He put a spell on you
February 1, 2006 12:54 PM Subscribe
My thirteen-year old son has developed an interest in 'alternative' belief systems.
He has a particular interest in the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan traditions. The bulk of the websites we have visited are, to my jaded eye, comprised primarily of smoke and mirrors with an eye towards Amazon. We are looking for an online (real life hasn't been ruled out, but there are obvious security concerns with a child that age) community that would be receptive to an adolescent newcomer. The boy is serious and the Live Journal sites aren't cutting it.
A reading list would also be helpful.
He has a particular interest in the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan traditions. The bulk of the websites we have visited are, to my jaded eye, comprised primarily of smoke and mirrors with an eye towards Amazon. We are looking for an online (real life hasn't been ruled out, but there are obvious security concerns with a child that age) community that would be receptive to an adolescent newcomer. The boy is serious and the Live Journal sites aren't cutting it.
A reading list would also be helpful.
Can't help with the online community thing (my own interest in things wiccan/pagan ended before the internets began!), but if he's really serious, he might enjoy The Secret Teachings of All Ages -- a fascinating (if not at times pretty wacky), vast encyclopedia from 1928 of all things occult/esoteric, with incredible illustrations to boot.
posted by scody at 1:06 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by scody at 1:06 PM on February 1, 2006
my girlfriend did a pretty in-depth article about pagans for a magazine a few months ago, and attended a bunch of services and such. the people there turned out to be much more like normal-people-unitarians than common knowledge would betray (as opposed to them being LARPers or marilyn manson or goat-throat-cutters). a lot of the gatherings are sociable, potluck-ish, and open to the public at large, too, so it wouldn't be too uncomfortable for both of you to find out when something is happening and mosey on down, just to see what it's like.
posted by soma lkzx at 1:09 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by soma lkzx at 1:09 PM on February 1, 2006
Maybe these titles will help. They are all published by university presses, but I don't know how objective they are. I found these titles in local library.
Voices from the Pagan Census: survey of witches and neo-pagans in the United States Helen A Berger, et. al
New Age and Neo-Pagan Religion in America Sarah M. Pike
Magic, Witchcraft, and Paganism in America: a bibliography: compiled from the files of the Institute for the Study of American Religion J. Gordon Melton
posted by luneray at 1:09 PM on February 1, 2006
Voices from the Pagan Census: survey of witches and neo-pagans in the United States Helen A Berger, et. al
New Age and Neo-Pagan Religion in America Sarah M. Pike
Magic, Witchcraft, and Paganism in America: a bibliography: compiled from the files of the Institute for the Study of American Religion J. Gordon Melton
posted by luneray at 1:09 PM on February 1, 2006
Best answer: Find the Unitarian Universalist church in your area. They'll have classes and meetings for their pagan members, and the church will likely even have classes geared toward spirtually-exploring youth.
posted by desuetude at 1:17 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by desuetude at 1:17 PM on February 1, 2006
I would recommend having him watch the King of the Hill episode "Witches of East Arlen". Seeing a satirical take on the subject may be interesting for him. Good luck.
posted by ND¢ at 1:20 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by ND¢ at 1:20 PM on February 1, 2006
WitchVox is a long established, advertising-free resource & community. It's not creepy. There are resources for families and kids, information on all the various paths and flavors of paganism, community events, and other stuff. The sections on parenting or the teen voices sections may be particularly helpful in your situation. Chances are there will be something helpful there for you.
posted by putzface_dickman at 1:20 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by putzface_dickman at 1:20 PM on February 1, 2006
Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon : Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today is an excellent, serious resource.
I'd also recommend Starhawk's The Spiral Dance - a feminist and generous view of Wicca.
posted by lucyleaf at 1:25 PM on February 1, 2006
I'd also recommend Starhawk's The Spiral Dance - a feminist and generous view of Wicca.
posted by lucyleaf at 1:25 PM on February 1, 2006
Seconding the UU and WitchVox recommendations. For books I would recommend Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler (yes, the NPR Margot Adler). It's a great survey of the Neo-Pagan movement, and the main groups which comprise it.
