" Path of Discovery "
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| A weathered tree, tall and mystical, singing a song of open eyes and new beginnings... Believe - from Lianne As a teenager I deliberatly avoided taking part in Witchcraft because of the stigma's attached to it. I thought that everyone my age was making a mockery out of it. I saw all these girls walking around all "gothed up" trying to be scary and powerful or "black" witches. I was so embarrassed for them. I was not like that. My beliefs and practices reflected everything in Witchcraft to the point where I was having visitations in my dreams begging me to follow my heart. But I still refused to become part of "the joke", so I ignored what I loved. In the end I met a proper Witch, a very special girl and someone who I value most extremely. She reminded me that I should find my own path, ignore what everyone thinks, because in the end the only people who really "see" you are your family. I study everything now and I love my craft. I've found my calling and I'm also proud of it. So, don't get bogged down with the details. Do what you feel, know what you feel and believe.  The Onyx Bear - from Keri While on vacation in the summer of 2002, my husband and I went to catch a concert in Denver, Colorado. As one of the states I've always wanted to visit, I thought it would be nice to drive through the central region, down Highway 24, cross the continental divide a couple of times, and be awe-inspired by the Rocky Mountains. We headed into New Mexico, and down towards Santa Fe to spend the night. The next day, we went a little out of the way on our way home, deciding to travel up to Taos by way of State Road 68. As we drove into the town, I saw a shop called "Taos Gems & Minerals", so I asked my husband to stop there. As we pulled in, a popping sound in the front left tire suddenly turned into a loud one. This was our cue that something was very wrong with the car. So while waiting for the tow truck, we went over to the rock shop. Inside I found an intruiging black onyx bear pendant, and I just knew I couldn't leave without it. Ever since I've been drawn ever closer to an inner need for a deeper spiritual connection, and have explored more about Wicca and Shamanism. I now know that I have a path of my own that I have to find, and the bear, being one of the animals I've always been close to spiritually, is the reason behind it. I feel that if we hadn't had car problems, this connection could have taken longer to be discovered. Sometimes the events that happen in your life, whether good or bad, can be a sign telling your spirit to look around and take stock, because these glimpses only last for a second and if you miss that chance, you could be passing up an important turning point in your life.  Having Heart - from Fiona I have known about and liked the ideas and thoughts behind Wicca and Paganism for years. But belief has not really come easily. I ask for proof too much that all this wonderful spiritual stuff is real, that it this path is right for me. I should simply have faith. But for me it is not as easy as that! I am married with a wonderful husband who supports me in all I do and the joy of my life, my baby boy, just 14 months old. Together we are a great team! However, spiritually you may think I am fulfilled. Not so. My life is rich and full, but something prompts me to step forward into new spiritual ways. I am going with the flow and not trying to deny that I need this next step, but things are slow. I am contributing this because others may also be finding that true belief comes gently and not fast enough for them. I read the runes, I am leaning towards Shamanism, I read Medicine Cards and I am doing the Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge (Seneca Tradition) home study course. I hope all this comes to fruition. I guess I should have faith that it will. Take heart, all you who find your true path long in the revealing. Let things flow. If non-action is councilled, be patient. You will get there, be it in a day or a year or a lifetime, we never stop learning after all. I now know at least that I am on the path. It stretches long before me, but I get the feeling it will never end. Wolf and Otter, Owl, Eagle, all the Animal Spirits walk the same path, crossing mine every so often, lending me their strength and knowledge. Be receptive to teaching, be open, you'll get there.  