Beginning in Paganism

When it comes to practicing a religion it can be tough starting out, especially if you do not have prior knowledge on the religion. When it comes to paganism, it can be quite a hectic experience starting out due to many factors to which can be considered for practice such as statues, incense, altars and altar pieces, tools and anything else that may pop up in relation.

When starting out in the world of paganism, do not be shy seeking out knowledge that peaks your interest. If you take an interest in Kemeticism, do not shy from studying about it and the same can be said about any other path. There shouldn't be a need to be shy about learning what takes your interest.
The internet itself is great for searching up information, the only issue lies in that misinformation or unnoticed mistakes can slide in so it is an idea to try to make certain of information read. Books are also a powerful tool to learn from, so remember to pick those up whenever possible.

As paganism has been picking up in regards of people practising the many forms of it, there are some stores that are dedicated to paganism in particular. These stores are havens for divination tools, books, incenses and the like. This is useful as it makes it easier to find particular items in person. While stores dedicated to such things is great, other stores are also an idea to go to.
If it is possible to go to a candle store locally, it is a great idea to check out the store as it might be best to buy candles there. The same can be said for books in relation to religion itself, as more pagan focused stores tend to have books in relation to paganism. Not very useful for people like me as I focus a lot on Daoism and Buddhism, where a book store dedicated to all religions allows for more choice in relation to texts of a certain path or paths.

Looking at stores in general can be helpful. Some stores can be quite generalized in what they sell but this can be useful for a practising pagan as some sell either candles or incense. Perhaps even both, which can be convenient depending on where you live. Some stores that could easily be brushed off in relation to anything pagan may even sell statues of deities

Amazon is helpful for buying things online, as sadly not everywhere in the world sells what a newcomer to paganism may be after or interested in. Books are going to be a useful thing that a pagan can get from Amazon. A certain book that cannot be found in person will have a chance being on Amazon and the same can be said about whatever else may be wanted.

Basics

When it comes to practising anything, one thing rules over all crafts and that is the basics. It can be in relation to pretty much anything; cooking, witchcraft, divination, martial arts, meditation. Everyone starts at nothing and have to build up from there, with the basics being at the bottom supporting everything that is built upon it. To start from beginner and to end at adept it is like building a house, foundations need to be placed down and a house built upon it. Basics are important for this reason and should stay fresh in the mind.

Altars

When it comes to altars, people have ideas how it should and shouldn't be done. In reality, all they need to be is simple. Nothing truly fancy is needed, a statue, tablet or image/photo of the deity, buddha, bodhisattva or ancestor(s), two candles, an incense holder and if needed a vase with flowers and/or food. If you are making an altar, just remember that all that is needed is these basics which does keep it simple. If something is wanted to be added, it can always be done.

What I don't see a lot of people considering even if it would be helpful is the use of spirit tablets. If you cannot find a statue or image of a deity, buddha, bodhisattva or ancestors to use on the altar, using a spirit tablet instead is a good idea. All that is required is a small but thick block of wood to act as support and a thinner but longer block. Just write the name(s) of the deity, buddha, bodhisattva or ansestor(s) on the longer block and then glue it to the thicker piece.

For offerings, it is always good to light up two candles and light some incense. As I view it, this is truly all that is needed for offerings. It doesn't have to be but can be. Depending on whom is being worshipped or venerated it is always important to consider what is proper to offer and what is best to avoid offering. It can be flowers, water or some sort of easily gotten or prepared food. It doesn't always have to be such, as depending on whom is being worshipped or venerated it may be an idea to offer tobacco or some sort of alcohol. It is a matter of learning what is best to offer and what should be avoided offering.

As for altar placement, I have heard on a number of occasions that the bedroom is to be avoided at all cost. This isn't always the case. With some deities it is probably best to keep the altars to them out of the bedroom. But for many I have noticed that it doesn't matter, for two deities in particular it is actually best to put the altar for this husband and wife duo in the bedroom. They are Chuang Mu and Chuang Kong. These two deities are a pair whose duties involve the bedroom and what goes on in there, and as such their altars should be in the bedroom. It could be the same for other deities which I am simply unaware of.

The altar of some deities is best placed in a certain place of the house and should be considered, where altar placement for most deities seem to not matter that much. From personal experience, the bedroom is one of the best places to put an altar. It also comes down to the amount of space in the house and what can be done.

Gods And Goddesses: Votan

Votan is a Mayan god whom is also known as the Old Black God and also referred to as “God L”. He is the god of war, death and drums. Little is known about this god, so much about him lies in mystery. Even with the black on his body it is uncertain if it black paint or his actual skin colour. He is thought to be married to the moon goddess Ixchel. He is thought to be toothless.

Gods And Goddesses: Chac

Chac is the Mayan god of agriculture, fertility, rain and lightning. He name is also spelt Chaac and Chaahk. He was one and many, representing the four directions; the red Chac is of the east, the black Chac is of the west, the white Chac is of the north and the yellow Chac is of the south.

Chac has a more human form where he at times appears toothless but also has a more reptilian form where he has fangs, cat like whiskers and a snout. He also wields an axe.

It is said that Chac taught how to grow vegetables and is a protector of crops. The animal associated with Chac is the frog as it is said that the sound of a croaking frog signals the coming of rain.

Gods And Goddesses: Don

Don is the Welsh mother goddess. Goddess of both sea and air and is the Queen of the Heavens.

 She is the wife of Beli, sister of Math Mathonwy and mother of Amathon, Aranrhod, Gilvaethwy, Govannon, Gwydyon and Nudd. Her daughters represented the deities of light while the children of Llyr represented the deities of darkness.

