My very goods friend sent this to an email group I'm in, and I liked it. So I'm sharing:

" namaste and good evening,
I just dropped by to share a little creative writing. not mine, mind
you, but from a friend (with permission). We had just gotten done
with a conversation wherein we shared a bit about how the notion of an
official "Pagan Way" has taken some of our pagan brothers and sisters
into dangerous and misinformed dogmatic territory. His writing meant
something to me, and I hope also, to some of you as well.

I Remember
I remember when what we practiced was simply called "The Craft".
I remember a time before coven wars.
I remember when "Bucklands Complete" was published.
I remember a time before "pagan" media stars. I remember a time before
"New Age" and 40 pounds of jewelry.
I remember holding circle and the simple calling was to God and Goddess.
I remember everyone had their own pantheon but all still came to
worship together without constraint.
I remember when circle was a joy, a celebration not a solemn ritual.
I remember when we joined and just "winged it" in celebration, love
and laughter.
I remember when casting the circle desoil or widdershins was not a
matter of huge debate.
I remember when spell was done based on need, not planetary hour and day.
I remember when the path was based on connection to earth, Her cycles
and the cycles of the God moving across Her.
I remember a time when each path was individual, as Cernunnos states,
"You cannot reach Me, following the footsteps of another".
I remember when we all came together regardless of path specifics in a
bond beyond that.
I remember when the path was joy, not dogma. I remember when labels
did not matter, green witch, hedgewitch, Wiccan...
I remember when we were few enough, we embraced each other openly
regardless of path.
I remember when the first people spoke out for our rights, Z Budapest,
Laurie Cabot, and others.
I remember when the doctrines of The Hermetic Order of the Golden
Dawn, The Rosicrucian's, Gardner, Buckland, Alexander, the Farrar's,
and others, were separate and varied paths along the same trail.
I remember these before they blended into "Wiccan Law".
I remember when what Gardner, Buckland taught was "new".
I remember when these were recognized as teachings and explorations of
these groups.
I remember when the "Charge" was a beautiful poem, not ancient law.
I miss Scott Cunningham's simple and funny way of putting things.
I wish I had the opportunity to meet and know "Bucky" as my mother did.
Mostly, I remember our history. Mostly, I miss the old days and ways.
I mourn their passing.
All things change, all things cycle, all things die.
I hope there are enough who do not forget how hard we worked to get
here today.

Scott L. Virginia Beach, VA

I remember...
Do you?"