Scott Cunningham's Guide for the Solitary Practitioner is also a standard.
Check out the Pagan Pride Project and see if there is a Pagan Pride Day festival in your area this fall. These events are open to the public, family friendly, and often have many networking opportunities and resources for folks who are interested in Paganism.
posted by kimdog at 1:29 PM on February 1, 2006
Scott Cunningham's Guide for the Solitary Practitioner is also a standard.
Check out the Pagan Pride Project and see if there is a Pagan Pride Day festival in your area this fall. These events are open to the public, family friendly, and often have many networking opportunities and resources for folks who are interested in Paganism.
posted by kimdog at 1:29 PM on February 1, 2006
I can't offer community ideas, except to add support for the Unitarians. CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) Should have a chapter fairly close to you. I'd guess in Albany. Echoing lucyleaf's suggestions, I'd add that it would be best to get the most recent edition of Starhawk's book. She wrote the original back in the 70's, and was much more of a revisionist feminist back then. These days she's a hell of a lot more inclusive about all sorts of things.
Avoid avoid avoid avoid any books by Silver Ravenwolf. Words cannot describe how bad her books are. Raymond Buckland isn't bad--very scholarly--and Isaac Bonewits is fairly widely regarded as a brilliant and humane writer.
I would suggest, gently, that you try and help your son find as many books and such as possible first, before delving into meeting other neo-Pagan folks. And bear in mind, I'm saying this as a Pagan, who started becoming involved with others over ten years ago:
How do I put this delicately? Pagans are, as a group, possibly the most annoying, self-centred, whiny, attention-seeking people on the face of the planet. Individually, it's relatively easy to find nice, sane, well-balanced ones, but on the whole they're annoying to be around. The point I'm trying to make is that the experience of being around many Pagans (think the worst aspects of the SCA crowd, coupled with monstrously overblown egos and persecution complexes) could well be enough to have him throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Good, scholarly books on mythology would be a great idea as well. Offhand, I'd suggest the Robert Graves books of the Greek Myths. Can't think of anything else off the top of my head, I'm afraid.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:43 PM on February 1, 2006
Avoid avoid avoid avoid any books by Silver Ravenwolf. Words cannot describe how bad her books are. Raymond Buckland isn't bad--very scholarly--and Isaac Bonewits is fairly widely regarded as a brilliant and humane writer.
I would suggest, gently, that you try and help your son find as many books and such as possible first, before delving into meeting other neo-Pagan folks. And bear in mind, I'm saying this as a Pagan, who started becoming involved with others over ten years ago:
How do I put this delicately? Pagans are, as a group, possibly the most annoying, self-centred, whiny, attention-seeking people on the face of the planet. Individually, it's relatively easy to find nice, sane, well-balanced ones, but on the whole they're annoying to be around. The point I'm trying to make is that the experience of being around many Pagans (think the worst aspects of the SCA crowd, coupled with monstrously overblown egos and persecution complexes) could well be enough to have him throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Good, scholarly books on mythology would be a great idea as well. Offhand, I'd suggest the Robert Graves books of the Greek Myths. Can't think of anything else off the top of my head, I'm afraid.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:43 PM on February 1, 2006
Definately check out the Unitarians (and pride day)!
My favorite pagan blog
The Good Book
posted by If I Had An Anus at 1:44 PM on February 1, 2006
My favorite pagan blog
The Good Book
posted by If I Had An Anus at 1:44 PM on February 1, 2006
I'd just like to commend cedar on the open-mindedness displayed by this question. My parents would've hit the ceiling if I came to them with this query -- how dare our son show an interest in a religion not 'our' own!
the Live Journal sites aren't cutting it
Most internauts eventually come to this conclusion.
posted by Rash at 1:53 PM on February 1, 2006
the Live Journal sites aren't cutting it
Most internauts eventually come to this conclusion.
posted by Rash at 1:53 PM on February 1, 2006
derail: I'm sick of the constant dumping on LJ. It's a great way to have a blog while restricting who has access to your most private thoughts/etc.
