By Crystal Brooke

As an Eclectic Witch, it has taken quite a bit of time, research, and trial and error to find my path.

Spirituality has always had an immense role in my life. I was fortunate enough to know my great-grandmother growing up. She was a Pentecostal woman who was very true to her faith. Extremely superstitious and wise, she taught me how to believe in things you could only feel and not see, and also gifted me with Sight.

While I realize that Pentecostal Christianity and Witchcraft typically do not go well together, my point here is that I’ve been guided and taught the importance of “old school” ways. My childhood was filled with examples from her and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. 

When away from my great-grandmother, I spent a good portion of my time in different church denominations. Occasionally experimenting with Ouija Boards, I found myself intrigued by all things of a mystical nature, soaking up every ounce of knowledge and wisdom I could in regards to spiritual matters. This led to me being a free but very restless spirit. “Just knowing,” being able to feel other people’s energies, and dreams were all gifts I realized I possessed at a very young age. 

My first deck of tarot cards came to me while I was in my late teens. I absolutely adored them but did not learn to read them at this time. They ended up going to someone else, as I would certainly go straight to hell if I kept them, according to my grandmother. This is when I knew I wanted to learn more.

College brought rebellion and wisdom into my small world. Secretly, this is the time that I figured out for myself that organized religion was not at all what I had been taught. I began branching out into various alternative paths, learning, blossoming, and discovering my own theological viewpoints. This was indeed a very magical time on my path.

Life became life, and for several years in my life these things were put in the back of my mind. Marriages, children, work… I began losing my gifts. As a nurse, I was a healer by trade, and that is what finally brought back my interests. 

Cardiology was my area. My skills of “just knowing” and feeling people’s energy became very strong, I still carried the gift of dreams but they were not as vivid as they had once been. I loved my work and was very good at what I did. 

Something changed inside me during my early 30’s, I’m still not certain what caused it but I allowed my shadow side to take control of my life. These times were tornadic in nature; I created a very hard life for myself and for everyone around me for several years. Powerful and controlling, my shadow self destroyed life as I knew it. 

Once I was able to step back and watch myself from a distance, I slowly but surely began to regain control. Never did I want to return to organized religion and, ironically, this is where I found peace. The last time I attended a religious service, a visiting minister came to me during the service and prophesied that I would be in a place to help women and children and to be an advocate for them. As much as I needed that peace within my mind at that time and I am grateful for that, I also knew I did not belong there. 

Life became “normal” again and I decided it was time to step into my power. I began reading and researching anything and everything I could find about Paganism and it’s vast umbrella. I began collecting my tools and practicing as a Solitary Practitioner. It makes my heart happy to remember that time, I had finally found my path. Witchcraft was something my restless spirit was able to go into whole heartedly.

The time came when I was finally ready to come out of the “Broom Closet”. When speaking with my spirit early one morning, I asked her to reveal like-minded people to me. I never could have imagined how much she would bless me. I have crossed paths and had the privilege to study under, to celebrate, and to sit in circle with some amazing people. 

My family relocated to Louisiana for 2 years, I immediately reached out to the pagan community in New Orleans, which was  a major step for me. Again, I was taken in by the community. This is where I learned the true meaning of the phrase “coexist”. Academie Gnostique is the safe space for anyone who falls under the pagan umbrella. Alchemy, Voodoo, Hoodoo, Kabbalah, Wiccans, both formally trained and self-taught are all welcome. Through the Acadmie, I was able to participate in many beautiful celebrations, Practical Magick, the Pagan Pride Project and, my favorite celebration, Bacchus. I became confident enough to create a group, St. Tammany Parish Pagans. I will be forever grateful that my path brought me to Southeast Louisiana. 

I returned back home to Oklahoma, where I am now, and my path continues to be largely solitary. The people who helped me to build the foundation of my beliefs are here. 

As I’m writing this, I’m forced to look back over my journey and reflect. The wisdom of my great-grandmother and just pure natural-born gifts have guided me much of the way. I look back at my shadow-self with deep sadness but I would never take that time back. It was there that I learned to make friends with my shadows, to deal with them, and to move forward. There is a deep gratitude in my heart for the people who have held my hand at each and every point during this earth walk. Some are no longer a part of my life and some will always be with me, no matter what. However, each have played a crucial role in who and what I am. They are who I owe my eclectic path to. 

Witchcraft has saved my life in so many ways. It has given me passion and purpose as well as shown me more ways to love than I could ever begin to describe, beginning with -and most importantly – self-love. 

Crystal Brooke