Living Paganism: An Advanced Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

257 Pages·2005·3.554 MB·English

by  Shanddaramon

L
iving
P
aganism
An Advanced Guide for the
Solitary Practitioner
By
Shanddaramon
New Page Books
A Division of The Career Press, Inc.
Franklin Lakes, NJ
LP 0.1 Title - Ackno.pmd 1 10/12/2005, 4:06 PM
Copyright © 2006 by Shanddaramon
All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions.
This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without written
permission from the publisher, The Career Press.
LIVING PAGANISM
EDITED BY JODI BRANDON
TYPESET BY EILEEN MUNSON
Cover design by Mary Langer
Printed in the U.S.A. by Book-mart Press
To order this title, please call toll-free 1-800-CAREER-1 (NJ and Canada: 201-848-
0310) to order using VISA or MasterCard, or for further information on books from
Career Press.
The Career Press, Inc., 3 Tice Road, PO Box 687,
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.careerpress.com
www.newpagebooks.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Shanddaramon, 1959-
Living paganism : an advanced guide for the solitary practitioner / by
Shanddaramon
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-56414-825-4 (pbk.)
1. Paganism. I. Title.
BL432.S53 2006
229’.94--dc22
2005049141
LP 0.1 Title - Ackno.pmd 2 10/12/2005, 4:06 PM
This work is dedicated
to all those
who are striving
to make Paganism
a viable and serious religion
for the betterment of Gaia
and all her children.
LP 0.1 Title - Ackno.pmd 3 10/12/2005, 4:06 PM
6x9 Blank.p65 1 4/13/2005, 10:03 AM
Acknowledgments
I wish to thank my lifelong partner, Mary, and all my friends, stu-
dents, and colleagues for putting up with me as I have experimented with
these practices throughout the years. I would also like to thank all those
people who wrote to me about my book Self-Initiation for the Solitary
Witch to thank me for writing it and to express how it has helped them in
their lives. I hope this book will do the same for them and others.
LP 0.1 Title - Ackno.pmd 5 10/12/2005, 4:06 PM
6x9 Blank.p65 1 4/13/2005, 10:03 AM
Contents
A Brief Explanation of the Chapters 11
Introduction 15
Chapter 1. Creating a Pagan Way of Life 19
Introduction 19
The Cycles of the Universe 23
Reasons for Taking on This Work 28
Developing a Pagan Practice Through the Cycles 31
LP 0.5 TOC Long.pmd 7 10/12/2005, 4:06 PM
Chapter 2. Determining Spiritual Goals 39
Introduction 39
Practices for Developing the Self 40
Practices for Helping Others 66
Practices for Honoring Gaia and Spirit 80
Practices for Honoring Yourself and Others 92
A Summary of Goals 100
Chapter 3. The Cycles and Their Significance 107
Introduction 107
The Cycles of Gaia 108
The Cycles of the Moon 121
The Cycles of the Sun 139
The Cycles of Life 151
A Summary of Cycles 161
Chapter 4. Merging Goals and Cycles 163
Introduction 163
Gaia Cycles and Honoring Gaia and Spirit 166
LP 0.5 TOC Long.pmd 8 10/12/2005, 4:06 PM
Moon Cycles and Developing the Self 177
Sun Cycles and Helping Others 183
Life Cycles and Honoring Yourself and Others 189
Putting It All Together 199
Chapter 5. Rituals for Celebrating the Cycles 203
Introduction 203
The Elements of a Pagan Ritual 204
The Format for Ritual Work 208
The Rituals 209
Conclusion 243
Bibliography 247
Index 249
About the Author 255
LP 0.5 TOC Long.pmd 9 10/12/2005, 4:06 PM