{"id":11668,"date":"2015-10-01T01:10:26","date_gmt":"2015-10-01T06:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=12251"},"modified":"2015-10-07T18:04:50","modified_gmt":"2015-10-07T23:04:50","slug":"tink-about-it-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2015\/10\/01\/tink-about-it-24\/","title":{"rendered":"Tink About It"},"content":{"rendered":"

About Devil Worship, Flying Besoms and Such. Or Not?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ever since I took my first steps on the pagan path I have been open about it. I\u2019ve never really been in the broom closet. I don\u2019t walk around brandishing it to everyone, but I don\u2019t hide it. Being pagan is an integrated part of me; you can\u2019t separate the witch from the woman, they\u2019re one. I\u2019ve never felt like hiding it, why should I? Of course I\u2019ve had mixed reactions, but most of it was positive or neutral. People don\u2019t have to like it, as long as they respect it. Nowadays people know more about modern witchcraft, thanks to the internet and media. They don\u2019t always give the best explanation about it, but at least it\u2019s known to more people. Years ago, before the internet started to become what it is today, I encountered much more prejudice. Not always meant in a malicious way, but often from simple ignorance. <\/span>
\nSo how do you explain paganism and witchcraft to non-pagans who don\u2019t know anything about the lifestyle, the religion, the path? The misconceptions are a good starter point. I explain that witches don\u2019t even believe in the devil, and how the pagan god became the christian devil. Or I start with the broom or besom and explain what that is really used for. Then it\u2019s only a small step to what I do believe in. It depends on the person how I proceed. Are they really interested or just making conversation? The last one isn\u2019t interested in an extensive explanation, the first might be. What is their background? If I know something about their religion for example, I try to build bridges, find comparisons. If I don\u2019t know anything about them, I simply ask what they know or think about paganism. It\u2019s never my goal to convince anyone, I just try to explain. I don\u2019t proselytize, no need to convert anyone. If someone is interested and wants to learn, that\u2019s fine of course. If the initiative is on their side I\u2019m happy to help any way I can.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I said before I\u2019m open about my path. In real life and online. I\u2019ve written about it on my blog and on social media. Sometimes informative (to explain a sabbat, or tools I use, etc. ) but often just sharing what I do. I share pics and stories about pagan meetings, about rituals, festivals, books I\u2019ve read and the like. I show people the way I live and how paganism is part of that. That resulted in most people simply accepting it as it is. She is a witch, okay, move on. And that\u2019s okay. If you\u2019re not interested in that part of my life, no problem. If you have questions, please ask! Stupid questions don\u2019t exist and I\u2019m happy to explain what you want t know. <\/span>
\nOf course I\u2019ve encountered less positive reactions too. People that don\u2019t understand it, or better yet don\u2019t want to understand. People who judge and accuse without even knowing how it all works, based on falsehood and deception. People making fun of it, ridiculing. My reaction depends on who they are to me and how I feel at that particular moment. Some people aren\u2019t even worth it to me to give a reaction. When it\u2019s someone close to me, it hurts and I\u2019ll try to explain what it means to me. Making fun of it depends on the way it is done. I sometimes make jokes about it too! If people respect my path in general, it\u2019s okay to make a joke as they don\u2019t mean to hurt me. Joking around is fun! Sometimes it\u2019s done from sheer ignorance to save their face: \u201cyou\u2019re a witch? Are you going to change me in a frog?\u201d or something similar. I just smile and look the other way. I have a thick skin and if they need to ridicule me and my path it\u2019s all about them and not so much about me\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year a dear friend asked my help in understanding the witches\u2019 ways for a very different cause. She was writing a book in which the protagonists are witches. She wanted to know about things in general and ask some practical questions. Of course I was happy to oblige! Her name is Claudia Hall Christian and she has written several successful books. I got to know Claudia when I started blogging, before the social media era. We read each other\u2019s blogs and I helped her before in promoting her books. This time I could do more to help her. I answered her questions and showed her the best sources about wicca, witchcraft and paganism in general. She also read stuff on my blog and my columns here in Pagan Pages. Of course I was not the only one she consulted. As always, her research was extensive and thorough. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Tink\"<\/a>
\nThe book is called \u2018Suffer A Witch\u2019 and will be launched on September 22nd. When you read this column, it will be available! Here\u2019s a short synopsis:<\/span>
\n\u201cThey call her \u201cEm.\u201d Em for Martha. Em for \u201cEmogene Peres\u201d the name she received in Boston less than a day after she\u2019d been hanged in Salem Village in September 1692. Em and most of those hanged as Salem Witches were transformed into immortal witches only a few hours after they were deemed Salem Witches. Three hundred and twenty-two years later, they live, work, and love in modern day Boston, Massachusetts where Em runs a spiritual store called the Mystic Divine, just off the Boston Commons.<\/span>
\nOn the anniversary of the first hanging, June 10, 2014, Em learns that a young man and a team of ghost hunters have dedicated themselves to finding the crevice where the Salem Twenty\u2019s bodies were stuffed after hanging. The problem is that Em and the rest of the Salem Twenty are making full use of those skeletons. What starts with a young man with big ideas brings the Salem Witches face to face with their demons.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Claudia will also write a guest post on my blog. I\u2019ll add the link at the end. She was kind enough to offer a copy of the book for a blog contest. So come on over and take your chance to win \u2018Suffer A Witch\u2019. We\u2019ll also give you links to order the paperback or e-book. When you\u2019ve read the book, Claudia and I would love to hear your feedback.<\/span>
\nSources & further reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\n\u2022 http:\/\/storiesbyclaudia.com\/<\/a> – stories by Claudia Hall Christian
