X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

[Threshold]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

I didn't know that I would be asked about THE goddess as much as I am.

I didn't know that being female and pagan = being a witch

didn't know that my faith would be questioned if I didn't dress in black with a lot of flowy scarves and mysterious pendants.

didn't know that I would encounter many more deeply spiritual folk than angry goth teens.

didn't know how life changing and affirming practicing a religion could be

didn't know how many pagans there are all over the place!

[Maria de Luna]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

I must be alone in that I don't generally have these problems.... Literally the only really insane misconception I have ever encountered was when I mentioned I was pagan someone thought I was talking about the motorcycle gang.... So mostly after that I quit bothering, if it comes up it comes up and I have had very few personal issues...

[anunitu]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

Maria,I also had someone ask about that,living in NJ must make people paranoid. I had a "Proud Pagan" thing on the fridge,and a person asked the same question. Had to explain the difference.

[SilverSerenity]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

Maybe this is just me but...

I didn't know I couldn't be both a Pagan and still understand fundamental scientific principles or study science. (actually my view is that they're both completely compatible, just possibly like talking about the same things in two slightly different languages...)


I didn't know i'd feel so guilty about telling people i'm not Christian / correcting people's assumption that I am Christian just because i'm white British / not Atheist because i'm a scientist.

Or Perhaps: I didn't know I was confined to being a Christian because i'm white British / Atheist because i'm a scientist.

Maybe that says more about people's general prejudices than being specifically about pagans though...

[Nightingale]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

I didn't know having Heathen tendencies meant I was a skinhead/racist.

good one, Chain Lightning. REALLY good one.

- - - Updated - - -

I didn't know that when I declared myself to be a devoted, practicing member of a legit religion that it was "just a phase"

I didn't know my gods were fictional characters

I didn't know I was a heretical idol-worshiper, blasphemer, definitely Hell-bound

I thought that by being Pagan I was finding solace in the world around me as I see it, finding faith in the gods and spirits, finding magic in the universe... I didn't realize that made me evil.

[Cerdivae Song]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

I didn't know that we had an ancient Halloween God named Samhain! (Pronounced exactly how it looks)
Or that we have angry, ancient, sacrificial gods who are hungryyyy...
(Hehe, season 4 of Supernatural is full of "Pagan lore" that makes me shift uncomfortably, lol)

[Quetzal]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

I didn't know that we had an ancient Halloween God named Samhain! (Pronounced exactly how it looks)
Or that we have angry, ancient, sacrificial gods who are hungryyyy...
(Hehe, season 4 of Supernatural is full of "Pagan lore" that makes me shift uncomfortably, lol)

To be fair, Supernatural is full of reworkings of lore from many religions. Predominately Abrahamic, especially the middle to late seasons.
Fun show.

[MaskedOne]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

Michael conspiring to hasten the end of the world was odd....

[Cerdivae Song]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

To be fair, Supernatural is full of reworkings of lore from many religions. Predominately Abrahamic, especially the middle to late seasons.
Fun show.

It is fun! I love the show, I just have to laugh at it sometimes. c:

[ChainLightning]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

This one is directed at witchcraft, alone.



Nobody told me that I was going to be a warlock, if I started practicing witchcraft!

[mahgdelain]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

I didn't realize there would be such a thing as Pagan Option Overload. So many shinies...

[Riothamus12]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

I didn't know being pagan meant you had to believe in reincarnation. (I believe in Paradise and hell despite my heavy Dharmic influences)

I didn't know that being pagan meant your tradition had to trace all the way back to Atlantis/Lemuria/Mu/Other lost civilizations in order to be considered legit. (I believe the core essence of my beliefs stretches back far beyond written history, but my path emerged only in my life time. However, some people don't think that's enough.)

I didn't know being pagan meant you still couldn't revere shadow or honor death as part of life. (It amazes me how many pagans will squirm at the mention of Hecate. For the love of all the Deities one of her nicknames is Nurse of Children.)

I didn't know how much I would be spending on ritual implements, especially since I became a minister. (No seriously. It can be rather hard to find the proper tools for a good price some times.)

I didn't know it meant I was gay. (For some weird reason, one of the immediate questions people ask is if I'm gay or bi. I am not joking about that. It perplexes me.)

I didn't know how hard it would be to find a like minded coven/similar religious congregation. (It's so much harder than you think.)

I didn't know the overwhelming sense of peace, understanding, greater sense of tolerance, deeply beautiful religious experiences, and general self improvement would come with it. Accompanied by a greater sense of direction in my life and the importance of letting somethings flow as they will whent the time is right. (No witty comments here. Just the truth.)

I didn't know just how beautiful the universe is. (Same as the last one.)

I didn't know my friends, even the Christian ones, would be so damn supportive. (More positive commentary.)

[Dahll Haus]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

The article is getting tweaked in writing. What I need more now are stories. I could use a few harrassment/discrimination stories, but there's no need to go overboard on those.

I am waiting for confirmation on if I can publish other people's experiences without reference, because I know some people aren't comfortable with that.

[Amadi]

Re: X Things No One Tells You About Being Pagan . . .

Harassment wise I don't have much, however people's first reaction is usually to assume I'm just copying something I've seen on Tv or a game, like Skyrim..

[Heka]

I recently had a christian friend asking me about the black hat/black cat/broomstick stereotype, and if I found it annoying to be lumped into that stereotype all the time. You know like all the books and pictures and knickknacks that have that imagary on it?

I guess thats kinda the opposite to the norm, people usually assume that you wear a black hat and have a black cat, but in this case she was asking why that stuff was associated and if it bothered me.

But yeah, anywhk