The Path of Paganism: An Experience-Based Guide to Modern Pagan Practice

by John Beckett

Paganism is a way of seeing the world and your place in it. It means challenging the assumptions of mainstream society and strengthening your relationships with the gods, the universe, your community, and your self. The Path of Paganism provides practical advice and support for honoring your values and living an authentic Pagan life in mainstream Western culture.

Discover tips for establishing or deepening a regular practice. Explore how your spirituality can help you deal with life's inevitable hardships. Learn the basics of leadership roles and other steps to take as you gain experience and move into more advanced practices. With questions for contemplation as well as rituals to help you integrate new concepts, this book guides you through a profoundly meaningful way of life.

Praise:

"This is an absolute gem of a book! John's love of his Pagan path fills this book with incredible enthusiasm and confidence . . . I would recommend this book to beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Both will find many pearls of wisdom within these pages. Highly recommended."--Damh the Bard

Genres: Paganism, Spirituality, Witchcraft, Religion, Nonfiction, Occult, Magic

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2017

About the author

I grew up in Tennessee with the woods right outside my back door. Wandering through them gave me a sense of connection to Nature and to a certain Forest God.

I’m a Druid graduate of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, and a member of Ár nDraíocht Féin. I served 12 years as the Coordinating Officer of the Denton Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans and 3 years on the Board of Trustees of CUUPS Continental. My first book The Pagan of Paganism was published in 2017 by Llewellyn Worldwide.

I’ve been writing, speaking, teaching, and leading public rituals since 2003. I live in the Dallas – Fort Worth area and I earn my keep as an engineer.

Reviews

[Reverie Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did have some good information. However, I only gave it two stars for several reasons. Firstly, Beckett presented his beliefs and his ways of doing things as the correct way rather than just one way of looking at things. I understand that a writer can only write from his/her perspective, but I found it to be rather narrow minded. For example, a polytheist view of Paganism was pretty much the only form of Paganism that was presented, even though there are countless ways that Pagans view deity and the divine, he didn't value solitary practice as much as group practice, and he turned his nose up at "new age" ideas. Secondly, I found it to be rather repetitive. Not only did he discuss the same concepts repeatedly, but repeated the same sentences to the point that I considered not finishing the book (I did finish). I think this may have done better to remain in blog form than in a book (aside from the from the fact that I'm sure this book reached a larger audience than a blog would have).

[Liis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re at all interested in reading about all sorts of religions and beliefs then Path of Paganism is one of those books that you can easily take quite a lot away from. Reading it doesn’t mean you have to start thinking as if paganism is the only way to live your life going forward, the author says the same. We are all different and we all find different beliefs that make the most sense to us.

The book is built up methodically and covers all apsects of paganism. From the foundations and set of beliefs to gods. You’ll find out that paganism is built on 4 pillars: nature, deity, self and community. To be a paganist you don’t need to believe in all the four pillars with full focus. John himself focuses mainly on the nature and deity pillars, while not discounting the self and community pillars, and as such you can read about the author’s personal journey (which made the otherwise non fictional text quite a breeze to read) and experiences. You’ll also get tips on how to start your own paganist journey as well as making sure that picking one religion or the other is really something that suits you and your way of life. Inclusive with some rituals, Beckett manages to deliver a full bodied overview of what paganism might look like if you decided this was the journey for you.

The Path of Paganism definitely met my expectations and answered my curiosity. Well written, informative and interesting, my reading experience didn’t suffer of boredom nor dullness. 4 stars

[Samantha Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had happened across this book when I started my spiritual journey a handful of years ago. Many of my hard-won answers are neatly answered here, including a question I still wasn't sure about until now: what exactly IS paganism? (If you're not sure -- read this book.)

I've been reading the author's blog for some months now, so I'm not at all surprised at how thoughtful, thorough, and unbiased he is. Well, no, that's not true. He has biases, but like way too many people in other religious camps that I've had the misfortune of meeting, he is well aware of his own and will point them out to you in advance of tackling any subject. This makes the reading all the more enjoyable. I never felt strong-armed, coerced, sold a bill of goods. Everything was laid out clearly, and even when I disagree, I feel respected.

