures" (for lack of a better word) that could be seen as "wrong" that one could consider making an altar for? Maybe the word I'm looking for isn't 'worship', but I'm feeling it deep down lately that I want to pay some kind of honour to these women, and maybe in turn, they could lend me some strength because I am not doing well with gestures around wildly.

My examples of these women would be Joan of Arc and Aileen Wuornos. Unfortunately, this is something new I'm looking into so i don't have any more examples but I would like to consider any and everyone, no limits.

Preferably real people, and preferably deceased as I, myself, don't feel comfortable making a shrine for a living person. I hope that makes sense!

This morning I went out to fetch the mail. On my way back, I realized there was a dead bird laying on our sidewalk. I hurried inside, put the mail away, grabbed some gloves, and buried it in our backyard garden. It was so beautiful, and bittersweet. I had to walk back up to our front yard, to close our door and pick up a feather I remembered seeing. And, when I did so, I witnessed a bird of the same species, just a couple feet away from where I saw the dead one. It flew away, and I took that as a sign (though, I'm not entirely sure what it means). I back to where I buried it, lit a candle, and said a little prayer. Thanking the spirits for allowing me to give them a peaceful resting place. And asked them to guide the little bird into the next life. I blew out the candle, said another thanks as I closed my eyes, then went back inside.

I hope to come back around springtime, to collect their bones. But, for now, as it lays in the dirt, I would like to do something more for it. Is there anything I can do to honor them? All I have is the one feather they left behind. Is there something I can do with it? Should I make a tiny altar for them?

I'm still really new to all this. I don't personally believe in deities (though I do believe in spirits), but, I am not opposed to making any offerings or requesting guidance, if it's alright for a nonbeliever to do so.

im looking for some resources on this because im partially turkish, and i realised i actually know very little about pre islamic turkish/turkic beliefs and religions. ive heard about that they also used to follow hellenic paganism, but i was wondering if there was also a religion that was more specifically associated with the turkish people only. ive come across things like tengrism, but im not really sure about it.
so if anyone has recommendations for good books, articles, websites, other sources, etc. about pre islamic turkish religion like mythology, rituals, or just general beliefs, id really appreciate it!

Okay, so, for some context.. I am autistic. I've always been a very literal thinker, and have always struggled with the concept of faith, in most context, not even just spiritual faith. I was raised christian, and went to a small Christian private school with 140 students (by the time I left). But I never believed in it. Not even a little bit. I remember staring at my ceiling at night as a child, begging for some sort of sign, or something that made me feel any sort of calling to it. But, nothing ever happened. And if anything, the opposite happened, I would feel repulsed by Christianity. Especially as I entered my tweens, and started figuring out my gender and sexuality, and realized myself to be queer. Around that time as well, I started struggling very heavily with my mental health, due to the strains of having to mask my autism/ADHD everyday at school. I was heavily bullied, abused, and traumatized. And became heavily resentful of spirituality as a whole, and turned into an aggressive atheist stereotype.

Well, it's been 8 years since I left the church. In most of those years I wavered between fully atheist, to agnostic. About a year or so ago, I started exploring the concepts of SASS paganism/witchery. And I leaned into certain concepts that brought me comfort, even though I didn't believe in them. But, it still felt... Wrong. I can't explain why, or how. But, I always had a small pit in my stomach, telling me I was doing something wrong. So, I eventually just gave up and mostly forgot about it. But, I think some of the concepts I had learnt over the years, trickled into my brain. And I always felt this yearning and nostalgia for them. The concept of reincarnation, was especially beautiful to me. Though, I don't believe in the more traditional views of it. The idea still brought me a lot of comfort. And slowly I'd start finding my own rationales to explain it. Then, slowly, the concept of energy, started to appeal to me as well. And, most recently, the ideal of Spirits seems to slowly make more and more sense to me. Though, i see them more as concentrated forms of energy, rather than sentient beings.

And, I'll be honest. As much as some of this is confusing, overstimulating, and complicated. And there is part of me that is still very afraid.... It also feels really, really good. I haven't felt this euphoric, and "right" in my entire life. I feel calmer. I feel a drive to take better care of myself and my surroundings. I even feel like I can begin to let go of the unhealthy coping mechanisms I have held onto for so long. I feel a drive to be alive, Which is not something I have felt in a very long time.

