I try to keep the sharing of my faith to a minimum in public forums because I sincerely believe its a deeply personal thing. Religion is a beautiful thing, I would even argue that atheism is a religion. Why? Because religion is a belief system and a philosophy… atheism is that, too.
Often, I’ve been mistaken for an Atheist or a Satanist because I do not prescribe to the same beliefs as the Judeo-Christian monotheists that populate so much of the Western World… I am Pagan.
I refer to myself most often as a Witch.
Either way, allow me to explain that nearly every Witch, Pagan or Wiccan will describe their faith similarly but differently because it’s all about perception, like most things.
When I was 19, I had not been away from home a few months when the friend I came out there with was choosing to leave. I was terrified. The night, I had a religious experience as I lay crying in bed. I don’t expect anyone else to believe me, I don’t care what anyone else thinks about it,… it gave me peace and reassurance and helped me go to sleep.
Being Pagan, I am very Earth focused. To me, the God and Goddess are more fluid then solid… more “energy” than physical beings. They are the changing of the seasons… the leaves changing, the snow falling, the rain pouring, and the sun shining. Its just as simple and as complicated as that… the Goddess just IS.
My faith and my diet are very married in my mind, heart and soul. If the Goddess (read Nature,if you will), wanted me personally to eat meat and dairy, I wouldn’t be bothered by their blood being spilt and I wouldn’t be allergic to their bounty (like the vast majority of the world population). Those two very things and being true to them make me feel more centered in my faith and thats a beautiful thing.
The Goddess and God didn’t lend me claws and night vision, I don’t enjoy playing with smaller creatures as my cat does… the scent of blood does not excite me, and my system can not handle raw meat.
I also acknowledge The Pagan Rede as a guide of sorts, and it ends with something very important… “And it harm none, do what thou wilt”…. my former diet, I believe, was harmful to environment, especially the animal, as well as myself.
Eight words the Pagan Rede fulfill ; And it harm none, do what thou wilt