It's all in here, from holidays to magick, from what it means to be nature-based to how to write a ritual. If I could recommend only one book to someone starting their witchcraft, heathen, druidic, etc., etc. journey, I really think it would be this one. Just holding the paperback in my hands gave me a peaceful feeling. Maybe it's the lovely cover art. Or maybe it's something more.

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pretty good book, the language used makes it approachable, it doesn't feel preachy. The approach is pretty good too, I like an author who embraces the idea that not everyone is going to agree with them and keeps certain ideas open for interpretation or provides multiple options. There's more of an emphasis on how to achieve a fulfilling relationship with your spiritual practice as opposed to dead set formulas to practice (which is pretty common in this type of book and kinda defeats the purpose of personal spiritual development, in my honest opinion).
That being said, there is quite a bit of repetition. Concepts, ideas, phrases and specific words that keep popping up to the point of annoyance, so I think this book could have without 50 pages or more.
But no book is perfect, no author is perfect and no reader is perfect, so props to them for creating an interesting insight on how to lead a healthy pagan practice. I do highly recommend this book for new seekers and experienced pagans alike.

[John Halstead]

I felt a mixture of jealousy and pride as I perused John Beckett's recently published book, The Path of Paganism, and noted that he didn't credit the source of his "Four Centers of Paganism" idea, neither in the text nor the bibliography. Maybe Beckett forgot the origin of his idea. Or maybe it has something to do with me (and a couple dozen other Pagan bloggers) leaving Patheos, where Beckett chose to stay. In any case, I've decided that plagiarism is the highest form of praise.

https://allergicpagan.com/2017/06/20/...

[Temperance Tarot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be a mixed bag. Some of it was very good and opened me up to new things to consider on my spiritual path. Some of it seemed quite preachy and judgmental.

I understand that he is writing from the perspective of his own path, which is great - he's not trying to claim knowledge about paths he does not follow. He seems to insist, as a pagan, that you have to follow a religion. Religion to me implies specific rituals and practices and that there are others who share your beliefs and practices. What I am practicing now has no boundaries and no one else believes or practices exactly what I do - so I am not practicing religion (which was created by someone other than me) I am practicing spirituality. I am still a pagan..

He says he respects other points of view, but he is really trying to convince me that his point of view is correct. He tells me what I "have to do" right after he acknowledges that people become pagans because they don't want to live by rules established by others - yet here he is establishing a rule that I must follow.

He is very repetitive.

However, there are also some true gems in this book too. His philosophy is poignant and thought provoking. I thought the section on magic and the limits on magic was fabulous. It really helped me understand why magic doesn't always work.

He is a polytheistic Druid, and while he acknowledges other beliefs, the practices in this book really only work for polytheists who want to be part of a group. I think he would have done better to write a book on Druidry – the path he follows, than try to write a book on Paganism.

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personally a really disappointing read. Felt like there was an energy of elitism in regards to the authors love and passion for being apart of the Druid peeps, as well as coming across as rather anti-religious. Felt like it was a very biased book. Felt like there was a hyper focus on Euro-Paganism as well. Only got an extra star because I did learn somethings.

[Leah Hester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is incredible. It's not perfect- it's impossible to be, when you're talking about a path as diverse and wide ranging as all of paganism. Beckett makes a point of consistently reminding the reader that this is from his experiences, but I think a lot of pagans will learn something from this. Beginners can get a thorough view of what modern practice is like and the problems it faces, while those more seasoned will find new questions to ask of themselves and ways to dive deeper in their practice.

Apart from some minor typo errors, I don't have any complaints with this book. I don't think every section will vibe with every pagan- particularly if you aren't following a theistic path, as Becketts experience being a hard polytheist is probably the most prevalent lens the book comes through, but there's information here for all pagans. Highly recommend.

