Paganism 101: Becoming A Pagan

[Updated January 31st, 2026]

One of the most common questions from people getting interested in paganism is “how do I convert?”. The answer is very straightforward: you don’t. You just decide you’re going to be a pagan.The real question should be “how do I start practicing paganism?”, which is both very simple and very complicated.

In “The Path of Paganism”, John Beckett says

When I first discovered paganism, I was thrilled. [...] I dived right into it…and floundered for eight years. The beliefs and practices I was trying to begin were at odds with the unstated assumptions I had learned from mainstream society. It was only when I finally began to examine those assumptions–when I became aware of the water in which I was swimming–that I was able to start building a meaningful pagan practice.

Paganism makes very different assumptions about the world than other religions do, and awareness of that can make starting out as a pagan much smoother. I feel that most people have a year (or more) where they struggle to build a meaningful practice, but this unfortunately just comes with time and with examining your own ideas. There’s no need to rush! I bring this up just to say that you will struggle in the beginning and everybody has been there.

My first recommendation is always to read as much as you can possibly get your hands on and to watch pagan videos if that’s something that would interest you. Knowledge is power, after all. Find out what interests you and learn as much as you can.

In “To Walk A Pagan Path”, Alaric Albertsson gives some steps for those who are just starting out.

His first recommendation is to perform a dedication rite.

We have discussed how Hal Sidu (a term he’s using to mean “healthy traditions”, he is a Saxon pagan) demands action, so why not take action right now? If you would like to make changes in your life to integrate body, mind and spirit, read the following description of the Dedication Rite and then perform the ritual yourself.

No, really. Do it now.

Obviously, he says only to drop everything to take immediate action if you have privacy, but I agree with the sentiment. I was going to say that I don’t think a dedication rite is necessary, but what he describes is very close to what I recommended in my first draft of this page, I just didn’t call it that. That being said, you don’t necessarily have to do this, but I’d recommend it. Getting started is the hardest part, but it doesn’t have to be high pressure. Of course, you can adapt this however you’d like. The dedication rite can be found here, if you're interested!

As for what you do next, I'm going to mostly stick with what Albertsson lists, since I overall agree with the steps he laid out.

Step 1: Connecting with Spirit

If you did the rite outlined above, then you have already started this. There are an endless number of gods and spirits one could possibly connect with. Many people describe the way they came to worship their gods as saying “x reached out to me”, but this is not very common. A vast majority of the time, you will need to make the first move or you will end up waiting for a sign that is never going to come.

I have personally experienced both. I reached out to Apollon first and was essentially met with a cold shoulder. I persisted though and now he is the main god I worship. Skadi, however, beat me over the head because I just wasn’t getting it.

I partially agree with the advice to find a pantheon that interests you and just take action. You do not have to feel limited or like you are stuck with this pantheon forever.

Whichever pantheon appeals to you the most right now is the best pantheon for you right now. Just as a tentative first date could eventually lead to marriage, your initial choice in pantheon may lead to a lifetime commitment, but you can change pantheons later if you find that your first choice was not the best choice for you.

However, I also think it is a good idea to start with the deities that are the closest to you: land spirits, household spirits and/or ancestors. You do not have to go right for gods and goddesses if you don’t want to. Some people don’t worship gods at all, or only do so on holidays.

I will discuss deities in more depth in “basics”.

Step 2: Creating Sacred Space

You should establish a place where you are going to connect with your deities. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a permanent altar, but it could be. It could be a comfortable part of your bedroom where you set up a temporary altar, or your garden if you have one, or under a tree at the park. Really, anywhere you feel comfortable will do.

Step 3: Creating Sacred Time

This is the hardest part in my opinion. Life is always happening and it can be hard to find time for spiritual practice. I personally write in what I’m going to do in my planner and try to at least light a candle on my altar and say a quick prayer before getting back to my daily tasks. This was a little easier when I had a full time job with a consistent schedule, because I just did something every Sunday. When trying to create a consistent practice, you should think about what the absolute minimum is. You can always choose to do more if you have the opportunity. Treat it like any other habit.

Step 4: Sacralize Daily Activities

This is the most essential part of being a pagan, in my opinion. If you are used to viewing everything you do as having the potential to be sacred, practicing often becomes much easier. I often pray to Hermes before taking public transit. It isn’t a whole entire ritual, it is just a quiet acknowledgement and request for safety.

I left out the last few steps, since they feel similar to step 3, but more formalized (ie having monthly observances, celebrating holidays) or are just recommending the reader seek out other pagans.

Recommended Reading

• The Path of Paganism by John Beckett
• To Walk A Pagan Path: Practical Spirituality For Every Day by Alaric Albertsson