Research is one of the most important skills that a pagan can have, but oftentimes people have no idea where or how to begin! Learning about a new religion can be at times scary and overwhelming, especially when you aren't sure what you're supposed to be learning. Here's a quick guide of how to research the basics of your selected pantheon.
Quick Note: I have ADHD, so some of my methods are specific to me, and have been developed overtime to allow me to process and remember information in a way that works better for my situation.
The Bare Bones, or What To Start With:
First, identify which pantheon you think you'd like to work within. For the purposes of this example, I'm going to select the Norse pantheon.
Next, find a source that gives a general overview of that pantheon. I used this Crash Course video to start my research. In this thirteen minute video, the wonderful people at Crash Course go over the bare bones of the Norse pantheon, including a brief history of where the pantheon originated, short introductions to deities, the difference between Aesir and Vanir, and other general workings of the Norse pantheon.
Take notes as you read or watch! I would suggest handwriting, as this forces you to paraphrase and think about the best way to present the information. In my experience, copy and paste just doesn't allow the information to sink in and stay.
Besides YouTube videos, there are countless websites and books that can introduce you to new pantheons. Have trouble reading textbook style writing or can't concentrate for long periods of time? Try a Rick Riordan novel! They're written in a fictionalized style, but still include a lot of good information. In fact, when researching, I utilized Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series. As new deities, concepts, and creatures were introduced, I wrote them down to research later. Don't regard the novels as entirely credible sources of information, but as a guide to later research.
Now, you've been exposed to the basic, most well known aspects of your pantheon! You've got a good foundation for further research, and can move on to more specific points.
If your research process were a house, you've now laid the foundation and framework.
The Specific Point Deep Dive, or What Comes Next:
Next, you can pick something specific in the pantheon, like a deity, object, or concept. For example, I'll use the Norse god Loki.
Do some more thorough research into your specific point. Read or watch multiple sources on the figure or topic, and take notes as you go along.
For my example of Loki, I took two pages of notes using multiple mythological and historical sources, and another Crash Course video on the Trickster God archetype. Using these sources, I recorded the etymology behind his name (loosely translated, Loki means "knot, loop, or tangle"), what Loki is the god of, who his family, children, and spouse are, his attributes, and the details of his roles in several myths.
I repeated this process for other prominent deities, The Nine Worlds, and Ragnarok.
Now, you have a more detailed understanding of your pantheon, including the deities inside it and what their roles are, and some important events and objects.
Now your research house is beginning to look like a house! Picture it: the walls are up and sturdy, and you're almost ready to move in!
Historical Context, or The Third Step:
The next step is to read into the cultures that worshipped your selected pantheon.
The cultural and social beliefs surrounding pantheons are what give them their roles and their purpose. A deity that is useless or meaningless to a culture wouldn't exist.
For example, the Norse were largely a war-like people. It goes to reason then that some of their most widely worshipped figures would be deities of war like Thor and Odin.
One crucial piece of paganism is that our religions are not impervious to outside influence. When the Romans recorded their findings on Heathen religion, they would often talk about the Norse gods within the context of their own (equating Tyr to Mars, for example), and a lot of surviving Norse texts have at least some post-Christian influence.
As an example of how myths and stories can change over time, let's consider the myth of Medusa. There are two versions to the story of how Medusa came to be the figure we're all familiar with. In the older version of the story, she and her sisters were simply born Gorgons. In the later version, recorded by the Roman poet Ovid, she was turned into a Gorgon by Athena.
Now in your pantheon house, you've got furniture, and you're almost completely moved in!
Modern Worship, or The Final Step
The last step I take in my research is to read some first-hand accounts of the modern worshippers of these gods. I utilized several blogging and social media sites to look at how modern worshippers honor and interact with their gods.
What I pull from these sources is just the final (and smallest) piece of the puzzle. I looked at offerings, altars, and how the deities in this pantheon interacted with those that worshipped and worked with them. I was, in essence, looking for ideas and not information. I also looked how these first-hand accounts aligned with my perceptions of the deities and the pantheon, and finalized my ideas of what deities I would like to work with.
Now, your pantheon house is complete! You're completely moved in, all your furniture and possessions are there, and the house is now a home.
General Study Tips:
Save a record of all sources you read for later use
Read sources from both secular and religious perspectives
Utilize academic papers and writing for historical and archaeological information
Try to utilize both books and websites (when applicable)
Stuck in a reading rut? Try a documentary or video
Be aware of bias in translations and retellings. If the target audience is children, you're most likely going to get a version that has been somewhat "cleaned up"
Read multiple versions of each myth or story
Try to find at least three sources for each topic
Check the bibliography before trusting a source
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