Shining Bright - from Fins I grew up in a faithless home. My parents were quasi-racists, and they did not want to impose on what I should believe in, should I believe in anything. So on my own, at a young age, I became fascinated with astrology, Tarot reading, and other forms of the Occult. I had no idea where it was taking me, and through society's constant fabrication of Wicca, I was afraid of what Wicca was. But I still had my beliefs, and still had love for MY Gods (what they were I didn't know at that time). I started to have psychic dreams, and different people and situations led me to the Wiccan Path. But I was still fighting it, because I thought, "That can't be! I couldn't be a Witch, could I?" A very serious relationship with a man who suffered suicidal tendencies and other forms of depression closed my mind for four years and I felt I had to put my feelings for myself on hold. He tried to commit suicide, and instead of letting my life get sucked in to his black hole, I ran. I knew that if I stayed it would be like this all over again for the rest of my life. The moment I left, I mysteriously got back in touch with a man who was/is my best friend and who I believe is my soulmate, literally days after I ended the relationship. Ironically, he and I had been travelling the same paths parallel to each other. I found myself not fighting it anymore and after extensive reading realized there were more people that felt the way I did and those people were Wiccan. I was so thrilled that I finally recognized who I was and not to be afraid of it. It pieced itself together in time for Imbolc. How symbolic! My old, troubled, confused self is melting away with the snow, and the new, happy, confident self is shining bright and will only get brighter. I couldn't be happier than I am right now!  A Coloured Path - from Trista I was facing the worst and best thing in the world. I was moving two states away from my family to attend college. I live in Maine on the coast and hold all my outdoor rituals on the beach out front of my house. I go there whenever I'm in need of connecting with the Great Mother. I visited the beach that day, and cast a simple circle by the water. I asked the Goddess to give me the courage and strength to leave everyone I knew. I meditated and sat watching the waves for a while. The Sun was setting, but there were no colours that I could see. I looked down at my hands, then looked back up again. In the space of a few seconds, the sky had turned a brilliant red. I then knew the Great Mother was listening. I looked down and then up again, and the colour had gone from the sky. It was then that I knew my request for strength would be granted. I associate the colour red with strength and courage, and seeing the sky like that, I knew I was truly on the right path.  Mishera - from Ryan Five years ago my grandmother died. Her loss left me cold and bitter, and I left the Christian faith feeling lost and abandoned. A week later, as I sat meditating in my room, a light came upon me from behind. As I turned, I saw the Christian God standing there. I dropped to me knees and he said "You cannot find comfort in my light, but I have found you another." With that, his light faded, and as I sat crying over yet another loss I felt soft, loving arms wrap around me. I then heard a whisper in my ear. "I am Mishera, I am the night, and I will help and guide you." I've followed her teachings of peace ever since.  My Path - from Archane A few nights ago, I awoke suddenly. The only thing that I could see was a picture. A cherrywood frame surrounding a picture of a forest. Superimposed on this forest was the portrait of a red-headed female. At the nape of her neck, where it joined with the earth, was a coyote howling at the full moon. Except it wasn't a moon, but a jewel. Even though the jewel wasn't white, it still gave off a white light, much like moonlight. I'm in the midsts of taking a strong step forward in my path, but this vision was a call to not forget where I have been and where I started. Let go of the past, yes. But always know where you have come from.  Nesting - from Midge This is an experience I had just before leaving home to come to university. I had been studying the craft for a couple of months while getting ready to leave home. I was at this time unsure as to whether I wanted to truly dedicate myself to Witchcraft and was also feeling uncertain about leaving home. I was on holiday with my boyfriend when I got word from my Mother that the Housemartin nest that had been above my window for two years had fallen from the gables and had smashed onto the ground, killing the chicks inside. I was devastated, and when I came home before going to university, I actually missed the squeaking and tapping noise of the birds had once kept me awake at nights. It was only until I arrived at university to do a honours degree in English that I was able to put meaning to what before had seemed a senseless waste. As part of my course I was reading the diary of Dorothy Wordsworh and in it was an account of a nest of birds being killed. She compared this with the upheaval of her brother William's marriage. For some reason something clicked in my brain. I now realise that for me to grow as a person in both Wicca and life in general, I had to give up my childhood - kill it off, the same way those housemartins had to die for their nest to be built stronger next time. If I had not come to school, I would not have met other people of the same faith, nor practice with freedom. I have also got the chance to study the subject I love. I think I now understand