When you get to the fork in the road... take it!

[Theres]

we spend a lot of time and space on this board (and most other spirituality-based boards, i'm sure) writing about and discussing our 'paths'... "what path are you on?", "how did you find your path?", "are all paths valid?", etc.

for the most part these paths are not straight, but rather wind and turn, rise and fall. and there are junctions too... crossroads, if you will. all of these can be seen as challenges, obstacles, or just plain choices. but it is only the dullest, most uninteresting of paths that never give us these choices.

i have reached just such a crossroads.
for the past eleven years i have considered myself Wiccan. longer actually, but that was when my 'training' began. however, i no longer consider that to be the case.
i have chosen to take one of those byways that i found along my path, and it has led me to an entirely different place. i'm not sure i can say exactly what that place is, but i'm having a fascinating time exploring it. and it seems to be leading me back... to a time before now, i guess.

the Greek pantheon (and culture as a whole) has always been a strong point of interest for me, and my pursuits have taken me in that direction, as many of you have probably observed.
but i doubt i could ever be a true reconstructionist. i find that route just a bit to strict for this old anarchist. so i guess i'll just plod along on a solitary journey of discovery and see where it leads. after all, that's the way i've always worked best. and the things i believe most deeply today are definitely NOT the things i actively pursued along the way, so why not?
fortunately i have a 'guide' who enjoys "walking in desolate places", so i feel like i'm in good hands! ;)

anyway, i've been wanting to write this for some time now, but i guess i was still in denial.
but not anymore baby!

[Athena-Nadine]

Welcome home, Brother. May the gods smile upon you on your journey, wherever it may lead you. :)

[Shanti]

To explore and allow yourself 'change' is growth. Growing is all good! Glad to see you have grown. :)

[Nighthawk]

Very good. i am always happy to hear that one has found their 'place'. It makes it all worthwhile...

[{Tigress}]

Blessings to you! Your story could almost be my own. I began with Wicca about 12 years ago, but after a couple of years struck out on my own. For 10 years I thought I'd found "the Path" and would not come upon anymore "byways", as you so aptly named them. I was wrong. Thankfully so! I'm now travelling a different Path and loving every minute of it as I learn new things every time I turn around.

[ObsidianShenKa]

*nods emphatically*

Welcome to paganism, brother.

[Theres]

oh i've been involved in Paganism to one degree or another for a VERY long time... and witchcraft even longer.
nor am i thinking that this will necessarily be the last trail i set off down (although it's certainly feeling that way at the moment). lives change, and beliefs change with them.
but i'm feeling very content with this, and i do feel like i'm 'home', as Nallia so aptly put it.

but i do thank you all for the encouragement and support! ;)

[{Tigress}]

Yes, the one thing I've learned above all else is that we NEVER stop experiencing and learning new things. The only difference between myself now and 10 years ago is that now I LOOK for new side roads every chance I get. :)

[DixieWitch]

I hit that point about 6 months ago or so. I wasn't sure where I was as for as any religion goes...Paga, Christian, nothing. I was out of practice as far as ritual goes. I called myself a non-practicing Pagan or Wiccan for a long time. I'm still not sure "what" I am. Pagan, Wiccan or what. I know my patron, I have an altar, I do rituals. I don't do spells. I am very confused most of the time when it comes to my path. I've always done solitary work and have gotten most of my knowledge from books or the internet, then eventually here. I still feel as if I don't know enough. And I know I don't know enough about my Goddess. But I am doing all I can in my learning.

[{Tigress}]

DW, don't get discouraged! I have a million more questions than I have answers, and I know I'll have things left unlearned the day I leave this body. And confusion is naturual. If we knew exactly what was going on we would need to walk the Path, would we? And don't worry about labels... all that matters is that you're doing what your 'heart' tells you to and the Path you take does NOT have to have a name.

[Theres]

yeah, what she said ^.

on the internet labels have a value, but in your life you can do without them. i have know idea what to call myself, but i'm not too concerned about it either. :whatmewor
just keep reaching for the unknown and it'll keep getting smaller.

[DixieWitch]

Well that makes sense. And I feel a lot better knowing that now! Thanks!

[{Tigress}]

just keep reaching for the unknown and it'll keep getting smaller.

I REALLY like the way you said that. So true.

[Tullip Troll]

When you find the right path or take the right turn it's like hitting the last road home after a long journey...at least thats what it feels like to me.

MheraPai...