Practical Pagan: Commonsense Guidelines for Modern Practitioners

by Dana D. Eilers

Offers suggestions, hints, and down-to-earth help for seekers and believers of Paganism to understand and find their place in the community. Included are discussions about what it means to be Pagan, getting involved in the Pagan community, myths about Paganism, and coming out of the broom closet. The book also gives valuable information about choosing a specific path, joining an organization and deciding to be a solitary practitioner. The book also contains common sense guidelines of conduct, Paganism and the family, love and relationships and educating yourself about Paganism. This book encourages all seekers and followers to follow their own inclination and it will serve as a guide and a resource to those just starting out or those who are still seeking answers.

Genres: Paganism, Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Reference

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. Really basic, and at times judgmental. If you are new, maybe, but there are better books out there. Very Wiccan as well.

[Brandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, Eilers isn't kidding about the "Commonsense Guidelines" part - much of the text is profoundly repetitive advice to do things like bathe, pay your bills, and uphold your social responsibilities. I'm not used to reading books that assume so little about the reader's intellect and ability to be a functional human being. There were a few satisfying moments in the text, such as reminders that you have to find what works for you, but most of this was followed by the injunction to research said topics elsewhere. The primary goal of this text is to remind you to follow your own instincts and common sense, not to provide any real guidelines or foundational knowledge.

[Melanie Wade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt as though the author was a little closed minded to the fact that paganism isn't just "my way is the right way"

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book I had about the house. I think I bought it at an HPB, but if I didn't, I not entirely sure where I got it from.

It's not a bad book, it's got a lot of good, basic information that is presented in a very straight forward manner. The main problems I had with it is that some of it is dated, given that it was published in 2002, when the internet was still rather young. (On-line shopping was just starting to take off...) So, the chapters on meeting people and discussing using the internet, are rather dated.

But, if you can skim those parts, and over-look some dated terminology (the terms "transsexual" and "transvestite" appear a few times), the book is a good over view of what paganism is, what it means to be pagan, some problems you might encounter, and more.

[Alexia ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished this book. It's not a bad book per se but it's not also part of my favourite or best books I've read on Paganism. The thing that ticked me off the most (and made it lose one star) was the amount of times the author repeated "The practical pagan". If I had 0,5€ for each time I read those words I would be a very happy woman. The book overall seems more focused on teaching the person how to be a decent human being (take showers, be friendly, clean your house, pay your bills, etc) then how to be a good Pagan. It's more of a guide on how to be a good person who just so happens to be a Pagan. Not a bad book but not my recommended list when it comes to Paganism and Wicca.

[Ik · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was funny in how extremely, intensely commonsense it was - advice like 'pagans bathe, using soap' and 'follow the law' (of your country) define the book. I think that's what those old-fashioned guide books for housewives etc must've been like; I think they're called almanacs? So two stars for the amusement factor. Other than that, it's very wiccan, and very much for people who have only heard the word 'pagan' once it their lives and know absolutely nothing about it. The author's ideas are quite old-fashioned as well.

[Mica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subtitle is "Commonsense Guidelines for Modern Practitioners" and truth be told, it is a lot of rudimentary, common sense advice. Unless you are brand-spanking-new to the Pagan path, skip this book; it will be of very little use to you (-1 star).

It's important to note the publish year of 2000 because, at the time of this writing (2013), some of the Internet recommendations or advice is severely dated. Communication has changed dramatically since then and social networking and Google was not as ubiquitous as it is now. This book was born during a time of transition, and someone new to Paganism had a higher probability of feeling alone or lacking access to resources. Because chunks of this book are no longer relevant, I adjusted my rating (-1 star).

Sometimes the author's tone comes across as condescending (-1 star) and overly judgmental. I disliked the over abundance of blanket statements of "Pagans are this," or "Pagans don't do that." Pagans are human beings, first and foremost, and likely to make mistakes, be emotionally compromised or imbalanced, and sometimes unfit for society. We are not a perfect people, and one shouldn't be persuaded to assume otherwise.

For the record, I begin every book with a five star rating and raise or lower it based on what I believe to be its merits or flaws. I see this book as having a place in the library, but just isn't relevant for today.

[Jody Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most everything in this book is pure common sense that anyone would be able to reason out on their own. But it can be extremely helpful to see it all written out in orderly black and white letters all the same. There's also all sorts of tips throughout that not everyone would know, and which might be helpful in particular situations. The author was a lawyer, so there is plenty of legal tips that most people might not have the first idea about, and which might be invaluable in some situations. All in all, this book might seem like its stating the obvious sometimes, but it is so worth reading. I'm going to buy a copy for myself, just as a good solid reminder, and as a reference in case of certain situations. Definitely check it out!

[Tempus Loghyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book on Paganism and I loved it. I remember to this day 8 years later most of what she wrote. I wish every new Pagan would read and take this to heart. Great stuff.