why The Goddess destroys as well as creates and I love her the more for it and I now have no doubts about becoming a Witch. Looking Ahead - from Morgaine Up until a few months ago I was catholic. It began on one Sunday morning, at church. That Sunday the church came alive, I felt I could hear angels whispering in my ears. Religion on that day meant something to me. It seemed to tell me something was going to happen, something huge. I felt as if I would never feel comfortable in the church again. It was my best and last day of church. The next day I was in a huge car accident. The car hit me on the drivers side, towards the passenger door behind me. The car was smashed to pieces, glass was all over the road. If the car had hit just a bit farther up I would have been killed, but I was fine. Why had God saved me? I dreamt of the Goddess that night. She told me that I would never feel complete with Christianity, and that Wicca was for me. She told me that I have to live, learn and live again, never once. It made sense and I never looked back. Rising Wind - from Athena A year or two ago, when I was still Christian, I was out walking. All of a sudden, I couldn't breathe anymore! I asked my God for help, but nothing happened. I had just recently learned about the Goddess, so I asked her to help me. There was this huge wind, right behind me, that pushed me along until I got back home. That's when I knew... Cup and Saucer - from Jade I have always felt that my path with Wicca was going to come. My birthday is 5/13, five for the pentacle and 13 moons. I have been going to Salem for the last three years, mostly for readings. 3 years ago I was shopping in an old barn looking for antiques. I saw a cup and saucer, which were white with little gold stars. I'm a decorater and at that time was doing a complete white room and thought it would be perfect. When I went to Salem the next time, I met with a High Priestess. She changed my life. After I got home I started thinking about making an altar. I remembered the cup and saucer, so I looked at it more closely. It had a five pointed star. In each of the points was a symbol of a candle, sheath of wheat, chalice, Athame, and something I cant make out. I knew then that I had found my Chalice. With some research I found out that it is a cup from the Order of the Eastern Star. Turns out it is an association for the wives, and relatives of Masons. What amazes me is that it sat in my home for three years without me looking at the pattern more closely. Only on that last trip to Salem did I know it found me. It's been a wonderful journey ever since. I feel I have found my way. Partners Found - from Raindrop Ever since I was a small child, I have always felt a very close connection to animals, especially dogs. Last year I became interested in finding a familiar, but I wasn't sure where to look. In the spring, I found out my husband was being transferred to a new city. This meant I would be alone most of the time. We decided to get a dog to keep me company. I went to the local animal shelter and Smokey chose me to take her home. She is a nine year-old Border Collie/Australian Cattle Dog mix. She has a connection to me that I can not explain. I can only say that we have known one another before. Every time I have a difficult dream, she appears in it. She is constantly watching out for me and protecting me. She even meditates with me. I feel that the Goddess has blessed both Smokey and I with this amazing partnership. Into the Sun - from Sophie I live in the very heart of the city and I didn't have anywhere close to nature. I had recently left Christianity because I didn't fell right and something seemed to be pulling at me. Alone and afraid with nobody to talk to I became depresed. One day I had a strange urge to get up and go for a walk. I had never been were I was going before but I knew every tree and rock along the way. Finally, I reached a small park and suddenly the Sun broke out of the clouds bathing me and the park in light. I am now Wiccan and love my Goddess very much. I am doing well in school and have found a very close friend who is Wiccan also. I am very happy and love my life. New Center - from Brek Reading the entries of some of the other people brought to mind some of my own experiences on my path with Wicca/Paganism. Raised to become a minister in the baptist faith, I was heavily inclined toward christianity. It wasn't until I met the love of my life, my wife that I began to approach life with a little more open-mindedness. I considered other faiths, or none at all when I began learning of all the atrocities brought forth from the christian faith. But none seemed to grasp what I was looking for. It wasn't until I was meditating in the mountains that I found my center and everything became very clear. It was the search of something in Wicca itself that lead me to nature which allowed me to find that center and become whole. To this day, I have been living with a peace that I can easily find, draw strength from and help others. Rachael - from Julie I used to believe in nothing. We died and that's it. I knew nothing about Paganism. During 1997 my friend Rachael became ill and there was a chance that she could die. That made me want to belive in something. I've always been a nature lover but just thought about it scientifically. Then a friend who was growing plants taught me about them, and that made me think. This took a long time mind you. Then about 6 months ago, my friend died of cancer. She was 16. 