I am a witch, and I say that proudly.

I am a witch, I hold all life sacred.

I am a witch, and the Earth is my mother.

I am a witch. My lord is the Lord of the Dance.

I believe that each and every one of us have an interconnectivity, not just with each other, but with each and every living thing in our magnificent universe. I believe that we are here, on this beautiful Earth, not to have dominion over all things, but to be the wardens, the keepers, the guardians of all things. I believe that the Earth is a living entity, sentient, perhaps  not in a way that we currently see sentience, but certainly aware. I refer to the Earth in the feminine as females of all species create life.

The basic tenant of Wicca is " 'An it harm none, do what you will."  'An is an older word meaning "if". To walk a life harming none is not an easy path. Action, inactions, words spoken, words not spoke, all can harm. Harm is much more than mere physical harm. It is to hurt by intent or by lack of intent. It is to turn away from someone or something in need, either by not caring or by not seeing.  Saying this, how do I balance eating meat? Goddess made each of us with a purpose. I never sport or trophy hunt, or sport or trophy fish. On the occasions that I have had to hunt, I have done it with reverence and respect, thanking my prey for their sacrifice that I may feed my family and nurture  them. No one questions the lioness or expects her to change her diet and humans were created to eat both plants and animals.

I am a witch, not a good witch, not a bad witch, just a witch. Not a white or a black witch. Those are creations, fabrications. The entire negativity of the word "witch" comes directly from Chrstianity's ongoing slur campaign to besmerch any and all other beliefs. Yet, there are none of us on this planet, whom, if the family tree could be traced back far enough, did not come from pagan roots.To deny my religion is to deny your own roots, your own beginnings. To condemn me because you do not understand is to harm another.