Playing Croquet with Hedgehogs: (Still) Becoming a Scholar of Paganism and Animism

Abstract

A reflection on the development of a career partly concerned with the study of Paganisms. After indicating some ways of using a quotation from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the article considers the question of the subject matter of Pagan Studies. It connects contemporary Paganisms and other cultural phenomena (e.g. indigenous religions and animisms) and indicates the importance of respecting the hosts of our research. The second half of the article concerns the “difficult game of academia.” It offers some ideas about learning how to play, being open to serendipity, and being aware that some colleagues think different rules are important.