My introduction to Wicca, and the religion of Magick was when I was 7 the October before my 8th Birthday years old in Shrevport, Louisiana. It was the Fall of 1977 . I was Playing with my girlfriend who lived in a house behind my family’s. I asked her what she was going to dress up like for Holloween. I told her I was thinking about going as a wicked witch. And she Laughed. I asked her why she was Laughing. She Plainly told me "Witches were not wicked" and we started arguing the point like children do.
Charlotte’s mom heard us arguing and came out to find out what the problem was. Charlotte told her mom. And her mom Laughed and Looked at me and said. "Margie Do you think I am Wicked". I thought this lady was one of the sweetest people I knew so answered. " No ma’am". Her answer would amaze me and start my journey on the Path of esoteric studies. She looked at me and said "good because I am a witch,". I looked at her amazed and confused like most children do when given a piece of information they did not expect. She Smiled me and Knelt down to Look me in the eye’s " Your mother knows I am a witch, go home and ask her If you can find out more, if she says Yes I will explain it to you." I looked at her and said "Yes ma’am", waved by to Charlotte , turned around, climbed the fence Between our two yards and went to ask my Mom if I could find out what a witch was from Charlottes mom.
I went into the house. Fear griped me What if mom wouldn’t want me to know. What if she wouldn’t let me play with Charlotte anymore. I almost went to my room out of fear. But then charlottes moms words came back to my mind "Your mom Knows",. That statement filled me with relief and I asked my Mom. She said "Yes you can, but before you go I want to show you something." I looked at mom with an anxious look. I didn’t want to be shown anything I wanted to run back over to charlotte’s. My mom must have read my expressions well because she Just smiled and said " you will like this I promise" I followed my mom to her room.
She Opened her dresser an Pulled out a wooden Box, and sat down wish it on the bed. I climbed on the bed.
"What’s that Mom" I asked. "in this Box is my Tarot Cards, and Other Magickal things. You must Promise not to touch them" I was now excited to see what mom had in the box and Quickly Promised not top touch them. She opened the box and pulled out a bundle wrapped in a green tie-dyed fabric. She opened the bundle and carefully spread out the fabric. Inside the fabric was the largest deck of cards I had ever seen.
"Are we going to play with those cards Mommy" I asked, She quickly said "No, these are not for Playing with they are for seeing what will happen in the future" I know today her answer was stated that way because I was still a child with a child’s vocabulary and would not understand the words of a detailed explanation. "Wow I exclaimed" then fear griped me again "do those tell you when I’ve been bad" I asked cause she always seemed to know when I was doing things I wasn’t supposed to. "No dear. That’s just a mommys gift" she said smiling.
She turned the cards over, and they had Pictures on them, I remember seeing a lady with cards like moms at the fair that summer and exclaimed "Mom You got Gypsy cards. your a fortune teller". Again she smiled "Not exactly Margie, I don’t tell fortunes but they tell me what life situations are here for me and us to deal with" I nodded like I understood but I was confused, I still wanted to see what other treasures the Box held." Mommy what else do you have in the box "I asked excitedly.
She Pulled out a Crystal wine glass, a dagger, a short Pretty wand, and a Large crystal. And some jewelry
I looked but was not to thrilled with them, to me they were not as interesting as the cards I simply said "Neat." And Looked back to the cards, and started thinking about charlotte, my attention span Like all children’s was not that long. "can I go to Charlottes now Mommy." She smiled again and said " yes you may .I just wanted you to know I understand what charlottes mom is because I am learning from a friend of hers "I was not really listen to the end of response I was busy getting off the bed. I hugged my mom , left the room and the house. Went back to the fence Climbed over and ran to Charlottes back door.
I knocked on the door and charlotte answered it. Excitedly I told her " My mom said your mom could tell me what a witch is". Charlotte grabbed my hand and took me to her mom. "Momma, Margie’s mom says it’s OK"
Charlottes mom explained to me over the next year the ways of Wicca. Charlotte and I spent many nights watching the moon and reciting the stories about the lady we had heard from charlottes mom and the other Ladies. The world was to be opened up to me in a way I never dreamed.
The Full moon Before Summer Solstice 1978 I was to experience another discovery in my life. My mom had just given permission for me to Join Charlotte and her mother for the Esbat Circle. I arrived at charlottes as the son went down, there were many of the ladies I had met sence October all dressed in robes of Varied colors. Charlotte was wearing a green robe. I looked down Sadly at my Blue jeans and T-shirt and suddenly felt out of Place. Charlotte must have known what I was thinking because she grabbed me by the hand and took me into her room giggling. On her bed was a green robe like hers. She picked it up and handed it to me. "My mom made it for you". I giggled and grabbed for the robe. Charlotte stopped me and pointed for the bathroom. "you never put on your Esbat robe with out taking a bath" I looked at her " But I took a bath this morning" I protested. "Not a Saltwater bath to wash away the bad spiritual things I bet" She Quickly responded. "Um well No" I said and started to for the bathroom, I didn’t like arguing with Charlotte when she was right. I took the bath" while bathing charlotte told me to think of the lady cleansing all the bad things in my life away. I did as she thought and was filled with a sence of peace and love. I finished the bath a dried off and Put n the robe.
