Wiccans buck wicked stereotypes

By Timothy C. Greenleaf

Most of them live ordinary lives-they work as computer programmers, lawyers, scientists, writers, artists and musicians. They live in everyday dwellings with common furnishings- perhaps even next door to you. They behave in a socially acceptable manner, yet, all suffer in a modern day inquisition. Nothing terminates happy-hour small-talk faster than by informing your companion that you're Wiccan.

"I chatted with this woman for a full half-hour before she noticed the pentagram around my neck," says Paul Suliin, of San Gabriel, Calif. "I explained to her that I'm a Witch. She backed up and a look of fear crossed her face. I said, 'You've been talking to me for at least half an hour. Do you suddenly think I might be a murderer or something?' She replied, 'Yes, I think you might be,' and fled."

Most people respond with a similar lack of understanding. Rural communities in the 'Bible Belt' can be especially unreceptive.

"The High Priestess of my former Coven was held at shotgun point by a group of drunken rednecks in Virginia several years back," says Felis Uncia, of Detroit, Mich. "She and the others were attending a private ritual on privately-owned land-more than a 20 minute walk from the nearest road. Nonetheless, word of the ritual got out somehow and some of the local fundamentalist Christians hiked overland to the ritual site and held the folk in attendance at gunpoint. Claiming that the Wiccans were "Satanists" and "Filthy Witches," the Christians went on to claim that their God had ordered them, via the 'Holy Bible' to 'suffer not a Witch to live' and therefore they intended to kill everyone there. This went on for some time until they were finally persuaded to leave, although by what means I'm not entirely certain."

So, why do conventional religions express apprehension toward Wicca?

One of the world's oldest religions, Wicca holds much in common with the Aborigines of Australia, the Navajos of the American Southwest and beliefs of other native groups around the world. Although exact definitions vary because different denominations of Wicca exist, all worship the Earth, regard all living things as sacred and most practice magick — the direction and use of "psychic energy."

Determining the actual population of Wiccans proves difficult because of the insular nature of their faith. Most members practice individually, but some witches practice as a group, called a coven. Best-guess estimates put the U.S. population at 60,000.

Despite what most people believe, Wiccans do not worship the Devil nor do they believe in any such entity. The U.S. military chaplain's handbook states that, "Wiccans point out that "Satan" is a symbol of rebellion against and an inversion of the Christian and Jewish traditions." The Chaplain's handbook explains that Wiccans do not reject the Bible but merely regard it as being less applicable than other dogmas to their own beliefs. To a Wiccan, no single "path to the sacred" works for everyone.

The pentagram, Wicca's principal symbol, originates from prehistoric Pagan times, just like the Christian cross. During the middle ages, peasants hung Pentagrams on the thresholds of doorways to protect their buildings from evil spirits.

However, just as the Nazis adopted the swastika, many Satanic groups adopted the pentagram, causing much confusion for the general public and much fear on the part of Wiccans. Many Wiccans still wear the pentagram-not as a symbol of the Devil but for protection from evil.

Since the 1500s, Judeo-Christian religions have discredited and dominated Pagan religions. Thousands, perhaps millions, of witches were killed during the inquisitions of the 1500-1700s. The explorers to the North America also often made "civilizing of the natives' through conversion to Christianity a priority.

Even today, anything pagan is inherently evil to the eyes of many Christians because it opposes the idea of one God. Most people would be surprised to find out how much Judeo-Christian religions have in common with Wicca.

At Christmas — near the winter solstice — Christians celebrate the birth of God's son while Wiccans celebrate the rebirth of the sun (as days begin to grow longer.) At Easter, Christians celebrate the rising of Christ while Wiccans celebrate the budding of new life... Spring. The cluster of Jewish holidays in September also correspond to the autumnal equinox.

Perhaps every Christian can relate to Halloween (in Wiccan, "Samhain"), a time when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest. "Every religion has a time like this," says Catherine Riggs-Bergesen, owner of 'Other Worldly Waxes and Other Stuff' on East Seventh Street in Manhattan's East Village.

And all of the events are around the same time. The event has to do with harvest-a symbolic death as the harvest comes to a close. The reason the Christians have at least three ceremonies before, during and after is that they weren't comfortable with bringing the dead back into the picture — a very Pagan process. The churches said, 'this sounds scary, lets scare off the demons,' which they believed were stirred by Pagans.

Many people also confuse Wicca with black magick (spelled with a 'k' to distinguish it from Doug Hennings' crowd-pleasing variety).

All magick should only be done for the highest good of all involved," adds Bergesen.

But, all religions are susceptible to being used for manipulating others. Just as the Jim and Tammy-Faye Bakkers of the Christian world used religion to fleece their PTL flock, some people attempt to use Wiccan tools in attempts at black magick.

Other Worldly Waxes employee Renee Perry recalled when a small-time heavy-metal rock band scanned the incense-laden shelves and talisman-filled display cases at the Wiccan outfitters. Neither the handmade voodoo pins with antique beads nor the "Deer Tongue" dried herbs met the group's needs.

"He told me, 'I want something so that everyone will look at me,'" said Perry, "so, I showed him the irresistibility and attraction oils."

"Oh no! NO! Not just the girls," replied the heavy-metal maestro, "I want EVERYONE's attention and energy."

"Perhaps you should try some other store," responded Perry, "I don't think we have an oil strong enough for you."

"He wanted to take over the world, " added Bergesen, who holds a doctorate in psychology from a school with strong conventional religious ties. She asked that the school not be named because her religion might make them uncomfortable. "

I have to think that something psychological was going on—his desire wasn't founded in any religious belief. We told him we didn't know how to do that. Bending peoples' wills—we don't even know how to do that! We would discourage that highly."

Wiccans believe in a "rule of threes" that discourages most people from manipulative actions. Perhaps the store's anti-shoplifting sign can best explain:

BEWARE:
Shoplifters will be cursed.
No Kidding... Whatever you steal
you will lose three times over

"When you get down to it," says Horus Moon, a practicing Hopi Indian, "religion is really all the same. It's mysticism-same practices, same science, just different cultures and symbolism. For me, it's all worship of the Earth and respect for her. Religion is an integral part of you."