Artistic creativity is a whirlpool of imagination that swirls in the depths of the mind.
Robert Toth
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create.
Albert Einstein
We are not evil. We don't harm or seduce people. We are not dangerous.
We are ordinary people like you. We have families, jobs, hopes,
and dreams. We are not a cult. This religion is not a joke.
We are not what you think we are from looking at TV. We are real.
We laugh, we cry. We are serious. We have a sense of humor. You
don't have to be afraid of us. We don't want to convert you.
And please don't try to convert us. Just give us the same right
we give you -- to live in peace. We are much more similar to you than
you think."
Margot Adler "Drawing Down The Moon" on Page 453
Something You Should Know
Before you get all, "Oh what is this crap!? Its not even a real religion!". Well think again. Witchcraft is recognized in the United States as a legitimate religion. In 1985, Dettmer v Landon (617 F Supp
592) the District Court of Virginia pursuant to rule 52 (a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ruled that Witchcraft is a legitimate religion and falls within a recognizable religious category In 1986 in the Federal Appeals court fourth circuit. Butzner, J. affirmed the decision (799 F 2d 929) Since in most cases Federal law, even case law supersedes state law in this type of matter, the affirmation by judge Butzner clearly sets Witchcraft as a religion under the protection of constitutional rights. The Church of Wicca (or Witchcraft) is clearly a religion for First Amendment purposes.
Members of the Church sincerely adhere to a fairly complex set of doctrines relating to the spiritual aspect of their lives,
and in doing so they have ultimate concerns' in much the same way as followers of more accepted religions. Their ceremonies and leadership structure, their rather elaborate set of articulated doctrine, their belief in the concept of another
world, and their broad concern for improving the quality of life for others gives them at least some facial similarity to other
more widely recognized religions.
While there are certainly aspects of Wiccan philosophy that may strike most people as strange or incomprehensible. the mere fact that a belief may be unusual does not strip it of constitutional protection. Accordingly the Court concludes that the Church of Wicca. of which the plaintiff is a sincere follower. is a religion for the purpose of the free exercise clause." Williams. J. 1985 Dettmer v. Landon Supra. "We agree with the district court that the doctrine taught by the Church of Wicca is a religion." Butzner. J.
So Basically, in 'lamens' terms:
This Is A Real Religion!
How I Got Started
I got started into Wicca, or interested at least about four and a half years ago when my friend told me how her and two of her friends had formed a 'coven' and wanted me to join. You may ask why I put coven in ' ' marks, well you see they thought Wicca was just how the movies and everyone else think it to be...All powers, spells and that's it. All they wanted was power and fun. Well they at first got me interested so I started looking online for information about it and found it to be the complete opposite of what my friends thought. I talked my dad into taking me to buy a book on Wicca at our local Barnes and Noble bookstore. I got there and there were tons of books on Wicca and Witchcraft to choose from! Luckily for me a very nice man who didn't even work there showed me a wonderful book "Teen Witch: Wicca for a new generation, By: Silver Ravenwolf". I began reading it and it was wonderful! I studied it for a year or so and finally did my self-initiation. So to all you aspiring young witches I very highly recommend the book and any other of her or Scott Cunningham books. And now a special little fact thing about me; I'm almost 22 and lovin' it!
Good Luck and Blessed Be!
Two Witches
A Modern Craft Fairy-Tale
=========================
by Mike Nichols
Once upon a time, there were two Witches. One was a Feminist Witch
and the other was a Traditionalist Witch. And, although both of them were
deeply religious, they had rather different ideas about what their religion
meant. The Feminist Witch tended to believe that Witchcraft was a religion
especially suited to women because the image of the Goddess was empowering
and a strong weapon against patriarchal tyranny. And there was distrust in
the heart of the Feminist Witch for the Traditionalist Witch because, from
the Feminist perspective, the Traditionalist Witch seemed subversive and a
threat to "the Cause".
The Traditionalist Witch tended to believe that Witchcraft was a
religion for both men and women because anything less would be divisive.
And although the Goddess was worshipped, care was taken to give equal
stress to the God-force in nature, the Horned One. And there was distrust
in the heart of the Traditionalist Witch for the Feminist Witch because,
from the Traditionalist viewpoint, the Feminist Witch seemed like a
late-comer and a threat to "Tradition". These two Witches lived in the
same community but each belonged to a different Coven, so they did not
often run into one another. Strange to say, the few times they did meet,
they felt an odd sort of mutual attraction, at least on the physical level.
But both recognized the folly of this attraction, for their ideologies were
worlds apart, and nothing, it seemed, could ever bridge them.
Then one year the community decided to hold a Grand Coven, and all the
Covens in the area were invited to attend. After the rituals, the singing,
the magicks, the feasting, the poetry, and dancing were concluded, all
retired to their tents and sleeping bags. All but these two. For they
were troubled by their differences and couldn't sleep. They alone remained
sitting by the campfire while all others around them dreamed. And before
long, they began to talk about their differing views of the Goddess. And,
since they were both relatively inexperienced Witches, they soon began to
argue about what was the "true" image of the Goddess.
"Describe your image of the Goddess to me," challenged the
Feminist Witch. The Traditionalist Witch smiled, sighed, and said in a rapt
voice, "She is the embodiment of all loveliness. The quintessence of
feminine beauty. I picture her with silver-blond hair like moonlight, rich
and thick, falling down around her soft shoulders. She has the voluptuous
young body of a maiden in her prime, and her clothes are the most
seductive, gossamer thin and clinging to her willowy frame. I see her
dancing like a young elfin nymph in a moonlit glade, the dance of a temple
priestess. And she calls to her lover, the Horned One, in a voice that is
gentle and soft and sweet, and as musical as a silver bell frosted with
ice. She is Aphrodite, goddess of sensual love. And her lover comes in
answer to her call, for she is destined to become the Great Mother. That
is how I see the Goddess."
