hi im new to this and after chatting to other members i feel with my religous upbringing i need a god or goddess to belive in. but where do i start? can anyone help please explain about the different ones if its any help im in to nature anomals and children.oh and if this is in the wrong section im sorry im really useless with computers thank you

Being new I'm sure you are inundated with info and you feel like your head might explode. So practically you could look at the Gods of your ancestors or of the land around you. Find out if your family come from Celtic, Anglo Saxon, Norse or Mediterranean roots or African, Asian roots, this may help you out, just ask someone in the family who knows where the Great -great -grandparents come from, usually some one knows.
Then you can read up on the culture they came from and find out about the Gods and see which ones you identify with. Hope this helps.

hi thats my problem i have no info at all any books i find are about witches in the nasty childlike sense. i cant find any info that helps its all so generall. my ansestors are from russia and scandiava any suggestions on where i can find help

Hi AJ

It is daunting when you first start out wondering what you should be doing. The first thing to realise is that there is no “should”. You don’t HAVE to worship any god or goddess, as you’ll have seen from the threads, there’re a few atheist pagans here J

I would recommend you get yourself some books on mythology from around the world. See if you can get your hands on the Norse Sagas (fascinating stuff, really great stories), and the Celtic myths for Scotland and Ireland. The Mabignon for Wales. I’d recommend Bulfinches Mythology as a good starter and overview for Greek and Roman myths. You’ll find that if there are deities trying to connect to you, you’ll feel more drawn to some particular stories and gods than to others, and that gives you a good starting point to do further research.

If you go to somewhere like Amazon, and do a search on the kind of stuff you’re looking for, it’ll suggest various books, and, even better, have reviews of the books which will help you decide if it’s worth parting with any cash for. Check out your library for the books too – you might be lucky enough that they’ll order books for you.

Enjoy the journey and don’t feel too much in a rush to find a god or goddess. They may take their time before greeting you but you should never feel that’s a problem, it’s simply the way it is.

Have fun!

I certainly agree with Pomona here. But heres a couple of links for you

Slavic

http://bama.ua.edu/~adrozd/rus252/folklorelinks.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A823402

and a couple of Norse links

http://www.thorshof.org/godsgoddess.htm

hope they help

I found that the gods I connected to found me rather than I went looking for them.

Can only agree with the others and suggest you read up about different myths. If you feel drawn to any of the gods then investigate it further if not then don't worry. I'm sure you will find a way that is comfortable to you.

I felt pagan a long time ago now but Im still learning (after reading the fluffy thread im a little worried i could be a touch fluffy). The learning or the journey is the fun part.

I wish you well on your journey

Temps

Read everything you can and see what feels right. Also don't feel that you've got to be in a hurry, some people take a long time to find their Gods, others don't. If after reading around, you feel a particular affinity with a God/Goddess then explore that more deeply. Also I'd keep a note of your dreams - Gods can use dreams to get in touch. If you can make some time to sit and think that can be helpful too.

Don't worry if it doesn't come quickly - in my experience Gods have a habit of making contact when you're not expecting it....

hi i know what youre saying but it will take a lot of convining that there is anything good about me to belive in maybe thats why i need somthnig else or some one else at the moment

Aww!

The best thing I can suggest is that you read as much about as much as you can until you find something that clicks with you.

And as I have said on several other threads the journey of discovery will mean much more to you and be more personal to you if you do the work yourself.

Hard, I know if you don't have much self belief. But let me ask you this: If you dont belive in yourself how can you belive in anything else? If you are not true to yourself how are you going to be true to anything else? Even if or when you do find the God or Goddess you are looking for?

Go and stand on the highest hilltop you can find in the pouring rain and stand there until you either hear something or die.

Good luck.

Marion.

OI! Less of the old Thankyou. ( I agree with all the rest by the way)

The very first belief one should have is in him/herself. From that point all the rest will fall in place, or find their place, in one's life.

Johanna

Yes it is sensible advice about self belief, but for many people its terribly difficult and the source of a constant conflict, and part of the painful tangle of trying to unravel ones spiritual self. If you are at a vulnerbale and confusing stage in your life ( that'd be the bit between birth and death then ) it is human and natural to look for a higher divine authority to give answers and take blame/responsibility.

aj, you do not have to have a god or gods/goddesses as part of your paganism. They are out there and at some point you might feel a connection. But maybe being able to let go of the need to have a deity is part of your path, before you move on, who knows. You are you are into animals, children and nature - you know, this could be all you need