Unraveling the Threads of History: A Personal Quest ForTruth

From Conformity to Liberation

As I contemplate the intricate tapestry of our shared history, I cannot help but feel the weight of the narratives that have shaped our understanding of spirituality and self-identity. My own journey has taken me from the confines of a Mormon upbringing to the realization of my true calling as a witch, a seeker of knowledge and truth that spans the ages.

Growing up in a culture so steeped in dogma, I learned early on what it meant to conform to societal expectations. The teachings of the Church dominated our lives, creating boundaries that stifled exploration and personal growth. Despite this, a deep-rooted awareness of my identity as a witch manifested in me from the tender age of five. My mother and sisters, also witches in our lineage, and I found ourselves ensnared by the expectations of chapel doors—where we were taught to hide our true selves behind a façade of righteousness.

A Journey of Resistance

My path to liberation involved a deep exploration of various churches, each one promising truth but delivering instead an echo of the same manipulative narratives. It was in this search that I began to question the very foundations upon which these institutions stand. Ultimately, I uncovered a troubling reality: the narratives perpetuated by organized religions, particularly Christianity, appear designed to maintain control over the minds and spirits of the masses.

Let’s face it: today in America, we're witnessing a concerning erosion of democratic values, prompting me to question whether we ever truly had democracy in the first place. How did we reach this point where voices are increasingly silenced? Not only witches, but also people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone outside the Christian faith face significant threats. The fear is palpable, rumbling within the collective—some are scared, others uncertain.

Yet, I know with every ounce of my being that this lifetime will be different from the last. We, whom Christians might label as "weirdos" or "black sheep," are not going to stand idly by and allow this to happen. It’s crucial for us to reflect on how we arrived at this critical juncture, especially understanding the role that the Church has played throughout history in shaping societal norms and empowering systemic oppression.

Looking back, we see the Church began to solidify its power in ancient times. After the death of Jesus Christ around 30-33 CE, the small community of his followers laid the groundwork for an emerging faith meeting in small groups to carry on the teachings of Jesus. I myself do not believe those teachings are the same today as what that man actually taught about in his lifetime. The Edict of Milan in 313 CE by Emperor Constantine marked a turning point when Christianity was legalized, granting it a foothold in the Roman Empire. By the time of Theodosius I in 380 CE, with the Edict of Thessalonica proclaiming Nicene Christianity as the official state religion, the foundations of Christian dominance were firmly established.

Over the centuries, this consolidation of power allowed the Church to suppress alternative beliefs and marginalize those who diverged from its teachings. The systematic erasure of knowledge, such as the destruction of the Library of Alexandria, and the persecution of those labeled as heretics or witches reveal a troubling trajectory of how the Church has sought to control thought and dictate morality. When I look back at history I find the first real Cult to be Christianity, and all of the belief systems before that to be culturally based belief systems. I mean what is religion anyway? Religion is typically defined as a system of beliefs, practices, and values that involves the worship of a higher power or deity. It often includes a structured set of doctrines, moral codes, rituals, and community practices that help individuals understand the nature of existence, the meaning of life, and the relationship between humanity and the divine. For example, Paganism, Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Ancient Egyptian, Buddhism, Chinese Traditional, Shamanism, Indigenous beliefs, Mystery Temples, and Polytheism were/are belief systems and now labeled religion. What differentiates them from Christianity is that they do not strive to convert the way Christianity did. Therefore, the way I look at it, the very people pointing the finger screaming Cult is the pot calling the kettle black. Again, these are just my musings and my thoughts. I don't claim to be a scholar or the most educated person because I certainly am not, but I can read and Google search with the best of them, and I have. I was raised in what I see is a cult labeled as one of the Christian churches that has done more harm to life than anything else I have experienced. 

