Wiccans and words
• New Age (Old Silliness)
Wiccans seem to have an odd relationship to language. They seem to think the meanings of words reflect their wishes instead of historical and social context. Then again that is pretty much akin the sly emendations of politicians or the simple sloppiness of the ordinary citizen.
"You don't have to be Wiccan to be a witch. You can be Buddhist! We have people in our community who are Jewish," Traci Laird, part of a 300-strong witches' group in Texas, said. "Witchcraft is a mystical side of religion, of spirituality."
The more wiccans the better, a statement that might surprise folks who know me. People are going to believe nonsense. The more diverse the nonsense the less likely it is that any one group of zanies will be affect the lives of the rest of us. Don't you wish many Fundamentalist Christians convert to Buddhism, Neo-paganism, anything if only to blunt their political power?
In the United States, 134,000 people identified themselves as Wiccans for a respected religious survey undertaken by the Graduate Center of the City University of New York in 2001. ...
Becoming a high priest (or insert the term of your choice) isn't as difficult as getting a postgraduate degree in molecular biology.
The Wiccan coven, he pointed out, is a forum for serious teaching, describing the traditional three-step initiation from initiated member, to priest, to high priest, as "a little like getting one's driver's license."
Creation 'scientists' aren't the only ones who abuse the words like science and scientist.
After three years of study, with "very scientific, very rational" instructors, Michaud has begun his own coven, which in turn focuses most of its efforts on initiating newer witches into secret rituals, including rites and spells that can heat up a love affair, or clinch a coveted business deal.
Even spiritual folks have to deal with that sordid thing called money.
His spellwork comes at a price — set by the customer — since "we've got to stop kidding ourselves, these (spell materials) cost money!"
Wiccans like pharmaceutical makers and online dating services know which class is most readily parted from its cash.
Love spells are always popular. They can be as simple as one rite that calls for a love seeker to braid three pastel-colored strings together, then think strongly of the beloved tying a knot. A series of seven knots are tied in succession, and the braid is worn until love is found, when it must either be kept safe or burnt to ashes and scattered in streams or the open seas.
The French are a glib people. Nobody is better at feigning lucidity.
Comments
Posted by: April | October 6, 2004 10:36 PM