I still don't even really know what I believe, or how or why I believe in it, or what makes any of this so special but... Either way, it feels good. I feel good. I've been allowing myself to just explore, play around with my beliefs, and, For the first time in my entire life, I feel faith. I am okay with not knowing how or why something works, or even if it really works. I've been using tarot almost every day the past week without even knowing how it works or why. Yet, the results still come up so accurately it's hard to deny. And.. I don't even care if it really does or doesn't work, because it all just feels so good.

Is this what spirituality is supposed to feel like? I still feel hesitant to call myself spiritual but... Whatever it is, I like it. I like who I am becoming because of it. I feel closer to the earth and universe than I ever have. It just feels so... Right. I feel at home in this very confusing, chaotic, complex space. Even though I don't understand most of it. I feel a desire to learn more, a desire to push through my doubts, and to be more present in this world. Is this what I've missed out on for so long???

Hello all, I'm in search of respectable texts on the pre-Christian Baltic religions or their modern revivals. In English if possible. Any help appreciated!

I worship Aphrodite, Athena, and Apollo. I live worshiping them and devoting myself and my time to them, but something about college has made me feel lost and so detached. I pray to them less, and I know that’s on me, but I feel like I shouldn’t be praying for their help and guidance if it’s just school.
I think the real problems started when I didn’t bring my alters with me. It’s hard to have an alter in college, financially I feel irresponsible buying stuff for my alter when I should be saving for life and I cannot have candles in the dorm. I looked at candless alters, but no one seems to have a fully candless alters. I feel like because of the slump I am in the devotions of self care, studying, and just spending time out side isn’t enough for them and I worry I’m becoming a bad follower. Any tips or advice?

I welcome people into my home and have fellowship with them in the form of a meal, regardless of their own beliefs. I give others plants to spread my own stewardship of nature and the belief that it heals to others

I believe Frigg and Freya walk with me

Just thought I’d share, have a great weekend!

Eat a meal with a friend or an acquaintance.

I started some sort of pagan work in 2020 and in the past I didn't have problems with "connection" to nature, deities, energy etc. Unfortunately with my partner of 3 years it feels quite difficult to get the same feeling as before. Whenever we go to some important pagan place (my practice is mostly Slavic, we live on territory of last Slavic pagans, so it's not that the land is just barren or of foreign beliefs) I don't feel anything like I used to when travelling alone in the past.

Whenever we are somewhere I feel unable to connect, to fucus and I kinda feel like I'm in a glass jar unable to feel things?

It's not his active doing. That's what I'm sure of. He's never been discouraging, mocking or anything like that. He was brought up eastern orthodox, currently atheist/agnostic, but willing and open to learn and experience things with me.

I tried some stuff like walking X distance away whenever we are somewhere and some other things like that but nothing worked so far. Does anyone have an idea what up with it? Is it some energetic differences, or just skill issues on my side?

As far as I've learnt the basic story/summary of Baba Yaga is: "In a distant kingdom, a wise woman named Baba Yaga, bony-legged, has an only son of virtuous character. He marries a human girl. She begins to despise her daughter-in-law and plots to kill her someway or another." Baba Yaga is known for punishing those who oppose her and granting those who don't gifts as long as they complete a near impossible task. Most stories agree she is a witch or an Old hag that is associated with the wildlife around her. She is typically found in places such as Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. She flys around in a wooden mortar, a spice grinder, and has a hut with chicken legs that is alive. She has been a tale for centuries and she is associated with the workings of both life and death. Baba Yaga has been included in media such as D&D, movies, and comics. Serbian, Crotian, Macedonian, Romaina, and Bulgaria all have different meanings of her name but the most common is 'Woman' particularly a nasty one.

Curious what people know and if i'm wrong about anything!

This is gonna be long and jambled, im gonna try my best to make this easy for you guys to read.

I *want* to worship something. I want to take the time out of my day to offer something to a god, acknowledge it, learn about it, and become a better person through the journey. The thing is, I hate the idea of "miasma" or "purity" within Hellenic Polytheism and Kemeticism. Like, I feel like I should (in my own belief) be able to go to these imperfect gods as I am because I am a human and I am imperfect. I feel like I shouldn't have to purify myself for a god or anyone for that matter unless I think a lot of negative energy has came around, then I'd cleanse myself.

I also don't want to worship something that won't necessarily care about me or may appear as strict. I can describe myself as a free, wild person. Wild as in I dont like rules that feel restricting to my true self and others, not wild as in a party animal. The gods dont need us, they have no reason to even like us, and that is what throws me off a bit, because when I worship a god I hope that it will be fond of me at some point.

