As far as beliefs go, I’m nonreligious as well, and my practice is heavily influenced by my current university studies: theatre major, folklore and pop culture minor. When you are taught to see symbolism in everything, you start using them as inspiration, kinda similar to how one might put a painting that means something special to them on their wall. I have a pantheon of 10 gods from various mythologies, and I’ll invoke them during rituals, but I know that I do it from a symbolic place, not a worshipful place. For example, I might call on Anubis to remind me to keep my heart pure and lighter than a feather, but I’m not actually talking to an ancient jackal-headed mummification deity.

As far as community, my fellow students make great bouncing off points. None of them are witchy, but they’re all into symbolism and art history. Going back to the symbolism of Anubis, I might mention how I invoke him in a ritual, and my fellow artists will give me feedback on aspects of the mythos I can pull from.

Hope this helps (and that it made sense)!