2 days later, my boyfriend was stabbed in the heart and recieved surgery. He died for just over a minute and during that time he saw my friend Rachael and another man. Rachael pushed him back and he woke up. He had a near death experience. I used to believe those experiences were just the brain going all crazy, but for some reason I new he had it before he told me and I believed it. So after all this I'm left standing there asking my brain what the heck is real and what am I supposed to believe now? I came to the conclusion to believe in life and love. And this is where I am now. I havn't done any rituals or anything yet, but I feel the Earth and I can feel the love it has and I love it. And I hope I get to see Rachael again. She was the best, and still is really. My Way - from Baby J I come from a family where everyone insults everyone. I have a lot of trouble with that. I had to find a way out. I had to release my anger. For a while I wanted to die. I did try to kill myself once, but thankfully a a friend came over and helped me. Then I read a book; "To Ride A Silver Broomstick" By Silver RavenWolf. That book saved me. I know in my heart and in my head that I was ment to become a Witch. So far I have learned everything I know from books. I do not know where I would be without the Craft. Only a few people know about me. Most are stuck on the thought that Witches believe in satan. So I only talk to my best friend about this. She was actually smart enough to read about it and find out what it's all really about. Nature Speaks from Stacy I use to go to church but never felt like I belonged there. Then my friend told me about Wicca. I started reading about it, and felt like this was who I was and the path I would follow. I have always been a nature girl. When times got bad I would go outside and just listen to the wind and always look to the stars. As I began reading, I asked the God and Goddess to give me some kind of sign; that they were there for me as I was going through alot of hard times. As I walked outside to the tree I usualy climbed, I sat down to think. When I reached out to touch it something ran through me, some kind of powerful energy. I then had a vision. As I looked up into the tree I saw a beautiful woman sitting there. She looked at me and raised her hand out to me, as if to welcome me. Ever since then I have known my path, and so shall I walk it and follow it; with my mind... and heart. What Feels Right - from AbbyFall I was raised a catholic, and started to question the chruch when I was 16. I asked my parents to please stop making me go to church and to the catholic school. As a outlet, I got into the "darker" side of christianity; the "devil"! Well, one day while looking through the occult section of a book store I found "The Witches' Almanac". I read it and realized that this was what I truely believed. When I moved out I felt free from the pressure of being something I wasn't! Now, I am at my happiest, doing what feels right! Many Blessings! To the Air - from Sarah I am the daughter of a christian pastor. Ever since I can remember, I have never been at peace. I noticed that the christians around me would say they believed in something, yet their actions denied it. I tried to "be good" and follow the christian principles, but I never could measure up. For a long while I had found that whenever things were particularly difficult, I could sit alone outside, let the wind ruffle my hair as if touching it, and tell my problems to the air. After such a session, I would feel calm and be able to go on with my day. About a year and a half ago, my best friend told me she was Wiccan. I began to study the religion and found that all the things I understood, but had thought to be wrong under christian standards, were actually OK. I devoted myself to Wicca, and ever since then I have felt right in my heart. My Rythym - from Ambeur I have been struggling with the decision to become Wiccan for some time. I had a spiritual block. I was raised in a very strict Catholic environment and was having a difficult time letting go of all those beliefs. They didn't make sense, but that is what I had been taught. I just could not believe in them. A friend started to give me books to read. At first I was a bit hesitant, but the more I read and learned, the more the Wiccan religion made sense to me. Even with all that I learned, I was still not sure about it. I was searching for the answers in the wrong place. I looked everywhere, except within myself. I finally decided it