I was seriously self-destructive from the age of 13 until my early twenties.  I was drawn to spiritual books, hauntings, ghosts, supernatural things from the time I could remember.  I loved horror and supernatural movies.  My mom would try to discourage me but I would stay up late at night and read/watch these types of material when she wasn’t around or able to intervene.

When I was 17, I moved out of my parents home which was a prison of emotional and physical abuse.  I moved to St. Petersburg, FL to live with my childhood friends.

It was at this time that I began working at a local pet supply store and my life began to move in, what would seem, a more positive direction.  I very much enjoyed my job, and my personal life was taking off with friends, boyfriends, parties, etc.  I didn’t think much of God during this time.  He was the furthest thing from my mind.

After a couple of years, I decided that I wanted to move back to Tampa, my friends began getting married, having babies, and moving in with boyfriends and I wanted to get own life set.  So I reluctantly moved back home.

It was this time that I transferred from the St. Pete store to the Tampa store to continue my career with the same pet supply store.  When I came on board I met a girl about my age who was very dark.  I wanted to be accepted by her so I started hanging out with her and came to know an older woman who she frequently visited and was very mysterious.  She was a Native American third generation Shaman.  I was fascinated by her.  When I met her, she told me secrets about myself upon introduction that I had never shared with her or my friend.  I wanted to learn to be a part of this “power”.  So we started visiting her more often.  I was entranced by her.  I remember one day, she told me that I had a demon following me and she no longer wanted me to visit.  It totally freaked me out and I never asked to go back.

Soon after that, my friend and I had a falling out and I was left picking up my “spiritual pieces” by myself.  I started reading books about magic and shaman practices on my own and fumbling around with things.

You see, the devil had me interested.  I know that may seem like a strong statement….

You think the devil cares about what you are doing???

No I don’t think he gives a hoot about me but there is one thing on his mind…..

HURTING GOD.

8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters^b all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

– 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

IF he can hurt God, now that is something to focus on.  And the only thing that the Devil can do to hurt God……is to steal God’s children from Him.  You see, God’s love does not come from oppression.  We are free to choose to love Him or not to love Him.

That my friends, is true freedom…..

Enter into my life, Mike and David.  I fell in love with them almost immediately.  They were funny, full of joy, accepted me for me,

and they were Wiccan.

I wanted to learn.  I believed there was a God, I believed that there were many ways to Heaven and Wicca sounded just like what I was looking for.  I could do whatever I wanted in my life, as long as it didn’t hurt another person.

THAT.

SOUNDED.

PERFECT.

……..Or did it?