Friday, May 27, 2011

The First Whisper

You know, I had it all planned out.  This first post was going to be deep, philosophical, well planned and well written.  But then I sat down and looked at the blank page.  Instant writer's block.  *le sigh*

I suppose that I should start with an introduction.  I am Wysp.  I am 33 years old.  I am the mother of two sons, currently 12 and 14 years old.  I am the wife of an Army Combat Medic.

And I am Pagan.

By all means, feel free to close the window now.  No hard feelings, I promise.

Still reading?  Well then, céad mile fáilte!  Let's get to the good stuff, shall we?

So, why did I decide to start a blog?  Well, I'm mainly a solitary practitioner of the Celtic persuasion.  My husband is Pagan, and one of my sons is just starting to be interested in learning the Craft.  But, we do not belong to a coven, and we do not always practice together.  I have no problem with covens, but it's just not my 'thing.'  On the other hand, being a solitary witch can sometimes be...well, lonely.  I thought that a blog might be a good way to connect with others, without any kind of commitment or expectations.  Maybe you'll learn something from me.  In your comments and responses, maybe I'll learn something from you.  Isn't that what we're all looking for, after all?  I, for one, wish to learn something new, every day, until the day that I die.

How long have I been involved in the Craft?  I was about 12 when I started on this path, but I can't really say that I've been active  for 21 years.  I've not always been free to practice my faith.  I was raised Christian, as so many of us are.  My mother is still not entirely comfortable with my choice to leave the church.  For many years, I was married to someone who scoffed at Paganism, and so I practiced as quietly and discreetly as possible.  Sometimes, that meant not practicing at all for months at a time.  I kept my faith in my heart through all those years, and I held tight to the belief that it was enough, no matter how small it was.  Now I am remarried, and my husband has given me the gift of freedom.  For the first time in my life, I have a place set aside to practice Paganism.  An altar.  A collection of herbs.  All the little things that I dreamed of for so long, but could not have.  I would have to say, if you asked me, that I have been of a Pagan mindset since I was 12.  But, I have only just found my Pagan self and blossomed into a Witch over the last 2 or 3 years.

And now, I would like to share with you my first whispered secret.  It's something new that I've learned, and that I think you might benefit from, as well.  What is the secret?

Remember what is good, and let go of what is not so good.

It's that easy.  I discovered it quite by accident.  I was reading an article on learning to communicate better with your teen, and one of the suggestions was to try to come up with just 5 good things that have happened in the past week, and discuss them with the family.  Perhaps at dinner time.  Or on family game night.  Whenever you get the chance, discuss them, or even just mention them.  That way, your children will see that there is, in fact, a brighter side to life.  At first, I thought it would be impossible.  I spend so much of my time worrying about everything.  I worry about money.  I worry about my health, my husband's health, my children's health...  If ever I find myself not worrying about something, I begin to worry that I may have forgotten something that I should be worrying about.  How can I possibly pull 5 good things out of that mess?  But, I did.  They were small  things, but they were things that went right, and things that made me happy.  And, in thinking of them and remembering them, I was happy for the rest of the week, and less stressed, less focused on the things that didn't turn out so well.  Could it be that those things weren't really as bad as I had been thinking they were?  Then, I found that the happiness carried over into this, the second week.  Today is Friday, and I have been writing down a list of all the good things that have happened this week.  I'm up to ten.  Ten good things have happened this week.  Some were small.  Some were bigger.  But, in finding a way to celebrate and hold on to that happiness, I have also, unexpectedly, forgotten to worry about the negative things.  As I sit here, right now, I'm thinking.  Thinking hard.  Thinking harder.  Nope, I can't remember anything that happened this week that's worth stressing over.  It was so easy.  So simple.  I wasn't expecting it to be like this.  But, it is.  And so, I'm sharing it with you.  Try it.  Embrace it.  Enjoy it.

Well, I think that my first post has turned out to be much longer than I originally intended.  Maybe not too 'deep and philosophical,' but not too bad, either.  Hope it held your interest long enough to get to this point.

And now, I invite you to comment.  Introduce yourself.  Ask your questions.  Share your opinions and feedback.  If you try that little trick I've shared with you, then let me know how it works.

Until we meet again,
Wysp