was time to make a decision. I sat myself doen in the field behind my house. All around me, I could feel an energy. It flowed into and out of my body. I had never felt anything quite like it. As I looked around, I began to see objects in a new light. Everything seemed to be moving to a rythym. I thought I could hear a radio playing a tune I had never heard before. I realized that it was not a radio. Mainly because I cannot hear very well, and no matter how loud a radio was turned up, there would have been no way I could have heard it from the field. I lay myself flat on my back and just listened. I had never heard music so beautiful in my entire life. I started to hum along, but I had no idea how I knew the tune. Then, suddenly, it dawned on me, it was coming from within me. It was my own rythym. I had never felt so much a part of the world. All I had read made so much sense to me. It all just.. clicked. This is what I was meant for. The God and Goddess were real and true. They asked nor denied nothing other than to give and receive love and trust. Ever since then, I have been spreading the love I have for the world to all I know. I found a partner that feels the same way I did. Searching for something that was already there. The more I told him, the more excited he became. He and I are planning on being handfasted. Neither of us have ever felt this much love and trust and hope in any other person. Nature's Hand - from Catherine I now understand after fifty-two years where my chosen path was leading me, and what in the end would be my reward. The journey has led me to Wicca. Yet it was Nature whose hand I held as she led me here. Thank the Goddess - from Rhoewenna I was raised in a very strict Baptist environment. I had never felt at peace with my conflicting personal beliefs which did not coincide with the Judeo-christian teachings. Then, recently, I found a basic book on the wiccan teachings and way of life. I can't begin to tell you the joy of finding something that made all my personal beliefs right. Everything fell into place and I knew I had finally found my place. That was only two months ago. I no longer wonder about all the coincidents that keep opening more paths of learning in the Wiccan way of life. Thank the Goddess! Destiny - from Zelda of Arel The way I found Wicca is pretty long and complicated. When I became a Witch, I thought back and relised how far the trail leads. I'm Hungarian and live there. My mother is atheist and so I was one too once. Then I realized that I was much more spiritual than her and needed a path. In my school we had American teachers and they organized a Bible study. I attended and for a brief time thought that I would become a christian. There were a few problems though. I had an odd feeling as if I was going to vomit in my stomach everytime. So I stopped attending. I began watching "Buffy-The Vampire Slayer" on TV and loved it. I decided to design a website for Buffy one day and in my research I found Wicca. I became interested and decided to do the coming celebration, which was Yule. Oh, the things I felt during the rite! I felt as if I've become one with the Universe. Like my atoms blasted out, my spirit flowed in the air. I was so energized. Then I knew my destiny was to be Wiccan. I had found my path finally and have felt much better since. The Robin - from Carly Just the other day I was sitting in my lounge having doubts about becoming totally dedicated to Wicca. I closed my eyes and just whispered "Guide me oh great ones". At that moment my mother called me to her room and told me to look out of the window. Siting on the fence was a robin, and it just stood there for ages. To some people this means nothing, but I had a brother who died and after his death the first thing we saw was a robin in our garden. From that day I knew I was on the right path, and I realized that if you truly believe in something it will become real. I still have yet to fully dedicate myself, but now I feel at ease with my path and I know that I will grow in it. With time, and peace of mind, I will get there. Giving Back - from Debra Today is the future. I have in my lifetime experienced many spiritual things and started walking my journey when I was just 15. Along the way I have meet many spiritual people and my life has been touched in many ways. I have a unique collection of old books on developing your physic self, astral projection, candle burning, color therapy and Witchcraft. However this morning I think I have discovered the missing element to tie together my life?s journey. By common definition I found that I am an eclectic Witch. I have read many different books, taken many rewarding journeys and realised I have never given back. Since I feel awakened and alive, and that I expect to grow from this experience, I have decided to preform a giving back ritual. I am excited to have this newfound knowledge and I cannot wait to experience the gift of giving back. I can feel the joy before it is done. Walking The Path 1996 - 2006 |