Delaware Valley Pagan Network

The Path (Part 2)

Written by Administrator
Sunday, 01 June 2003
-- A short story by G. Ashton (continued from previous issue) Several weeks had passed since Hilde had decided she was going to actively participate in preparing for, and attending a Samhain festival. She felt good about her decision. She had decided to participate and attend the one celebration of a shop owner that she had known casually for approximately 10 years. He was a fascinating person. He was considered an outsider in Hagtessa, PA, but he was not. His grandparents had lived in the town for many years until their deaths. Will's parents were not metaphysically oriented and had chosen to move away from the area. They wanted to be "mainstream" but something inside them knew what Will needed and Will had spent most of his childhood summers with his grandparents in Hagtessa. His grandparents had taught Will many things and had encouraged Will's natural abilities. However, that was not hard as Will had a natural propensity towards the metaphysical and a deep interest in his heritage. Will's full name was William WhiteWolf and he was a mixture of Native American, Irish on one side of his family tree; and Native American and Welsh from the other side of his family tree. His shop was a unique blend of who he was. Will was a shaman in the Native American sense, as well as utilizing his Pagan roots from his Irish/Welsh sides of the family. He was quite a character, very personable and very knowledgeable. Hilde had attended several lectures at his shop and often stopped in the shop to pick up supplies, see what was new in the shop, etc. They had had some very fascinating conversations. Hilde thought she would approach Will to see if there was anything she could do as a volunteer for the Samhain celebration. Then she could also "feel him out", to see if anyone she knew from the lectures that she had attended would be coming to the celebration. Oh, she wouldn't expect them to stay with her all evening and "baby sit" her, but it would be nice if there were a few familiar friendly faces there if she decided to attend. Yes, Hilde decided she would stop in at the shop today and check this out further. This would be a good start. Volunteer work would involve a few meetings, and thus interaction with people. Then, if she chose, she could actually attend the celebration. Yep, this felt right, either way there would be some involvement on a level that was would keep Hilde's solitary status, but at the same time take a step in the direction of being with others. The Samhain celebration had been a huge success. Hilde's volunteer work had been a very small undertaking. Hilde had felt awkward and out of place at first, but as the meetings progressed she felt good about her involvement. Hilde recalled herself being a nervous wreck the night of the celebration prior to her actual arrival at the celebration. Hilde had gone as a gypsy-crone type character. The evening was truly a spectacular event. Hilde had been nervous that she might make some terrible blunder during the ritual since she was solitary and was not involved in group ritual on any level. Her worries were needless. She should have realized that Will was very experienced at putting such events together and with that he had known that there were going to be many people there who were not of the "Earth" religions who were just out for a "Halloween" good time party. Hilde was still having a hard time putting into words when she tried to talk about the "magick" of the evening. Not that she talked to that many people about it, but still before she talked to her sister she would have to find the right words to express how wonderful the evening had been. "Wow", what a great experience. Hilde was glad she had taken the step to interact. Hilde had known several people who attended and with that was able to socialize without becoming an "albatross" around anyone's neck. Hilde had also surprised herself, she really had not planned to stay any real length of time. Her nervousness had dissipated almost immediately after arriving at the celebration, and even though she didn't stay the entire celebration, it was still a huge step forward in her life to have attended a major pagan social event, stayed for the amount of time she stayed, and actually enjoyed herself. to be continued....
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 23 November 2004 )

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