Witchvox Article

Author: Kalex Korban
Posted: May 29th. 2011
Times Viewed: 3,611

So it seems you�re the only one! You�ve looked everywhere. Magazines, the local shops, even online. You get the same thing just about every time. You email and receive no response. Or the response is that no group exists anymore. But wait a minute! It says on the local big name sites that they are still there. The group still exists, doesn�t it? Nope. Not anymore. Something happened that no one could see happening. People happened. People and their own daily lives. People and their own issues. It didn�t sneak up on anyone either. It was there all along but no one could see it until it was too late.

The thing that happened had a name then. The Witch Wars. Sounds ominous as hell but it wasn�t that bad. People realized that they didn�t have the time nor the patience to deal with everyone else�s issues as well as their own. First the inner bickering started. Then the inter group issues arose. Then came the dislike and hatred�which we all know is just enough to create bad energy. It got tossed around and most people ran away. Others got torn down. In the end, �The Head Cheeses� of a lot of groups got disheartened and fed up and shut down. I even know of one group that got so bad that the members made up stories about their High Priest and they destroyed his life by calling child services on him and getting his kids taken away for his �practices�. That�s not right.

In the end, all that happened hurt everyone to come. No teachers or mentors, unless you want to do distant online learning for a price. No bonding in person unless you got lucky and found someone in school or at work. A lot of the stores shut down since everyone went back into hiding and started buying online. There are fewer places to meet like-minded people or attend classes. Even a lot of the publications have disappeared. Everything that was good that came from 30 years of coming out of �the broom closet� just withered away.

So what now? You can�t trust the websites because people aren�t keeping them updated anymore. Supposedly, you can�t trust people anymore because of what you see on the news and hear from others. You�re so jaded that even the Gods seemed to have left the building. The dark night of the soul has definitely entered the world�s body.

It�s sad to see the hopelessness in the world today. Everyone is against everyone. Money has become the new goal everywhere. I heard of plenty of groups closing down because the greedy treasurer (or someone else) stole the money. Or people casting magic against their friends in groups because they didn�t like something that happened. Public rites shut down because of police calls by disgruntled ex attendees.

In covens you�re told that the other members are your spiritual family. Sisters and Brothers of similar faith joining together to celebrate the Gods, Life and Death, Growth etc. Yet they all got stepped on and dragged through the dirt because of differing opinions or life changes. Most of these people are adults, old enough to know better. But still it happened. It still happens today. Even the spiritualists and psychics can�t work together very long without someone getting all pissy over how they do their readings. I�ve seen it happen. I�ve experienced it. It�s truly sad.

Where can this generation (anyone still learning) go to get the help they need to grow or move forward? Where can they go to feel comfortable with who they are and what they practice? Where�s the support, teachings and spiritual life affirming people we all need?

In all honesty? They are there. Hiding. Online and offline. In the next cubicle over. In the car next to yours. They are hiding so they don�t get hurt. Like last time. I originally thought the reason for the mass exodus from the broom closet was to start experiencing life like everyone else and show that they are not scared of being hurt anymore. But that wasn�t the case.

So the reason for this article�

I�m 30 years old and I would like to see the pagans of the world stand up again. Walk out into the Light and show that we are still here. Join together in �fellowship� again without the turmoil and harassment. To see the local communities get rebuilt and local businesses thrive like before. Yeah, the World is tough and people can be shady, but that�s no reason to let someone feel alone when all they need is a helping hand.

Pagans everywhere need this! Not just the teens. Adults, too. Not just other pagans! Buddhists, Atheists, Non-traditional Christians with pagan tendencies, Traditional Christians with no tendencies, hell even the local scary Satanist who lives next door. People in general need fellowship. It�s because of the lack of fellowship that we get all bent out of shape when someone looks at us funny or says something we don�t like.

We cannot exist without the help of others to some extent. We really are all connected. Spiritually connected. Emotionally connected. Mentally connected. Some people want to be left alone. That�s fine, but they still need things others help make or do. We exist together, so why not thrive together?

Maybe it's wishful thinking. But I have hope that we can open our hearts again. I�m not scared of meeting others of like mind. I�m not scared of what others think of my exposed pentacle necklace and ring. I have no problem helping people understand what it means to be Pagan and what the symbols mean. I�m willing to come out again. I know some Pagans won�t approve of my spiritual practices as well as my business practices but that doesn�t bother me. What bothers me is whenever they judge me based on those alone.

My name is Joseph Mason. My public Pagan name is Kalex Korban. I have been practicing since my mid teens and came out of the broom closet first to everyone who met me because I was young and trying hard as hell to be a rebel. I�m not Wiccan. I�m Pagan, as in the Pagans described in the River and Joyce Higginbotham�s book on Paganism.

I�ve had too many jobs to count and not enough money to show for it like everyone else. I live like most people too. One day at a time. I try to plan for the future and get the monkey wrench like everyone else.

I volunteer my time with the Christian based organization known as the YMCA in a town close by. I help them because I can and it helps to get to know more people in life. My skills that I have picked up from being a Pagan have helped me quit smoking and get a hold on a serious anger problem I had from when I was young. Those same skills have helped me get jobs and the courage to talk to women. Those skills aren�t abnormal or paranormal. They are the same skills motivational speakers talk about: Goal setting, visualization, focus, meditation and action.

I�m proud to be Pagan. Enough to stand up, stand out, and help out. If a group that�s starting out wants help, I�m willing to go. I�m not spectacular or extraordinary. I�m just another guy with Hope. Hope to see things change!

ABOUT...

Kalex Korban

Location: Hamilton, Ohio

Website: www.intarotive.com

Author's Profile: To learn more about Kalex Korban - Click HERE

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