by Georgia Macleod

Created on: February 17, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Within the pagan community, there are many ways of contacting, associating with, and learning from other pagans. However, in many places, such as small southern towns in the United States, there may not be a pagan for miles around. While there may not be a bookstore any closer than the next pagan, the Internet has a plethora of information on the different pagan paths.

This information, usually, encompasses only a certain path such as Wicca or Shamanism. However, for those researchers who find that their core beliefs do not exactly fit into the mold of a certain path, there is another choice: Eclectic Witchcraft.

While most covens and coveners might scoff at such an unstructured path, it is a viable choice for those who are separated by geography or belief from those they could learn from. Eclectic witchcraft tends to be a mish-mash of beliefs from different paths or religions, best suited to the practitioner. This does not necessarily mean that the practitioner can take the best parts of different religions and leave out all of the 'bad' stuff, which is often done.

The Eclectic Witch must be well versed in many things, including mythology, religion and even science. Yes, hard science can play a part in a practitioner's beliefs just as much as belief in a deity. The practitioner may also want to study subjects such as runes or tarot, auras, numerology, psychic attacks or healing, herbology, and meditation. The list is, quite literally, endless as to what can be studied because it is up to the practitioner.

As an eclectic practitioner myself, the basic subjects I would suggest to get started would be mythology and meditation. These subjects can and will lead to exploration of other interests.

Mythology is quite essential to the practice of witchcraft. For the practitioner looking for a pantheon or deities to worship, knowing the tales of the many gods and goddesses and how they act and react in those tales, gives him or her the insight they need when working closely with those they choose. The insight the myths give will allow the practitioner to see what may and may not be offensive to their deities.

On the other hand, a study of mythology may produce a disconnectedness from each pantheon. This may cause the practitioner to completely disassociate with any specific deity and become completely agnostic or atheistic. Belief in an unnamed higher power or only the power within one's self is completely acceptable if it is what the practitioner is most comfortable with.

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