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I'm new to the occult. I grew up a Christian but never really fit in. I always researched different religions trying to find one that worked for me. I always have been interested in magik and have done a lot of research in it. My aunt is a Wiccan and she has taught me different things but my parents do not approve of this since they are devout Christians. I am only a high schooler but I take this stuff very seriously. I grew up with magik because my parents were in to occult and witchcraft before they became Christians. I'm very interested in the occult but I am not sure how to begin. I would really appreciate for advice and help along the way. I just need help getting involved. I am currently agnostic. I am very open religiously. I know a lot about most religions. I understand karma and do my want to misuse magik. I am spend a lot of time with numerology. I do have prophetic dreams and I have narcolepsy and when I have a spell I have dreams that happen in the future but I can't predict when. I need guidance, and would like any help granted. Thanks(:

Vodou!

That was only half-serious, as a sort of last resort, you could dress your practises up as christianity while it has a different meaning to you, if and only if the alternative (honesty) will produce an unbearable living environment. I'd avoid hiding it though

It does sound like your parents have done a bit of exploring also, do you know why they became christians? Have you tried talking to them about this stuff?

They had a bad experience with a demon. And they will not even talk about any of it anymore. I am so interested in different types of magik and just have no idea what path is best for me.

If you have the means, you could go to school and study Cultural Anthropology.
It's a really good excuse for studying magic and spirituality in a way that your parents might find more legitimate,
while providing you with access to academic grade learning material and a good cover for developing your own practices.

I am still in highschool but I can take private athropolgy classes because I am taking private psychology and sociology classes. Do you think it would give me the information to figure out what path I need to go on? I am completely stumped.

I may be going in a completely different direction here but I read that your parents are not very receptive to discussion about these topics. Are they openly judgemental of your choices to explore this path? They can't very well admonish your intent if it is "good". And by being negative about it they are in fact, discussing it.

Anthropology classes may bring you into new questions rather than answering any you currently have. If you are not comfortable going against your parents wishes you may just have to wait until you are no longer "under boot" so to speak.

You have a fork in the road in front of you. You can try to hide your studies, which I don't think would be good for your general well being. You can openly defy your parents, which I also do not feel that is something you wish to do. Or you can wait and explore freely in a few years.

Is there any way you can use the Christian belief system to get them to open up to you about their distaste on the subject? I think just getting them talking at this point would be how to get your foot in the door and one step closer to open practice.

I disagree, learning is never a waste, and Anthropology can provide avenues into living cultures where magic is practiced openly and as a regular and accepted part of everyday life.

Secondly, to the OP, it seems not so much that you need a path, but more want one. This stuff can take a lifetime, and many people undergo crises of faith that cause a sudden paradigmatic shift. It can happen more than once, too. You're young and obviously near the start of your journey. What I would say to you is this: it doesn't really matter which path you take because all paths contain underlying universal truths that lead to the same place. The really important thing is that you find a paradigm to work with that resonates with you on a deep level.

Have you discussed this with your Aunt?
If she's a Wiccan she was likely where you are now at some point in her past.

In the meantime, you could do what the Indigenous Folks do here in North America, and just talk to The Creator [whatever you want to call It], without applying any particular dogma to it.
Go for a walk in the woods, talk to the trees and meditate on it. Mabye some introspection will give you an answer, I don't know. Forests are full of paths. Maybe one will present itself to you.

You could also start doing Yoga and engaging in a regular meditation practice --even Christians meditate. I suspect developing your meditation skills would assist you with your dreams, and both are practices that are beneficial to the development of occult abilities, regardless of the paradigm you ultimately choose to follow. I'm not a Buddhist, but I used to attend a free Tibetan Buddhist meditation group, just to get myself into the practice and away from the house for a couple of hours. Nothing like this is ever wasted.

Thank you all very much. I just don't know exactly where to begin to find my path. I need to start somewhere and I just don't know where that is. I read books and forums and study, yet I only have more questions. I wish I could just be someone's apprentice so I can understand what I want and then go on my own path. I'm not worried about my parents, my life is my own, they went down many paths an I should be able to as well. I just need to wet my feet in this world and understand what I'm working with, and no amount of reading and studying has gotten me there. I don't know what my choices are because I don't know what I'm dealing with. Is there and way I can start to immerse myself so thy I can learn more about te occult and find my path?

TheSeeker wrote:I disagree, learning is never a waste, and Anthropology can provide avenues into living cultures where magic is practiced openly and as a regular and accepted part of everyday life

I apologize, I did not intend to sound as if I was discouraging learning. I was just focusing on the narrow minded quick answers the OP seemed to want. Also, thank you, I did not think of the courses as a way to be exposed to practicing cultures. Inventive thinking! [idea]

esoterikos wrote:I apologize, I did not intend to sound as if I was discouraging learning.

No offense taken, Dude... [smile2]