So I’m going to make an observation on Pagans in general. It may not be nice, and it’s certainly not something that anyone wants to hear, but it’s definitely true. Pagans simply have trouble fitting into modern American society. There’s a reason that there are no famous Pagans (other than singers…and that’s a whole other can of worms). Most Pagans, in my experience, believe that our society won’t let them be who they want to be, and so they simply stop obeying the commonly accepted rules of society. I’m not talking about laws, I’m talking about social graces and simple functionality in society.
There are millions of people that lack social grace and there’s no problem with that. I really could care less whether someone walked around in a Darth Vader costume every day, but I’d bet a million dollars that he’d never become the CEO of a company. I just don’t understand it I guess. First of all, those of you that wear cloaks to McDonalds or cover yourself in black make-up, what exactly are you trying to accomplish? This isn’t the 12th century and you aren’t starring in a horror movie. What’s the point? I’m not trying to be mean because it doesn’t matter all that much to me if you look ridiculous, but I’d just like to understand. I live my life trying to accomplish certain things and if something makes it really difficult to accomplish those things, I usually try to get rid of it. What exactly does wearing a cloak gain you? I know that putting on all of that make-up probably gets expensive, gives you acne, and probably takes a long time to do. And you look silly as well.
I’m not James Bond, I’m absolutely not a prince, and I definitely still put my elbows on the table when I eat. I have a very scraggly beard and I act like a child quite often. I’m not saying that I’ve got perfect social standing, but I just don’t understand why someone would purposely make their lives harder for themselves by wearing different clothes that are probably extremely hot or wasting their time, money, and natural beauty to look like a vampire…even on non-Halloween days.
I must admit I am happy that some one has decided to put that out there. I know loads of people that agree and not to mention it is so very hard to take some one serious when they are dressing as a child.
Not all Wiccans are like that, being a Wiccan myself, I dress up formally when I do my spells and rituals, but other than that, I’m just a person who doesn’t even understand why my religion is cast into a negative light. Yes, we may get mixed with Satanism, but no way, are we even close to doing those kinds of rituals, spells, and incantations. I connect with Nature, which in turns, connects to me.
I’ll try not to say too much.
Yes, thanks for saying this, b/c it’s one of those things that we need to put on the table as a community. When someone meets me, I represent every pagan they will ever know, just as when someone meets that cloakwearing pagan who maybe just needs to join the SCA (a valid pasttime), that person will represent every pagan they will ever meet. We have to function in society. Why does this matter? Well, on one hand, it doesn’t. Go, wear thee cloak to thou party, and wear thee cloak with pompous pride, oh great and fearless. But on the other hand, we are a struggling, disconnected community and maybe we need a little direction, a little reality check.
Rachel, we know not all Wiccans are like that, and we know there are times when various get-ups, garments and sacre-ware are called for. It’s not just Wiccans. It’s all of us pagans, no matter what tradition or lack of tradition we follow. There is no real attack here, so relax. Catholic priests wear some crazy get-ups too when they are passing out the sacriment and no one is worrying that all Catholics will don the robes and collars of a Cardinal when they go out to see the latest Mel Gibson movie. There is a place for everything.
I used to teach a new age movement class that involved free dance and a lot of mind/body stuff that was challenging for the person that walked in for a great workout (yes, in the most conservative of athletic clubs). What I always told other teachers was that there is no point in asking someone who is at level one to jump up to level four. It’s just not part of the development. There is no point in asking my 14 month old to run when she is still getting her balance at walking. The society as a whole needs us to remember that they will not jump to understanding the value of High priestess status and why John Do needs to wear his cloak out in public until they first learn to not be afraid of us. Hence, let’s not be so keen on scaring the muggles with our cloaks and daggers, even if it is midnight on a Saturday night, with the full moon in the sky.
One more thing: shouldn’t that sacred attire be just that: sacred? I’m thinking the local burger joint doesn’t qualify as sacred. But maybe I’ve just been at the wrong burger joint.
The ones in the *real* cloaks are the ones you don’t notice.
Let me know if i’m off base here, but aren’t they just playing dress up? It’s an act, people who are serious first become entrenched in their belief system, i.e. an alcoholic or drug addict who decides to “find” Jesus becomes a bible thumper and runs all of their friends off…becomes intolerable and intolerant. But once they become comfortable with who they are usually relaxes. I believe that most of our global power brokers are pagans, just pretending to be Chrisians…Catholics and the like. Why? Becuase they have to fit in, they have a reputation, they must do what they must. Don’t get me wrong i’m not suggessting that anyone who’s not a roman should dress as a roman to fit in…i’m suggesting something more melevolent. look up bohemian grove on google video or youtube…you’ll see CEO’s…who’ll say “Praise the lord”, then don their robes and participate in a mock sacrifice..oops did i just say that. Just look it up. It’s discraceful to me…honestly. I have my belief, i do my best to live by it…wisdom is wisdom no matter what color it is. Therefore, I listen to those who show me wisdom. If you like to walk around in paint and black robes, at least be honestt about yourself, you’re probably having a bit of fun or you are a teenager rebelling.
Roderick,
I’d definitely agree that for the most part, these people that wear the “dress up” clothes are the people who really want to entrench themselves in their beliefs. I’d also agree that they normally do one of two things: better integrate it into their every day life (normally after something happens to where they have to) or decide that the every day life is more important and the belief system fades to the background. I’m not sure about the whole global power brokers being pagan because I’m pretty much out of the loop on that one. I’ll check out the website though.
Roderick you said:
Don’t get me wrong i’m not suggessting that anyone who’s not a roman should dress as a roman to fit in…i’m suggesting something more melevolent. look up bohemian grove on google video or youtube…you’ll see CEO’s…who’ll say “Praise the lord”, then don their robes and participate in a mock sacrifice..
Just so we’re clear here, we are talking about the generally benign, earth-based religion groups when we say “Pagan”. We are NOT talking about what many Christians perceive pagans to be (satan’s spawn, evil doers, sacrificing small animals and children). Those that refer to themselves as pagan are typically simply following a nature-based, harm none, polytheistic belief system.