This is kinda triggered by Waldfrau …..
The longer I’m on that path (whatever that may be) the less important the sabbats or the ecclectic wheel of the year in general seem to be. Some celebrations are “felt” and I enjoy the special feeling they bring…but no need for celebrations.
I even wonder when I had the last “proper rite” for a festive day. Ages ago….last Beltane I had a sponateous action on my own in the garden. Just some smudging, some prayers, planting a flower – full stop. No big deal with circles or whatsoever. I simply feel that there is no need for it. Especially as I can’t really relate to a “call the different gods”-thing as I’ve always believed that there is just one power /God who’s all in one: all gods are one God if you want to put it that way. And I don’t care at all whether it’s “male” or “female”. It is God – it is “it” and calling it God instead of goddess does not bring me any bad feelings – simply because that male/female thing is of no matter to me (as explained).
Yes – I still have an affinity for the Egypt gods and systems – but only because I own (and looove) my small Isis and esp. my cherished Osiris does not mean I need to kneel down and invoke them. I know several people who have told me the gods would not be amused if I call them all “aspects of a whole” without admitting their personality. Mh – don’t think so – maybe I’ll be thinking different again one day -> if your own picture of “God” does not vary from time to time and change under the influence of life…sorry to be telling you that your religious development is not moving on (check Oser + Gmünder if you want to 
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So – coming back to the start: what is “the pagan” way? I’ve come from an interest in wicca over different systems of belief to the state I’m in now: I don’t need huge rites with tonz of tools or whatsoever. I have found my way of talking to the power, using it in myself – which includes being able to be talking to Wiccas/Eclectics/Asatru….Pagans (to shorten it) and still go to church every now and then without feeling “diverted”. Both parts belong together in myself and for myself. What’s really getting on my nervers in this respect is other pagans blaming me for not being a “proper pagan” (sometimes I think there was an amandment to the Rede, saying “Thou shalt hate the church to be a real Wiccan”)….and I know Kate will partly agree so at least I’m not alone….
Why can’t “the pagan way” not simply be something “mixed”? No stories of patchwork-religion and how bad it is to take only the best of differnt systems. That’s not what I intented either…ah – I guess I better stop the rambling for a minute and control my thoughts — or leave it to comments to trigger a clearer speech of myself 
Happy new year to you!
Um, who’s authority is it to judge which rite is “proper” anyway?
Btw, it might look like I have a big program for the wheel, but I’m really just writing down ‘might be-s’ which came from roughly two years of trying out different ways to acknowledge the wheel.
I think it’s the best to go with your feelings and concentrate on what’s important for you at the time. You might need a structured ritual or just a silent minute with a candle or the yearly cycle isn’t of any importance to you at all. Unless you’re sworn to a specific tradition there’s no ‘must do’. You’re not a bad Pagan if you don’t formally celebrate the wheel of the year.
And why is being who you are something “mixed”? It’s not your fault that diverging groups share some of your ideas.
Hey – I loved the last sentence
You’re very right!
I wish it was a bit more like that as it often seems I’m too Liberal for either Group
Ah – it seems I got a bit taken away with my own writing there. It really was triggered by reading your plans for the wheel – and just to put it straight: I don’t think it’s too much – I know writing lists like that myself
Just one thing got to another…and, yes, I do ask myself who’s got a right to question what’s a “proper” right – yet I experience that kind of questioning in pagan circles a lot. I’m sure you do notice as well. And at the moment I’ve simply reached a limit in a way and am too “lazy” and centred at the same time to be bothered …*lol*
Lol, yeah, I know this and other kinds of questioning in Pagan circles and it is sometimes bothersome for me especially if I’m new in some department and don’t have the knowledge based backup academics are used to when debating something…
I think all this questioning comes because Paganism today is a new religious phenomena and people still lack self-confidence and general acceptance for their non-mainstream beliefs.
And there are a lot of idiot Pagans…well there are also idiot-christian and idiot-insert religion x, but the Pagans are more afraid of getting a bad reputation.
So those who don’t want to critizise the church critizise other pagans. (And some for good reasons.) But some questioning is way over the top IMO.
Ah I came to read your blog and my name is mentioned .. um. hehe. And yes, I am commenting because I do agree with you. Why should anyone have the right to blame you for not being a “proper pagan”?!
As you know, I was ok with being an “improper” pagan for 11 years – because I could not identify with the god/goddess as it is put across in paganism, but loved the meditation, magic, and nature-reverence. I found nothing in that time that I could believe that was better for me. Now I identify mostly with Taoism, but I feel the timing for this had to be just right. 10 years ago, 5 years ago, I was not ready for Tao.
As one of my friends has said, our paths would be stagnant if we didn’t question ourselves and adapt / change spiritually, so you “MUST” do only what is right for you! Only you know what you relationship with nature and the universe is, so blessed be your journey whatever you choose to do