I just wanted to say a big hello to everyone who is in this LJ community. I also wanted to introduce myself before doing anything else, like posting any questions, stuff like that
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Sorry so long, hope it helps...lilonelostJanuary 31 2012, 22:57:11 UTC
Ok, I’m going to try to clarify a theme that I have picked up in your statements with some of my own experiences.
The way I believe it is that you should be free to choose how to follow the path of your choice, as long as you agree with it's fundamental ideals.
Ok, I will grant you this to some degree. You can choose to follow any path you want, provided you actually know what the fundamental ideals are and you have ‘earned’ the right to call yourself that. Shamanism is to a very large degree an initiatory path. Wicca and other religions can have shamanic aspects, but that does not make them Shamanism. NeoShamanism is usually a whole lot of fun cultural appropriation often done without respect to the original traditions. Shamanism implies cultural support and some form of initiation. Unless a community elder initiated you or recognized you as initiated into a culture who accepts you as a Shaman you do not have the right to call yourself such. Although many will argue with me, Wicca to some degree is similar. To be validly considered a Wiccan you have to be initiated by a high priest/priestess in a coven setting. (Hense having the elder and community support system). This is coming from someone who identifies herself as Wiccan only to someone who has NO idea what she’s talking about b/c 1. Identifying with Wicca as a religion is legally protected in my geographic region (yes it has come up) 2. People usually have some groundwork or notions about what Wicca is even if they are faulty 3. Most of my personal beliefs/practices overlap in some worship areas 4. I’d like to find a coven that I mesh with, but hasn’t happened yet. However, when I’m in a pagan setting I specifically identify myself as NeoWiccan, or Heavy Eclectic. If who I’m speaking with seems intelligent I will identify myself as simply Occultist because my beliefs and practices are so heavily eclectic.
If you want to begin to study Wicca or Shamanism my suggestion is hit the history and academic textbooks rather than online sources. Yes it is dry, but the books will give you a valuable lense to filter out all the stuff that people are going to throw in your direction. A good deal of online information is misinformation. This may be stereotyping but see what places locally sell candles, bulk herbs, or incense. Visit the place a few times and keep your mouth shut, try to see who in the store and what visitors seem intelligent, then approach slowly. If you want to learn about meditation imho Wicca is not really the place to start searching; go Buddhist, Yogic, Hindu (Vedantic based).
Ok, back to your original request… Books Wicca: Gardener Serious NeoWicca and Wicca Overlap: Scott Cunningham, Buckland NeoWicca Christopher Penczak Really Basic and Fluffy NeoWicca: To Ride a Silver Broomstick (SilverRavenwolf) (Her other books are not worth the money) NeoShamanic authors who have some level of decency: Michael Harner & Sandra Ingerman Meditation: Mindfulness in Plain English (Bhante Henepola Gunaratana)
Honestly though I’d recommend you just sit down and work your way through Diana L. Paxon’s Trance-Portation Learning to Navigate the Inner World. It teaches you pretty much what you expressed interest in learning without having to worry about what you’re calling yourself.
The way I believe it is that you should be free to choose how to follow the path of your choice, as long as you agree with it's fundamental ideals.
Ok, I will grant you this to some degree. You can choose to follow any path you want, provided you actually know what the fundamental ideals are and you have ‘earned’ the right to call yourself that. Shamanism is to a very large degree an initiatory path. Wicca and other religions can have shamanic aspects, but that does not make them Shamanism. NeoShamanism is usually a whole lot of fun cultural appropriation often done without respect to the original traditions. Shamanism implies cultural support and some form of initiation. Unless a community elder initiated you or recognized you as initiated into a culture who accepts you as a Shaman you do not have the right to call yourself such. Although many will argue with me, Wicca to some degree is similar. To be validly considered a Wiccan you have to be initiated by a high priest/priestess in a coven setting. (Hense having the elder and community support system). This is coming from someone who identifies herself as Wiccan only to someone who has NO idea what she’s talking about b/c 1. Identifying with Wicca as a religion is legally protected in my geographic region (yes it has come up) 2. People usually have some groundwork or notions about what Wicca is even if they are faulty 3. Most of my personal beliefs/practices overlap in some worship areas 4. I’d like to find a coven that I mesh with, but hasn’t happened yet. However, when I’m in a pagan setting I specifically identify myself as NeoWiccan, or Heavy Eclectic. If who I’m speaking with seems intelligent I will identify myself as simply Occultist because my beliefs and practices are so heavily eclectic.
If you want to begin to study Wicca or Shamanism my suggestion is hit the history and academic textbooks rather than online sources. Yes it is dry, but the books will give you a valuable lense to filter out all the stuff that people are going to throw in your direction. A good deal of online information is misinformation. This may be stereotyping but see what places locally sell candles, bulk herbs, or incense. Visit the place a few times and keep your mouth shut, try to see who in the store and what visitors seem intelligent, then approach slowly. If you want to learn about meditation imho Wicca is not really the place to start searching; go Buddhist, Yogic, Hindu (Vedantic based).
Ok, back to your original request…
Books
Wicca: Gardener
Serious NeoWicca and Wicca Overlap: Scott Cunningham, Buckland
NeoWicca Christopher Penczak
Really Basic and Fluffy NeoWicca: To Ride a Silver Broomstick (SilverRavenwolf) (Her other books are not worth the money)
NeoShamanic authors who have some level of decency: Michael Harner & Sandra Ingerman
Meditation: Mindfulness in Plain English (Bhante Henepola Gunaratana)
Honestly though I’d recommend you just sit down and work your way through Diana L. Paxon’s Trance-Portation Learning to Navigate the Inner World. It teaches you pretty much what you expressed interest in learning without having to worry about what you’re calling yourself.
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