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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 9651
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
4/12/2004
8:19:30 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 9,363
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Comments: 26
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Wiccan Out Of Broom Closet
Author: Roy Green Source: Metroland (Canada)
Title: WICCAN OUT OF BROOM CLOSET
Lady Tahena Starfire likes to say she is out of the closet -- the broom closet.
A witch and Wiccan from a very early age, she was born Julie Mark but prefers to use her wiccan names.
"I had already been given my pagan name by my spirit guide when I was 11 and I added the Lady prefix because people were always asking me in e-mails whether I was male or female," she laughs.
Interviewed while at her job as an office manager and executive assistant in a one-person office in a sprawling rabbit warren of commercial enterprises in Richmond Hill, the Aurora resident looks more Julie Mark than Lady Tahena.
And she fields occasional telephone calls about graphic designs and other office esoterica in an efficient, girl-Friday manner.
But one also notes the prominent silver pentacle she wears around her neck and the same star-inside-a-circle emblem on her earrings and a ring on her finger.
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Community Thoughts: There are 26 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Wonderful | Apr 13th. at 7:19:50 pm EDT |
by Laish (Caledonia, MS) - wc_xemail
This is a wonderful story. I live in the South and coming out was not easy. The "Bible Belt" is very hard on any religion other than Christianity. I have been out since I started practicing Wicca 4 years ago. I get more questions than I do problems. It is wonderful to see people coming out more and more everyday. Wicca and Paganism is one of the fastest growing religions in the USA. Lets keep it going.
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| Woo Hoo! Hometown Girl! | Apr 13th. at 6:51:05 pm EDT |
by Wolf Runecrafter (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - wc_xemail
Well, not quite, I grew up a bit north of her. Still, its cool to see it on the York Region community site.
Yay for positive media! Nice change, eh?
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| Some More Thunks | Apr 13th. at 6:03:40 pm EDT |
by Stephen (Dallas, Tx) - wc_xemail
Pentagrams are also the sign of the Dallas Cowboys.
I alway wondered why Xians, and also the Wiccae, refer to Lords (and Ladies) in a democratic society. Shouldn't we be calling ourselves CEO's and Managing Officers?
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| Grazie Delle Notizie | Apr 13th. at 4:46:25 pm EDT |
by emenia (raleigh nc) - wc_xemail
this is very inspiring to read, I want to continue to read more articles like this one. I live in N.Carolina similiar feeling to the other NC poster. I do not feel comfortable in any shape or form being "out" and public with my spiritual and wiccan part of myself. I like privacy more than controversy so I usually keep to myself. However I am counting days when I can cut lose of the south.
emi
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| Lady! | Apr 13th. at 4:42:27 pm EDT |
by Lorraine (New Hampshire) - wc_xemail
Please understand that I was in no way questioning your right to use the term "Lady, " nor was I trying to intimate that you were being presumptuous in any way. As I explained, I'm not Wiccan, so I don't really have any stake in this - it was simple curiosity about how things stand in the Wiccan community these days.
It was a lovely article and you spoke well for the pagan community. Thank you!
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| Explaination | Apr 13th. at 3:14:38 pm EDT |
by Lady Tahena (Aurora, Ontario) - wc_xemail
I will post an explaination on the message board.
Then again, I will just add it to my profile.. too many boards to choose from :-) and that is a good thing!
Blessed Be
Lady T
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| Explaination | Apr 13th. at 3:11:50 pm EDT |
by Lady Tahena (Aurora, Ontario) - wc_xemail
Hi there,
I see my use of "Lady" is in question, and I thought I would give my reasoning, that wasn't fully expressed in the article.
I will post an explaination on the message board.
Blessed Be
Lady Tahena Starfire.
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| Lady Tahena's Reason Was Perfectly Adequate | Apr 13th. at 2:15:01 pm EDT |
by Stormsinger (Milwaukee, WI) - wc_xemail
for calling herself "Lady." She did it because people were getting confused, in non-face-to-face environments, as to whether or not she was male or female, and it obviously bothered them. So, she tacks on "Lady, " not, as I read it, to give herself "airs" or make herself sound more important, but simply so people won't stick their feet in their mouths over her gender.
On the other hand, I rather like the ambiguity. It allows me to challenge people who might give my statements more -- or less -- credence because of what they assume my gender to be. Once you meet me, you have no doubts, believe me. But are my statements any less valid because I don't have the equipment you thought I did?
I certainly don't see anything presumptuous about Lady Tahena's use of the title, and I would defend her use of it without question. There's a lot of difference between "Lady Tahena-so-you-know-I'm-not-a-guy" and "Lady-High-Priestess-Umpteenth-Degree-Bambi-Floatingfeather" trying to impress you with the amount of power and esoteric knowledge she's managed to acquire by the age of twenty-two. (This is not to "diss" twenty-two year olds. I was one once. I'm not now. And I know just how far I've come in those years of study and practice. I'm afraid I have to assume that Bambi has a lot ahead of her, too.)