And yeah, Cedar, well done. I told my parents I was Pagan when I was 16. Stepdad (Zen Buddhist) took it in stride, mum (recently converted at the time from Anglican to Catholic, no idea why) kept asking me to go to mass with her. I said "Sure, if you want to come dance around a bonfire with me."
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 2:01 PM on February 1, 2006
And yeah, Cedar, well done. I told my parents I was Pagan when I was 16. Stepdad (Zen Buddhist) took it in stride, mum (recently converted at the time from Anglican to Catholic, no idea why) kept asking me to go to mass with her. I said "Sure, if you want to come dance around a bonfire with me."
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 2:01 PM on February 1, 2006
When I was in my pagan phase, the Unitarians (CUUPS) were a pretty cool community for that kind of thing. Low-key, and good for multi-generational stuff (including kids and families). I'd definitely recommend real-life meetups instead of the internet in this kid's case.
posted by matildaben at 2:29 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by matildaben at 2:29 PM on February 1, 2006
Wicca and neo-paganism are not the same thing. The most useful thing your son could learn would be how to spot BS. This will be useful in many things.
I've got a soft spot for _Drawing Down the Moon_, but it is dated now, and she got totally freaked out by my religion (Asatru) and made some silly mistakes writing about it.
There may be neo-pagan conventions you can attend with him in your area. I'm also pretty fond of The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance website.
Your son is likely to run into a bunch of nutballs. But, if he's lucky, he'll run into some good, sane folks, too. There are some really nifty Wiccans and neo-pagans out there, it can just take some looking and some care.
Standard meeting strangers protocol applies, of course. If he wants info on Asatru, my e-mail is in my profile.
posted by QIbHom at 2:32 PM on February 1, 2006
I've got a soft spot for _Drawing Down the Moon_, but it is dated now, and she got totally freaked out by my religion (Asatru) and made some silly mistakes writing about it.
There may be neo-pagan conventions you can attend with him in your area. I'm also pretty fond of The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance website.
Your son is likely to run into a bunch of nutballs. But, if he's lucky, he'll run into some good, sane folks, too. There are some really nifty Wiccans and neo-pagans out there, it can just take some looking and some care.
Standard meeting strangers protocol applies, of course. If he wants info on Asatru, my e-mail is in my profile.
posted by QIbHom at 2:32 PM on February 1, 2006
If there is a New Age bookstore in your area, they may be able to point you to neo-pagan groups in your area, and they may also have a bulletin board (or even a newsletter) where such groups make announcements.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:56 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:56 PM on February 1, 2006
I'd be suspecting that a girl was involved in the sudden interest in Wiccan subjects ;-P
It might also be noted that LJ's are not really sites to be used for reference material like some certain encycopedias, they are generally daily journals of individuals of how their day went. They may be themed with one subject, but they're not especially obligated to anyone but themselves, as one would normally write in one's own diary.
posted by vanoakenfold at 3:04 PM on February 1, 2006
It might also be noted that LJ's are not really sites to be used for reference material like some certain encycopedias, they are generally daily journals of individuals of how their day went. They may be themed with one subject, but they're not especially obligated to anyone but themselves, as one would normally write in one's own diary.
posted by vanoakenfold at 3:04 PM on February 1, 2006
QIbHom>>> Wicca and neo-paganism are not the same thing.
Yes and no. All Wiccans are neo-Pagans. Not all neo-Pagans are Wiccan.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 4:55 PM on February 1, 2006
Yes and no. All Wiccans are neo-Pagans. Not all neo-Pagans are Wiccan.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 4:55 PM on February 1, 2006
dirtynumbangelboy writes...
How do I put this delicately? Pagans are, as a group, possibly the most annoying, self-centred, whiny, attention-seeking people on the face of the planet.
Well, we are talking about 13 year old boy, here :-)
Okay, cheap shots aside I'd have to cast another vote for the Unitarians. Not only do they tend to keep things positive (avoiding the folks who are only pagans because they think it's cool to be "underground" and "repressed"), but they also can provide a community where your son can explore other religious paths if the earth religions aren't doing it for him.
