The life and mind of Adeline Ong

There is a sudden rise in the interest of the Wicca religion or to put it simply, witchcraft. Witches no longer hold the role as villains in stories, television shows and movies, thanks to the creation of Harry Potter, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Charmed. However, it does not actually give much light to the actual religion because facts are fabricated and there are a lot of special effects involved to make witchcraft seem more interesting. There is too much fantasy rather than reality involved. In other words it is only creators cashing in on the curiosity of others. As you browse through the bookstores today, there is likely a section dedicated to this art. Even in countries like Malaysia the trend is catching on, bookstores have started importing books on this wonderful art. Many youths driven by their curiosity have at least dipped a finger if not the hold arm into this pool of religion that is surrounded by enigma.

It is funny how reality is very much different from fiction. First of all, witches do not believe in the Devil. So it is hardly possible that witches worship Satan. Satanists and witches come from different backgrounds and do not share the same religious ceremonies. Wicca is a nature religion based on spiritual worship, natural magick (in witchcraft, magic is spelt that way) and the wonders that are ‘nature’. It is a peaceful and flexible religion. It accepts the teachings of other religions as part of its own. Many witches throughout the world worshipped the sacred spirit at ancient sites.

Secondly, most witches are vegetarians. They are animal lovers and would never harm living beings for their spells. A witch would use natural medicine and used herbs, plant extracts and many other natural things for her spells. This means the famous ingredients in stories printed in fairy tales such as eye of newt, tongue of dog and wings of bat are more fabrications of the truth.

Thirdly, a witch can be either male or female. To call a male witch a wizard, sorcerer or warlock is an insult. Many are confused with these terms because it is the influence of the idiot box. Therefore, much research is needed to actually portray these devotees on television.

Furthermore, a witch would avoid cursing or hexing another being. This is a crime in witchcraft. As what people say, what goes around comes around. For a witch what ever she does will come back in three folds. Mostly, witches prefer to use their spells to help those in need of healing, calming, emotional well-being and protection spells. Like cursing, love spells are a big no-no in witchcraft because it is forcing a person to do something unwillingly. No religion should force someone to do something out of his or her own free will. Therefore in Wicca, it is believed that casting a love spell on a person with an intention of gaining from them is a forbidden thing.

It is unfair to claim that all witches are good. There are those influenced by the Dark Arts. These individuals are the ones that gave witchcraft a bad name. In any religion, there will be those who are sidetracked by wrong but influential beliefs. Therefore, claiming that witchcraft only produces the black sheep of society is a major generalization.

Not many people believe that witchcraft works. Some might dub it as bogus or merely just fantasies. However, in many countries, there is a lot of form of witchcrafts though they do not worship the same Gods and Goddesses or practice the same religious ceremonies. For instance, Malaysia has its own ‘bomohs’ as her neighbours have their own version of witch doctors. As seen in the title bestowed upon this profession, the witches are actually ‘doctors’, natural healers before the arrival of modern medicine and technology.
Even with its main role taken over by modern technology and atheist beliefs, the Wicca religion is still going on strong. It is like any other religion in the world today and is even recognized by the law. There is no saying what is right or wrong or even comment on how a religion should be. Whatever way a person chooses to view this religion, it is still a respectable religion. Even non-believers have to agree that this religion has been the core of wonderful stories and television series we received in modern society. Witches add the extra punch into a story whether as the hero or the villain as it stimulates the mind. It allows us to escape what is reality and indulge in our fantasies.

The Story of Kathy Lee

Kathy Lee lived across the street,
A little old lady was she,
Her house is broken, her life torn,
Husband is gone, children never born.

She is not rich, but she has treasures,
Her pearls are in her mouth,
Her diamonds are in her eyes,
Silver on her head and a heart of gold.

Copyright ©2006 Adeline Ong

My entry on 15 August 2002

In life there are always ups and downs, it does not matter if you are a King, the Pope or just a simple fisherman. There is nothing fair in this world. People said, “God made everyone equal.� Yet, how much truth can those mere four words contain?

We build our world the way we want it. “The world is my oyster�, someone once said. But has anyone ever actually given it a thought that the oyster might be a bit spoiled? Questions will always replace answers. The most common one would be, “Why?�

Why, indeed? I chose to live my life the way I want it and why does not society accept it? I penned down my deepest thoughts and why does not anyone acknowledge and praise me for it? Questions, questions, questions. Unanswered and thus we become bitter. Whose fault is this? Yours? Mine? The society’s? Just more questions waiting to be answered.

However, I believe that everything we do comes from within us. It is how we build our world from every nook and corner to our satisfaction, just to accommodate ourselves. There we will place our sanity, emotions, strengths and weaknesses. With this, no man is created equal. We challenge each other, day by day just to be individuals in the limelight of life. We want to be the superior, the prime, the numero uno, and the king of the world. We want it all.

Sometimes, when people say you are as good as anybody else, your ego will puff into the size that your body could not contain. You want what your next-door neighbour has, you want the same pay as your colleagues and you want the same grades as your classmates. You believe you deserved it and if you do not get it, you blame the world for your sorrows. The Heavens for torturing you and Hell for giving you misery.

In ourselves, we fight the never-ending battle because we could never understand how the Wheel of Life turn. I choose to liken life to the simple children’s game, “Snakes and Ladders.� In your hand you role the dice of life and the game board is your path. If you are lucky, there is a ladder and you climb to the top. When you are unlucky, you get swallowed by a snake and get sent straight to the bottom. Initially, you will reach the last box but tell me, can any two players ever reach the last box at the same time? Definitely not. Back to reality, life is like that game but with more players, less ladders and more snakes.

Honestly, there should be nothing to be bitter about. Life is like that. No matter how smart you are there will always be someone better. It is just how you play the game. Unlike the board game, we can build more ladders and eliminate most of the snakes. Some how, in some way, some one might get swallowed so much that they could never see the ladders. They are so immersed in bitterness that nothing seems hopeful.

Is there a cure for bitterness? I think there is. In fact it is in everybody, it is in their hearts but some how they do not know how to use it or take the proper dosage.

Since I am being a bit sore about Vday. Here is a really painful poem from my private collection. I wrote it circa 2001/2002

Broken Promises

You promised you’ll never,
Hurt me,
But you plunged,
The sword of sorrow,
Into my heart.

You promised you’ll never,
Make me cry,
Then why am I,
Drowning in the flood,
Of my own tears.

You promised you’ll never,
Leave me,
But I heard the door slam,
As I stared,
Into emptiness,
Feelings we once shared.

Copyright ©2006 Adeline Ong