Witchvox Article

Author: Kyriea
Posted: August 12th. 2001
Times Viewed: 4,764

I found this an interesting topic. There is a story I tell most people who ask about magick and its ramifications. This happened when I was still Catholic and was in my Marion phase, but magick, prayer, rituals, they all have power. And you don't have to be Pagan to have the universe share it with you.

I was separated from my now ex-husband but it was getting difficult to make the bills and to continue with him always hanging around. I wanted to move and start over but with a 5 year old and limited income it wasn't very easy.

As a devoted Marion Catholic I was used to praying the rosary every night. Just 5 decades but I rarely missed a night even if I didn't feel like going through with it. (I consider this my prep to the path I would eventually follow)

I found myself one Friday night very upset and desperate. I had had a particularly bad scene with my now ex and knew that at this rate I would be on the road to serious depression if something didn't change soon. But I was at my wits' end and had exhausted all my resources. I made too much for government help and I made to little to be able to afford to just up and leave the area. For my sanity and that of my daughter something had to change.

That night I decided to appeal to Mary. She, being the mother, I felt would understand the plight of another mother to want the best for her child. And being able to get on with my life was a needed thing. At midnight I set up the candles at my altar devoted to Mary, lit the candles and started to pray the rosary. But not just the 5 decade as usual and not the same words as usual. I prayed a full 15 decades and on each bead asked to be shown a way out of the mess I was currently in. On the big beads I asked that if anyone were to get hurt it would be me and only me. I didn't want to sacrifice anyone else in any way for my request.

After completing my devotions I put everything away. That included the utility matches that go in the cupboard above the refrigerator that are always kept in the back behind the cook books. Since I have a child I am always careful to keep those things out of little hands.

Well, the next morning I was woken by my daughter telling me about a fire. Since there was a fire department a block away I told her "Yes, hon, the fire truck is just down the street". "NO MOM!!!!! There is a fire in your chair!!" That got my attention very quickly. I ran out into the living room to find my chair that I do all my craft work in engulfed in flames, and there is my 5 year old daughter trying desperately to put it out with a little towel. I rush back to the bedroom and grab my glasses and then a larger towel I had gotten wet to try and put out the fire before it spread.

Now a little background. It was the Saturday before Thanksgiving in Minnesota. There was snow on the ground and that obviously meant that the windows of the apartment were closed.

Having added that, I quickly realize that I can not put out this fire with a measly towel so I yell at my child to go outside screaming "FIRE" as loud as she can and I would be right behind her. Mind you there was a fire extinguisher just outside my door but in my just woken up foggy brain that is startled awake by my child informing me that there was a fire in my apartment I forgot to grab the thing. As I rushed out the door the only thing I could think of to grab was our coats and boots and my purse. All sitting right next to the front door. As I opened the door and looked back the flames started to quickly crawl across the ceiling. It was like something out of back draft and I was never so scared in my life.

My daughter meanwhile was outside in a t-shirt and shorts (the apartment was normally warm so shorts were common wear while lounging inside) where a passing metro transit bus saw her and the smoke and stopped to call 911. Luckily, like I said before, we had a fire department just down the road and they got there in time to keep the fire from reaching flash point and doing damage to more than just my apartment.

Now here is the point of the story and something it took a few days to realize. Remember, the night before this I had prayed the full rosary. Two weeks before that I had just paid a renewal on my renters insurance that I had contemplated canceling since money was tight but my agent convinced me not to because as he said "you never know... ." My daughter knew I was under a lot of stress and knowing how much I like candles she climbed on the counter, opened the door to the cupboard that was over the refrigerator and got the matches from behind the cookbooks because she wanted to light me candles as a surprise and couldn't get the lighter she found to work. She had let the match burn too close to her little fingers and accidentally dropped it into a bag of craft trash that I had next to my chair (I work with material and yarn so it was instantly flammable). No other apartment was damaged by either water or fire even though my apartment was seconds from flash point and the heat was so great it melted glass in the back bedrooms. There was a bad smell of smoke every where but that does go away after time. No one got hurt except me. I received 2nd degree burns on my legs trying to put out the fire with just a t-shirt and shorts on (something it took an hour to realize) and was taken to the hospital to be treated for burns and smoke inhalation. My daughter didn't even have a hair singed. She came out of this physically unharmed. The money from the insurance helped me to move closer to true friends, start and finish my divorce and start a new life for me and my daughter.

When I realized what had happened I realized how lucky I was and I thanked Mary and the powers that be for my gift of life and a chance. I have been telling that story now for almost 4 years and I feel that even though I am no longer Christian there is a lesson to be learned. You really do get what you ask for and sometimes you get lucky enough that the penalties are not as harsh as they could be. The fireman told me I was also lucky in the fact that children at that age usually do not do the right thing and get help. They usually hide hoping they will not get into trouble and then the cost of life and property skyrocket. I could have lost my daughter and or my life, but I didn't. There was nothing, and I repeat NOTHING, else that I would have wanted to take with me at that moment but my life and my daughter's life. Things can be replaced. People can not.

After telling that story most people, regardless of religion, agree that it is very important to be careful what you wish, pray or cast a spell for. Wish for more money, you might get a windfall but someone close to you had to die for you to get it, or your child was permanently injured and disabled and the money was from a lawsuit settlement. Not worth it in my opinion. You might decide to do a "harmless" love spell for a particular person to love you. They become your partner in life and a few years later you realize that this person is controlling and abusive and has threatened that if you ever leave they will hunt you down and kill you (if they can't have you no one can). That's not just the stuff of movies. Again, not worth it in my book.

I leave you with a saying my grandmother, a very wise woman I miss very much, always said.

"If you have a roof over your head, food in you mouth, clothes on your back and happy and healthy friends and family you have everything you need in this world. All the rest is icing on the cake."

I have lived by that motto for many a year and it is as true today as it was when she was telling me as a child. That is a gift from her that has been worth its weight in gold and more.

Blessings, love and peace to you all.

Kyriea

ABOUT...

Kyriea

Location: Ramsey, Minnesota

Author's Profile: To learn more about Kyriea - Click HERE

Bio: Kyriea is a solitary Witch who follows a Celtic path. She has been actively living and practicing her Pagan religious path since 1998 but has had many years of off and on again interest and study. Other interests include: sewing Renaissance costumes for friends and family, writing and publishing poetry related and unrelated to the Craft, writing essays for The Witches' Voice, spending time with her daughter, boyfriend, family and friends, and playing with her 2 cats, Bonnie and Clyde.

Other Articles: Kyriea has posted 17 additional articles- View them?

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