[Alexia ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always loved John Beckett's work and follow it closely on his Patheos page so I knew what I was coming into. This book is fantastic and I'm going to highly recommend it to Pagans in general. Each chapter brings to the table a fantastic reflection on several topics, leads us to reflect on our practice, our path, our connection with our Gods, our Community, our teachers and students and even with ourselves. This is an amazing book that I will highly recommend and will make sure to add to my physical shelf!

[KA · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good primer for someone who wants a broad overview of contemporary paganism. The writing is easy to follow, and I found many of the early chapters to be especially helpful. However, by the midpoint, I felt that a lot of the writing was becoming repetitive and frustratingly shallow. I'm not sure it's the author's fault, as he's writing a primer covering a large and diverse range of practices. I skimmed/skipped about 20% of the end, as it covered topics that weren't of interest/relevance to me.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book if you’re interested in learning about paganism by someone who has been practicing for a long time. You get some ritual advice, and a good basis to branch off into additional research.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best introduction to big-tent Paganism that I’ve ever read. I wish it had been around when I was a teenager.

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a beginner-level book aimed at adults, this book is excellent. The author, a pantheist/polytheist Druid, is fairly up front about his background and biases, which is appreciated.

[Cole · Rating 1 out of 5]

A left wing polemic, complete with intersectionality and critical theory.
Even has vague anarchist calls that worshipping your ancestors means 'dismantling evil societal structures'.

Absolute trash disguised as a broad look at Paganism.

Avoid.

[Venus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It's inclusive, inviting, and warm, yet practical. I highly recommend it to anyone curious about paganism, either as a possible spiritual path or to understand what paganism is and what that umbrella encompasses.

For me, it was enlightening and helped me to establish a meaningful spiritual practice. I went through various changes in my spiritual beliefs over the last twenty years and had considered myself "spiritual but not religious," for a long time. Even though I had a pantheistic outlook of seeing everything as part of a larger divine consciousness, I had lost the devotional practice I used to have.

This book really helped me during my exploration of polytheism as a way to reconnect with divinity and it made me more comfortable with thinking of myself as a pagan. I also recommend the follow up book to this one.

I noticed some reviews commented on his mentions of group practice (he does mention being part of the Order of Bards and being a Druid as well as being part of Unitarian Universalist churches). I didn't perceive this as a stance against solitary practice -- I am a solitary practitioner -- but just as his personal experience and ways for pagans to find connections with other pagans.

He also discusses the future possibility of advancing your practice through priesthood, but that's covered more in the subsequent book to this one. Personally, these discussions didn't bother me, but I also knew before I opened the book that I was primarily interested in solitary practice. I can see that a person with little exposure to paganism might get an impression that group work was very common (vs. solitary practice) when reading the book, but I didn't get the impression that this is the only way to practice.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of the book was both interesting and informative, especially if you are new to paganism and would like to learn more about different pagan groups and practices. The second part of the book focused more on how to create an grow a community, which I personally was not interested in. I ended up skipping many of those sections because they were not useful to a new learner. Still, good book overall.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

How have I not read this until now? (the answer is divine timing, but we won't get into it)

I've been an avid reader of John's blog for years. I've taken one of his courses. I hang on the guy's every word concerning Druidry. The fact that this has only been on my 'to read' list and not right in my face all this time is a small tragedy.

John thoroughly covers all the major ins-and-outs of Paganism 101 and into intermediate practice. There is no 'my way is the right way' sort of lecturing. He's very open and objective in everything and keeps reminding the reader that, ultimately, they need to find what fits best for their lives. I know this comes from his background growing up Baptist because I am the same and I think it makes us really *not* want to force anything on anyone. It's greatly appreciated as a reader.

John writes of some of his personally experiences along with anecdotes that really make the concepts easy to understand. Furthermore, his language use is great because there is no haughty, philosophical hipster "I'm going to talk over your head in order to emphasize my standing as expert" type of talk. It's very to the point (probably because he's an engineer), but also because it's made for anyone and everyone of all walks of live. Trying to gatekeep through incomprehensible mumbo-jumbo will leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth.