You don't mention your own beliefs, but you don't sound like a one-path-to-god-everyone-else-goes-to-hell sort of person -- you may enjoy the Unitarian community as well.
posted by tkolar at 5:08 PM on February 1, 2006
How do I put this delicately? Pagans are, as a group, possibly the most annoying, self-centred, whiny, attention-seeking people on the face of the planet.
Well, we are talking about 13 year old boy, here :-)
Okay, cheap shots aside I'd have to cast another vote for the Unitarians. Not only do they tend to keep things positive (avoiding the folks who are only pagans because they think it's cool to be "underground" and "repressed"), but they also can provide a community where your son can explore other religious paths if the earth religions aren't doing it for him.
You don't mention your own beliefs, but you don't sound like a one-path-to-god-everyone-else-goes-to-hell sort of person -- you may enjoy the Unitarian community as well.
posted by tkolar at 5:08 PM on February 1, 2006
_a_ 13 year old boy. We are talking about _a_ 13 year old boy.
posted by tkolar at 5:14 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by tkolar at 5:14 PM on February 1, 2006
My point being, tkoler, that not many 13 year old boys will put up with standard Pagan BS. Not to mention the depressingly predictable number of women who will coo all over him and attempt to smother him in some sort of misguided desire for mothering.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 5:21 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 5:21 PM on February 1, 2006
dirtynumbangelboy wrote:
All Wiccans are neo-Pagans. Not all neo-Pagans are Wiccan.
I've met Wiccans who don't consider themselves neo-pagan, and who hate the term.
I prefer 'heathen', and get pissed off when folks call me neo-pagan, although, I suppose, that isn't entirely inaccurate.
But, that really isn't relevant. Get 6 members of NRMs together, and they'll call themselves 18 different things.
But, as tkolar pointed out, we're talking about a kid. The first kindred I belonged to had a strict policy that people under 18 could only attend kindred events in the company of their parents. I'd be leery of any group that would let a kid that age attend anything or meet anyone without a parent present.
posted by QIbHom at 6:40 PM on February 1, 2006
All Wiccans are neo-Pagans. Not all neo-Pagans are Wiccan.
I've met Wiccans who don't consider themselves neo-pagan, and who hate the term.
I prefer 'heathen', and get pissed off when folks call me neo-pagan, although, I suppose, that isn't entirely inaccurate.
But, that really isn't relevant. Get 6 members of NRMs together, and they'll call themselves 18 different things.
But, as tkolar pointed out, we're talking about a kid. The first kindred I belonged to had a strict policy that people under 18 could only attend kindred events in the company of their parents. I'd be leery of any group that would let a kid that age attend anything or meet anyone without a parent present.
posted by QIbHom at 6:40 PM on February 1, 2006
If someone young is interested in alternative spiritual views I like getting them to read Gibran's "The Prophet". It is a simple and achingly beautiful expression of spiritual freedom. And it's pretty short. Like most people, he'll wind up reading it anyway some day; might as well be now.
Also: have him check out the Alan Moore comic book series "Promethea" which is in trade paperback. Great initiation to several different western magical traditions, terrific sense of humor, stunning artwork.
posted by hermitosis at 6:46 PM on February 1, 2006
Also: have him check out the Alan Moore comic book series "Promethea" which is in trade paperback. Great initiation to several different western magical traditions, terrific sense of humor, stunning artwork.
posted by hermitosis at 6:46 PM on February 1, 2006
I'd also like to add to the vote for the Unitarian churches: if you can find a good one, then there will be plenty of fascinating people for him to talk to from many faiths.
And thank you for being understanding with your son. I'm 27 and my parents are still terrified to talk about such matters with me.
posted by hermitosis at 6:49 PM on February 1, 2006
And thank you for being understanding with your son. I'm 27 and my parents are still terrified to talk about such matters with me.
posted by hermitosis at 6:49 PM on February 1, 2006
One of the first books I read was 21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch's Guide to Living the Magical Life. I was 15 (maybe 16) and this book made a HUGE impression on me. It's very geared towards the young adult/teenager so it's an easy read, but unlike a lot of Wiccan/Neo-pagan books targeted at that age it's not focused on spells and all-the-power-you-shall-soon-acquire.
