Gennaro Brooks-Church

Elizabeth
U.S. Lutheran childhood. Currently practices a personalized form of Wicaa, or white witchcraft.

God to me is a spirit form that takes on many aspects, and I see it in everything and everyone around me. I give thanks whenever it appears. I feel fortunate to be able to see it and recognize it, because not everyone does. I see it all the time. It’s like a spirit feeling. A love feeling. The beauty in people and my surroundings, that’s where the Spirit is. It’s something that goes beyond words and just connects you to people even without really knowing who they are.

I was brought up Lutheran. It’s not like religion was forced on me or anything, but we were supposed to go to church, pray before dinner, and at night before we went to bed. But my life changed when I was in a car accident when I was twelve. It opened up doors to many other things. After that new people started coming into my life. Things became much more magical in a way that you don’t normally find every day. Or maybe you would, I don’t know. But people started coming, like shamans and healers. Then I got into Wicken, which is a form of white witchcraft, and from there I just dabbled in a little bit of everything.

Right now, this idea of Spirit is what feels most right for me. It’s my own personal thing. Sometimes I wonder if it would be better if I were part of an organized religion, just because you supposedly go deeper into one thing. But right now I’m not sure, I’m still looking, trying to figure it out, trying to see what it means to me and where it will lead me next. I have a hard time with organized things, anyway; I naturally resist them.

I don’t judge people in their own religions. Everyone goes to wherever they need to go, whatever makes them happy, makes the most sense to them, and fills their heart. I think it’s all generally the same feeling. It’s love and faith, feeling protected, guided, blessed, and thankful. Thankful for everything. Thankful for every encounter. The trick is about being able to recognize it, because it’s always there.

I used to do ritual a lot with others. I like group ritual, but I took a break. I still like doing it, but mostly on my own, rather than with a group of people. Like I said, in groups is where I encounter resistance. I can do it in a group if I feel like everyone is contributing and not one person is controlling or manipulating the whole situation. I like a collaboration.

On a daily basis I still do ritual, but on my own. When I wake up and go to sleep I give thanks. And throughout the day too. I’m always giving thanks. I guess that’s still a residue of growing up Christian. When I take time to say thanks it helps me stay connected. But I don’t say, “Thank you God.” I usually say, “Thank you Spirit.”

I feel God is about seeing the beauty around you. It’s especially about seeing the beauty in people, smiling with them, and resonating with them. It goes beyond words, like when you travel to another country where you can’t speak the language, but still connect with the people through laughter. It’s pretty simple, really.