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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 14199
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
10/25/2005
9:34:24 am EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 9,204
RSS: 24,674
Comments: 19
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I'm White A Nice Witch, Thankyou
Author: Mary Lafferty Source: Newsletter (N. Ireland)
Title: I'M WHITE A NICE WITCH, THANKYOU
The haggard witch associated with this time of the year is only a myth and does nothing to erode superstitions surrounding bonafide witches, a Co Tyrone woman has claimed.
Images of sinister creatures causing evil results in friction and isolation for those involved in the ancient art of witchcraft, says Kate Houston, who describes herself as a white witch. The mother-of-five extols the virtues of her craft and dispels the notion that all witches are crazy old women bent over a cauldron.
"The image of a witch at Hallowe'en is very far removed from how most witches live. We work with the forces of nature to help people. There's nothing sinister about us," she said.
"I want people to know and understand that white witches are there to help and guide them. Unfortunately, once people hear you are a witch they become suspicious and think you are crazy.”
"But they should know that the meaning of witch is wise woman." Kate has been practicing as a white witch, clairvoyant and medium for a number of years after discovering her gift as a child.
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Community Thoughts: There are 19 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Agreed | Oct 27th. at 4:49:04 pm EDT
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Erihu (Sunset Beach, North Carolina) - Email Me
We need to stop nit-picking every article that comes along. Save your energy for the really bad ones. I do get tired of seeing the complaints when there is nothing fundamentally (yes, the word was intentional) wrong with what is being said. After all, you can't please all the Pagans, all the time. When someone takes offense, I think it says more about them that whatever it is they are complaining about, don't you?
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| Ya Know... | Oct 25th. at 11:44:13 pm EDT
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tomas, an scealai (Crandon, Wisconsin) - Email Me
I was born into and raised in an Irish-American family. I, like a couple of other posters under this article, understand what this lady is saying. Those who do not understand may need to look within themselves to comprehend what this lady is truly tying to relate to the world. I see no defamamation of witchcraft, but only the good points. Those who are offended might wish to examine their own path.
tomas
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| Feelin' The Love... | Oct 25th. at 6:59:15 pm EDT
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Stone Bryson (Castle Rock, Colorado) - Email Me - Web
While I disagree with some of terminology the woman in the article used, I think it is important to consider a few facts.
She is not in America - she is in Northern Ireland. The terminogy used there is very different from our own. It is my understanding that the terms 'white' and 'black' are still used quite frequently on the British Isles when it concerns witches - and especially in Northern Ireland. It is a way of setting yourself apart from someone who practices dark magic with purely malicious intent.
This would be an important distinction to make in a land where part of the population is Anglican (Orange) and the other part is Catholic (Green) - and the two have been warring with each other off and on for nearly a millenia. Being a witch in the middle of such an environment could very well have serious implications, so the necessity to establish yourself as a non-malevolent witch would be - at least from my perspective - paramount. Not every nation out there has a separation of church and state tradition - as a matter of fact, very few do. We need to take her situation into account (and display a little more consideration toward someone who may be one of own) before we verbally rip the poor woman to shreds.
No wonder the Pagan community is hanging on by a thin thread. "Say it my way, do it my way, or you are going to get drilled!" seems to be the mantra. No one wants to be involved in such negativity, especially within something that chapions itslef as a 'positive' force.
As for her whole 'wise woman' comment... as a male I found it upsetting initially until I took a step back and considered that maybe she learned her Craft from someone who taught her that. If she did, a polite explanation of the error in a public forum should suffice. Attack to hardly necessary.
After all, not everyone on the planet who has studied the Craft has had the luxury of reading the entire Llewellyn's catalogue on how to be a proper witch who doesn't make their fellow witches angry. Well d@mned her for not educating herself properly! I am sure the Goddess and God are going to swiftly send her to the Winterland for not reading the right books.
One thing in the article I found intriguing: "Kate does not charge for finding missing persons, medium sittings or house cleansing." That's refreshing, considering some of the 'witches' whom I have delt with here in the states, witches who would make any capitalist proud - so greedy they are with their Craft.
It appears to me that she is an honorable woman who had the misfortune of speaking as a citizen in Northern Ireland. I am sure she did not realize that her words - very probably misunderstood across the Atlantic - would be attacked by easily-offended Americans.
I only wish her well and positive energy.
- Stone
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| Let's Be Aware Of Cultural Differences | Oct 25th. at 6:38:28 pm EDT
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Michael Rock (Austin, Texas) - Email Me - Web
I notice all the commentary thus far is from the USA. The article is about a woman in Northern Ireland, probably a rural area.
