Emily's Page

Hey ya'll!
So, my story... let's see.
I was a Christian for my whole life. Last year, however, in December, I went through a very short, yet "eye-opening" depression. I was depressed because I felt like I was being forced to believe things that I simply didn't believe in... it had nothing to do with God (Because I knew that there was SOMETHING out there... I just feel it) but everything to do with "his teachings".
Gays are bad, witches should be killed, the blatant inequality between men and women in the bible... I felt like I was trapped, because I thought "If I don't believe this, I'm going to hell. If I DO believe this, I'm going to be sad for the rest of my life."This was something I had been thinking about since middle school, even as early as late elementary school when I was just starting to understand my own religion.
I stayed strong and kept believing and learning until that December.One night, I took a leap of faith and began looking into other religions. My freshman year of highschool, I had a math teacher who was Wiccan. She trusted me and confided in me and told me about her religion, saying "It's more about nature-nurture than witchcraft."I basically called her a weirdo. I never forgot what she said, though.
When I began researching, I remembered what she said. I had always felt a strong connection to nature. Anyone who knows me knows that I adore the rain more than anything. So, I researched Wicca. Every single thing appealed to me... the idea of "God" being like a multi-faceted diamond... that every god and goddess that has ever been worshipped is one. One deity... It was freeing.
An ye harm none, do what ye will... What a beautiful thing.The Rule of Three sounded amazing to me... instead of eternal suffering and death, it's "What goes around comes around". You, yourself, are responsible for your own happiness and fortune. Not a dictator in the sky who will send you to a firey pit if you mess up...
One of the things that appealed to me the most was the disbelief in hell or satan. When I read about that, my fear melted away. It was like I had been in chains for my entire life and I was just beginning to take my first steps into the sunlight.I just knew, somehow, I had found my path. The equality, the beauty, the fairness...Since then, my life has improved ten-fold (or, perhaps, threefold *wink*... Wiccan joke, lol.)
I've started losing weight, I've been caring for the Earth, I've become a more loving and less judgemental person. I see beauty in things I never considered beautiful, sacredness in things I would have never seen as sacred...
And that is just the beginning of my path. I know I will face obstacles along the way, persecution, hatred, and rejection... but if that's the price to live a happy, bright life full of healing and growth, I will forever stay strong...
...so mote it be! :)