Hi there, and welcome. :))
That was a problem I had a while back with friends who were exploring wicca. Although I was drawn to the wonderful thoughts of loving the EARTH, the very word "ritual" sent me into flashback.
Once I researched paganism, and realized that 'demons', for us as exJWs, are mostly a Christian construct (and to the scholars on board, yes I KNOW that demons abound in other ancient religions, so please let me make a point without a technical analysis), I started to move from a position of fear to one of curiosity.
If you are an atheist, then let your logic prevail. It took me a while, but I let nature take its course - by that, I mean that I read about different pagan religions, and it was really interesting. I became even more drawn to those belief systems, and felt a kinship. Some pagans worship NO god, and there are so many ways to honour the 'old' ways, it's quite amazing.
My only real belief is in Gaia, and that is not a religion, but a philosophy. Simply put, the Earth is one organism, and we are one part of that organism, as are all the organic and nonorganic things on this beautiful planet. Working in harmony with our environment, and all other living things, can bring peace of mind and contribute to overall happiness.
xo
tal