Senan Brinaglenn: A Brief History.

by Senan.

I was born in Washington State to a man and a woman who were far too young for a child. Fortunately, they seem to have done a good job- at least that's what they say. Both of my parents were originally from Alaska, so naturally when they split two years after I was born, that's where my mother took me. My father followed about a year later, and thus commenced the long series of back-and-forth living that I've grown accustomed to.

I've lived in Alaska for fifteen years this March. It's probably where I'll die- but who knows? Maybe by the time I die we'll have colonized Mars. It'd be cool to die on Mars. Anyways- I love Alaska- most of it is untouched, we have several million more lake than the Land of 10,000 lakes (not to mention some pretty BA rivers,) and the Midnight Sun is already starting to get into shape. In January. Which means the sun sets at five instead of four.

Keava and I attended the same elementary school. In the third grade we were both short, her with poufy mushroom-hair and me with my long (waist-length!) hair that was so ridiculously straight I could have killed you with it. It wasn't until fifth grade that we finally became friends (that's Keava's story, not mine- I'll leave it to her,) and that was given a break when Keava moved to the Midwest to live with her mom. Fortunately, she's mildly crazy and Keava was living back in The Last Frontier less than six months after leaving it. It was about that time that we became interested in the Craft- to no avail. We hadn't quite mastered the Internet, and had no interest in telling our parents why exactly we wanted to purchase books on the Paganism. So we let it go.

Then a few weeks ago (roughly at the same time,) we started thinking about picking it up again but hadn't told anyone- including each other. Keava can tell you her own reasons but mine were fairly simple. I needed a spirituality that could accept everyone. Buddhism was fairly dogmatic for my liking, Catholicism has a whole list of issues that are hardly worth mentioning. I will however, add that the main reason I was feeling compelled not to buy myself a Crucifix was the guilt. The never-ending, ever-rising, huge amounts of guilt that I've seen Catholics carry around with them is ridiculous. Guilt for being attracted to a woman who isn't your wife. Guilt for being attracted to your own wife. Guilt for wanting to sleep in for fuck's sake! What is this? Also: any religion that forces it's clergy into celibacy is asking for trouble. No thanks. Although I'm not saying that all Catholics or Christians are bad- Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King are both some personal heroes of mine, and a large amount of what made them who they are is their connection to God. It's just not for me. Neither I found, was Islam, Hindi, (Hinduism?) any form of Christianity, Taoism, Judaism, (when it comes to religion I do things right, and I'm a huge fan of eating pigs and leaving the house on Saturday,) Mormonism, (again- not a fan of being told what I can and cannot drink, I love caffeine.) or really anything else you might think of. just not my cup of tea, but I wish a full and happy life to those who do find it rewarding.

What draws me to Wicca is that it adapts to the person like a well-made suit. Certainly, there are a few general rules, ("an it harm none, do what ye wilt," take care of your body, take care of the Earth, take care of your Coven, take care of your family, etc.) but those are all things I adhere to. The fact that there are no "Commandments," no Bible except the one you write yourself, and no Devil to blame the bad stuff on, and no capitalized pronouns, (God says so so it is His will,) really attracts me as well. All it really is to me is worship of the higher power's masculine and feminine aspects- the Lord and the Lady- nature, and yourself. It's very love, acceptance, and family oriented, though it's been made clear to me that family doesn't begin and end in blood. Marriage isn't "until death do you part," but more "until our love expires." Divorce isn't encouraged, but if it's what's best for the family, then the whole Coven is behind you with love and support and I think that effing rocks.

This sort of turned into a "Why I Love Being Pagan" entry, but I think that's ok. I'm not posting anything until Keava does her own biography, so until then:

Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again,
Senan Brinaglenn.