Books

Week 4 - the letter "B" is for Books

(I'm falling behind but this is an attempt to catch up.  Not sure if I will but I am going to keep moving forward.)

Books.  I love them.  I love reading them, purchasing them, smelling them, hoarding them.  But, my Pagan library is somewhat sparse. 

It seems strange since I am such a bibliophile (modern version) but I can explain.  My Pagan books are for learning and increasing my personal knowledge of what I view as my "Shanda-ism".  My Pagan books are for reference and practicality.  Some are very near and dear to my heart, having acquired a sentimental value but most are just tools, much like candles, wands, stones, etc. 

Most are marked up with notes written in the margins.  Many have highlighted passages and pages that have been bent at the corners for a bookmark.  Some are worn and on the verge of falling apart while others are pristine. 

There is so much information out there - published books, websites, online groups, people in real life, stores - that it can be overwhelming.  And the contradiction is crazy. 

My personal belief system is uniquely my own and comes from many different areas.  It is something that I have been working on and building for the past 25+ years.  But early on, it was hard to wade through the information to determine what clicked with me.

One author would have a certain way to perform a Yule celebration while another would have a completely different, if not opposite, description on how he honored the Sabbat.  It was confusing and I was terrified of messing up.  I explored and experimented until something clicked.  Over the years, I've changed and adapted but my books - my go-to books - remain the same. 

I've also found that, unless highly recommended by very trusted and respected sources, I cannot purchase books online.  I need to look through the books to see if the info inside resonates with me and isn't something I have in at least 3 other books and recorded in my Book of Shadows.  The book must serve a purpose.

Because it has also been a while since I was a newbie, I am beyond the basics.  I need to hone my practice in my own way and is focused on trial and error more than anything.  I still love learning new things but I'm becoming more and more set in my ways. 

Books are wonderful and I will carry on a love affair with them for the rest of my days.  But they are meant to be used and enjoyed.  Otherwise, they are just useless chunks of paper, with words splashed upon the pages, and bound together.