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November 13, 2003
Which witch is the Wicca witch?
The ball swishes through the air before a 12-year-old Lilah Shreeve pelts it back in the other direction. It’s free time at Camp Celo, and Shreeve is playing tetherball with a friend. But as she plays, a boy crouches down behind her, his fingers carefully tracing a large cross in the dirt. Shreeve interprets his taunt as a message that her religion, Wicca, is not accepted by him or by much of society.
Wicca, a nature-based religion that deals in spells and goddess worship, has attracted a growing number of followers. According to an American Religious Identification Survey in 2001, the religion consists of over 134,000 followers, a substantial increase from 8,000 in 1990.
Today, Shreeve, now a senior, proudly sits upright in the Media Center, lightly fingering the five-sided pentacle that hangs from her neck. Since deciding to become Wiccan, Shreeve has dealt with teachers and students who equate the Wiccan religion with green-skinned hags dancing around a bubbling cauldron. Because no spell can make the negative connotation disappear, many Wiccan Blazers choose to keep their religion under wraps.
Wicca 101
Unlike more conventional religions, Wicca is generally without strict doctrines and codes. “It’s a free religion where you can believe what you want to, in one god or more," says junior Robyn Haley, who has been a Wiccan since sixth grade.
The Church and School of Wicca defines the Wicca faith as “a new religion that emphasizes growth through harmony in diversity, knowledge, wisdom and exploration." Followers strive to find the divinity of themselves and in nature.
Wiccan practices vary, from using spells to maintaining personal altars for prayer and meditation. Wiccans often refer to the four elements—Earth, air, wind and fire—while performing spells.
However, all Wiccans have one rule they must adhere to: They can only perform magic for good, never in the interest of evil. But the misconception that Wiccans send their praises to the Devil continues to exist both inside and outside of Blair.
Tackling aversion
Four flickering candles encircle Shreeve. She stands before the northernmost candle and shuts her eyes. “Please guide me, and lead me in my journey," she prays. Shreeve is casting a circle in preparation for a spell, but don’t expect the sky to darken and spirits to jump out of the air. Wiccan rituals are nothing like the media’s protrayal of witchcraft.
The media has painted a different picture of witches over the years. In TV shows like Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, witches are sisters with keen senses of style or bubbly, red-haired sidekicks. Other times, witches will stop at nothing to hurt a young lady from Kansas (and her little dog, too). These contrasting images can contribute to the skewed impression that many people have of Wiccans.
Haley has been confronted by several people whose prejudice against her religion is obvious when they learn that she is Wiccan. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, so you’re a Devil worshipper?’" she says.
Comparative Religions teacher Cherie McGinn attributes the lack of respect for the Wiccan religion to ignorance. She recalls a time when she, too, thought that Wicca was a “dangerous cult." But after meeting a Wiccan student her views changed. “I have to admit that the very first Wiccan student I met, I was worried about her," McGinn confesses. “[But after] we researched it together, I ended up with a healthy respect for the religion."
Shreeve feels that most other teachers do not take the time to understand Wicca. She recalls an incident last year when a lesson about The Crucible led to derogatory remarks being made about her religion. According to Shreeve, the teacher announced to the class that Wicca “is a religion but not a very respectable one." Meanwhile, Shreeve remained silent, feeling powerless to take a stand for her beliefs.
Casting a spell on everyday life
As Shreeve finishes casting the circle to keep unwanted spirits out, she continues the ritual by engaging in intense meditation. Afterwards, Shreeve arises and walks counter-clockwise to each candle to un-cast the circle. She’s not garbed in a black cloak, she has no warts on her face, and there are no broomsticks nearby. Shreeve is simply praying for good fortune. Unfortunately, there are still many people who fail to understand that this is Wicca’s true intention.
Haley hopes that in the future, more people will learn to appreciate her religion. “It’s not about sparkles, there are no curses or anything like that, and it’s not about treating people poorly. It’s more about the power of the individual."
Wicca, a nature-based religion that deals in spells and goddess worship, has attracted a growing number of followers. According to an American Religious Identification Survey in 2001, the religion consists of over 134,000 followers, a substantial increase from 8,000 in 1990.
Senior Lilah Shreeve holds a pentacle over a burning incense in a Wiccan ceremony. Shreeve began practicing Wicca six years ago.
Today, Shreeve, now a senior, proudly sits upright in the Media Center, lightly fingering the five-sided pentacle that hangs from her neck. Since deciding to become Wiccan, Shreeve has dealt with teachers and students who equate the Wiccan religion with green-skinned hags dancing around a bubbling cauldron. Because no spell can make the negative connotation disappear, many Wiccan Blazers choose to keep their religion under wraps.
Wicca 101
Unlike more conventional religions, Wicca is generally without strict doctrines and codes. “It’s a free religion where you can believe what you want to, in one god or more," says junior Robyn Haley, who has been a Wiccan since sixth grade.
The Church and School of Wicca defines the Wicca faith as “a new religion that emphasizes growth through harmony in diversity, knowledge, wisdom and exploration." Followers strive to find the divinity of themselves and in nature.
Wiccan practices vary, from using spells to maintaining personal altars for prayer and meditation. Wiccans often refer to the four elements—Earth, air, wind and fire—while performing spells.
However, all Wiccans have one rule they must adhere to: They can only perform magic for good, never in the interest of evil. But the misconception that Wiccans send their praises to the Devil continues to exist both inside and outside of Blair.
Tackling aversion
Four flickering candles encircle Shreeve. She stands before the northernmost candle and shuts her eyes. “Please guide me, and lead me in my journey," she prays. Shreeve is casting a circle in preparation for a spell, but don’t expect the sky to darken and spirits to jump out of the air. Wiccan rituals are nothing like the media’s protrayal of witchcraft.
The media has painted a different picture of witches over the years. In TV shows like Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, witches are sisters with keen senses of style or bubbly, red-haired sidekicks. Other times, witches will stop at nothing to hurt a young lady from Kansas (and her little dog, too). These contrasting images can contribute to the skewed impression that many people have of Wiccans.
Haley has been confronted by several people whose prejudice against her religion is obvious when they learn that she is Wiccan. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, so you’re a Devil worshipper?’" she says.
Comparative Religions teacher Cherie McGinn attributes the lack of respect for the Wiccan religion to ignorance. She recalls a time when she, too, thought that Wicca was a “dangerous cult." But after meeting a Wiccan student her views changed. “I have to admit that the very first Wiccan student I met, I was worried about her," McGinn confesses. “[But after] we researched it together, I ended up with a healthy respect for the religion."
Shreeve feels that most other teachers do not take the time to understand Wicca. She recalls an incident last year when a lesson about The Crucible led to derogatory remarks being made about her religion. According to Shreeve, the teacher announced to the class that Wicca “is a religion but not a very respectable one." Meanwhile, Shreeve remained silent, feeling powerless to take a stand for her beliefs.
Casting a spell on everyday life
As Shreeve finishes casting the circle to keep unwanted spirits out, she continues the ritual by engaging in intense meditation. Afterwards, Shreeve arises and walks counter-clockwise to each candle to un-cast the circle. She’s not garbed in a black cloak, she has no warts on her face, and there are no broomsticks nearby. Shreeve is simply praying for good fortune. Unfortunately, there are still many people who fail to understand that this is Wicca’s true intention.
Haley hopes that in the future, more people will learn to appreciate her religion. “It’s not about sparkles, there are no curses or anything like that, and it’s not about treating people poorly. It’s more about the power of the individual."
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thanks
chris
Blessed be
callum