Blessings, beautiful souls —
I’m currently reading a book on my Kindle after finishing up my uncle’s book, Uriel: The Forgotten One (he’s probably reading this blog post; I gasped out loud at the last line of the book! Elias’ transition from being a witness to a participant through the text was really cool to unravel). I have no idea why it was on my Kindle. I don’t know where it came from. I don’t remember ever downloading it. I don’t even recall ever having read the title of this book. I would have never purchased it based on the cover (because it doesn’t appeal to me). It also, oddly enough, is a memoir from someone who lives in Montreal and comes from an Italian upbringing (like myself). It’s called The Path of a Christian Witch.
First, I want to begin this reflection by reiterating many things I’ve already said before: I do not identify with the title witch as it does not speak to me. It hasn’t spoken to me since I was a teenager. While I will read “witch/pagan” focused reference texts, I like books that make a distinction between magic and witchcraft, because witchcraft is not a practice I subscribe to, either.
I know many feminists in the spiritual community would call me to reclaim these words, these titles, as I have been persecuted with them in past lives, but they belong to my past self and not my present path. I do not like to label my spirituality, and I do not connect with assigning limiting titles to myself, either. I also do not practice or believe in spell work and elaborate rituals. Again, these customs box in spirituality to set routines and expectations that feel a lot like religion (do/perform this one way to get what you want from the Universe). I have no interest in being bound to the confines of religion – not even a personal practice that feels like it is chained to the performance of ritualistic routines.
In a way, I feel like my Italian roots influence a lot of my stance on this. Italian “folk magic” is filled with medallions of protection, superstitious sayings, recipes that are likened to “spellcasting,” and more – but Italian women would never identify with being called a “strega” (witch in Italian). Magic – ie., infusing Spirit into everything you do – doesn’t need to be named; it just needs to be lived.
All that aside, this book came out of nowhere, and I am very much enjoying the author’s reflections and journey through Christianity and into her Pagan study. I have noticed many YouTube videos showing up in my main feed that speak to a new trend emerging: Christian Witches – those who love Christ so deeply and yet are called to worship and practice this love in a way that feels more aligned, rather than confined by the fear-umbrella of Christian churches. I get it. I absolutely get it.
As someone with a deep and unwavering love for Yeshua, I absolutely understand wanting to find a way to worship him while also feeling more deeply connected to everything else that surrounds you – because Jesus is The Way (to lead with Love and awaken our Christ Consciousness) but not The Final Destination (The I AM). I cannot, myself, abandon one religion for another, and so this title of Christian Witch is not something that will ever align – but learning about the possibility and existence between these two worlds merging into one does fascinate me and speak to me. There is much the author speaks to that resonates with me. In fact, I particularly liked where she clarified her beliefs in order for readers to better understand her spirituality and personal practice. I will do that later, because there is one other thing I want to speak to first.
This book made me more aware of something that never really crossed my mind before: I was born on the Pagan Sabbat of Imbolc and the Christian holiday of Candlemas. Both celebrations represent light emerging from the darkness, and they are celebrated on February 2nd, 40 days after the birth of Christ is celebrated. Both highlight (Saint) Brigid and, with that, creating crosses of protection. What has arisen within me is this question: why is this information standing out to me now?
I have always had this knowledge in the back of my mind before, so why is it so prominent and ringing as a message from the Universe at this moment?
Yesterday, I wrote about thresholds, and today I realize that I was born on one: a significant one for both Christians and Pagans. And today, I pull the cards The Star and Ace of Wands – a card that represents me and a card that represents the spark, the fire, the first flame that turns the tides.
Why? And why is it paired with my heart racing and a discomfort I cannot quite name? Two years ago, on this date, I wrote about surrendering to slowing down, and maybe I am being called to that again. Maybe the only way to understand this is to slow down to receive understanding. Maybe I don’t even need to understand it at all – not really. Maybe I just let it settle in me, and that is enough.
But let me return to what inspired me in the text: a clarity on my practice and beliefs.
