Life As A Modern Day Witch...

Merry Meet! I'm so glad you've stopped by for a visit. Please pull up a chair and let me pour you a cup of tea. Cookie? Well, now that I know you are comfortable, let me tell you of my life.

There really isn't anything remarkable about my life. I'm in my mid-40's, have been married for almost 25 years, have 3 sons and 1 daughter. Oh, and I'm a Witch.

I hope I haven't shocked or scared you. Because that wasn't my intention. Being truthful about my religion is a new thing for me. The broom closet has been my friend from the first step I took upon this Path. You see, I live in the south. In the heart of the Bible Belt. If I were to be totally open my husband could lose his job and my children could be victimized. Or, even worse, they could be removed from my home by some gung-ho social worker, who isn't aware that my religion is protected by the Constitution.

Within the pages of this site, I have outlined the beliefs and principles by which I live. Sure, I mess up, but I'm only human just like you.

I try to treat each day as a gift from the Goddess and God. Harming none is forefront in my mind. And I truly do strive to follow the Rede. Even when someone I thought of as a friend turns their back on me when they find I'm a Witch, I still try not to say an unkind word to or about them (even in my thoughts).

But, I am human. Each time this happens it hurts me to the core. It's very hard for me to understand this abandonment, since nothing has changed except I've been open about my religion. And nine times out of ten these "friends" are not even willing to let me tell them about my beliefs. They simply turn their backs on me and walk out of my life.

My husband, who is a Christian, tells me they were "never really my friends". This pat answer just doesn't apply though. Several of these people have been in my life for a long time. Their children have spent time in my home, we've shared good times and bad, laughter and tears and been there for each other in some very hard times. They were my friends. And I care for them deeply.

The problem, as I see it, is the view and opinion society has about Wicca and Witchcraft. For 2,000 years the Christian church has done everything in it's power to wipe Paganism from the face of the Mother Earth. They have hung us, stoned us, burned us, ran us to death, drown us, starved us and tortured us. All in the attempt to be rid of "devil worshippers". Which is absurd, because we do not believe in the devil. The devil is a Christian concept and can be found nowhere in Paganism.

The truth of the matter is this...as the Christians spread to new lands, they encountered cultures with rich religious practices. Practices that had been followed for thousands of years before the birth of Jesus. These "new" religions were a threat to the power the church leaders held over the common people. And as such the church would not tolerate it.

As the Christians gained followers and power it became increasingly easier for them to do away with the Old Religion. Because they were rich they could buy kings and courts. During the Burning Times many thousands of people were tortured to death just because someone accused them of Witchcraft. The fact that when a person was accused of Witchcraft all their property was confiscated and split between the court and the accuser is hardly ever mentioned.

During the Salem Witch Trials men, women and children were tortured and hung on the accusation of teen age girls. John Proctor, an elderly man, was pressed to death. They laid him on a board with another one on top of him and began to pile stones on the top. After a time even his labored breathing seemed to slow. The magistrate thought that Mr. Proctor would surely confess at this point. Leaning close to Mr. Proctor's ear the magistrate asked if he had anything to say. Mr. Proctor only said two words..."More weight." And they piled on stones until he was crushed to death.

Today we know from court records that no "real" Witch was a victim during the Salem Witch Trials. Neighbors accused neighbors to gain land, property and money. Or they accused anyone with a bad temper, or who drank, or was rude to them. The reason didn't matter, once accused you didn't have much of a chance of surviving.

This tragedy, and many others, rose out of fear and ignorance. Fear of being accused themselves. If you accused someone else your chances of being accused were less. Ignorance because none of these people knew what a real Witch was about.

This same fear and ignorance exists today. People the world over are killed weekly for being Witches. Why? Because no matter how many times we say what we believe the Christian church still accuses us of evil acts. Of being "in league with the devil". We are accused of sacrificing children and animals, child abuse, and "casting harmful" spells on people. All of which is untrue.

The most important law in Witchcraft is the Witches Rede:
An it harm none, do as ye will.

All the harmful and evil things we are accused of would never be done by a true Witch. If someone professes to be a Witch and harms...do not beleive their claim! They are NOT a Witch! They are sick individuals who need to be segregated from society so that can harm no one else.

Today's date is August 17, 2000. Yesterday in a small town in Alabama, named Pell City, Christians began to protest outside the home of a Pagan Church. These Christians are carrying signs accusing the Wiccans of being, what else, "devil-worshippers". And they are demanding that the Wiccans move.

Such persecutions should be stopped by the local police. But, usually are not. In fact the local police are usually just as ignorant of our contitutional right to worship as these misguided Christians.

What bothers me about this type of behavior, is that the Jesus of the Bible would never condone these actions. Jesus of Nazareth associated with the dregs of Jewish society, from tax-collectors to lepers and prostitutes. It saddens me to see this hatred touted as "Christian". Especially when it is far from it.