Pagans what was the first thing that "called" you?

Question

What caught your interest so to speak?
Mine is odd. I read something about a funeral right for the Vikings and felt this overwhelming need to find out more. Over time, and reading the answers of several of the Heathens here, I was told by a friend that Blood Calls. I haven't looked back.

Answer 1

it's just always been a part of who i am. i was raised atheist, but since i can remember, i had different believes than my family about life, death and in between. i had different interests than most people and different ideas of how we fit into this world. i saw things differently. it wasn't until i was in my 20's that i realized that who i was actually had a name - pagan

Answer 2

When I read The Skeptical Feminist by Barbara Walker. It is a passionate vitriolic attack on the status quo, on patriarchy, and is told by Ms. Walker describing her own experiences growing up, becoming a young woman, Maiden, Mother and Crone. She envisions sure a different world if the patriarchy had not violently ripped us from our pagan roots.

The book totally changed my life. That was some 20 years or so ago. I read it on vacation on Maui sitting under the one and only tree on the beach at Kaanapali, and while my friend snorkeled, I read hungrily, this tale of a woman finding out that she has rights and power and that you don't have to believe in the Christian god, and I just remember looking up into that one solitary palm tree, swaying in the warm tropical breeze, feeling the ocean air, and feeling totally overwhelmed with both anger at what we have lost, and urgency, thinking that everyone in the world must somehow magically be made to read this book because if they did, the world would change and people would understand that women are not door mats!!!

I was transformed. Thank you for taking me back to that wonderful memory. I was reborn in that time.

Blessings,
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 3

Mine began in an unusually odd place, comic books...THOR comics to be specific. The first one I bought had references to the Volsung saga and form there my interest in the Nordic gods was born. Interest really isn't the right word...obsession is probably closer to the right word. I spent several years looking for anything I could find on the subject which was precious little fro almost a decade. It was in '89 when I found my first book on the Runes and from there I was able to find other erferences. When I found my first book on the religion itself (Thorsson's "Book of Troth") I realized that the ideas contained therein were much like the way I had already lived, at least from a philosophical viewpoint and I knew that's where I belonged. I could feel it in every fibre of my being. so here I am Gothi and Vitki.

Answer 4

The first thing, long before I consciously understood that I was being called to walk the Wiccan Path, was the pervasive sacredness of nature, the profoundly meaningful quiet in the middle of the woods or just under the crashing waves of the shore. Then, much later, it was probably a commitment to feminist and queer liberation, and the desire to find a religion whose values matched my own, that caused me to become interested in the Woodland Path. Years later, here I am teaching the classes I used to take...and the rest is hysteria...

Answer 5

Dunno, it's been weird for me ever since I was very small. When I was just old enough to stand upright and hold a piece of charcoal in my hand, I drew little creatures on the garden wall and told my mum it's the "ghosts" who were protecting the place. When I was small I thought I could speak with things that dwelt in trees. When I was around 12 or so, I modelled a greenman out of clay despite not knowing what it was and never seen one before.
Only years later I realised what all those things meant. Reading about it, discovering things, learning names for being and feelings that I've had for years but never knew before... it all felt like coming home for me.

Answer 6

I had been an atheist for several years when I suddenly had a personal encounter with something that I believe was the Divine feminine presence. After considering the experience for a few weeks, I decided to investigate theism, and Wicca was the religious framework that I chose to do it within.

Answer 7

I was watching a documentary on National Geographic and they were discussing old Pagan beliefs. It didn't fall in line with what my church at the time had been saying so I got curious as to who was telling the truth; NG or Pastor Mike. So I went to a library and read up on it. I eventually found myself questioning what else I was misled about and began re-evaluating my beliefs. I tried to put aside what I was TOLD was true and began thinking about what I FELT was true. (I know, novel concept) The more I read, the more I realized how much my actual beliefs were in line with that of the various Pagan faiths and voila! I found myself.

Answer 8

well i was 16 and i herd some friends at school talking about it so i looked it up on line. And i was like wait..... there's a Goddess too?

No it wasn't the magick that drew me to Wicca it was the Goddess. After i found my path i have been very happy ever sense.

Answer 9

Grubbing around in the woods, catching (and releasing) garter snakes and exploring the wilderness pretty much gave me a love for the sanctity of that setting. Finding spiritual beliefs that resembled that just made it better.

Answer 10

deep rooted hatred towards christianity. actually, i found the beliefs pointless and sometimes cruel. paganisms just makes sense to me, and i've never felt it didn't "fit". i love paganism, and respect everything about it. i was also impressed by the fact that a lot of pagans dont try and convert everyone. one of the reasons i left christianity was that they didnt even realize when they were trying to convert someone. (funny, right?)