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What is Paganism?

A Pagan is defined by many dictionaries as:

1. one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks.
2. a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.
3. an irreligious or hedonistic person. –adjective
4. pertaining to the worship or worshipers of any religion that is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim.
5. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of pagans.
6. irreligious or hedonistic.

This is a very broad definition. In the U.S. if someone calls themselve a pagan they mean neo-pagan. Neo-Paganism is a modern day revival of the ancient pagan religions. Wicca is generally the most well known of the neo-pagan religions. I find it interesting that the definition of paganism fits 44% of the worlds population. That ratio is very different in America

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

lewellyn books

I was using the computer at my boyfriends parents house yesterday; I looked over at the printer and was delighted by what I saw laying on top of it. The Way of Four Spellbook: working magic with the elements by Deborah Lipp was sitting there as if it had been waiting for me to pick it up (okay so I exaggerate a little, but just a little).

When I first started studying Wicca, just over ten years ago now, I was a voracious reader with an addiction to metaphysical books put out by Lewellyn press (even the brightly colored, glittery, bubblegum books). My love for Lewellyn however, faded with time and as I advanced in both spiritual and magickal practice. I have found that this is not uncommon, as many other Wiccans have spoken to me about similar experiences with Lewellyn.

I think that I know the reason for this. First let me start out by saying that I am thankful to Lewellyn because though it was a friend that started me traveling down the Wiccan path, it was certainly Lewellyn that gave me the tools and information to hurtle down that road. With that said I can feel less guilty about pointing out some of the publishers shortcomings.

In my opinion Lewellyn focuses mostly on attracting newcomers to the craft. They do this by marketing mainly beginner books. Many of these beginner books are referred to derisively as bubblegum books by members of the Pagan community. The term basically means glittery books with watered down information meant to attract young people enamored with the movie the craft and the t.v. show Charmed. Some members of the Pagan community are downright hostile towards these books and towards the young, new and often bedazzled people that these books attract to the community.

I disagree with and am saddened by such hostility. After all, we were all newbies once to modern Wicca and paganism. Even those of us that came from family traditions (I did but in my family we certainly didnt call it Wicca, nope we were non-practicing Catholics, lol) were new to the revival, trying to suspend our disbelief while we assimilated the mainstream cousin of our family trads. And for those that came from very strict Christian upbringings, these supposedly bubblegum books served as a great way to ease the transition. Converting to a new religion is hard for anyone, even those who do not come from strict religious backgrounds, and beginner books help ease the transition.

Many people who start out with these beginner books lose interest when they realize that the glittery spellbook that promised them a quick finger snapping journey to happiness and fulfillment was wrong and that Wicca consists of both complex magickal and spiritual systems. And that's all right. In my opinion the experience that these people had and the knowledge that they learned from these books is still highly beneficial to the pagan community. Though these people are no longer members of the community, they often remain friendly to it. Good relations with members of other religions is vital if we are ever to achieve equal rights. These people also often remain open to Wicca as well and have favorable reactions when one of their friends, children or other family members decides to embrace Wicca.

So, before I digress any farther those are the reasons why I think that Llewellyn's plethora of beginner books is a good thing. However, I think that Lewellyn focuses to much of its energy on the beginner books and not enough on more advanced texts.

I know I am not the only one who after making my way through many beginner books kind of felt like I reached a dead end. I was strictly solitary at that time, and Lewellyn and other publishers (there are a few other small presses that market Pagan books) lack of advanced texts left me at a loss as to where I should go next. For many solitaires books are their main form of guidance and once they make it past the beginner stage they start to feel like "Now What?"

For me this ended up being a good thing as a lack of advanced texts pushed me to seek greater involvement and help from the Pagan community. I learned a lot from other Pagans sometimes in better ways than from books and sometimes in worse ways than from books. I also began involvement in Pagan Pride day and found fulfillment in service to my community.

However, I still feel an empty place within me that comes from a lack of involvement with a coven that I mesh with. I know that without that kind of involvement with a coven that I truly fit with I am not reaching my full potential, and my journey is certainly being slowed down. I fully believe that solitary practitioners are Real Pagans, can go very far and can quite often surpass members of established covens in terms of both spiritual and magickal practice. However, I must acknowledge that the journey is simply made more difficult by a lack of trusted, like minded souls around one that can support and enhance ones efforts.

There are also many Pagans who are deeply in the broom closet about their faith. I completely understand this because real world pressure caused me to hide out there for years. Even now I am a quasi-public witch. I will tell just about anyone who asks me what my religion is...but they have to ask. For people forced to hide out in the broom closet, public events (such as pagan pride day) are out of the question. Many times, involvement in a coven is also just too risky for these people. So the lack of advanced texts out there really hits them hard.

But there is hope ahead that this lack of advanced texts will eventually be remedied. First, the Pagan community is growing up, particularly Wicca. And when I say that I basically mean the average age of members. The Wiccan revival exploded in the United States starting about fifteen years ago. And quite often its open minded youth, who haven't been exposed to 3 or 4 decades of religious strictness that embrace Wicca. So to start with Wicca was very young. Its still young, but since many of the newbies who were attracted to the craft ten or fifteen years ago stayed our community is quickly changing and the call for advanced texts is growing.

To help accelerate the growth of availability of advanced texts though, we must all do our part. Next time, you are browsing at Barnes and Noble or other bookstore for a new metaphysical book pass over the glittering spell books and go for the more advanced (if rather more dull looking based on the cover) texts, or just buy them both. Lewellyn, like all publishers, stays in business because it markets books that sell. And the only way they will ever begin really offering advanced texts is if they see a great demand for them. If you really want to help, send Lewellyn an email and tell them that beginner books are not enough and that you are ready for something more than glitter.

And now, that Ive aired all of my thoughts and grievances with Lewellyn I will soon settle in to read the Way of Four Spellbook . It focuses on working with the elements which are some of my favorite components of magickal practice. I also noticed that the book is a companion to Deborah Lippels book The Way of Four. Hmmm....if the spellbook turns out to be good, I may just have to make a trip to the bookstore to purchase the first one.

I have planned, for some time, to write reviews of the many metaphysical books out there such as: Buckland's complete guide to Witchcraft, To ride a silver broomstick, solitary practitioner, to stir a magick cauldron, green witchcraft and others. These books and I have become old friends and I have found that each focuses on and serves a few different specific purposes. I hope that by writing reviews I might assist some Pagans in finding books that will help them achieve their goals.

Check back soon for a review on the Way of Four spellbook. I have found that writing book reviews is easier when I am currently or have recently finished a book, so I will review this one before I start catching up on previous Lewellyn titles.

I am keeping an open mind that The Way of Four Spellbook will be more than just a beginner book. After all I began Green Witchcraft by Anne Moura with trepidation that I might be wasting my time and was more than pleasantly surprised by the information I found concerning magickal practice. I was also thrilled by Moura's depiction of her family tradition, which was very similar to mine in many ways one being that neither tradition called itself Wicca. The book also allowed Moura to demonstrate her way of living, in addition to spells. Information on incorporating magickal and spiritual practice into real life to promote serenity and peace is always helpful. So with that in mind I leave you for a while to dig into this new book. Who knows I may just like what I read.

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