\n\u2022 http:\/\/tinkerbell-nl.blogspot.nl\/2015\/09\/suffer-witch-by-claudia-hall-christian.html<\/a> – Claudia\u2019s guest post with contest on my blog<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

About Devil Worship, Flying Besoms and Such. Or Not? Ever since I took my first steps on the pagan path I have been open about it. I\u2019ve never really been in the broom closet. I don\u2019t walk around brandishing it to everyone, but I don\u2019t hide it. Being pagan is an integrated part of me; you can\u2019t separate the witch from the woman, they\u2019re one. I\u2019ve never felt like hiding it, why should I? Of course I\u2019ve had mixed reactions, but most of it was positive or neutral. People don\u2019t have to like it, as long as they respect it. Nowadays people know more about modern witchcraft, thanks to the internet and media. They don\u2019t always give the best explanation about it, but at least it\u2019s known to more people. Years ago, before the internet started to become what it is today, I encountered much more prejudice. Not always meant in a malicious way, but often from simple ignorance. So how do you explain paganism and witchcraft to non-pagans who don\u2019t know anything about the lifestyle, the religion, the path? The misconceptions are a good starter point. I explain that witches don\u2019t even believe in the devil, and how the pagan god became the christian devil. Or I start with the broom or besom and explain what that is really used for. Then it\u2019s only a small step to what I do believe in. It depends on the person how I proceed. Are they really interested or just making conversation? The last one isn\u2019t interested in an extensive explanation, the first might be. What is their background? If I know something about their religion for example, I try to build bridges, find comparisons. If I don\u2019t know anything about them, I simply ask what they know or think about paganism. It\u2019s never my goal to convince anyone, I just try to explain. I don\u2019t proselytize, no need to convert anyone. If someone is interested and wants to learn, that\u2019s fine of course. If the initiative is on their side I\u2019m happy to help any way I can. As I said before I\u2019m open about my path. In real life and online. I\u2019ve written about it on my blog and on social media. Sometimes informative (to explain a sabbat, or tools I use, etc. ) but often just sharing what I do. I share pics and stories about pagan meetings, about rituals, festivals, books I\u2019ve read and the like. I show people the way I live and how paganism is part of that. That resulted in most people simply accepting it as it is. She is a witch, okay, move on. And that\u2019s okay. If you\u2019re not interested in that part of my life, no problem. If you have questions, please ask! Stupid questions don\u2019t exist and I\u2019m happy to explain what you want t know. Of course I\u2019ve encountered less positive reactions too. People that don\u2019t understand it, or better yet don\u2019t want to understand. People who judge and accuse without even knowing how it all works, based on falsehood and deception. People making fun of it, ridiculing. My reaction depends on who they are to me and how I feel at that particular moment. Some people aren\u2019t even worth it to me to give a reaction. When it\u2019s someone close to me, it hurts and I\u2019ll try to explain what it means to me. Making fun of it depends on the way it is done. I sometimes make jokes about it too! If people respect my path in general, it\u2019s okay to make a joke as they don\u2019t mean to hurt me. Joking around is fun! Sometimes it\u2019s done from sheer ignorance to save their face: \u201cyou\u2019re a witch? Are you going to change me in a frog?\u201d or something similar. I just smile and look the other way. I have a thick skin and if they need to ridicule me and my path it\u2019s all about them and not so much about me\u2026 Last year a dear friend asked my help in understanding the witches\u2019 ways for a very different cause. She was writing a book in which the protagonists are witches. She wanted to know about things in general and ask some practical questions. Of course I was happy to oblige! Her name is Claudia Hall Christian and she has written several successful books. I got to know Claudia when I started blogging, before the social media era. We read each other\u2019s blogs and I helped her before in promoting her books. This time I could do more to help her. I answered her questions and showed her the best sources about wicca, witchcraft and paganism in general. She also read stuff on my blog and my columns here in Pagan Pages. Of course I was not the only one she consulted. As always, her research was extensive and thorough.   The book is called \u2018Suffer A Witch\u2019 and will be launched on September 22nd. When you read this column, it will be available! Here\u2019s a short synopsis: \u201cThey call her \u201cEm.\u201d Em for Martha. Em for \u201cEmogene Peres\u201d the name she received in Boston less than a day after she\u2019d been hanged in Salem Village in September 1692. Em and most of those hanged as Salem Witches were transformed into immortal witches only a few hours after they were deemed Salem Witches. Three hundred and twenty-two years later, they live, work, and love in modern day Boston, Massachusetts where Em runs a spiritual store called the Mystic Divine, just off the Boston Commons. On the anniversary of the first hanging, June 10, 2014, Em learns that a young man and a team of ghost hunters have dedicated themselves to finding the crevice where the Salem Twenty\u2019s bodies were stuffed after hanging. The problem is that Em and the rest of the Salem Twenty are making full use of those skeletons. What starts with a young man with big ideas brings the Salem Witches face to face with their demons.\u201d Claudia will also write a guest post on my blog. I\u2019ll add the link at the end. She was kind enough to offer a copy of the book for a blog contest. So come on over and take your chance to win \u2018Suffer A Witch\u2019. We\u2019ll also give you links to order the paperback or e-book. When you\u2019ve read the book, Claudia and I would love to hear your feedback. Sources & further reading: \u2022 http:\/\/storiesbyclaudia.com\/ – stories by Claudia Hall Christian \u2022 http:\/\/tinkerbell-nl.blogspot.nl\/2015\/09\/suffer-witch-by-claudia-hall-christian.html – Claudia\u2019s guest post with contest on my blog<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":195,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11668"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11668\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}