Setting Your Feet on the Path

All of us come to the Pagan path through many different mechanisms and paths. The one thing that seems to connect us all is that our previous spiritual endeavors have just not felt “right”. We felt that something was missing, or craved a deeper connection with the Divine Source of All Creation, and previous religious thought models left us unsatisfied. So, we began searching. Through various twists and turns we found ourselves here: intrigued by the word “Witch” or “Pagan”. 

My own path started with the religion I was born into: Seventh Day Adventism; however, upon the death of my great grandmother (a wonderful woman with whom I was very close) I found myself with so many different feelings and questions that the structure of the church just didn’t seem to have answers for. I began to explore the realms of spirituality and read everything I could get my hands on from the Torah to Buddhist writings and I finally found a book called “The Craft” by Dorothy Morrison. As I read her words, the world around me seemed to come alive and I felt like she was echoing my own feelings. Many Pagan authors still do this to this day.  

The intrigue , mystique and empowerment of the authors I read drew me in and I wanted to feel like I had a secret knowing myself. For years, I read, studied tried different exercises in different books; yet never felt like I knew enough to call myself a witch, despite having a vast knowledge it all still seemed academic. I floated and  flitted through many different traditions, and opportunities to learn. Until one day it clicked; no one but myself and the Divine could validate my existence as a witch. 

Once I accepted this truth, I began to learn in earnest. Some of it came from books some of it came from Unsubstantiated Personal Gnosis, but all of it was incredibly moving and only served to spur my enthusiasm to learn, to grow and to better myself. 

Twenty one years after that first step I am still learning. So for anyone on this path I have one thing to say: This is a journey and the learning never stops- you don’t just follow a program and then you are done. Much like the repeating cycles in nature we witches start a new project, a new study work diligently with it, bring it to fruition, let it go into the Universe to start all over again. So as you set your feet on this path, get ready to be constantly learning, constantly reworking, constantly changing. 

The second piece of advice I have for a newcomer to the path of the Witch: MY WITCH DOESN”T LOOK LIKE YOUR WITCH! This is a big one!  Each individual being has their own past experience, our own unique perspectives. There is such a variety of skills, and methods to creating meaningful rituals that no two witches practice exactly alike. What speaks to you, may not speak to me; and that is PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE! I may perform a ritual one way, that ritual may not work for you. While, it is VERY good to learn from other witches (in fact it was after an in person class that I felt more comfortable accepting the title of witch) The only true authority  of how you relate to the face of the Divine that speaks to you; is you and your God. 

With that being said, please remember that when or if you seek to learn from a tradition or another witch, they will be showing you their way of doing things and may require that you follow their method of practice. This is there truth, and in seeking out a teacher you will need to be conscious of whether or not your personalities mesh, and if  you want to learn their way of doing things.  Please remember your own autonomy however, and NEVER accept someone telling you that you MUST do something that goes against your personal morals, conscience or deeply held beliefs. 

What I have found is the best way to approach learning , whether it is from a book or in person is to take what works and resonates with you, and leave the rest behind. After all this is ultimately your journey and your relationship with the Divine.