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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 18744
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
10/25/2007
7:47:54 am EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 7,928
RSS: 14,718
Comments: 11
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Wiccan, Not Wicked
Author: Ashley Thompson Source: University Daily Kansan (KS)
Title: WICCAN, NOT WICKED
A few Halloweens ago, Kerry Johnson, a practicing Wiccan and co-owner of The Village Witch, 311 N 2nd St., was in the middle of an interview with a journalist from Channel 6 News. Extra media attention around Halloween is something she’s accustomed to. On this day, Johnson was decked out in a stereotypical witch costume, with a black pointy hat, cloak and green face make-up.
The journalist asked her if it bothered her that so many people sport similar get-ups as Halloween costumes, perhaps making a mockery of her and her religion. “I had to say to her, ‘Uh, clearly not. This is my Halloween costume.’ She thought that was how I dressed on a normal basis.” Johnson says. “Every Halloween, I dress up, hand out candy, and then once the trick-or-treating is over, we celebrate our own way.”
This wasn’t the first —or last—time Johnson has had to debunk stereotypes about Wicca, especially around this time of year.
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Community Thoughts: There are 11 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Hmm. | Oct 26th. at 1:26:43 pm EDT
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Greybird (Sullivan, Indiana) - Email Me
My first thought is to wonder why someone would do an interview about their religion in a Halloween costume.
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| I'm Still Rolling On The Floor Laughing | Oct 26th. at 1:05:25 am EDT
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Shadowbear (Hillsboro, Oregon) - Email Me
About the - uh, this is my halloween costume line. Talk about a really out-of-it journalist. Could anyone think that pointy hats and green face make-up are everyday wear for witches (wiccan or not) ?
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| As A Witch I Am: D, NOTA | Oct 25th. at 8:45:10 pm EDT
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Fraoch (Shelby, North Carolina) - Email Me
I'd also like to hear more about and from people like me and some of you who are practicing, hard working, dedicated (in the traditional and work sense) , accomplished (whatever that means) Witches, but are not Wiccan. We're like snow flakes and spider webs, not a one of us is the same from our cosmologies to the way we light our incense.
That's why the "blanket statement issues" are really beginning to be tiresome. I'm a Witch, but I don't follow the Rede or believe in the 3 Fold Law (Many Witches I know, adapt that as a sort of guideline though they may not be Wiccan) . My view of Witchcraft is fundamentally the same as Wicca's, however my realization and acceptance of Nature is quite different. I still prefer my swords in the East and my staves in the South versus the Hermetic Fire= Sword and Air = Staff. There are basic similiarities between me and many people, but it stops there.
A person posed to me, "What in the hell are is the 'Pagan' or 'Neo Pagan' community? It's too vast to be placed under such a restrictive umbrella." That person is right, as it's like trying to place the thousands of different traditions based from the Vedas under the blanket term of Hinduism. It's only when you get into specific religions and traditions that you find enough common ground to even begin to generalize. Even then, people are weary.
Sounds like a conundrum, right? It seems that no one wants to be lumped together, however lots of people talk about the exclusiveness of various groups. The question is: How do we talk about eachother in a way that is expressive of respect and tolerance of our power and unique-ness but bonds us all together as people who are of really olde worlde occult/shamanic religious/spiritual practices. Is that possible?
7500 B.C.E? That's Mesolithic Europe which ocurred about 1500 years or so after the ice thaw... that's the Ice Ages ice. I don't think people can trace religious stuff back that far, not even the Vedas go back that far. Talk about pulling stuff out of one's bunghole. Sorry... That was a bit much.
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| A For Effort | Oct 25th. at 8:35:20 pm EDT
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Rutilus Draconis (Fair Haven, Michigan) - Email Me
Not bad author should have done more research but I guess when oneis on a deadline, one must make due. I'm sure he has gotten his share of " correction" e-mails
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| Not Sure Where They Got Their Information | Oct 25th. at 12:59:48 pm EDT
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Young Coyote (W. Hempstead, California) - Email Me
For the most part the article was alright. There were some weird "facts" about Wicca in it though.
For one, it's not standard for the High Priestess to have "more authority". I'm sure in some covens it is but not all of Wicca.
Also some of these journalists need to stop referring to Wicca as being a pre-Christian religion. Wicca draws upon beliefs and practices that predate Christianity, but Wicca itself is not that old.
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| Interesting... | Oct 25th. at 11:20:26 am EDT
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Michael Wolfheart (Rapid City, South Dakota) - Email Me
the article is informative yet stereotypical at the same time...for example where it says "the high priestess holds more authority" maybe in some traditions she does but from what Ive been taught and read the high priest and the high priestess have the same amount of authority...maybe I misread something somewhere...Ill have to check
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| "Birthright" | Oct 25th. at 9:29:47 am EDT
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Raven (Winter Park, Florida) - Email Me
I do like that she happened to say that she felt she was Wiccan all her life, and just came to it at a certain age. This is pretty much how I feel about being a Witch and Pagan. :)
However, I agree that the operative term "all" should not be used in any article. It's not only creating animosity if someone were to learn that a Wiccan could learn about a faith and simply convert, but it's just poor writing form, too!
Otherwise, very nice article. I really appreciate something positive this time of year. :)
Blessed Samhain, everyone!
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| All Witches Were Born Witches? | Oct 25th. at 8:04:55 am EDT
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Zianna Elanesse (Lusby, Maryland) - Email Me
Isn't there some rule that you can't use the word "all" in an article? At least there was no mention of Satan or Sam ;-)
Blessed Be,
Zianna
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