Becoming Pagan

Becoming Pagan is less of an event and more of process. Before you decide that you want to become Pagan, you should probably learn at least a little about it. The Pagan Religion page is a decent short overview of what paganism is.

One important thing to remember is that as a Pagan, you will be part of a minority group. You will be misunderstood, and often times feared and hated for what you have chosen to become. It may not be the way things should be, but it is the way things are. If you cannot accept that, you may not be suited to a pagan lifestyle. If you can, you should begin by dedicating yourself to a study of Pagan Religion.

Before Initiation

In the Wolf and Raven Path, you will first dedicate yourself to becoming Pagan by studying what the religion is and why you feel it is right for you. You should be able to explain, in general terms, what the Wheel of the Year is, who and what the God and Goddess are, and know the difference between a Book of Shadows and a Book of Mirrors. After you understand these basics, you would undergo a simple Initiation Ceremony. This ceremony is for many Pagans their first Ritual. After Initiation, you are considered an Initiate on the Wolf and Raven Path.

After Initiation

As an Initiate, you will begin a more intense learning system. You will be studying the deeper mysteries of the Pagan Religion, Practicing Magic and Performing Rituals, and learning more about yourself through meditation and your Book of Mirrors. Note that we do not require you to be an Initiate to study these things. We of The Wolf and Raven Path share our knowledge willingly with any who express a true desire for becoming pagan, or just learning about paganism. The Initiation Ritual is a demonstration your desire to learn, not a vow of loyalty.

As soon after Initiation as possible, you should read the pages on The Elements, Elemental Guardians, Reincarnation, and Sacred Space. You should then read about the Ritual Tools used in the Wolf and Raven Path.

You will be writing in your Book of Mirrors every day about becoming Pagan, and reading as much as possible about Paganism, Gods, Goddesses and magic. We actually prefer that an Initiate have a Book of Mirrors started prior to Initiation. Unlike many traditions, one of the first things The Wolf and Raven Path teaches is Visualization. We do this because we feel visualization is a major key to success in most of the practices an Initiate must learn. You will also be expected to meditate at least five minutes each day. You should generally use this time to contemplate the lesson learned that day and to prepare your mind for the lessons to come.

You will also be making some very personal choices in the weeks following your initiation. You will choose your Craft Name and work towards discovering your Magical Name. You will be seeking out your Spirit Guides and possibly finding a Familiar. You will be creating your own personal Sacred Space, Book of Shadows, and Symbols of Power. You will decide what your Ritual Robes will be (or possibly decide to work Skyclad). On top of all this, you will be learning the basics of Magic, Divination, Auras, Correspondences, Sabbats, Esbats, and Magical Crafts.

Time spent as an Initiate

With the sheer amount of learning to be accomplished, it is little wonder that most traditions have an initiation period of a year and a day. The Wolf and Raven Path is somewhat more flexible: for those whose desire and ability can sustain it, a shorter Initiate period can be allowed, however, longer Initiate periods are far more common.

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