An article on Wicca

[elaby]

I've been poking around various places looking up Wicca-related stuff, and I came across this awesome article. I read it recommended by someone for people who are new to Paganism, a warning against books by a particular author who many people think is misleading about Wicca. From what I read in the article, holy cow, is she ever O_o

Wicca: For the Rest of Us - Why We Despise Silver Ravenwolf

Silver Ravenwolf, from the quotes of hers in this article, is not only bigoted toward anyone who isn't Wiccan, but is also hypocritical and delusional.

Here's a small excerpt from the article, her quote in italics and then the author of the article's response.

"As someone who works with magick, sooner or later you're going to be found out, anyway. Let's face it. You will probably carry yourself differently (confidence does that to a person). You may become more articulate, more sensitive, more ethical; happier, richer, healthier. You will succeed in your dreams where others spend their lives wishing instead. Eventually, people will wonder what you are doing right! People may also fear you. Not because you have threatened them, but because you obviously are not enjoying the same tragedies they are. (Page 278)

Excuse me? What sort of cult propaganda is this? News flash #2: non-magical people succeed at their dreams too. And anyone who thinks that Wicca or any other religion or organization will protect them from the tragedies of the world needs a serious and immediate wake-up call. Wicca doesn't make you anything. You are what you make of yourself, and you can do that equally well as a Wiccan, Christian, atheist, or anything else."

HELL yes.

Comments

[fiery-lioness.livejournal.com]

*reads article* *has to stop laughing at SRW's quotes so as to finish article*

Okay, I started my path with Silver. I quickly learned that I did not agree with her views, and started looking elsewhere. That article, while a bit snarky, is almost exactly along the lines that my pagan and non-pagan friends (who know of the religion) think of Her Royal Silverness.

The metaphysical shop I frequent has only two of her books, and even then, they'd rather sell ANYTHING but hers, because of the warped ideals.

*bookmarks article* Thanks, Elaby.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

You're welcome :) I'm glad to hear what you think!

[amythestcat.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...I'll have to look into this further. I am currently going through her "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" and do not find any bias at all, personally. However, I have not done in depth research on her. I think the above quote is likely somewhat out of context. I'm guessing the meaning is, those suffering the "tragedies" are those not set fully in any religious or belief path, but have the illusion that they are. Finding your path does give some degree of a buffer, a cushion. Those without are likely more prone to stress and reaction without realizing it. Those who believe "in name" and not "in practice". I know for one finding this path has helped me feel more stable and helps me deal with stress.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

It seemed from this article that she meant something more like finding your "religion" rather than your "path." It may have been out of context, but the way it was written seemed very snide and awesomer-than-thou to me. Personally, I don't think a person has to have a faith in order to feel fulfilled, but that could very well be that person's "path" if that's the way you want to put it.

[queen-lily-rose.livejournal.com]

*Nods And Giggles* Poor Old Silver.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Hehehe, that seems an apt description ^_^

[queen-lily-rose.livejournal.com]

Her Book "Solitary Witch" Isn't Too Bad.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

It's good to know that all of her stuff isn't like the stuff quoted in the article.

[queen-lily-rose.livejournal.com]

She's Learning! LOL!

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying reading your comments on Wicca, as I've always been interested in exploring it, as you know. Nothing deep to add; I'm a bit brain-dead at the moment and not responding to much that takes any deep thought. Bookmarking this to come back to later. *hugs*

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thanks ^_^ I'll be interested in hearing what you think! And dude, I LOVE your icon!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I totally agree! I feel the same sort of shocked when I hear about a racist gay person. It's exactly what you said, you'd think they would be especially conscious of the need for love of everybody!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

That's scary.

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

This proves my theory that there are fanatics and just plain crazies in every religion and creed, no matter how good the philosophy itself might be. She seems to be using the same techniques of other fundamentalists, skewing the "facts" to make her point, and in some instances, just making things up. What ever happened to The Wiccan Rede which states "An it harm none, do what ye will"?

Also

"...did you know that Mary Magdalene was not a temple prostitute? That the word "Magdelene" is a title of leadership, not the woman's last name? And that Mary Magdelene of Bible fame ran a temple to the Goddess, designed to educate the rich girls of Jerusalem? True, true...and true. AND, the reason the men hated her was because she believe in the Goddess, and they wanted to get rid of the Goddess.

I had to comment on this one. I don't know where she came up with this, but it certainly wasn't the Christian Bible. Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute, true, and although the Church may have vilified her as such, she is only described in the Bible as being one of Jesus' followers who was "possessed by demons", which is largely interpreted today to mean that she probably either had epilepsy or a mental illness of some sort. "Magdalene" means "of Magdala"; Mary came from the town of Magdala, just as Jesus came from Nazareth and so was called a "Nazarene". There seems to be every indication that Mary was Jewish, just as all of them were, not a follower of the Goddess. This seems to be pure fantasy. (Of course, we also don't really know if Mary or any of the others existed, as there are no historical records proving that they did or didn't.)

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Mum FTW! I know I can always count on you to know stuff :)

I thought everything quoted in that article was utter crap, anyway. I can see why people wouldn't want new Wiccans to read her stuff.

[white-death.livejournal.com]

Wow! I followed you back to your LJ from bard_slash because of your Touga/Saionji icon and I find all sorts of interesting stuff. Nice.

I'm what holier-than-thou Neo-pagans tend to call a magpie--an eclectic polytheist--so I never speak with much authority on this kind of thing (safer that way). That said, $RW has some serious issues with history. Infamously so. By her reasoning, pretty well everything can be traced back to some mythological and perfect goddess-based prehistoric religion which only she (conveniently) seems to know all the ins and outs of. I bought her Angel Magick book on a whim once because it was on sale (studying angel/demonology is one of my hobbies), and it was laughably awful. I had to stop when she started raving about how the archangels are all Christian-twisted archetypes ripped off from forgotten gods in "the old religion." Ack.

Anyway. All I really meant to say was: I think I'll friend you if you don't mind! =D

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I don't mind at all! You seem very nifty as well. Allow me to squee at your icon ^_^ And thank you for commenting. I'm interesting in hearing what every kind of person has to say :) That sounds like what I've heard about Silver RavenWolf. Ack is right!

[white-death.livejournal.com]

Woo! I'm nifty!

Allow me to squee at your icon ^_^

Thanks! One day, I'm going to have a full set, but I tend to make batches of icons very sporadically. Also, I wanted the last line of that verse to be a moving icon, and I can't make those with my current programs. D:

$RW is an acronym I stole from other pagan friends who are not thrilled with her. I think it sums her up nicely. XD

Of course; return adding is always welcome!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

That would be a very awesome icon set! And I'm not too thrilled with $RW either. I like that acronym ^_^

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I'll add you back as well, if you also don't mind :)