Allowances need to be made for cultural differences. The Craft is not the same in the UK as in the US, nor is it the same in the city as in the countryside, and diversity has always been a strength of the modern Craft. If she says she is a White Witch then that is between her and the Goddess [who as the full moon has been called The White Goddess] as far as I am concerned.
She may not be up on the latest politically correct public relations materials distributed by the Secret Wicca Cabal of the New World Order, you know the Wicca division of the same people who come up with The Gay Agenda every year.. she may have misplaced the special PDA all Witches have to get the correct instructions beamed to them so everyone says the same thing to the public. Folks should cut her some slack IMO.
Every year these kinds of articles come out around Halloween and every year predictably people complain about stereotypes. Personally I think the stereotypes are cool. They have power and they scare people, not the least being most modern Witches. I prefer to tap into that power as we move into the Deep Dark of the Year, and Ana calls out from her home among the graves where she gnaws bones in the dark.
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| Well Then | Oct 25th. at 3:33:41 pm EDT
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D Lee Adkins (Okeechobee, Florida) - Email Me
Last time I checked I was a male, OK not a "wise woman" or whatever this woman said, And I dont like the fact that she reffered to herself as a "white" witch, does that mean that she isnt African- American, if so that makes me a "white" witch as well. Or does it simply mean that she wears white clothing, if that is the case then I am usually a dark-blue witch. you know what I dont think very highly of this woman now.
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| Why Ask Me? | Oct 25th. at 1:56:37 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
Especially at this time of year? After all, I'm just a crazy old woman bent over a cauldron! (cackle, cackle) Now where did I put those frog toes?
It is few articles that come out that don't make mention of us being the cackly old hags of medival thinking and the age old color bias defining everything as evil or good. My own personal goddess loves to walk after dark in the woods she guards as a tigress and has a large appetite with a predeliction for raw meat. Still, she is a kind and loving creature- and quite generous and ferociously protective in her own right when it comes to the creatures she guards and favors. She is a guardian and teacher of magic, fortune and secrets and according to many sources, especially the Chinese- who also favored this big cat in their own right as a symbol of strength and power, she also drove away thieves, ghosts and fire and is a good house guardian. I seriously doubt however, that it makes me truly evil simply because I worship such a being. After all, many witches love cats-- even though they are usually pocket sized for broom carrying convenience. And even small cats are the guardians of hearth and home- and the keepers of magic and secrets. Both, put us in touch with the dark side-- not necessarily evil, but grossly misunderstood, for therein lies the strength that we possess to create change for the better- or to deal with those that set out to harm us. Embracing the light has its advantages, yes, but it neglects the basic reasons we usually have for becoming a witch in the first place. To embrace the power within us and to understand the power around us in order to effect those changes that are necessary for whatever benefit that can be derived, both in the services of ourselves- or others and not shrink from either responsibility or consquence in the meantime. Funny, I can't see that in a fluffy light bunny. But, I guess the choice is hers- but it isn't mine.
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| I'm Sorry | Oct 25th. at 1:40:49 pm EDT
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LD Wolverine (Edmonton, Ontario) - Email Me
I didnt mean to sling mud. Just confused thats all. I stated my concerns about the article and put out what I know and what I dont understand in hopes someone would enlighten me or villify me.
Either way I apoligise if there was any offense.
Linda
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| I'm So Glad I Am Not The Only One... | Oct 25th. at 12:25:44 pm EDT
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LD Wolverine (Edmonton, Ontario) - Email Me
who has some problems with this article. So often at this time of year you see the news articles double and triple about witches, paganism and more often then not Wicca. But this whole White Witch thing, really drives me. I am tired of colour being akin to good or "not good". I dont understand, the community consistantly talks about the three fold rule and how we are only to do good and then someone goes around calling herself a "white witch" which indicates to me that if she is good because she is a "White" witch then there must be bad witches since she has the need to differentiate herself. I simply do not understand the white bit. What, she only ever does "good" spells and deeds? She's never had to go under the darker aspects of the God and Goddess? Never had to put down a sick animal or speed to the hospital for an ill child? Never had to ask for strength from the dark aspects of the dieties to give someone terrible news about a death, or ask for strength to deal with the death herself? So many of the "dark side" is part of every day life that I cant believe someone would only associate themselves with the light. A more mundane explaination, without the dark I would have a really hard time falling asleep at night.
Love and light.
Linda
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