I was brought up in a strict Ialian Catholic home but I always felt there was something missing in my life spiritually.
The bond I have with nature has been with me all my life. A connection with pets and other animals. The strength I gain just by being outdoors. Looking toward the heavens and being part of the universe.
I found myself not losing faith but gaining a spirituality that was beyond what I saw in both church and it's practitioners.
My grandmother from Austria was a healer and the stories that were passed down often made me wonder if she left her home country for America due to more than a marriage. Hearing her described as a "doctor" when she had limited education.
It is through her I learned to appreciate nature even more. She was magickal and I sit here thinking she never learned to speak english yet somehow we could communicate. I was still a child when she passed, she was born in 1885 and left us in the 70's. We would walk through the forest and eat berries she would point out, mushrooms, and running streams that were not polluted.
Moving forward, I was perusing the book store that we frequented and I was drawn to a section that I never really ventured. I had always been interested in the faiths I knew about, but that day was different. It was as if a string had be connected to me leading me to the Spiritual section of the store and away I went and continued to investigate something I had always believed.
We all have gifts, though some people do not even realize it, and to tap into that realm of existance which allows us freedom to be who we truly are is rewarding.
I am still captivated at all the tools I already had within my home. I sometimes felt "why did I buy this," or "I did I pick this up while camping?" Now, I realize it all had meaning and purpose. I sometimes think that my upbringing suppressed my true nature.
A minor event that occured while camping. I had been wanting to purchase a compass. I just did not want to spend the money. I spoke of it for a few week and on one of our camping trips, in the sands by a lake, there it was sparkling for me to find.
I may not be as knowledgable as many people here, but I have realized my spirituality permeatest through me, both within and without. That things can and will happen with that piece of me that is not really a part of this world.
This is a blessing that other "faiths" may feel as evil, but to me it is who I am.
I am happy for those who were raised in the pagan or heathen ways. The knowledg you have and the openness of those who practice with you. You are blessed. Some of us, well, we were tenderly nudged by the unseen to be brought into the folds of mysticism.
Thank you for reading.
Permalink Reply by josef aggar on 
Permalink Reply by Maris Hellfaerie (Maire) on I was just unsupervised and there was little to no "parental guidance", in many ways. I got in trouble with clerics mostly, long after I had dropped out of the church (which was when I was 9 years old, we moved to another city where I felt no connection with the church personnel whatsoever).
My background is actually no brainer New Age'(religion/spirituality of the month) on the one, major side, naive folk Catholicism on the other, and an atheist yet Occult (where the Rune lore and Germanic mythology came from partially), from the third side.There was no "falling", but rather getting rid of one stupid idea after another.
Since I was allowed as little privacy as possible at home, I tend to be more discreet about my very personal spirituality, I prefer to work with mythologies when interacting with others when it comes to this.
I grew up in a Pagan Culture in Hawaii, yet was raised Catholic, then went through various churches, almost became a Pentecostal Preacher, then left to embrace my Pagan Witchy self. I could never just be me, and felt always was never good enough, also got burned to. This is my short version, wow I can do short,lol
Permalink Reply by Lady Aletria on Because of several personal tragedies I experienced early in life my senses because acute to my surroundings and my awareness sharpened early combined with the fact that I had a bit of "second sight" as well.. I was therefore drawn to various forms of metaphysics and became fascinated with astrology ..somewhere along the way I found a group of people who thought as I did.. and as time passed I made my way to the Craft.. as I look back now I see that is was a series of progressions that shaped me to be who I am today... so for me it was never a rebellous attampt to defy my parents or move away from my religion by becoming Pagan.. it was common sense and history that changed my view of religion and conditioning that my relatives tried to instill in me.. I find this subject interesting Pheonix and like hearing of other people's experiences...
Permalink Reply by deadlegsjohnson on I am new to my journey so this is a to be continued story...
I grew up southern baptist, you better turn or burn kind of style. My first school was a Christian one but I became obsessed with a fear of hell so intense that my parent finally put me in public school instead. Growing up I had extreme guilt issues and was constantly contemplating issues of sin and dirtiness. Everything in my mind was good or bad, virtue or sin. Whenever something negative happened to me I exhausted myself wondering what I did to deserve those things. Finally enough bad things happened in my life and I knew this outlook on life was gonna kill me.
I realized that Christianity in any form was not for me, and considered myself an atheist for several years. I was happier that way but still had a longing in my heart and this indescribable feeling that there was something powerful I was not allowing myself to pick up on. I finally opened my mind and Pagansim has been the only thing that has felt "right" to me and something worth pursuing. I am still working out my path.
Permalink Reply by Psyche on Well I was adopted and brought up Catholic. My mom says I chose it but I was six so I highly disagree. Anyway I was even became an alter-girl (Yes they have alter-girls) but I always knew that despite enjoying the rituals and being part of it, it wasn't the religion itself. I always felt the call of the goddess in the stories and in nature I heard the words of the great hunter. When I got older I chose to become a pagan. Its always been within me.
Permalink Reply by SupremeTacos on Stupidity (Well, at a much higher level) everywhere else I looked.
Keri<3
Permalink Reply by Vigdisdotter on For me, it all started with spontaneous past-life experiences. And tht prompted me to find local pagans to talk to. Everything just kind of snowballed from that.
Permalink Reply by Psyche on I understand perfectly moonchild. I have had some very powerful UPG's that have deeply effected me on many levels :).
Permalink Reply by Caitlin on My story is rather normal really. I was raised Christian and was a Christian (by choice) until I met a friend in high school who introduced me to paganism. I was hesitant at first but over time I began the transition from Christian to pagan. Ever since I've just been evolving as a pagan into now considering myself a Heathen. I have been asked how long I've been Heathen and the only thing I can say to that is also that it was a transition. I've been a pagan for eight years (including that slow transition) and I've been slowly transitioning into Heathenism for about three years now. I've always been into folk magic and central gods have been Cernunnos and Hekate and I've had an interest in Voodou. So overall I've stayed the same with mild changes throughout the years.
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