This has been one of the greatest gifts of being Pagan for me. Before it was hard for me to open up. Growing up I had gone through years of abuse. I was extremely close off to the world. I felt ignored, isolated, alone to all members of the opposite sex. With men I was nearly always butting heads and extremely competative. Through the study of Wicca it has opened up powerful emotions that I never really knew I had. At times the intensity is too much to handle. I want to connect with everyone now. It is less feelings in my head and more in my physical life, body and senses. The other religions seem to have connected only on a mental way with me. I have a much better intimacy/connection to the world then ever before. Even in the small mundane aspects of life of making the bed or preparing breakfast. Nowadays  I care less about controlling life and more about letting things flow - for good or for bad. I enjoy myself in the moment. Paganism is truly a religion of living.

One of my favorite quotes is from Goethe "A talent is formed in stillness, a character in the world's torrent. Often the most chaotic times of my life have been fodder for the most growth in my life. I have learned to love rather than fear the storms of life. I do not purposefully seek out conflict and chaos.... well at least not most of the time (winks). However I no longer cringe when difficulty is place in my path - it is a challenge, win or fall flat on my face, at least I have attempted it. With this philosphy my only regret is that I did not do more of this in my younger years.