The Legacy of the Library of Alexandria

In my search for truth, I examined the origins of the texts that guide our lives. Within the Mormon Church, two primary books are the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I found it relatively straightforward to disprove the claims of the Book of Mormon, recognizing it as a cult. Once I understood its lack of credibility, I turned my attention to the Bible, which presented a far more complex challenge. This brings me to the Library of Alexandria, which is a plethora of knowledge that once held the collective wisdom of our ancestors, likely to have once held what was the original writings that ended up in what we now call the Bible in all its interpretations. Sadly in my research, I found that the Library of Alexandria, one of the most famous libraries of the ancient world, is often cited as having suffered destruction due to a series of events over many centuries, and one a single burning took out a large potion. The most notable burning is often attributed to Julius Caesar's siege of Alexandria in 48 BCE, when Caesar reportedly set Egyptian ships ablaze, and that fire spread to parts of the city, potentially affecting the library's collection. However, there is no definitive evidence confirming that the main library building itself was entirely consumed by fire during this event. One significant event often associated with the library's decline during this period is the rise of Christianity and its growing influence in the Roman Empire. This shift led to tensions between paganism and the emerging Christian faith. The library symbolized ancient knowledge and pagan wisdom, which made it a target as far as what I have gathered.

In 391 CE, under the decree of Theophilus, the Patriarch of Alexandria, a series of actions against pagan temples occurred, including the destruction of the Serapeum, which had housed some of the library's collections. This action indicated a rejection of pagan knowledge and may have contributed to further losses of texts and manuscripts.

Although these events contributed to the decline of the library, specific details about any fires or direct destruction of the library around Constantine's time are not clearly recorded, leading historians to believe that the decline was part of a gradual process influenced by religious, political, and cultural changes.

Located in Egypt, this legendary library stood as a testament to the importance of knowledge in shaping humanity's understanding of existence. Yet, it was not immune to the destructive forces of its time—forces that sought to erase the very ideas that challenged established norms and beliefs. The library’s destruction serves as a historical example of how knowledge can be wielded as a tool of power, with those in control aiming to suppress the truths that threaten their authority.

Discovering the libraries deepened my understanding of how the Bible has been translated into numerous versions and, more importantly, how it was manipulated during the rise of the church to align with narratives that sought to erase what was known as paganism. The Library of Alexandria is thought to have contained a vast wealth of knowledge, including texts and teachings that could be classified as 'pagan wisdom.' This library housed a diverse array of philosophical, scientific, and literary works from various cultures, many of which reflected beliefs and practices related to polytheism and nature worship.

All Witches are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Witches

My search through the libraries led me to explore the concept of paganism. As I identified as a witch, I began to question whether I was a pagan or a witch and what that truly means. Are all witches considered pagan? I discovered that, historically, all pagans can be seen as witches in the sense that, before the conversion to Christianity, anyone participating in belief systems outside of the church was labeled as pagan and finger pointed as a witch. This encompassed a wide range of cultures, I would say all cultures in my research, there were few places where this fever of the witch hunts and conversion didn't touch, reflecting diverse traditions that predated Christian influence.

In ancient times, 'paganism' commonly referred to the polytheistic beliefs and practices of civilizations such as the Celts, Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. However, these cultures did not necessarily label themselves as 'religions.' Rather, they practiced culturally based systems of belief that involved the worship of multiple gods and goddesses, rituals, and a deep connection to nature and the cosmos.

Many modern witches often perceive paganism as referring to a specific historical period or exclusively to Celtic traditions, but in reality, it is much more complex. Celtic paganism was indeed polytheistic, centered on the worship of various deities relating to nature, fertility, war, and the cosmos. This practice emerged in regions that later became known for witch hunts, which can lead to the association between witches and pagans.

The Celts had a rich tradition of mythology, rituals, and festivals, many of which were tied to natural cycles and agricultural practices that modern witches continue to embrace in their lives today. It seems that real witches of old were considered pagan, as the era in which they lived was viewed as 'pagan times,' regardless of their geographic or cultural origins.

In contemporary times, paganism encompasses a variety of spiritual and religious movements that draw inspiration from ancient practices. Modern paganism includes belief systems such as Wicca, Druidry, and Heathenry, often characterized by a reverence for nature, celebrations of seasonal festivals, and the use of rituals.

