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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 16461
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
10/29/2006
8:19:44 am EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 8,162
RSS: 19,995
Comments: 7
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A Witch's Coven
Author: Charity Gordon Source: Daily Journal (MS)
Title: A WITCH'S COVEN
On a neglected downtown Columbus street, a dusty minivan sits across from a store.
Nothing suggests what’s inside the shop except for the vehicle’s bumper sticker: “My other car is a broom.”
Store owners and self-described witches Lady Hawk and Ole Bear have kept a subdued business since 2001 – for the same reason they gave only their Wiccan names for this article.
“I don’t go around telling people I’m Wiccan,” said Ole Bear, a stout man with a neatly trimmed silver beard. “In the South, people will hate you because of your faith.”
These two witches – and the couple hundred others in Northeast Mississippi – have no stereotypical features – no pointy hats or Goth makeup. Although predominantly female, witches are both men and women. They are the co-worker, next-door neighbor and volunteer in our communities.
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Community Thoughts: There are 7 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| As To The Red State Issue . . . | Oct 30th. at 8:36:27 am EST
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Arion The Blue (Durham, North Carolina) - Email Me
I feel I do have to address the idea that a Pagan living in the American South is somehow at odds with the local culture. Despite the atavistic nature of some of our politicians and rural folk, the modern South is actually not as bad (in most places) as people from other places might think.
Firstly, because of the wide and cultic nature of protestant Christianity in the South, with iternerant preachers and self-ordained evangelisits being a common thing, the laws regarding incorporation as a recognized church are actually quite lenient. And due to the disparity in individial spiritual beliefs (everything from Catholic and High Anglican to Appalachian Snake Handlers and straight-up cults) there is a kind of tolerance to religious wierdness that might be absent in a more homogenious society in most places. It's a kind of spiritual libertarianism that makes it a little easier to get along with your neighbors -- as long as you don't try to convert their kids.
Secondly, urban areas in the South -- of which there are many -- are far more cosmopolitan than the rural parts. But even in the rural parts there is often a respect for religiosity in general that, once the initial freak-out over being a witch subsides, helps encourage respect. Folk would rather see you believe in something - even something they disapprove of - than be devoid of faith.
Thirdly, Wicca has a kind of back-door respect based on environmentalism. Rural folk in the South are surprisingly pro-environment ("Ya gotta live somewheres until the Judgement") and seeing Wiccans participate in community clean-up events and adopt-a-highway programs and the like give the kind of "money where your mouth is" street cred that can pay dividends later.
The fact of the matter is that the locals are far more concerned with the whacky ideas of "furriners" from the North and West than they are from their neighbors, whom they grew up with. By now there has been a whole generation of home-grown Wiccans around, and because of their ubiquity, even in rural areas, the innate suspicion is quickly abated.
It amazes people, sometimes, when they hear about how tolerant many Southern communities are. Don't forget that while the Klan and other extremeists got plenty of press, there were also plenty of liberal White Southerners who worked against them at great personal risk. They just didn't get very much press. It also surprises people that not everyone in the South hates gays (favorite local bumper sticker: "Homosexuals: every great Southern family should have one!") is a racist, and eats fatty foods. I've met Redneck pagans aplenty, who still participate in the community and are not particularly ostracized. In another generation, I imagine we'll see an even greater general acceptance of paganism by the non-Evangelicals.
Arion the Blue
High Druid of Durham
Durham, North Carolina
Dixie, Land o' Cotton
PS. I'm currently working on a book about Southern Paganism, and invite anyone who has particular stories about being a Southern Witch, Pagan, or Heathen to write me with them. Blessed Be, y'all.
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| More The Good | Oct 29th. at 4:40:52 pm EST
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genexs (Newburgh, New York) - Email Me
Another fine article that takes some interesting twists and turns. It's good the writer and the people interviewed point out the pursecution we experience.
best,
Gene
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| Proffess | Oct 29th. at 4:23:07 pm EST
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Ahr-Ohn (Bridgeport, Connecticut) - Email Me
"Store owners and self-described witches Lady Hawk and Ole Bear have kept a subdued business since 2001 – for the same reason they gave only their Wiccan names for this article."
Well, they describe themselves as Witches, much as someone would be a Self-described Lodge Member, were the lodge membership not published.
To Read my Ordination, you'd have to have two virgins reflect each other.
Maybe we could encourage the word Proffessed, as in Proffessed Witch, Proffessed Minister, or Proffessed Innocent?
Wicca isn't significantly different from the Gospel of St. Thomas, but it was Jesus Fitz Cornunose's Mother, who was the fully initiated Witch.
Arawn
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| ... | Oct 29th. at 1:44:34 pm EST
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
"Self-described" is right there in the third paragraph, as is the condescending tone as though not believing incoherent and unnatural Christian mythology is a bad thing.
There's also this line: “I don’t go around telling people I’m Wiccan,” said Ole Bear, a stout man with a neatly trimmed silver beard. “In the South, people will hate you because of your faith.”
Can someone tell me why anyone would live in Klanlan...err, Stalinist Ameri...err, the Red States again?
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| Actually. . . | Oct 29th. at 1:23:14 pm EST
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Dynnys Derwydd (Lubbock, Texas) - Email Me
. . .the writer does state "self-described" witch in the article, which I find somewhat insulting. Especially since Christians, to be Christians, are suppose to be baptised and follow the precepts found in the New Testament. Most "self-described" Christians have not been baptised, don't study their Bibles nor follow the teachings of Jesus.
How about this, "A self-described journalist writes an article about Wiccan and Paganism."
Fight with knowledge, not in ignorance.
honi soit qui mal y pense,
Dynnys Derwydd
H.P., Lucus Cortinae
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