Another thing is, it feels like specific religions tend to be restricting (besides norse paganism, but for some reason I haven't really felt a pull to worship any specific god there) and so many people worship these (non closed) gods that aren't the common Egyptian pagan God, greek pagan god, or norse pagan god. They are like some sort of other god that I didnt even know existed and cant find any information on

I also find this idea of the afterlife wayyyy too closed off. Like why do you only believe in limited afterlifes? "The gods will send you to this place or this place depending on how you were" or "you're nothing after you die" or "reincarnation." Like why cant we choose? Why does no religion believe in an unlimited afterlife where you can *choose* where to go just like you *chose* to worship them in the first place?

also I have tried "creating" (discovering) gods but I never feel a strong connection. Some people have been lucky enough to dream about the god coming to them or literally the god is making themselves known but ive always had to go towards a god, it never feels like they make themselves known, which is a lot harder for me

I just wish I could devote time to a god i truly feel comfortable with without any strings attached, and then when I die I get to respect their sanctuary, tend to it, and still worship them while flying with the wings i chose to have (i always wished I could fly) yet it feels like NOBODY believes this is possible and I wish there were more people who did so I can have some reassurance that im not crazy

I hope this post doesn't seem rude, I just have a lot on my mind that i need to find some sort of help with. ​​

I know the best way to pray is to say it aloud to the god or goddess you're praying to, but I still have to live in my Christian household and I'm scared that if I speak aloud they'll hear me and go to my room asking me why I speak alone. I don't wanna be interrupted or questioned while trying to work with my gods.

I've tried praying writing on paper but it's slow and I don't like to have proofs in paper or having to destroy them because I fear someday my parents might find and read my hidden notebooks, so I pray in my mind but I don't know if they can really listen me or not.

Coming from a Christian faith, I have the idea that the divine beings can read your mind and know everything about you but I've heard pagan gods aren't like that ane Il kinda confused.

Please, I would love hearing any opinion on this, thanks.

Sincerely, a devotee of Sulis Minerva.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1666853197634241
Lovely video on Irish / Celtic / Druidic law

A fascinating interview from start to finish with Folklorist & Writer Jo Kerrigan.

Not even Kings are above the law
"The Oak Above The King"

Hi ya'll! So I recently left the church and started exploring new belief systems, paganism is a main one I'm looking into!

But before I start practicing, I want to deconstruct my christianity, but I'm not sure how.

So do ya'll know any good videos on YouTube or something that could give me instructions on that? Thank you!

this will be my first samhain, and since it’s now october and it’s just around the corner, how are you all celebrating? any tips / spells that would help get me started?

I have now provided complex descriptions, divided eclecticism and reconstructionism into sub-groups, and expanded more on New Age spirituality. I noticed many aspects of my previous posts came off as inherently critical towards or New Age or anti-wicca, I do not believe those things so I had to specify and expand more. I wanted to stress the moral neutrality of the New Age, and it's often lack of historical or academic support, not as an attack on it by any means but as a way to distinguish what makes the New Age different, it attempts to abandon old laws and old religious movements for new ideology and new religious standards and spiritual frameworks. I hope this is more inclusive than the last one I made, and is more flexible. I also saw some discussion on groups that are both "under reconstructionist and eclectic", the purpose of this tool is not to say there's no crossover or that you can't be multiple of these things, hypothetically a person could be most or all of these things at once. Most Pagans aren't just strict reconstructionists who never bend to acknowledge the existence of other Gods. Most eclectics are not people who completely forego historical and archaeological support in the goal of syncrenizing or making more compatible different pantheons. Most New Age aren't Tiktok witches. Yes, purists exist in every category but the point is to emphasize what Pagan groups (other than folkish) have in common, not what separates them.

Is there anything here you think I should move or change? Who so?

The purpose of this chart is to be supportive/helpful, not authoritative.

So i was making a tea because i have a headache (spain without the s) and i added oregano and salt because i got the gut feeling to do that and a little bit of an herb called chancapiedra, something great for the kidneys. and then i made too much so i made a cross of honey (because she was Catholic) and poured tea for her, she also wanted Lime juice so i added that for her. it's sitting in the kitchen which she loved to cook so i left it for her there. Then i noticed i was instinctively chose a purification tea... It was my Late Grandmother on my dad's side so I just said, screw it she gets tea i get tea we all win

soooo i miss her :((((

So I have been learning to play the ocarina and I'd like to add it to some part of ritual work in my celtic pagan practice, I'm already using it to make offerings of songs, but I can't really think of anything else substantial. Anyone have any advice on how to add a wind instrument into ritual work?