Pagan Essentials

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Intro to Pagan Essentials

Hello, I'm Trish Deneen. This is a catalog of my web articles on the basics of Paganism. This site will be continually growing with lots of new information.

I use the term "Pagan Essentials" as the title of this lens not to pretentiously assume that every Pagan will find everything they need right here but merely to present a starting point for those new to Paganism to begin with.  Most of this content is from when I was the Pagan site editor at BellaOnline.  I have transferred most of this to Squidoo, HubPages, Suite 101 and a few at Examiner.com.

What is Paganism?

The Wheel of the Year

Learn about the major holidays that many Pagans celebrate.
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Deities

How do Pagans see the Gods?

The Earth Mother in Modern Goddess Worship: Pagans Respect Balance by Honoring the Sacred Feminine
Honoring the sacred feminine along with the divine masculine is part of bring balance to spiritual practice. Learn what role the earth mother plays for Pagans.
The Horned God
Learn who the "Horned One" really is and why he gets such a bad rap.
Mother Goddesses
A helpful list of a few mother goddesses from fierce to compassionate.
Paganism 101: Connecting with Your Patron Gods
A patron god or goddess is a particular deity we feel an
affinity for that we choose to honor as the main influence in our lives. Here is a simple technique to get in touch with your patron god.
Brigid and Her Flame
This Celtic goddess of poetry and healing inspires many the world over.

Magic Circle 

Magic and Ritual

Grounding and Centering
Learn this foundational technique of calming your mind and centering yourself before magic and ritual.
Practical Magic for Everyone
Learn these five simple techniques to get you started practicing magic.
Psychic Shielding
What is psychic attack really about? What steps can you take to protect yourself?
History and Uses of the Magic Circle
A brief history of circle casting.
The Reasoning Behind Performing Ritual
Common definitions of ritual and the context they are used in Paganism.
Cleansing Sacred Objects
Here are some techniques you can use to clear ritual and other sacred tools of unwanted energies.
The Basics of Cord and Knot Magic
What kind of magic can you do with cords? Learn this simple folk magic technique.
Home Blessing and Protection
Examples of a home blessing ritual and cleansing techniques to clear you home of unwelcome energy.
Moon Phases for Magic
Learn when the best time to perform your spells is according to the phases of the moon.
Two Basic Altar Setups
An altar is a concrete way to connect with your spiritual practice. Here are two basic altar setups given as guidelines for solitary practitioners and groups that haven't yet developed their own altar protocol.
The Elements
An explanation of the five elements of fire, earth, air, water, and spirit.
The Four Directions
The four directions are part of the circle casting of many different traditions. Learn some of the common correspondences and how you can begin to create your own system to work with.
LBRP - Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram
Instructions on how to perform this most popular and powerful of magical rituals.
Herbal and Aromatherapy Anointing Oils
Learn simple techniques to make anointing oils for ritual.
Paganism Basics: Ritual Template with Circle Casting
Learn how to perform your own Pagan ritual with this template designed to get you started on your path to ritual planning.
Paganism Basics: The Ritual Bath
A ritual bath is a powerful component to add to clearing of daily stress before your magical rites. Learn different techniques to do this.

Magical Tools and Gear

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Pagan 'Zines

If you're looking for Pagan periodicals online and in print, check out these links to my two lenses: Pagan Magazines and Pagan Ezines.

Pagan Paths

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Handfasting

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Pagan Life

Links to articles on aspects of everyday living.
Advice for people thinking about coming out as a Pagan
Here are some practical questions to ask yourself before you come out of the "broom closet."
Tips for Finding Pagan Clergy to Perform Weddings, Funerals and Other Important Life Passage Ceremonies
Are you a Pagan who would like to find clergy to perform a wedding, funeral or other life passage rite? Maybe you're a solitary Pagan or your group doesn't have a legal clergy person. Here are tips to help you find a Pagan clergy person.
Pagans in the Military
Info and resources for Pagans in the military and their families.

Pagan Book Reviews

Reviews to help you make informed choices before you spend your hard-earned money or time.
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Llewellyn - New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit - www.llewellyn.com

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A Little Bit About Me and More

Here are 25 tidbits about me if you are wondering who I am.
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Write About Your Interests

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Credits

Picture credit: Magic Circle by John William Waterhouse, Wikimedia Commons.

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PJ_Deneen

Hello, I'm P.J. (Trish) Deneen. I work at home doing medical transcription and freelance writing. Earn cash by writing lenses about your favorite topics... more »

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Learn More About Paganism 

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