Living Magically: The Life and Times of a Witch in the 21st Century

This month's issue is all about Wicca so I thought I would write about why I chose Wicca as the basis for my spiritual belief system.

As I write those words I feel like I went out and decided upon a belief system and then followed it but that's not at all how it happened.

I had been following my path for many years. I remember the day of my spiritual awakening.

The moment exactly. I drove down the road and I had my "aaaahhh" moment of clarity. Instantly I understood so much of what I know and believe today. I found myself craving information and going all over to find it. I went to metaphysical book stores, reiki master/teachers, other spiritual people, and even tarot card readers....trying to figure out the rest of the puzzle.

I use the word puzzle to describe what spirituality was to me because that's how I felt most of my life - puzzled. I couldn't wrap my head around a personified God who sat in Heaven and decided my fate and I didn't even know that there were other belief systems out there. That is, until my moment of 'aaaahhh'. At that moment, a new world opened up to me. One that felt so right for the first time in my life. I felt like I had come home.

I walked a very eclectic path for many years. Taking what I felt resonated with me and discarding the rest. I didn't know anyone who had the same type of beliefs as I did. I had met other Wiccans, but none of them walked the path of light. They thought nothing of harming others, if they felt that their harm was justified. I was very cautious around them, as a group. It got to the point where, if someone told me they were Wiccan, I walked the other direction - quickly.

Then one day a woman walked into my coffee shop. She was peddling her wares and wanted to know if I would be willing to display them for her. When I discovered she was Wiccan I was immediately not interested. That was perfectly fine with this crone. She sat to enjoy a cup of coffee, regardless. As we were talking I realized that there was something very different about her, something I had never seen in anyone. She had an air of right about her. Not righteousness, just right. She was not afraid to hear the word no and held no malice around it. (Most of the people I knew only wanted to hear yes. Hearing no created a confrontation of some degree.) By the end of our visit, hours later, I was very willing to display her wares and to get to know her better. The things she said and the way she said them resonated with me so strongly that I was no longer afraid of her because of her spiritual path.

That was the moment the true Wiccan belief system was introduced to me. That was the day when my life changed, again, for a 'lighter' path.

"An it harm none, do as ye will" is the Wiccan rede. It's like our 1st (and only) commandment. It means that I may harm no-one, including myself, in whatever I do and if I'm not harming anyone, then I can do as I will. At first glance this may seem rather silly or simplistic, self-centered or set in ego. So let's take another look at this rede.

"Harm none" This first part of the rede instructs you to never do anything that will intentionally harm another. So if I want a shirt that's on sale and there's another one that is even cheaper, I can't change the tags because this will harm someone (the owner of the store, other customers through raised prices etc.) If I am angry at someone I cannot send them 'ill-will' as this is harming. If I wish to assist someone at the expense of my own feelings, this is also harming. Everyone must be considered when viewing this part of the rede. No-one is exempt.

"Do as ye will" This second part says that I may do whatever I choose to do, as long as it doesn't break the first part of the rede. So, if I want to build a huge pentacle and strap it onto my house, I can; since it's not causing harm. Sharing my spirituality with other people's children and attempting to 'convert' them is breaking this rede as it is causing harm to the family structure of the child I am attempting to convert. I hope these examples assist you in better understanding what Wicca is.

So, why did I decide to walk the path of Wicca? I was shown by an amazing crone just how in-sync this belief system is with Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants and I realized that I had already been walking this path - only my path had no name.

So one beautiful night, I ventured into the woods with my best friend and we dedicated ourselves to the Goddess, asking Her to assist us in our lives and on our paths. I have never regretted that self-initiation for a moment. I have found that my life has become rich beyond my dreams. My positive karma bank account is overflowing and my negative karma bank account is dropping. I love my life. Every moment of it.

How many people do you know who can say that? In truth and honesty, I know few. Unfortunately many people are void of spiritual beliefs and their lives show that void. It doesn't make me right and them wrong, just different.

We all need to find our path in life. I am thrilled to have found mine.

In light, Aleesha Stephenson

By Aleesha Stephenson