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| A Little Off Topic (concerning Lord And Lady) | Apr 13th. at 1:05:22 pm EDT |
by Alex Kenlon (Sol 3, Western Spiral Arm, Milky Way Galaxy) - wc_xemail
I remember the time I got my butt chewed half off by an elder for having the audacity to call myself 'Lord Alsandair' within earshot of him.
Little did the poor guy know that I was talking to one of my friends in the group and was explaining the Society for Creative Anachronism to him.
In the SCA I have earned my Award of Arms and am entitled to use 'Lord' in front of my name.
I explained it to him politely and further explained that the confusion was likely due to the fact that I'm known in my group and the SCA as Alsandair...not that it helped...he still tore into me.
Oh well. I've given up on that group and have sine moved on
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| How Cool Is This…Part 2 | Apr 13th. at 1:04:23 pm EDT |
by Moonfire (Springfield, MA) - wc_xemail
Wow! Two really neat articles about Wicca/Witchcraft in as many days. Let's try and find another one for tomorrow and make it 3 for 3 :) .
BB
Moonfire
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| Out! | Apr 13th. at 11:52:45 am EDT |
by Cliodhna Glen (Rice Lake, Wisconsin) - wc_xemail - Web
Just this year, in fact. :) I finally decided it's time for me to quit being dominated by fear and intimidation. Yeah, there have been a few setbacks, but there's been much more in the way of positive feedback and opportunities for me.
I'm of the opinion that working/living/being where you're not comfortable because you're not welcome is not a good idea, no matter what the reason for discomfort. When it comes to something as personal as religion, it's even more critical to be where you're comfortable. Yeah, a lot of the time it means having less, doing without, and having to protect oneself - I have a dog at home for that reason, and I work two part-time jobs while my husband works a full time job so that we can make ends meet. However, both of my jobs are very understanding and accepting of my beliefs, and my dog takes care of neighbors who are less than enthusiastic and Jehovah's Witnesses.
What it comes down to is not buckling to the pressure to conform to WASP standards. One day they'll realize that they're quickly losing their edge as the "majority" in this country, but until then we need to work on making comfortable lives and communities for ourselves as well.
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| Hmm | Apr 13th. at 11:50:16 am EDT |
by Raven Owl (Wrexham Wales) - wc_xemail
Seeing as I am a thrid degree... I dont find it offensive or actuall to have a point.. if she wants to call herself a lady.. so be it.. its her will.. I dont bother calling myself a Lord.. because I dont think the title is very fitting... considering im just 18years in .. I truelly dont see myself as an elder.. maybe thats why the person mentioned it.. on another topic, I to find it rather pointless to write that article.. but eh.. what can you do
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| Point Of Information? | Apr 13th. at 11:13:47 am EDT |
by Lorraine (New Hampshire) - wc_xemail
I once witnessed an elder Wiccan berating a younger woman, saying that the titles "Lady" and "Lord" were reserved for Wiccans who have completed 3rd degree initiation.
My real-world experience is that anyone and everyone seems to be appropriating those titles.
I'm not Wiccan myself, nor have I ever belonged to a coven and been intiated, therefore I'm ignorant about this issue. What have other people found? Was my elder Wiccan representative of general Wiccan thought? Is it still offensive to traditional Wiccans? Or have they let go of their claim to these titles?
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| W00t | Apr 13th. at 10:36:35 am EDT |
by Dove (The Stix, Rhode Island) - wc_xemail
Good article, I say! I'm glad she had the courage to come out and stay out of the closet. We need more open people like that in the world. I am also out of the closet, and have been for about four years. I wear two or three of my favorite pentacles at a time (I really don't care what others think.) and I have gotten MANY more positive responses to them than negative ones. In fact, most of the time, it's other Witches or Wiccans who comment on them (wouldn't ya know!) . and there are a LOT of Witches and Wiccans in New England. I only get the occasional backhanded comment or stare, and it's usually from an idiot. I have had NO problems with it at work. I hope more Pagan/Witch/Wiccan people decide to come out about their religion, then maybe others will realize two things: that these ARE valid religious paths, and that we have just as much a right to practice them as anyone else has to practice their religion.
BB
~*Dove*~
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| Coming Out Of The BC | Apr 13th. at 9:38:21 am EDT |
by MoorDragon (Atlanta) - wc_xemail
Coming out of the broom-closet is different for each person. For some who work in an artistic environment, for examle, coming out is no big deal. Whereas those who work or live in a very conservative one such as a law firm or in a heavily Christian environment, it's not so easy and probably ill-advised. And it comes down to just how strong the individual is and where their life is at.
If you're a single mom, with little kids, living in a town full of Baptists, it's probably a good idea not to come out. You've a lot to lose if people turn on you. If you're polishing surfboards on a California beach and living in an apartment complex full of art students, then you can be as out as you want to be. Heck, they might even think you're cool.
This woman in the article felt that she was in a place both physically and spiritually wherein she could do it and not be afraid.
I have been harassed for coming out but I got through it and educated a few people along the way. Others have not been so fortunate, lost jobs, suffered attacks both physically and financially.
The Burning Times are not quite over yet. I have read that in some parts of the world, witches are STILL tortured and killed.
So be careful out there.
---MoorDragon
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