“This book is beautifully written, expertly researched and wisdom-filled. With much personal honesty and many helpful anecdotes, Yvonne takes you on an exciting journey that cannot fail to offer some sense of guidance and companionship.
They go “back to basics” with an exploration into the original meaning of the word religion. And they touch on all of the most important current issues that hundreds of thousands of spiritual seekers face, to do with abuse etc.
They also speak to the LGBTQ2SIA world, which is currently under newer and crueler forms of attacks from various kinds of religious adherents.
You will find many helpful resources here, for your devotional and spiritual life too.
In short, this book is a treasure trove for the spiritual wanderer and the religious troubadour.”
— Mark Townsend,
Author, priest, stage magician, celebrant, Dudeist, Christian, Druid. His books include “The Path of The Blue Raven”, “Jesus Through Pagan Eyes: Bridging Neopagan Perspectives with a Progressive Vision of Christ”, and “Diary of a Heretic: The Pagan Adventures of a Christian Priest”.
www.marktownsendministry.co.uk
“The Greek pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus once insisted that “panta rhei” (everything flows) and many centuries later the Roman poet Lucretius, echoing this insight, wrote that “omnia migrant” (everything moves). Both of them in their very different ways understood something that contemporary physics in our own age is also now fully recognizing, namely, that all things are always-already flowing and fluxing and, therefore, always-already “becoming.” In other words, each of them is reminding us that what it is for anything to be the thing it is is to be something in motion. But so much of religion—especially the prevalent kinds found within British and North American culture—finds movement, flow, flux and becoming frightening because it cuts against the idea that that which is of ultimate value is something which, as the writer of the Letter of James once put it, must be without “alternation or shadow of change” (1:17).
In thoughtfully and insightfully tracing their own moving, flowing and fluxing movements of becoming the kind of religious person they are today, Yvonne Aburrow offers us a helpful book which opens up to the sympathetic reader many practical ways by which they, too, might come to understand and gently embody the truth that all paths are always-already changing paths, and that changing paths may well turn out to be the most fundamental and authentic way of being religious in our own, or any, age.”
—Andrew James Brown, Minister
Cambridge Unitarian Church (UK)
https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com
“Changing Paths fills an important need in the Pagan community: a guidebook for how, when, and why to change your path, whether that’s within or outside Paganism. Compassionate and personal, this guide offers helpful journaling prompts and meditations for the reader to find the path that is right for them based on where they are in their own spiritual journey, as well as a handy list of red flags to watch out for when considering joining a spiritual community.”
—Enfys J. Book, author of Queer Qabala: Nonbinary, Genderfluid, Omnisexual Mysticism & Magick
https://majorarqueerna.com/
“Within the pages of this valuable resource, Yvonne Aburrow shares their own background in Religious Studies and heart wrenching experience changing paths to create a thoughtful and practical guide for Pagans negotiating spiritual crises and transformation. This comprehensive guide includes information that will help you break down and understand the process of changing your course into, out of, or within Pagan religion and spirituality. The addition of essays by guest writers creates an understanding community feeling and the meditations and journal prompts give you a sense of order and control over a difficult transition. This book has everything you need to change paths with support and confidence.”
—Dodie Graham McKay, filmmaker
(The WinniPagans, Starry Nights, Exploring the Sacred)
and author of Earth Magic: The Elements of Ritual
“Hearing the deepest longings of our lives can be especially tough when trying to find our spiritual home, but thankfully Yvonne Aburrow’s excellent new book “Changing Paths” is here to help us. In this book, Yvonne invites us to a position of spiritual adulthood where our personal choices and preferences are honored as an expression of who we are and aspire to be. I would highly recommend Yvonne’s thoughtful and accessible guide to anyone exploring these questions for themselves or for those seeking to make sense of the difficult journeys they may have already taken. For me this book was a healing balm in helping me make further sense of the steps I needed to take. Initiation is rarely easy, but the golden goal of taking our truest and emerging form is an alchemy worth pursuing!”
—Steve Dee,
Author of Chaos Monk and blogger at the Blog of Baphomet, https://theblogofbaphomet.com/
“Changing Paths should be essential reading for Pagans, Wiccans, and those who would seek to change the course of their spiritual practices and lives. Like all of Yvonne Aburrow’s books and writings, it is well researched, balanced, informative, and fascinating.”
—Andrew Knox,
Ouroboros Coven
“Changing Paths by Yvonne Aburrow is an incredibly helpful guide for anyone unhappy in their current religious or faith tradition. In their introduction, the author states that, “The goal of the book is to help you decide your own path by guiding you through the perils and pitfalls of the terrain, and asking questions to help you deepen your understanding of the reasons for your desire to change paths.” This promise is fulfilled.
The section on Leaving Your Current Tradition covers many of the common reasons for dissatisfaction with or unhappiness about your current tradition and takes the reader through the process of sitting with their discomfort, so that they are ready to leave.
The second section is Joining Paganism, in which Aburrow describes the slow process of identifying your new spiritual home and gradually settling into it. The process could equally be applied to other faith traditions. The book also brings together several testimonies from people who have found a home in Paganism after leaving other traditions. Each chapter includes some questions for journaling with, and a short meditation. If I were on this path, I would have found this book most reassuring and helpful. It fulfills its stated aim “as a guide through the difficult terrain of changing paths” and I would recommend it to anyone in this situation.”
—Sue Woolley,
Author and Unitarian minister
“Changing Paths by Yvonne Aburrow is a down to earth and extremely practical book on the complexities and intricacies of switching belief systems. Yvonne’s words will leave you feeling deeply seen, especially if changing religions is something you have already encountered in your life. If you have not yet made the switch, it will provide you with the framework and steps necessary to make those changes for your future if need be.
Yvonne’s tone is gentle, understanding and to the point which makes this book a refreshing change to others that try to tackle the dense topic of personal religion. Yvonne’s words are kind and accepting of all beliefs making this a book that is truly for everyone. I especially love how they sum up the best way to know if your chosen religion is beneficial to you or not: “If religion or spirituality makes us more disconnected from other people, less compassionate, less rational, then it is harmful. If on the other hand, it enables us to feel more love and compassion for others, and be better able to cope with the sorrowful aspects of life, then it is helpful.”
Covering topics such as religious trauma, gender and sexuality acceptance within various religions, the religious issues with patriarchy and opposite issues associated with a matriarchy and following it all up with a rich guide on joining or converting to paganism in any of its many forms. “Changing Paths” is a well-researched and easy to absorb book filled with wisdom and practical advice on what can often be a difficult and confusing topic for many people.
I truly wish I had a copy of this book during my own transition from evangelical Christianity to Witchcraft. It would have saved me a lot of frustration, confusion and ill-informed anger by providing the guidance and prompts required of a shift that big.”
—Hana the Suburban Witch,
host of the Witch Talks Podcast.
Changing Paths 