These writings, through this book, and through blogs have been what has helped to reinforce what I've believed (but told I shouldn't because....fire and brimstone and all that). It's a huge comfort to read this and repeatedly explain "YES! EXACTLY!! THIS GUY GETS IT!". I can't wait to delve into the next book "Paganism in Depth" as well as some more of his courses.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Path of Paganism: An Experience-Based Guide to Modern Pagan Practice by John Beckett is one of the finest books on Paganism I have ever read. I know that this sounds like Hyperbole but there is much to distinguish this book from the numerous other books I have read on Paganism. (And all from this publisher)
I want to mention Llewellyn because for many years they were the publishers of many pithy works concerning the Pagan Path. Sometimes the books were very pithy and not worth anyone’s time. In this case, they have made quite a departure and have garnered something that should be moved from the new age/occult section to the religion section.
No nonsense, and very clear – this books is what I wish I would have read when I first started my pagan path. The writing is ‘to the point” and does not waste your time with any excess text.
I have often looked for works that I can give to non-pagan relatives so that they might be able to clearly have Paganism defined for them. This book is the book that I would put in my Library and know it is an excellent resource for students who want to get an example of the beliefs of the Pagan path. While there are some great works on paganism (Drawing Down the Moon is one such example) this book particularly has the distinction of being easy to read, with a clear format and a language that can be read by anyone -without extraneous exclusive jargon.
If you want to read a book on the pagan path that is refreshing and also enlightening, this is the one you should choose. It also would be a welcome addition to any private Library that wants to have a definitive work that can explain Paganism to others.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book out of curiosity after a family member had bought it and passed it on to me when they were finished reading. I'm atheist but still found it interesting ​and it doesn't feel like it was a waste of time. I enjoyed reading the author's opinions, practices, and worldviews even if not all of them were my own.
I appreciated the part where he said bad science makes bad religion (one of the original reasons I left Christianity), he respects the environment, acknowledges evolution, climate change, the scientifically accepted age of the universe, etc.
Throughout the book sometimes I agreed with things and sometimes I didn't, but it was almost all interesting and nowhere did I ever feel insulted, pressured or manipulated to to covert to his ways of thinking, and the author knows not to, and wrote about how much it upset him when he overheard someone else trying it.
I didn't get bored until I reached the chapters in part 3 and ended up skimming over the rest of it feeling like I was ready to call it finished, but I'm sure that section would be worth reading to those whom it was intended for.

[Jamie Coenen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book with an up-to-date approach to Paganism as a whole. Beckett presents new and refreshing ideas, such as his model of the Four Centres of Contemporary Paganism, which is an extremely helpful framework for understanding the diversity within Paganism today.

It is clear that Beckett falls more within the *Deity* Centre himself, and I struggled to relate to some of the later chapters about priesthood and service. But this did not distract from the overall themes of the book. Everything written about is based in practical experience, and this is truly a book about hands-on practice.

There are so many quotable gems throughout this book, and I found it fun to go through it with a highlighter pen. I recommend doing this if you have your own copy!

Anyone serious about learning the basics of the whole spectrum of contemporary Paganism should read this book.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

FULL REVIEW TO BE PUBLISHED.
For a long time, I thought that only years-ago published books would be the worthy ones to offer an introduction to paganism and witchcraft and that nowadays’ materials were meant to only give a more focused vision of different topics.
I would have preferred that Beckett had included more photographs, maybe one or two in each chapter, to make it more visual, as it certainly was good to see a couple of them in a chapter. That’s the only, immature Con I’d find in his book.
As always, many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy. I liked it more than I first thought, and would like to keep an eye on Beckett, considering myself one of his fans after reading "The Path of Paganism: An Experience-Based Guide to Modern Pagan Practice."

[Claire M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This -- and John Beckett's other book, Paganism in Depth -- are probably two of the best books on contemporary paganism I've ever read. The subtitle is "An Experience-Based Guide to Modern Pagan Practice," and it definitely feels like a guide, as opposed to a manual or an instruction book. Beckett's tone is warm, thoughtful, and friendly as he considers the deeper functions of religion and spirituality in a pagan context, as well as providing a good deal of practical advice for pagan life; he also includes exercises and reflection for the reader to contemplate in their own spiritual journey.

