To those reading this now and in the future.
In the pagan circles, I am known as Brighid Ravenwolf. I was born in 1973 to a very loving family and I was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church in Minnesota. I went to school and also, on Wednesdays, went to religious classes. My parents were, and are now, loving and kind individuals. Yet, I knew I was different from other children around me. Rather than finding peace in the church, I was often finding more peace within when I was outside in the forests. When I was out working with my father splitting wood or sitting by the lake fishing or just sitting out on a log somewhere amongst the trees, these times are when I was my happiest.
I wish I could say I had a lot of friends. In truth, I had very few. You know that one kid in the schools, especially high school, that all the other students abuse, bully and kick around because they know no one is going to stop them, not even the teachers who are often too afraid to stand up to the parents trying to “protect their precious little angels”? That was me. My last four years of high school were a living nightmare. A literal hell of pain that I would not want to wish on my worst enemy’s children.
But you know what? Despite that cruelty, that pain, the hatred I faced, I forgive them.
Now, before you say “That’s the Christian thing to do after all” Please allow me to explain something. I’m not a Christian. I’m not Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Luthern, or anything of that nature at all. You see, I am a witch.
Yes, you read that right. I am a Witch. No I’m not Wiccan and I do not just pretend to be one on Halloween, as you call it. Samhain is what we call it. I was 15 when I began to break away from the church. You see, the cruelty I’d been dealing with made me feel low. At one point, I really wanted to die. I was throwing myself into the bible trying to find out what was wrong with ME that was causing this pain. People, my parents, teachers and councilors would constantly tell me I needed to be more like other kids. “Try to fit in more and just ignore them.” “They’ll get tired of it and leave you alone then.” Of course, when you blame someone who’s being bullied so badly instead of blaming the ones hurting the person… it makes the pain worse.
But when I was out in the woods relaxing and listening to the birds singing, that sorrow would lift. That agony in my heart would ease. I’d hear the owls at night or, in the winter, look up at the beautiful stars in the skies, and I’d truly feel at home.
This is what saved me from destroying myself.
The more I began to learn of nature and the natural world around me, the happier and more content I felt. The further I moved away from being a young woman of the church and went back to an earlier religion, paganism, the more I saw myself as being worth something.
I was able to forgive those that hurt me so badly because I realized they were doing more damage to themselves in the long run. I also learned how to be able to open my heart to others and give to those who needed my help instead of pushing them away. How I was able to open my home to homeless individuals and help them get back to their feet.
Now you have to be asking, why am I saying this?
It’s getting to be the time of Halloween. You’re going to have people coming out of the woodwork claiming to be witches. Why? Because it’s the “cool thing” to do this time of year, it seems. But a true witch is a witch no matter what time of year it is. They open their hearts to others even if they, themselves, have only met hard eyes and closed hearts. We follow the Esbats and the Sabbats. Be it Major holidays like Yule and Samhain, (which is basically the same as Christmas and Halloween) or minor holidays like the full moon ceremonies. A true witch does not deny who they are no matter what time of year it is. They are a witch at Christmas and Easter, though we’ve another holiday instead of Easter, just as they are at Halloween. I wanted to make it clear, I’m not saying I’m a Witch simply because it’s the “in thing” to be for the holiday. It truly is who I am.
Just to point out, male or female, we are called Witches. Male witches are not called warlocks. That is a Scottish term meaning “traitor” or “oath breaker”. Thusly a male witch is still a witch.
I know a lot of people are screaming about Religion these days. Especially against Muslims and Atheists. I know some scream about us Witches as well, though it’s much, much more rare these days.
I know people have this mental image witches and pagans and, thanks to media and some few individuals who become famous by being wild and violent or just really, really loud and obnoxious, a mental image of other religions such as being Islamic or being nondenominational like Atheists. Before you judge, stop. Do actual, honest research. Meet individuals who follow the belief and ask them their views on what’s going on.
I’m asking you, human to human, to be open - minded and to open your heart. To judge individuals not by their religion but by the way they treat others. Not by what they look like or what they name as their god(s) and/or goddess(es). Please don’t judge by appearances or what they wear or anything of such trivial matters.
Judge a person how they treat others. Do they, or do they not, try to aid their fellow humans? Do they offer a hand to those in the streets or do they shrug and figure “not my problem”? Do they look to a better future or do they revel in the chaos that we currently suffer? These are what you should see. These are the things you should be doing and teaching your children to do. To help others, to find a way to make things better. You don’t have to be a world leader to do that. You can start right in your own area. Little things, like drops of water over stone. Sure it just seems to be doing nothing but make that stone wet, but over time, it makes a big difference.
Just something for people to think about.
Signed, Brighid Ravenwolf, a gentle witch.
