I am a Witch.

I am a Pagan.

I am a Wiccan.

I am a Witch. Many years ago, within a working circle, I ws re-awakened to my (commonly-called) "psychic" abilities. I learned how to leave my body and travel to other places; I allowed another's essence to temporarily use my physical form. I opened my awareness to those who had passed to the Summerland and those non-humans who share our world. I was taught the use of herbs and candles, how to make potions and talismans and amulets. I was shown how to raise energy and cleanse and consecrate and charge and heal and to "see" in a bowl of water and within the images of the Cards. I found out what reincarnation was and realized how many times before I'd been around. I learned the importance of an altar as a focal point of my sacred space. Above all I was taught that whatever I did, I had to work in accordance with the will of the Supreme One. If I set out to hurt anyone, sooner or later it would catch up with me. Those who taught me didn't even realize they were teaching me. Back then, neither did I. But I was not a Pagan. I was a Christian Witch.

Now I am no longer a Christian. I found that there were other ways of conceiving of the Supreme One besides the Christian view and I chose to no longer believe that theirs is the only way. I do not accept that we are imperfect creatures who only know how to sin and need to be redeemed. But I do accept my humanity; I am here to learn from my mistakes and make them I shall. I realized that every religion on earth is based on myths, for it is humans who give Deity its form so we can better understand. As a woman, I found stength and empowerment in the concept of a Goddess, making my gender as valid as the male in our modern society. I believe I am part of this Earth, and that everything created is part of the Divine. I try to live in harmony with the earth, hurting her the least possible with all the chemicals and technology that surrounds me. I feel the moon's phases within me, as I do the changes of the seasons. I comunicate with animals and plants and stones, for we all speak the same language: the language of our mother, Earth. I worship the Shining Ones in joy, celebrating with music and dance. I do not grovel before divinity in penence and guilt. These things make me a Pagan. They do not make me a Wiccan.

But as I said in the beginning, I am a Wiccan. I have heard my Lady's call to service as a priestess, for the path of the Wiccan is the path of the priesthood. I follow a path that incorporates intuitive shamanic techniques with those of the more logically-oriented Western Mystery Tradition. It is a path of extensive constant study as any other priesthood of any other religion. I have chosen a more difficult path, that of the Solitary Voyager, for I have had no live teachers for Wicca, only my books and the Goddess. Only She and my intuition have guided me until now. I have now met others and have sadly awakened to the fact that my religion does not differ from others in many respects: there are true seekers and there are manipulators and hypocrites. Wicca is service, service to the Gods and Mankind, as any priesthood should be. It is not simply magick, it is not simply worship. It is knowing and understanding. It is living by the highest ethical standards, not simply following a set of rules.

So, as you see, there are differences between being a Witch, a Pagan, and a Wiccan. You can be either, all, or some. It is your choice. It is always your choice.

14 August 2000 C.E.