Although I eventually left Wicca for reasons too complicated and numerous to mention, I still use the grounding and centering exercise I learned those many years ago, exactly as it is described in this book, when feeling off-kilter. And it helps.
(This book also has 4½ stars on Amazon, so that bodes well.)
Avoid avoid avoid avoid any books by Silver Ravenwolf. Words cannot describe how bad her books are.
Seconded. Lacking guidance, I fell into the Silver Ravenwolf "Teen Witch" trap at 16 or 17, and I kept getting the feeling the author wasn't taking my religion seriously. And silly me, I kept buying the books, I guess thinking that I just hadn't gotten to the good stuff yet.
Finally, I must echo many others in this thread and say, thank you for being not only understanding, but downright enthusiastic about helping your son with his research. I should've had more faith in my own parents, but instead I kept my Wiccan ways a secret from them for years, while attending high school and living in their house. Eventually they figured it out for themselves somehow (I'm still not sure how, but I'm sure it had something to do with me being less sneaky than I believed) and revealed their knowledge by blindsiding me on Christmas day with a new book on the topic. I remember unwrapping it and being speechless. It was my father's way of telling me that I didn't have to hide. I just wish I hadn't wasted those years sneaking around, hiding books and relics.
posted by Famous at 7:31 PM on February 1, 2006
Although I eventually left Wicca for reasons too complicated and numerous to mention, I still use the grounding and centering exercise I learned those many years ago, exactly as it is described in this book, when feeling off-kilter. And it helps.
(This book also has 4½ stars on Amazon, so that bodes well.)
Avoid avoid avoid avoid any books by Silver Ravenwolf. Words cannot describe how bad her books are.
Seconded. Lacking guidance, I fell into the Silver Ravenwolf "Teen Witch" trap at 16 or 17, and I kept getting the feeling the author wasn't taking my religion seriously. And silly me, I kept buying the books, I guess thinking that I just hadn't gotten to the good stuff yet.
Finally, I must echo many others in this thread and say, thank you for being not only understanding, but downright enthusiastic about helping your son with his research. I should've had more faith in my own parents, but instead I kept my Wiccan ways a secret from them for years, while attending high school and living in their house. Eventually they figured it out for themselves somehow (I'm still not sure how, but I'm sure it had something to do with me being less sneaky than I believed) and revealed their knowledge by blindsiding me on Christmas day with a new book on the topic. I remember unwrapping it and being speechless. It was my father's way of telling me that I didn't have to hide. I just wish I hadn't wasted those years sneaking around, hiding books and relics.
posted by Famous at 7:31 PM on February 1, 2006
Am I the only one wondering whether it is just a coincidence that this was asked on Imbolc? :-)
posted by geckoinpdx at 8:11 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by geckoinpdx at 8:11 PM on February 1, 2006
A side recommendation might be to get him some books by Nietzsche, especially his earlier work (followed by Ecce Homo and Also Sprach Zarathustra), as he provides a sustained philosophical defense of paganism and an attack on Christianity that really should be read sometime in adolescence (and then again later on to decide that Nietzsche really is full of shit a lot of the time, then again to put some things back in his favor). But he really does a solid job at getting at the underlying parts of why paganism is attractive, and why Christianity isn't, with an avoidance of the pseudo-spiritual claptrap that's bread and butter for many of the practicing members of the community.
posted by klangklangston at 10:01 PM on February 1, 2006
posted by klangklangston at 10:01 PM on February 1, 2006
klangklangston wrote....
...get him some books by Nietzsche...as he provides a sustained philosophical defense of paganism and an attack on Christianity...
I must respectfully disagree with this advice. I don't believe that attacks on other religions are a good way to find your spiritual path.
posted by tkolar at 10:55 PM on February 1, 2006
...get him some books by Nietzsche...as he provides a sustained philosophical defense of paganism and an attack on Christianity...
