Religion is based on a person's need to believe in something. Whether that is nature and the goddesses or God as a three-in-one, everyone needs to feel like they belong. What I learned in Salem today was that maybe there is more to me than what I believe there is. Tab and her mom, Joyce, have really opened my eyes to Paganism. Although they both participate in different aspects of it, they both belong. Today was the first time, that I have ever been ashamed to be a Christian. When we were at the Salem Cemetery, there was a group being given a tour. The tour guide said that Christians accused people of being witches and hung them just for the fun of it. After that, I went over to Abigail Williams' grave, rubbed her name, and said "I'm sorry." She was one of many who were accused of witchcraft because Christian's found it to be a joke. Earlier that day, Joyce, had told me about a ritual that she had performed a while back. The ritual involved burning something of significant value to you. She chose a branch that she had picked up from the oldest tree in Salem a few years before that. When the fire had extinguished, Joyce was going through that ashes and found the branch, unburned. She said that she thought that this had happened because Joyce had shown the branch how much it meant to her and it was just returning that favor. Also, in one of the shops in Salem, we were discussing the way that some items choose their owners. Joyce started to pick up each of the crystals that were in a basket. When I asked her what she was doing, she proceeded to explain how if you were meant to own a rock then when you pick it up it will be warm or even hot. Just for ha-has, I went to a different basket and picked up a two rocks. The first one was very cold. The second one, however, was warm to the touch. So, I asked Joyce to feel it just to make sure that it wasn't from a person before me who had made it warm. She said that it felt very cold to her. Therefore, I believe that my rock sort of chose me. I believe that it is okay to change religions that fit who you are in the present and who you would like to be in the future. Just because you were raised certain religion does not mean that you are forever indebted to that religion. "I'm so sick and tired of being told what's good for me. People got lots of ideas, of who I'm supposed to be." This is my favorite line from "Fly Away" by Sugarland. This just helps me to reaffirm that I don't have to be who people want or even expect me to be. Maybe I will change religions. Maybe I won't. Either way, it will be my decision and my decision only.