I remember feeling funny inside when I put the robe on. I was calm and at peace which was not normal for me, who was always in a hurry to do anything. I looked at my friend and was totally shocked "Charlotte your blue I said. Charlotte looked at me and said "what do you mean Blue". There is a blue light all around you with Little lights in a row right down the center of you" I responded Not believing what I was seeing. In a loud voice Charlotte called for her mom. When charlottes mom entered the room I saw her bathed in the same lights but her main light was purple with gold sparkles in it and Looked at her " Your Purple" I said with a little shock in my voice. "Momma, I think Margie is seeing Auras" she told her mom. I remember being told what Auras were and now I was seeing them.
Charlottes mom took out a piece of paper and some colors, drew the outline of two People and then asked two of the ladies to come into the room, which they did. "Margie can you see color around these ladies" she sakes and I nodded . " could you color what you see" she asked handing me the color crayons. I colored the one lady red with multi color light. And a black spot on her right side, the Other Lady I colored Blue with the multi colored light going down the body with a green tummy. In the green tummy was a white ball with a strait line of multi colored light . When I was done I handed the paper to Charlottes mom and she smiled and said "thank you Margie you have helped us very much" I shrugged my shoulders And said "Your welcome"
I did not understand how drawing a picture could help. Charlottes mom left the room with the other Ladies.
"charlotte an I really seeing Auras?" I asked my friend excited about this newly found talent. And she nodded and held my hand up in front of my face. I looked at my hand surprised and at my arms, lifted up the robe and looked at my legs and started to giggle. "I’m Purple I exclaimed". Charlotte just smiled like she Knew, hugged me and started to giggle. The she stopped. "Margie, when we go to the circle with mom and the others you have to be Quiet until it is time to speak. Ill Squeeze your hands so you will know. I mean it, It’s really important we behave, cause the gods come to the circle and you don’t want to upset them." I nodded my head, I knew I had to behave, I followed her as she led me out the door of her room.
We went down into the basement and stood with the other ladies in a circle. Soon the circle was cast the watchtowers invited and the gods invited. I could see the color around the ladies, Blue pentacles that hung in the air and the swirls of energy that formed the circle. I could see fuzzy people standing next to the people in the circle, next to everyone but me, I felt sad. And whispered to charlotte" why don’t I have an energy person next to me". I must have spoken to Loud because her mom came to me. " Little one the energy People you see are the gods and goddesses the others work with. You don’t have one yet because you haven’t started working with the gods yet." I looked down I was sad I wanted a god to work with, But didn’t know how to ask. I felt suddenly alone and out of place. I tried to hold back the tears. I wasn’t going to cry, but I couldn’t. I heard A woman Gasp and Looked up. Charlotte, her mom and the Other Ladies were Looking directly at the south wall. Their was an energy Person their the energy was blackish red with a shining gold light around it. The person Looked like a woman with a Lions head. An Egyptian God I said to myself remembering the exhibit at the museum charlotte and I saw in school. Charlottes mom invited the Energy Person in.
"welcome to Our Circle Honorable Sekhmet " I heard her mom speak " Why have you come this Night" She asked Softly with respect". The Energy Person said "To make Myself Known to One who dose not know how to ask for my help" I looked amazed, Charlottes mom Gestured to the energy Person and Sekhmet entered the circle and walked over to Me and Charlotte. I looked down thinking she wanted Charlotte. I felt a warm almost Hot hand under my chin. I looked up and was looking up into Sekhmets eyes. "Child I will be here for you If you choose to follow my Path, I warn you if you chose to follow my Path you will have trial to Over come in your Life, But don’t despair they will make you stronger, and teach you how to be a Warrior and a teacher. How to show compassion, and see the truth of a situation. I you follow my Path." I looked up at her
"Can I still believe in God, or do I have to worship you" I said suddenly remembering what my grandmother said about evil spirits. Sekhmet smiled " Good Question Little One. Yes you can worship God, Do not turn from him even I worship God. Never bow down to me or the Others. For we are teachers, helpers and Guides, we work for him, never against him or his son. Do you understand." I nodded yes. I knew others in the circle had to of heard this because some of the women were gasping and talking about Sekhmets last statement. I looked at Sekhmet and Hugged her "I will follow your Path Momma Sekhmet" I to this day do Not know what Possessed me to call her Momma but I have ever sence. Sekhmet hugged me and stood behind me like the Other Gods standing nest to the others ion the circle. The ladies finished the rest of the Esbat ritual and we ate dinner.
Over the years I have come to understand what Sekhmet meant by the trial of Life for mine has not been an easy one. But for every hardship I have had to face, I have been richly rewarded. I still follow her Path and Worship the divine as God and Jesus as his son . and every time I have a doubt about my beliefs the memory of that first circle comes back to me.
I Was taught by Charlotte’s mom Ceridwen named after the Goddess until the Summer of 1979 when My mom got Orders for the Philippines . that would start one of the biggest hurdles in my life to over come, and strengthen my mental gifts with the help of a new Teacher. That is another Story
Continued in Trial By fire