I must respectfully disagree with this advice. I don't believe that attacks on other religions are a good way to find your spiritual path.
posted by tkolar at 10:55 PM on February 1, 2006
I respectfully disagree right back, and would argue that anything that doesn't press the reader to take a strenuous inventory of their beliefs is not going to lead to any spiritual growth. Further, in a culture that is predominantly Christian, an argument as to why Christian morality and philosophy is unsatisfying should help someone clarify their thinking.
I often disagree with Nietzsche's views, but I think that his writing is infinitely valuable on the topic of spirituality.
posted by klangklangston at 11:13 PM on February 1, 2006
I often disagree with Nietzsche's views, but I think that his writing is infinitely valuable on the topic of spirituality.
posted by klangklangston at 11:13 PM on February 1, 2006
OH god, you guys. This is a 13 year old kid, he's thinking Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Magic. Why not as a parent explore it yourself, take him to a couple pagan festivals, teach him meditation, learn it with him, show him your interested and validate his curiousity. Spirtuality doesn't mean an organization. Why do you need an online community. Take him to a couple ren-fairs, and buy him some Magic the Gathering cards(u-gi-oh was so last year).
The universe wants to play and so does he, the unitarians and a bunch of books aren't going to help him, but your interest in him will. He just curious, and bright, teach him or someone else will. He'll probably be into something else soon.
posted by highgene at 11:16 PM on February 1, 2006 [1 favorite]
The universe wants to play and so does he, the unitarians and a bunch of books aren't going to help him, but your interest in him will. He just curious, and bright, teach him or someone else will. He'll probably be into something else soon.
posted by highgene at 11:16 PM on February 1, 2006 [1 favorite]
Hi there,
You might want to check out books by Fiona Horne, she's an Australia writer and witch and has written a few books which present wicca in a accessible and youth oriented manner.
Her website links to all sorts of communities and other info sites.
http://www.fionahorne.com/
If you click on the 'about witchcraft' and then there's a load of links under 'witchy links'
posted by mule at 11:41 PM on February 1, 2006
You might want to check out books by Fiona Horne, she's an Australia writer and witch and has written a few books which present wicca in a accessible and youth oriented manner.
Her website links to all sorts of communities and other info sites.
http://www.fionahorne.com/
If you click on the 'about witchcraft' and then there's a load of links under 'witchy links'
posted by mule at 11:41 PM on February 1, 2006
Oh! Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. That book helped me sort out a lot about how I could integrate my beliefs with the world as I observed/experienced it.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:56 AM on February 2, 2006
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:56 AM on February 2, 2006
This is a 13 year old kid, he's thinking Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Magic. ... He'll probably be into something else soon.
Condescending much?
I would've personally slapped anybody who suggested something like Harry Potter to me at the age of 13 (had it in fact been around at the time). There's nothing kids and teenagers (or indeed adults) hate more than being talked down to and I'm glad cedar has more intelligence than to just humour his son while waiting for him to "grow out of it".
posted by slimepuppy at 5:13 AM on February 2, 2006
Condescending much?
I would've personally slapped anybody who suggested something like Harry Potter to me at the age of 13 (had it in fact been around at the time). There's nothing kids and teenagers (or indeed adults) hate more than being talked down to and I'm glad cedar has more intelligence than to just humour his son while waiting for him to "grow out of it".
posted by slimepuppy at 5:13 AM on February 2, 2006
Response by poster: I wanted to thank everyone for their help -- the breadth of the suggestions made in this thread are wonderful and there are too many good answers to single out with the exception of the first Unitarian one.
It may be my fault for not providing more background but I did want to address the following:
His interest in Wicca or Paganism is part of process that began when he was eight -- this is a spiritual young man who desires nothing more than discovering what he believes. Kind of like the rest of us.
