The meandering path

Five years ago if you would have told me that I would be pagan, and into the occult I would have laughed at you, and told you that you were nuts. My best friend really turned me onto that path, and I have found myself while working through the mysteries of nature, and the old gods. I have found where I am at peace, and where I need to work to heal emotionally. I know how to heal others, by listening to their deepest fears, and their hurts, wants and needs. They trust me, and I enjoy that. I value that. I protect their trust. It is sacred. At first I focused on energy development, and energy work. Putting energy into the palms of my hands, and then creating things between them. From that, I worked on sensing  the energy around me. I worked on noticing nature, the cycles and patterns that it forms. The animals coming to life during the spring, The heat of summer, and the animals being active in the morning and evening, and laying low during the height of the day. To the frantic foraging and gathering of the fall. Preparing to hibernate, or fatten up to make it through the long, harsh, cold winters of southern Ohio.
I then turned my attention to examining past lives, I feel that I have had many, some I was very important, and others I was just a worker or craftsmen. Each life had some kind of a nature connection. A fisherman, a farmer, a soldier living off of prey from the hunt between battles. I had some very significant insights into my past lives while talking with people, and others would just kind of come to me. Each one that I have examined has shown and taught me different things. I do not  often "see" or "hear" when I shift my mind into the other world mindset. I usually get impressions and "know." I spent a few years reading and researching everything I could get my hand on. My Library is well over 50 books and growing. I do not work with energy and the other senses as much as I should, and I feel that I need to revisit those practices.
My mindset has changed so much over the years. I am kinder, and gentler than I was. I am more accepting and open to opposing views. I am more open to nature, and personal freedoms. I don't judge others based upon an old dogmatic belief. I treat others as I would want them to treat me. I will not be abused or taken advantage of though, and that will never change. my concept of family has evolved over the years. It has gone from regimented, and traditional to a more tribal, and in some ways modern view.
I have developed a deeper understanding and appreciation of the planet earth. I dislike many of the things that we as a modern society are doing to our home, and I feel that nothing but bad will come from the road we are on. But I still hold out hope. Green technology is starting to take off, and I am glad that it is. The more affordable it becomes for the world to acquire, the better. We are only given one home planet, we had better take care of her. Without her, where are we going to live? My viewpoint has evolved, into more of a hippie world view I like the idea of renewable resources, and green technology. The view of the world as a global tribe.
The path that I am on may seem strange, or crazy. I choose to believe that the things I experience are true and valid. I will not knock some one else for their path. We are all on paths of our own, to a destination that is uniquely our own.