This witch's choice is a few words on what a pagan/witch path is from someone long on a pagan path. Please bear with me, I'm working on a serious sleep deficit as this past month of Samhuinn was especially disruptive as my psychic gifts really took off in a major way, and I was not prepared for the onslaught that came at me.
I began questioning religion and slowly uncovering spirituality at a young age. I was a teenager when I consciously sought out this path for myself, as it was so familiar and so like how my grandparents and ancestors lived. This was the perfect path for ME.
Dear ones new to this path, yes this is an exciting time for you, you are learning and growing at a exponential rate. You have so much ahead of you! Please remember, that it is not for you to educate or *correct* others. If you study your path you are reading another person's perspective. Not the collective, but one person's perspective. This is not the be all, end all. This is one view. Your journey is to discover what your perspective is. Our paths are unique to each of us. Following the herd inhibits our own growth, take the time to learn for yourself, trust in yourself. Use what you study as a guide, if it resonates with you, fantastic. However, it is not your place to pontificate the teachings of a fallible human. It is not your place to push your ideals and perceptions on others. It is not their path, theirs is unique to them. We do not need to be lectured, or *corrected* by a new to the path upstart who still has much to learn. Even if you believe your are an old soul, it is not your place to push. We gain wisdom with hard work and introspection as we learn from our experiences and from other's experiences as well.
This has been a long time coming, this disjointed note. I've been connected to the pagan community on the world wide web for nearly 20 years. I have seen many newbies feel they know everything and stomp in with a huge chip on their shoulder. Insisting their way is the correct way and all others are misguided and misinformed. Not all of us follow Wicca, Wicca is a modern day revamp of a plethora of old ways. I do not follow it because it smacks too much of my Catholic upbringing for me. I recall the years of warring where *eclectics* were not true pagans. The flame wars over who was right and who was wrong threatened such a serious split to a group that was already battling for acceptance in a Christian-dominant world. Perhaps it is where my path has taken me, or perhaps it is a maturing of the pagan community, but I no longer see these flame wars like they once were. We are more accepting of each other's paths and embrace these differences that make us unique. My 27 years actively on my pagan path has brought such amazing wonders, so much growth, change, I am always evolving and growing and I wish the same for everyone just starting out. Slow down and take time to marinate in all that you are learning. Embrace all the lessons that the earth, universe and your fellow pagans on the path have to offer. All of it will contribute to your path.
If you followed this journey with me, thanks for reading.
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