Without going into detail about my beliefs his latest interest is not something I choose to practice myself -- this is his show and aside from some regular old parental guidance stuff I'm leaving it in his capable hands.
posted by cedar at 12:45 PM on February 2, 2006
It may be my fault for not providing more background but I did want to address the following:
OH god, you guys. This is a 13 year old kid, he's thinking Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Magic. Why not as a parent explore it yourself, take him to a couple pagan festivals, teach him meditation, learn it with him, show him your interested and validate his curiousity. Spirtuality doesn't mean an organization. Why do you need an online community. Take him to a couple ren-fairs, and buy him some Magic the Gathering cards(u-gi-oh was so last year)."This particular thirteen-year old has suffered through a fundy Grandmother who forced him to attend Holy Roller services one step up from snake handling. He rebelled and chose to join a Presbyterian church after the required classes to practice a more moderate brand of Christianity. He has recently been spending time reading the Koran and we will be attending services at a mosque with Muslim friends this week.
His interest in Wicca or Paganism is part of process that began when he was eight -- this is a spiritual young man who desires nothing more than discovering what he believes. Kind of like the rest of us.
Without going into detail about my beliefs his latest interest is not something I choose to practice myself -- this is his show and aside from some regular old parental guidance stuff I'm leaving it in his capable hands.
posted by cedar at 12:45 PM on February 2, 2006
Late to the party, but I have one book to add to your reading list: Triumph of the Moon, by Ronald Hutton. It is a history of Wicca. Hutton is an English academic historian whose specialty is paganism and neopaganism. He is cautious and objective but generally sympathetic to modern paganism and neopaganism (please, no invective about my terminology). The book has drawn fire from some quarters for debunking—or claiming to debunk—some of the claims that Wicca is pagan (a surviving pagan religion) rather than neo-pagan (a reconstruction or even a new construction).
I don't believe he mentions it in the book in question, but elsewhere he admits that he was raised a pagan. He doesn't go into specifics other than to say that his parents' brand of paganism was to Wicca as Anglicanism is to Pentecostalism.
posted by bricoleur at 1:05 PM on February 2, 2006
I don't believe he mentions it in the book in question, but elsewhere he admits that he was raised a pagan. He doesn't go into specifics other than to say that his parents' brand of paganism was to Wicca as Anglicanism is to Pentecostalism.
posted by bricoleur at 1:05 PM on February 2, 2006
Late to the party as well, sorry.
I first would like to congratulate you on your approach. When I developed an interest in pagan belief systems at the tender age of 11, my supportive-yet-skeptical parents, like you, did a lot of their own research. I sincerely appreciated their respect of my choices and interests.
My own interest was initially sparked by the novel *The Mists of Avalon*, by Marion Zimmer Bradley (from which a truly horrendous movie was later made). I recommend that book in part because it's a great story, but mainly because it is a portrait of the society and belief system from which many neo-pagans consider themselves spiritually descended. I also second the AskMeFi recommendation of *Spiral Dance*, by Starhawk. It is a well-written, well-considered, practical and historical approach to Wicca.
I agree with other commenters that many pagans are a little . . . um, dramatic . . . but I think that often subsides after the novelty wears off. I have been calmly practicing Wicca for quite a while now (over 15 years), and I promise I'm quite dull.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. E-mail in profile.
posted by Uccellina at 2:50 PM on February 2, 2006
I first would like to congratulate you on your approach. When I developed an interest in pagan belief systems at the tender age of 11, my supportive-yet-skeptical parents, like you, did a lot of their own research. I sincerely appreciated their respect of my choices and interests.
My own interest was initially sparked by the novel *The Mists of Avalon*, by Marion Zimmer Bradley (from which a truly horrendous movie was later made). I recommend that book in part because it's a great story, but mainly because it is a portrait of the society and belief system from which many neo-pagans consider themselves spiritually descended. I also second the AskMeFi recommendation of *Spiral Dance*, by Starhawk. It is a well-written, well-considered, practical and historical approach to Wicca.
I agree with other commenters that many pagans are a little . . . um, dramatic . . . but I think that often subsides after the novelty wears off. I have been calmly practicing Wicca for quite a while now (over 15 years), and I promise I'm quite dull.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. E-mail in profile.
posted by Uccellina at 2:50 PM on February 2, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mikepop at 1:06 PM on February 1, 2006