I have been a Magick User for all My life. Well, since I was old enough to read...about the age of 4. My mother was a Magick user, as was My Grandma.
When I was around eleven, they changed over to ...Southern Baptist. *shudders and laughs* For some reason still unknown,
and therfore forever unknown to Me as they are all dead now, they denied any and all activities as Pagans, thereafter.
But I was an eleven-year-old who remembered the harvesting days and festivals; the canning days and candle making evenings
at home with family.
I remember the kitchen being filled with the smells of home; brown sugar and cinnamon cooking into a large pot of fresh apples and pears from our yard;
pine and patchouly burning in the living room for success and money bringing; ferns hanging on the front porch as protection and heather by the mailbox to bring good news.
I remember Yules and May Days and Belteane nights in the woods and fields.
I remember making Magickal crafts with My mother; hand made birds' nests from pine straw and glue and a muffin pan;
quilts, crochetted coverlets and comforters; ceramic idols and scented oils and potions.
I remember My mother's closet as being full of boxes of home made candles we made together,
cloaks and robes and Magickal tools. She had so many brimming pantry shelves in her little walk in closet that she had
to keep her clothing in dresser drawers and hang only the very nicest in her wardrobe. *soft laugh*
But most of all, above all else, I remember the sense of security and love in that Pagan house.
No one knew them (My family), like I'm describing them. They were very VERY careful not to
become..."embarrassed" by allowing the neighbors to find out we were Pagan. What the neighbors thought meant a great
deal to My grandparents, but My mother was ordained into the Temple of Diana in New Orleans in 1951 and she died
a Priestess of Diana, whether anyone else [outside her Coven] knew it, or not. I know it and that's all that matters to Me.
My Grandmother's path was that of the Native American. She studied everything She could get Her hands on concerning Her
lineage and the religious system of the Cherokee People. I regret that I have none of that knowledge to pass unto you, ELSWET.COM readers, save
for the small and general section I have developed as Shamanic Magick in the paths directory of this site.
My grandfather's path was that of the Druid. He was of the clan McSubine/McSween and he was very proud of his lineage and heritage.
Unfortunately, he died a Christian. He served in the Southern Baptist Church as a deacon for many years, but had to resign that post because he
could not "control" Me. *soft laugh* Sorry, Papaw, but wow. You were submissive and I was both Dominant AND Pagan and determined to stay Pagan,
and it just wasn't gonna happen. I was appalled that they professed Christianity, and at the age of fifteen, I left home for good.
I was confused about why they were suddenly attempting to make Me adhere
to Christian beliefs (I went to church and to mass as a Child, but was always told and instructed to disregard
what I heard there because that was not Who We Are.). I don't like being confused. *giggles*
So yes, there was strife. *soft laugh* Lots of it, towards the end, as there always is when the teenager knows everything and the adults are just ignorant
useless wastes of skin who NEVAH shyaddup. *lol* But, it never ceases to amaze Me how...the older I get, the smarter they become. *soft laugh* BUT,
that insight did not lead to My conversion to Christianity, as that is something which is non-existent in Me.
To Me, being Pagan means much more than I've chosen to embrace the Old Ways. To Me, it's
a complete and total statement of Being; of heart, of mind, of soul and of heritage. The Old Ways; the bonfires and
feasts; sex in the woods; rites and rituals; ancient languages and antediluvian texts are what My life is about.
I acknowledge YWYH/Jehova as a God. Just not the ONLY God. And he is not My God of choice.
I am often asked how one becomes a Witch. Do you find someone who is a Witch
and they make you one? Or are you a Witch just by saying you are? Can you
make yourself a Witch?
The process of becoming a Witch doesn't happen overnight. It is a life
change; a new path upon the journey of your life. It takes consideration,
study and work. If you have previously followed a mainstream religion, you
may have baggage, which takes time to let go, and new things that take time to
absorb. I have heard many people say it is often hard, coming from a life of
Christianity, to feel comfortable praying to the Goddess. All new things
take time, but if you are serious upon this path, you will find your way.
The Gods call their own home to Them.
No matter how you have came about finding the Old Religion, here you are. So
where do you go? To the book store. For a novice, books are like the air you
breathe. You must have them, or access to them in some way. If you cannot
afford, or do not feel safe having books on the Craft in your home, the internet is the
next best place.
In both books and on the internet you will find a wealth of knowledge that
will help guide you upon your new path. Of course, as with anything else,
there is good information and bad information. Avoid any kind of book, or
internet site, which speaks of controlling another person in any way; harming
them, doing love spells on a specific person, or telling you to chant in
Latin, even though you have no idea what you are saying (yes, I have seen
sites like that). These books/sites will not fulfill your need for knowledge
in the Craft and will only serve themselves.
Once you have read a variety of books and feel called, the next
step is to find a teacher. If you have access to a teacher, in my opinion
this is the best course of action. A teacher or a Coven can often be found
if there is a new age book store in your community. Also, Witchvox
is a site that offers networking in every state. It has grown extremely
large over the past few years and is a valuable resource in the Craft
community. Most of My Coven members have found Me on Witchvox
Having a mentor can offer so much to you when you are beginning. There will
be things you come across that you have a hard time understanding and need
clarification. If you have a teacher, they are just a phone call or email
away. If you do not, you must try to decipher things on your own, and may not
come to the correct end on them. If you do not have a teacher, again, the
internet is the next best place to look.
If you are only looking for a 'how to' on casting spells, then the Craft is
not for you. Witchcraft is a serious spiritual path, in which Magick is
performed, but is secondary to the religion itself. I would suggest you look
to ceremonial Magick for that.
A couple of things need to be said about beginning any Pagan path, in light of
recent attitudes about the Craft. Here lately it seems that you have a LOT of
people who, after reading a few books, feel as if they can call themselves a
master of the Art. They throw on a title like Lady/Lord, or HP/s, add some
black clothes, a pentacle the size of a hubcap, and they are ready to go.
This is not what the Craft is about. If you have spent years following a
particular path, have worked hard on the spiritual lessons that have been
presented to you, and through this have attained the title and rank, then by
all means use it. But think of how you would feel if, after all that, you
have a newbie with 6 months and 5 books under their belt walking about
calling themselves Lady Starry Teats or Lord ThunderButt. It is very
offensive.
Just like your parents told you when you were growing up (or
maybe you still are) 'don't rush things, it will all come to you in the end,
and be sweeter for the waiting'. This is true with the Craft. Using titles,
putting on airs, and in general acting high and mighty are not going to make
you any more spiritual. And THAT is what this path is about. What that behavior will do
is alienate you from people whom you may actually want to meet and get to
know!
All of this being said the way to become a Witch is through study and
dedication. Gather all of the information you can. Find the best teacher
possible. Read whatever you can get your hands on. Go outside in nature and
commune with the Goddess and God. Listen to the trees and the wind and the
rush of the water, for this is the Witch's World.
I have been a Magick User for all My life. Well, since I was old enough to read...about the age of 4. My mother was a Magick user, as was My Grandma.
When I was around eleven, they changed over to ...Southern Baptist. *shudders and laughs* For some reason still unknown,
and therfore forever unknown to Me as they are all dead now, they denied any and all activities as Pagans, thereafter.
But I was an eleven-year-old who remembered the harvesting days and festivals; the canning days and candle making evenings
at home with family.