There's too much good stuff here to fit into a short summary, so I'll just say that if you've read a ton of introductory books and are looking to dig deeper into pagan spirituality and practice, I would recommend this book without hesitation. (And Beckett's blog on Patheos is excellent, too.)

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un ottimo libro per comprendere la mentalità e la visione del mondo di chi pratica questa religione. Credo che in moltissimi, novizi o che percorrono il proprio cammino da anni, possano beneficiare della lettura di questo libro perché troppo spesso ci approcciamo al percorso del Paganesimo con preconcetti derivanti dalla cultura dominante senza rendercene conto. Molto interessante e illuminante l'analisi del rapporto tra pratica e fede. Ci sono esercizi e/o spunti di riflessione alla fine di ogni capitolo per mettere in pratica ciò che si è imparato. Tuttavia, anche se il libro si rivolge ai novizi, la terza parte affronta temi più avanzati che forse chi si approccia al Paganesimo per la prima volta non troverà di immediata utilità, ma ai quali potrà sicuramente fare riferimento procedendo lungo il percorso.

[Kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at the public library, picked it up and flipped through it a bit, and just a couple of the sections caught my attention enough to check it out and take it home. I started about midway through the book, only intending to read the couple of sections that caught my attention, but found the WHOLE book bore so much wisdom and food for thought that I finished the book, then re-read the book from the beginning to catch what I'd skipped over in the first place. I cannot express how much this book has made me think and consider my own personal path with the God/desses, but I will be looking to add my own copy to my personal library soon.

[Simone · Rating 1 out of 5]

Initially I thought this was going to be a great read. A great introduction to Paganism.. BUT....Whilst the language and style was easily understood I found this book extremely repetitive and very much about the author. I'd go as far as saying it was lecturing in a lot of instances. It was his opinions, his experiences, his ways. It should have been titled MY Path not THE path. I literally flicked through the last 2/3 of the book and won't be keeping it on my shelf. Too many pages and too much focus on the gods, other religions and his experiences rather than Paganism itself. There are better books and podcasts out there. Borrow. Don't purchase.

[Alastair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll give this book credit, I learned a lot about Druidism in it. I still have a set of issues with it however, one being the way mental health is talked about. Maybe its just my personal belief, but genuinely no matter your religion, mental health is the upmost importance! Anyone reading this please take care of it! The other one being the "Join a group! You MUST!" it felt like its showing people who are following this to find their religious path that they have no other choice but to join a group. In all, it's very informative, but the author has some opinions in here I blatantly disagree with. In all a 3.5/5

[Remy Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Path of Paganism is one the best books on Paganism I've ever had the pleasure of reading. John Beckett strikes a great balance between the spiritual and the mundane. He offers amazing, challenging views and advice on building a deep, meaningful pagan practice and relationships with the gods, spirits and ancestors in a very grounded down to earth fashion, which is sometimes hard to find in books on Paganism or Witchcraft. I know this book is going to be one that I consult, re-read and reccomend for years to come.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rigorous, serious examination of pagan belief. I really enjoyed Beckett's practical authorial voice and his polytheist, Druid, UU perspective. The book does range a little repetitive towards the end, but the seriousness and detail of the thoughts here make up for that for me. I would argue that this book doesn't just go beyond paganism 101 material, but it actually forms a solid basis to that material--it feels like essential reading to me and I wish I'd picked it up sooner.

A side note--I listened to this as an audiobook and the reader was fantastic.

[Shaun Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed John Beckett’s book ‘ The Path of Paganism’, although at times I did struggle with some of the explanations which were hard for me to understand as I’m British English and live in the U.K. the references and expertise was totally North American Etc. That said Mr. Beckett did provide some very clear explanations and was easy to put into practice. His references to to Organised Religions and the two biggest in the Modern World, were very understanding and accurate. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to stay a journey into the path of our Ancestors and Pagan beliefs.