When I was in college, before I transitioned and was still vacillating back and forth about whether I should even try, I used to be a caver. There are lots of caves in my state and I would routinely go on camping trips where I’d be part of groups exploring, sometimes surveying, wild caves. It was quite fun!

After one such trip, as I was driving back home late at night, and driving through the desert in the darkness, all alone, my mind wandered again to my gender. I so much wanted to be a woman, but there were so many obstacles in my way and so much pressure on me not to try.

At some point I started crying a lot, and so I pulled over to the side of the road. I turned off the engine, got out, walked a bit away from the roadside and stared up in the brilliant, starry desert sky. One of the things on my mind at that time was what my gods would think of me transitioning. I am Wiccan, and Wicca is very much centered on binary concepts of gender and the polarity between male and female. How could I, born into a man’s body, ever serve my Goddess as a woman?

I stared into the stars and sent out my plea: Goddess, may I be your priestess?

Suddenly, right as my supplication ended, a bright meteor flashed across the sky exactly where I was looking, and I burst into tears again, for the Goddess had answered my question and given me her blessing to transiition and become her priestess. Today I strive to be like her as much as I can, and use my experiences to help others like me.

Thank you, my Goddess, for your precious gift!

Blessed Be!