In both historical and modern contexts, paganism highlights a spiritual connection to the world, often through the veneration of deities, nature, or ancestral traditions.

Reflecting on this history, I realize that we live in a time where the visibility of these themes persists. Organized religion, specifically Christianity, often enforces doctrines that promote a singular narrative—one that feeds the self-righteousness of its adherents while vilifying those who diverge from its path. I have witnessed this fervor firsthand, as people ardently preach biblical teachings to individuals like us, who embrace the power and wisdom inherent in witchcraft.

I am a witch, which inherently connects me to paganism, as witches often engage in all the practices that pagans do, such as rituals, seasonal celebrations, and honoring nature. However, not all pagans practice witchcraft, as most do not engage in spellwork, divination, or magick. Historically, some ancient Celtic practices became intertwined with witchcraft, leading to their association with modern witchcraft, even though they are fundamentally rooted in paganism. It is this spellwork, along with divination and mediumship, that more accurately reflects the practices of those we recognize as the true witches of history. Thus, while witches embody the essence of pagan beliefs and traditions, they uniquely integrate magickal practices that set them apart from mainstream paganism.

I often wonder if, without the conversion brought about by the church, there would be the same diversity of religions we see today. The Christian movement, with its many sects, seems to have played a significant role in categorizing and labeling various pagan belief systems. This has led to the appropriation of diverse cultural beliefs, resulting in modern struggles for many cultures to maintain reverence for their ancestral wisdom. Today, we often lack clear understandings of which practices belong to whom, what we can and cannot do, and what constitutes a closed or open practice.

However, this is a topic in itself. For now, let’s focus on the journey of seeking knowledge and recognize how our current experiences reflect the patterns of the past

It is mind-boggling to witness the level of conviction individuals possess in promoting systems that have historically marginalized and silenced so many. Yet, I have come to understand that this self-righteousness stems from their fear—a fear of the unknown, of the truths that lay hidden behind centuries of oppression. It is a desire to belong to a narrative that promises certainty in an uncertain world, often at the expense of others’ truths.

Standing on Precipice of Societal Change

My path and search for knowledge began 22 years ago, one of resistance, not born solely from discontent but from a profound desire to unearth the buried truths that resonate with our innate divinity. As I continue to explore the wisdom of our ancestors and embrace our ancestral knowledge, I remain committed to exposing the narratives that have sought to control our understanding of self and spirit. In a world where organized religions have attempted to dictate who we are, I find solace in the belief that we are all sparks of the Divine, each with our unique paths and truths to uncover. As we stand on the precipice of societal change, it's imperative to remember that if any one group is oppressed, none of us are truly free. We must rise together as a collective, united in our diversity. The essence of our power lies in our ability to support one another, breaking down barriers that seek to divide us.

Together, we can challenge the fear instilled by oppressive systems and create a future that celebrates every identity, every belief, and every voice. It’s time to reclaim our narrative and ensure that the mistakes of the past do not dictate our future. In the next blog, I will go deeper into the libraries of Alexandria as I feel this information is important in this worldwide political climate. Everything that seems to threaten our ability to live as sovereign beings originates from manipulated biblical texts written thousands of years ago. I believe that until we collectively recognize this truth, we are destined to repeat old narratives time and again, as the collective unconscious attempts to heal itself through similar situations, albeit with different circumstances. Most people don't even know the very libraries that held the scrolls of wisdom that would eventually fill the pages of what we now call the bible were mysteriously burned/destroyed over centuries so we would have no written record of the true history of humanity; leaving us with no option but to believe the twisted narrative deliberately rewritten to control and convert a society. And, here we are today fighting against something set in motion thousands of years ago that is the cause of more death and destruction than any war when you look at the cumulative loss of life.

I believe the roots of patriarchy lie in the historical context I've discussed in this article. I encourage you to research the information I've shared and share it with your friends. Our collective search for truth is essential for understanding our identity as sovereign beings, rather than as the codependent followers that the church aimed to create in its quest for power thousands of years ago.