Hi,
My name is Willow, I am a solitary eclectic Pagan & Druid.

From a very young age I felt an affinity with nature, felt empathy for people. Could not relate to the world I saw around me, the intolerance & cruelty. Caused problems with my parents as I grew up. As my parents were extremely religious & intolerant of any who did not share their faith.

My childhood was confusion, for no one could answer my questions. Would have precognitive dreams. The worst dream foretold of my Mothers death in my 30s. Fortunately that only happened once. Not a pleasant experience.

I felt from a young age that I did not belong or conform to the faith around me. I felt respect for all faiths & still do. I asked my parents when I was 9 about the other religion.....I insisted on calling God, the Creator. No, I did not belong to Christianity, nor Judaism, nor Islam.......I felt there was another, older faith. I was 11 when I started to haunt the library looking for answers. At the age of 12, I looked up the history, going back I found mention of Paganism & cried, for I had found what I had been looking for!

Knew without doubt that was where I belonged. Was it genetic memory, or the call of my ancestors........ or the earth reaching within me, waking my senses calling to me?

All I know is that at a young age, I would draw upon the flags the fertility Goddess, yet I had never seen one. My chalk was confiscated as it caused a stir as you can imagine :) Shortly after finding reference to Paganism I also found a picture of the Fertility Goddess I had drawn. I was stunned, yet elated. I had indeed come home!

For a while I was lucky enough to go & stay in Somalia & live with nomads whilst young. I would spend most of my time in the bush, learning from nature, meditation came naturally as did visualisation. I like nothing better than to curl up with the trees & animals about me. I looked after sheep & goats whilst there. Had an affinity with all animals. I was left to my own devices, rarely saw another person. I needed the solitude to absorb the beauty around me, to understand & become one. The wonderful feeling of the rain upon my flesh, the sight of an animal giving birth, eating fruit from the bushes. I saw a true wildness in nature that touched my soul that I could relate to. The animal within me was at last unchained. Free of convention!

I was born in Wales, came to Manchester when I was. Not many trees, but I would search them out, for I felt a warmth emanating from them, needed their companionship. Felt their vitality. So when went to live the with the nomads it was the catalyst I needed, left to my own thoughts, found myself. I missed 2 yrs of schooling. However I learned the greatest lesson of all, that nature was my home, animals my brethren. We destroy nature, then we destroy ourselves. Live apart from nature & we lose something precious.

Until 3 years ago I was completely solitary, then decided to leave my marriage & look for my path in life. I got my first PC, contacted Native Americans, as I knew they shared a love of nature & shared my thoughts. At that time I did not realise there were others in the UK who felt the same. In the 70s I met one Wicca who was on the path of Hollywood & blackness, so I kept to myself after that!!

Jim said to me, "unless you look within your heart in honesty at the dark & light, you cannot go forward & learn." He was right!!

Shortly after that I met my first Pagan on icq, it was wonderful & through Edward, that I learned of the Pagan Federation. I had not known of the Pagan Federation, etc. Was stunned yet, elated. Joined a local moot as a result & have found true liberation of the senses. It was wonderful to know there were so many like-minded people about! A bit of a shock really! As I had kept to myself, not seen any magazines. Read a few books in the early 70s. But followed my instincts. An eclectic Pagan. Last year I looked at Druidry, found my true path, for everything I read mirrored my own feelings & thoughts. Nature Spirituality, being at one with the whole of nature. Joined OBOD & a local Grove. Found true peace at last. It is important that we never stem the child within, for when we do that we lose the vibrancy within. Forget who we really are.

Now I am lost on the river of life & enjoying the journey, learning from the new friends I meet upon the path, for we all learn from each other. Last year I learned to drive. Rather late *grin* Now I go to my hills & forests most days, sometimes I take my drum & lose myself to the rhythm, a wonderful feeling as I watch the birds soaring & the distant sheep cast as pearls upon the hills. I like to draw & write poetry of natures beauty. Dabble in hypnosis. Share my life with 4 cats & 2 dogs. Love the companionship of my friends, often we will play the drums together. This summer we have spent time down a beautiful copper mine & visited many beautiful place.

Last July I did my Druid initiation alone 60ft below ground within the copper mine, it was one of the happiest days of my life & a turning point.

That last few weeks I have got involved with running our moot, not sure what I have got myself into, but it's a new learning experience.

If you would like to email me my email is CloudDancer87976@aol.com

Take care.

Love & Blessings
Willow x