Short Meditation

Of all the information gathered on a daily basis, ranging from the people around us, the internet, television and magazines, the mind is to fill and clutter. A short five to ten minute meditation a day can help greatly with emptying the mind.

Gods And Goddesses: Balor

Balor is a one eyed god of Death and king of a race of giants known as the Fomorians.

His father was Buarainech and wife Cethlenn. A prophecy told that Balor was to be killed by his grandson and so the god locked his daughter Ethlinn in a tower. However, one of the Tuatha De Danann, Cian, was able to enter the tower and got Ethlinn pregnant with triplets.  When the triplets were born, Balor threw them into the ocean where one was lucky enough to survive. Lugh survived and later killed his grandfather.

Gods And Goddesses: Sucellus

Sucellus is the god of agriculture, prosperity, good fortune and of alcohol. He is known for carrying a hammer and a large pot thought to contain beer. His name means “Good Striker” thought to be a direct reference to the long handled hammer which he wields.

Sucellus is often depicted as a bearded man with his long handled hammer or with a pot. His wife, Nantosuelta, is sometimes depicted with him.

Gods And Goddesses: Airmid

Airmid is a healing goddess associated with medicinal plants. Airmid is an Irish goddess who is a member of the Tuatha De Danann. Her father is Dian Cecht, her brothers are Miach, Cian, Cethe and Cut and Airmid has a sister by the name of Etan.

When battle occurred against the Fir Bolgs, it was the Fir Bolgs who were defeated by the Tuatha De Danann but it was the kind of this group, Nuada, who was seriously injured. As Dian Cecht was called upon to heal Nuada it became clear that two of his children, Miach and Airmid were more skilled as healers. The father, son and daughter further went on to build the Well of Slaine, where the three could retore the life of the warriors who died in battled. A later battle didn’t go so well and the well was filled with stones, preventing more warriors to be brought back to life.

Dian Cecht later became jealous of Miach’s superior healing abilities and attempted to kill his son, failing two times before beheading how own son. Airmid was sorrowful over her brother’s death, frequently visiting his grave. One visit had Airmid find 365 healing herbs growing on and around the grave with one herb for every joint and organ of Miach’s body. Gathering up the herbs, they apparently talked to her telling Airmid of their uses and so Airmid arranged the herbs on her cload according to use.  Her father then scattered the herbs, lashing out due to his jealous feelings towards his son. From here, Airmid went on to use her knowledge of herbs to heal those who needed medical attention and kept away from her father.

Gods And Goddesses: Artio

Artio is an obscure Celtic/Gaulish bear goddess whom can take on the form of a bear. Other names for her are Dea Artio and Andarta. Her name comes from the Gaulish word for bear. Some think that Artio may be a more general goddess of the wilderness and wild creatures.

A sculpture found near Bern in Switzerland is thought to be depicting Artio, featuring a large bear facing a seated woman. The bear has a small tree behind it and the woman seeming to be holding a fruit. It is often thought that the woman thought to be Artio may be feeding the bear. The sculpture holds an inscription which reads “Deae Artioni Licinia Sabinilla”, translating to “To the Goddess Artio from Licinia Sabinilla”.

Cucurbita ficifolia

Cucurbita ficifolia is a plant notable for its edible fruit, seeds and leaves. It has a large variety of common names that includes chilacayote, Asian pumpkin, Thai marrow, Siam pumpkin, pie melon, Malabar gourd, shark fin melon, golden string melon, alcayota, sambo and cayote.

It is a plant that is easy to grow and in the right conditions can grow up to 15m tall. It is best to sow the seeds of the plant during autumn and spring and parts of the plant can be harvested all year round. Interestingly, this plant can live indefinitely in warm climates but as an annual in temperate climates. It typically needs full sun, but in warmer areas it will require an afternoon shade. It has a poor resistance to frost, but once established it can tolerate short overnight frosts that may occur. 

Gods And Goddesses: Sirona

Sirona is a Gual fertility goddess whose name means “star” and is associated with the sky. She is the goddess of hot springs and healing and also associated with the healing god known as Grannus. Other spellings and names of this goddess include, Serona, Sarona, Dirona and Sthirona. What is known about her is from inscriptions found across Europe in several countries including Germna, France, Austria, Romania, Switzerland and Italy.

 She is depicted wearing a diadem on her head, a dog on her head and a snake writhing around an arm reaching for a bowl containing three eggs. Sirona is also the mother of Borvo.

Bethel Sage

Salvia involucrata ‘Bethellii’ is a bushy, upright shrub that grows 1.5m in both height and width. Its common name is Bethel Sage and is alike many other sages, it is a perennial, easy to grow and it grows flowers in clusters. The flowers, pink in colour, grow from summer to early winter.

It requires full sun and it helps to have soil constantly moist. The plant dies down during the winter, making it best to cut back the plant during the winter and allow it to regrow back to size in spring. This particular sage can tolerate a light frost and the pH level should be mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

Gods And Goddesses: Belenus

Belenus is the Celtic sun god known under several names including Bile, Bel, Belenos and Beli. During the time of the Romans, he was identified with the god Apollo. Belenus also has his own festival on May 1st known as Beltaine.
Worship of Belenus in the ancient past occurred across Europe, likely including Britain.

Belenus is described as someone with a thick moustache, large eyes and a heavy brow. Belenus himself is associated with fire, light and healing springs, but notabily has lakes and rivers under his domain.

A Return

After disappearing for several months, I am back. I shall be blogging once again, despite giving no notice earlier for stopping.