The Many Paths of the Pagan

Paganism 101: An Introduction to Paganism by 101 Pagans by Trevor Greenfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What would it be like to talk with 101 people before deciding to pursue a different spiritual path? Wouldn’t it be great to chat with 101 experienced people who could tell you what it is like? Well this book has it. The people interviewed range from regular practitioners all the way to serious Pagan leaders who have authored books and speak with great authority.

Underneath the umbrella of Paganism there are a variety of spiritual paths. Starting out with Druidism the collection moves it’s way through Heathenism, Wicca. Witchcraft, straight up Goddess worship and herbalism. The book talks about being a pagan leader and what it is like to remain in the closet about things. Of course many Pagan leaers are humble enough to see themselves as just ordinary people who are fulfilling a role with regards to carrying out a ceremony. Let it be known that although Paganism is a relatively new movement on the spiritual scene it is growing fast. You might now ever know it as most Pagans are very solitary in nature and do not get together in groups that much.

A mention of Paganism being new, well yes it is but then again it is based on old concepts that are being revived. Of course as Christianity rolled it’s way through it picked up many Pagan customs and took over many Pagan places of worship and turned them into Churches. Many Christian saints and angels were formerly Pagan gods that got usurped in the maelstrom. The pagan are reclaiming them.

I thought it was great that Christo-Pagans had their own section. I mean after all the Lord Jesus Christ and the three phases of the Goddess. Mary Magdalene the maiden, Mother Mary is well um the mother and finally Sophia is the old Crone representing wisdom. The discussion of magic was good. Got a good list of herbs to use and how to charge them with my intent. Different forms of magic were discussed as well.

As good as the book was I think a couple things were missing. First off I do not remember there being much talk about Ceremonial Magic. While not Paganism per se I feel something should have been said about them, or more because they are part of the scene.

Most of the book is geared towards European Paganism, and with the exception of Egypt anyone else follwing deities from let us say the Canaanite, or Sumerians gets left out. They need to be included. What about Judeo-Pagans we’re out there too you know.

Of course when talking about magic and occultism, two topics that can be separate also over lap. More needs to be devoted to that. Over all great book. It gets 4 stars out 5.


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