- I believe in God/The Universe/Source/the I AM that is the energy from which all other energy came and is called to return to and I do not believe that this Source needs worship, but welcomes gratitude, grace, and humility
- My spiritual practice is non-discriminatory because it is Love-led, but I do not cater to or cajole victimhood in others; my goal as a healer is to gift empowerment
- I work with angels and Ascended Masters and ask them to intercede and assist where needed
- I do not worship deities, angels, or Ascended Masters; I believe in the mythology of deities and the lessons those myths teach us, especially about being better humans – but I do not believe in the concept of gods/goddesses and do not revere anything beyond Source; this has never resonated with me and I’d be a fraud if I pretended it did. Even though I know I was a priestess in Isis’ Temple in a past life and saw her present in that past life memory, that is not my present timeline and I do not deny her existence, I just do not worship her as goddess. I also do not adhere to the idea that we must “please” deities in order to win their favour – that is fear-based and does not align with my practice, which is Love-led
- I believe that the goddess is the Divine Feminine and is accessible to all from within; it is the maiden, mother, crone, and is about the transitions and thresholds that the Divine Feminine navigates
- I pray and meditate to connect more deeply to Source – but in no particular, one-definition manner
- Manifestation, to me, is to put out to the Universe/God what you desire and trust you will receive what is for your Highest Good at the best possible time
- I love Jesus deeply and invite him into all my practice as a mentor and a friend – one that is (as I feel) most closely aligned with the God energy through his Christ Consciousness, but is not God himself
- I do not believe you need to spellcast/perform a specific ritual in order to be protected, be blessed with good luck, manifest what you desire etc – I actually believe you can call in exactly what you need and, with energetically focused intention, that is enough
- I never felt aligned with the concept of a Coven and have never felt drawn to spiritual workshops, events, or experiences – my spiritual practice is deeply personal, and it always felt that these things were performative and too religious for me
- I use Tarot and Oracle Cards as a tool to connect with my Higher Self and Beings Higher than me (energetically) in order for clarity and connection on the best possible path, and never for divination or prediction (I don’t believe in divination – too many possible timelines, and it implies complete control when that is an Ego desire and not of Source in essence)
- I believe in Past Lives and the aether – which some might refer to as heaven, as it is to be in a state of complete Love Alignment
- I believe in nefarious beings and evil, but I don’t believe in possession as a passive state or “evil entities” in the traditional sense
Why do I write all this? Is it for my clients to better understand me? Is it for me to better understand my spiritual path without having to name it? Is it for you, dear reader, who might see themselves mirrored in some of my own belief system – like I saw myself mirrored in the book I am reading? There is no answer, not that I know of. Perhaps it is just something I needed to get onto (virtual) paper. And I am sure I will add to it or alter it as time goes on, because my practice is ever-changing, and that is the beauty of personal spirituality. I am not bound by the confines of someone else’s label or name or rules or ideas. Christians (like Doreen Virtue) may say that to pick-and-choose what suits you is an Ego idea about God, but to me, that is the whole point.
We do not live multiple lives with multiple experiences under multiple spiritual umbrellas and ideas just because there is one path back to God, but because we are meant to uncover the Truth that is within us. This actually aligns with what I channeled exactly two years ago: “Truth is just a grain of sand in an infinite ocean where the waters will not nourish you but will drown you if you fall prey to wanting to swim in them. But the secret is that the grain of sand is within you.”
All spirituality – or at least any that serves any purpose and has profound meaning – must bring you back to knowing the Truth is within you, that access point to God is within, and anything that puts that focus on something external being needed or having to be performed to get there is just trying to distract you. Distractions keep you trapped in the cycle; stillness on the Truth within frees you.
Labels feel like a distraction. Gods/Goddesses worship feels like a distraction. Divination feels like a distraction. Victimhood feels like a distraction. Fear feels like a distraction. I don’t want distractions: I want Truth – always Truth, only Truth. Truth is Love. Love is God. I want God. And I certainly don’t want anything that feels like an extra step in my Alignment with the Universe. If Buddhists can find their enlightenment through meditation alone, that is the clearest evidence that the rest is all noise. I don’t want noise. I want silence. I want stillness. Living in this world is loud and chaotic enough; the God I know and Love is none of that.
How do I wrap up this post? I am unsure of that, too. I don’t need to decide what this threshold means, or where this spark is leading, or why Imbolc and Candlemas are suddenly speaking so loudly to me, or why I felt the need to clarify my own beliefs. I can simply become still enough to hear what is already within me and respond – to write what I hear. That, ultimately, is where my spirituality keeps bringing me: away from the noise, away from the labels, away from the need to know, and back to the quiet place where Truth, Love, and God are already present.
And maybe that is what is symbolic about being born on Imbolc/Candlemas: I am always going to go where Light is found – and I have endlessly uncovered that that is within.
If you wish to support my work further, have a look at all my books, journals, and decks, available here. If you want to work with me as a spiritual healer, check out my services through Seeking Celestial Grace and Awakened Little Souls. I am offering limited spots each month for my Year Ahead Tarot Reading. And: What if the wisdom you need could be found in the spirit of flowers – in a 78-card oracle deck? Have a look at fleurs célestes – a Flower Essence Oracle & Tarot Deck created by yours truly.
xx C
lifeofcloud 