The Feminist Witch hooted with laughter and said, "Your Goddess is a
Cosmic Barbie Doll! The Jungian archetype of a cheer-leader! She is all
glitter and no substance. Where is her strength? Her power? I see the
Goddess very differently. To me, she is the embodiment of strength and
courage and wisdom. A living symbol of the collective power of women
everywhere. I picture her with hair as black as a moonless night, cropped
short for ease of care on the field of battle. She has the muscular body
of a woman at the peak of health and fitness. And her clothes are the most
practical and sensible, not slinky cocktail dresses. She does not paint
her face or perfume her hair or shave her legs to please men's vanities.
Nor does she do pornographic dances to attract a man to her. For when she
calls to a male, in a voice that is strong and defiant, it will be to do
battle with the repressive masculine ego. She is Artemis the huntress, and
it is fatal for any man to cast a leering glance in her direction. For,
although she may be the many-breasted Mother, she is also the dark Crone of
wisdom, who destroys the old order. That is how I see the Goddess."
Now the Traditionalist Witch hooted with laughter and said, "Your
Goddess is the antithesis of all that is feminine! She is Yahweh hiding
behind a feminine mask! Don't forget that it was his followers who burned
Witches at the stake for the "sin" of having "painted faces". After all,
Witches with their knowledge of herbs were the ones who developed the art
of cosmetics. So what of beauty? What of love and desire?"
And so the argument raged, until the sound of their voices awakened a
Coven Elder who was sleeping nearby. The Elder looked from the Feminist
Witch to the Traditionalist Witch and back again, saying nothing for a long
moment. Then the Elder suggested that both Witches go into the woods apart
from one another and there, by magick and meditation, that each seek a
"true" vision of the Goddess. This they both agreed to do.
After a time of invocations, there was a moment of perfect stillness.
Then a glimmer of light could be seen in the forest, a light shaded deepest
green by the dense foliage. Both Witches ran toward the source of the
radiance. To their wonder and amazement, they discovered the Goddess had
appeared in a clearing directly between them, so that neither Witch could
see the other. And the Traditionalist Witch yelled "What did I tell you!"
at the same instant the Feminist Witch yelled "You see, I was right!" and
so neither Witch heard the other.
To the Feminist Witch, the Goddess seemed to be a shining matrix of
power and strength, with courage and energy flowing outward. The Goddess
seemed to be holding out her arms to embrace the Feminist Witch, as a
comrade in arms. To the Traditionalist Witch, the Goddess seemed to be the
zenith of feminine beauty, lightly playing a harp and singing a siren song
of seduction. Energy seemed to flow towards her. And she seemed to hold
out her arms to the Traditionalist Witch, invitingly.
From opposite sides of the clearing, the Witches ran toward the figure
of the Goddess they both loved so well, desiring to be held in the ecstasy
of that divine embrace. But just before they reached her, the apparition
vanished. And the two Witches were startled to find themselves
embracing each other.
And then they both heard the voice of the Goddess. And, oddly enough,
it sounded exactly the same to both of them. It sounded like laughter.
Twas the evening of Samhain, and all through the place
were pagans preparing the ritual space.
The candles were set in the corners with care,
in hopes that the Watchtowers soon would be there.
We all had our robes on (as is habitual)
and had just settled down and were starting our ritual
when out on the porch there arose such a chorus
that we went to the door, and waiting there for us
were children in costumes of various kinds
with visions of chocolate bright in their minds.
In all of our workings, we'd almost forgot,
but we had purchased candy (we'd purchased a LOT),
And so, as they flocked from all over the street,
they all got some chocolate or something else sweet.
We didn't think twice of delaying our rite,
Kids just don't have this much fun every night.
For hours they came, with the time-honored schtick
of giving a choice: a treat or a trick.
As is proper, the parents were there for the games,
Watching the children and calling their names.
"On Vader, On Leia,
On Dexter and DeeDee,
On Xena, on Buffy,
Casper and Tweety!
To the block of apartments
on the neighboring road;
You'll get so much candy,
you'll have to be TOWED!"
The volume of children eventually dropped,
and as it grew darker, it finally stopped.
But as we prepared to return to our rite,
One child more stepped out of the night.
She couldn't have been more than twelve or thirteen.
Her hair was deep red, and her robe, forest green
with a simple gold cord tying off at the waist.
She'd a staff in her hand and a smile on her face.
No make-up, nor mask, or accompanying kitsch,
so we asked who she was; she replied "I'm a witch.
And no, I don't fly through the sky on my broom;
I only use that thing for cleaning my room.
My magical powers aren't really that neat,
but I won't threaten tricks; I'll just ask for a treat."
We found it refreshing, so we gave incense cones,
A candle, a crystal, a few other stones,
And the rest of the candy (which might fill a van).
She turned to her father (a man dressed as Pan)
and laughed, "Yes, I know, Dad, it's past time for bed,"
and started to leave, but she first turned and said
"I'm sorry for further delaying your rite.
Blessed Samhain to all, and a magical night."
Copyright (c) 1999 by Cather Steincamp
Here's My Banner If you'd like to put that on your webpage to link back here!
Or
Merry Meet, Merry Part, Until We Merry Meet Again!
*The spells and some other things are from "Teen Witch: Wicca for a new Generation" by Silver RavenWolf*
