Hello, I am just starting out on this journey! I have always felt a deep connection to nature, and felt that magic is all around us. I believe that most magic is far more subtle than we have been taught by media and society. Recently, I started feeling disconnected from nature due to an incredibly hard period in my life. I wasn't able to connect with animals like before, even my own pets. I felt constantly adrift, like my soul was screaming silently.
I've never felt like Christianity fit me. I've tried church, reading the Bible, etc. It just never resonated with me. As a teenager, I was very interested in learning about nature centric practices, but felt unable to express that because I was young and worried about being seen as different.
Now, I have started dipping my toe into the water, and want to start adding some intentional small aspects of Paganism to my life. The tree of life has always been something I felt connected to, and is soothing. Based on the research I've done so far, I'm leaning towards Irish Paganism. I just want to start slow and make sure I'm being respectful while I explore this.
For my actual questions, does anyone have any recommendations for literature? It's hard to know where to look for a reputable source of information. Also, my husband is having a spinal fusion in a few weeks, and I want to purify our home. Is it too early in my journey to do a smoke cleansing with Juniper? I want to provide the best environment for healing, and our lives have been plagued with misfortune for several years that we can't seem to break free of.
I appreciate any insight and recommendations!
Thank you!