Over the years that I have been aware of the greater Pagan community, I have seen some relatively well known spokespeople step away from Paganism and declare that their beliefs now lie in another direction.  Some do this vocally, and insult Paganism on their way out the door, others do it quietly, making us wonder what caused them to change their minds.

When the reason for leaving the community is because the person found a new faith, I am a bit surprised.  I think that to be a spokesperson, either through teaching, writing or producing a podcast, one must be pretty sure of their faith.   I wonder what it was that changed their mind, and what it does to the validity of the material they have produced.

I’m probably one of the most lacks Wiccans there is.  I can’t remember the last time I celebrated a Sabbat or talked to the divine.  And yet, I know this is my faith.  That doesn’t mean that I don’t sometimes question my beliefs or wonder what it might be like to follow another path.  But, deep down, I know this is my path.

But, what if, years from now, I decide to follow another path?  Buddhism calls to me sometimes, and I will admit that I occasionally envy the fellowship found in Christian churches.  If I decide to follow one of those paths in my later years, will it invalidate everything I said about Wicca?  I don’t know.  I do know that what I write and say now is true for me.  And if someone learns from it and makes it true for themselves, I think that is good too.  Beyond that, I just don’t know.

Maybe it is like falling out of love.  It doesn’t change the past, but it does make the future a very different place.