Path: ultra.sonic.net!bug.rahul.net!rahul.net!a2i!news.kjsl.com!news.new-york.net!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.berkeley.edu!boulder!usenet From: "Magus Clarin" Newsgroups: alt.paranormal.spells.hexes.magic Subject: Re: Glamour magic Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 05:05:02 -0700 Organization: University of Colorado at Boulder Lines: 52 Message-ID: <7ck71h$ljg@lace.colorado.edu> References: <18312-36E13853-13@newsd-251.iap.bryant.webtv.net> <7ca7u5$3rei$1@newssvr03-int.news.prodigy.com> <7cbqa5$sv5$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: brackett3-25.resnet.colorado.edu X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.0810.800 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.0810.800 Xref: ultra.sonic.net alt.paranormal.spells.hexes.magic:8676 I really fnd it hard to find any negative aspects to the popularity "The Craft" has given to Wiccanism, etc By generating interest in the young people who have seen it it has attracted more people, with more fresh ideas and creative perspectives into the world of mysticism. So some may start in not so great of manners, but who is to say this is bad. Odds are, if someone is going to get into the darker side of mysticism, they are not going to do it from seeing "The Craft". They are going to do it because it is in their nature to be drawn to that aspect. All of us started down our current path if mysticism in one of a huge variety of ways. All of us learned about the existence of magick and became interested for our own reasons and in our own ways. Who are we to decide if one way is better than another. These kids who run around acting all spooky are not generated by seeing the movie, most of the ones I know (almost all that live in my town) either never saw the movie or hated it. As for kids making Books of Shadows based on the movie, I think it is great. That Book of Shadows shows an interest, and though it's roots may be useless for anything more than entertainment, it will lead them to books which are useful. Many of us who are solitaries learned basic ideas from books we read, and expanded them in our own ways, doing whatever worked. Some of our roots are no better than movies, yet we have developed into produtive and active members of the Pagan community, so I strongly disagree that these young people's beginning pursuits into mysticism can be called stupid. Finally, I have found that all these young people running around have actually made it more acceptable to be a witch. From what I've seen, as these young people learn more and more about their chosen Pagan path, their parents learn more as well and, in the end, become more accepting of other Pagans. I think that this recent surge in the popularty of Paganism among symbolizes a great and powerful opportunity for us to change the way the world views us. I also think that too many of us are afraid of that change, and not unjustifiedly. Human nature is to fear change. It is my opinion that instead of shunning and laughing at the awkward beginnings of the interested young, we should help guide them and teach them what they want to learn. Finally, and most importantly, I think we should listen to them, new ways of thinking and some fresh ideas will yield growth. It was not my intention to offend, so if I did I'm sorry. I am asking all Pagans everywhere though, to please think about what I've said, and give the interested young some respect and more importantly soem help. Blessed Be, Magus Clarin