I want to become a pagan..wow that sounds horrible doesnt it?

I have to disagree with you both Heron and Kali on one point. Scholarly is not the way to go if you are just starting to figure out you want a deeper connection to the Mother. Moneywise, the best of those books are expensive, hard to find even in libraries. Someone coming from a xian background is not always going to know where to start. I would hardly recommend someone start reading Anthropology books which can be dry and boring for most people who, at first, may only want to know the proper way to create rituals, finding which holiday falls on what day or how to do spells.

That said, I have to defend Cunningham's books to some degree. While not at all advanced literture for new Pagans or Wiccans, Scott did not intend them to be the books to use for the rest of your life. He stated he wanted to give people a firm base to start with before they branched out into other directions. He expected, I think for people to branch out once they got the basics down. Naturally has time as past there are other books availible that are much better to start. However over a decade ago there weren't as many titles that did the basics in an easy to learn/explore/growth-his books were some of the titles that were good enough. IMO

GreenButterflydaisy I offer this: no book, beginner or advanced, scholarly or simple read will take the place of practice then over time experiencing different ways to deepen your spirituality. Start with what interests you the most and work from there when it comes to seeking specialized texts.

I wish you a enlightening journey

 

Urban, if you notice, i suggested not reading at all at first but instead sitting and thinking in nature, that is the way to finding "paganism"

If you are going to study, study history and myth, not a step by step on
how to perform wiccan ceremonies, which is what Cunningham does.
He presents quick overviews of "witchcraft" from the Middle ages, and
then jumps right into his half-assed enochian/qubbalah neo-pagan how
to on casting circles and making spells.

Casting circles and making spells is the worst place in the world to start.
Sit in nature, study the myths and histories, build a personal understanding,
and stay out of the New Age section, unless you want the same old rehashed
neo-pagan hubbub in every book.

 

Sit and let Nature instruct you in her ways.

 

I want to become a pagan ... i've been interested in pagan tradition and rituals for years, unfortunately its hard to books on paganism in your average library ...

 

You all have offered alot of good advice! thanks!
Being raised a catholic this has all been very new to be but I have discovered that I appreciate nature alot moe already...but its been a kind of weird process so far

 

Roman Catholics are more Pagan than some Pagans I know. What with their Goddess worship (virgin Mary) and symbolism (Mass and Confession) and history.

So it will be an easy transition for you.

 

Yeah I always thought that too.
Once you get over the 'no other Gods' and sin complex you're pretty much made.

I went from humanist/agnostic to pagan, that's not easy as it looks. Though could always be worse.

Good luck