Survey for Witches/Pagans (Urgent help needed with this)

[Kaylara]

Hi everybody! My friend is doing a survey of the pagan community for his college class, and would like to get a bunch of different views on this. I need to print it out by 5:00pm (tonight)

Please help!


Here are the questions:

1. What would you say are the principles of Witchcraft?

2. How do you feel about the attention Harry Potter has brought to it?

3. What would you say to people condemning the movie because of its Witchcraft theme? How would you convince people that there is no harm in the movie? (Keep it clean)

4. What are the names and functions of people who actively practice Witchcraft?

5. Any final comments or statements to people about your feelings on the topic? Try to let this reflect your overall beliefs.

Thanks!!!!!

Kaylara

[MammaStar]

1. The main principle is the Rede 'An it harm none, do what thou will.

2. My opinion of Harry Potter is that it is a great book. A lot of fun for kids and adults alike. I also like the fact that these books gave kids an incentive to read, espeically to those who didn't like to read before, like my 9 yr old son. I think it perpetuates the sterotypes that people have of Witches. However, I'm not going to get all upset over it, because Harry Potter is a work of FICTION.

3. I don't really answer those that condem HP for the witchcraft aspect. I don't because, I know their opinions are based of fear and lack of knowledge. It was how they were raised and with some people they won't ever change, no matter what they are told. I would try to point out to others that seem to be undecided that the books are fiction, that Witchcraft is a nature based religon as old as nearly time. The books are a great way for children to escape in their minds just for a little while.

4. Witches are practioners of Magick. Some are solitary practioners, which means they practice on their own. Others are in groups called covens, which usually have a high preistess and/or high priest "leading" them. Pagans are followers of a nature based religon. There are as many different types of Pagans as there are people on the planet.

5. I love being a witch. When I finally stumbled onto my path, I felt like I came home. I'm happy. I walk around in my every day life like I carry a secret that others around me don't know. When I see the sunset, or an oak leaf on the sidewalk, to the rain. I feel as one. It hurts me that some people don't understand the true nature of Witchcraft/Paganism, but it hurts more that these same people won't take the time to learn our ways and just hate Pagans/Witches because of their askewed beliefs. Thankfully, these people are in the minority and there are plenty of people who are open minded to other beliefs other than their own.





****These answers are my opinion and mine alone. I answered these questions by the request for Kaylara. I do not wish to debate them in this thread. If you feel you must point out something to me or share your opinion with me, please PM or email me out of respect for the topic of this thread. Thanks!!****

[Xander67]

here are my answers...

1. LOVE

2. Wonderful!

3.I would just smile, and take hope that our constitutional rights with repsect to religion...will not proove to be "Conditional" as many people blindly believe it to be.... (I am gonna leave it to the lawyers to battle it out and let the law speak for it self!)

4. All of us, we are born with it, Magick follows the laws of nature, and when it appears not to follow them, it is obeying laws which we may not understand or are aware of yet...
(Amber K said that in her book )

5. Look within your heart, dont rely only on what you see and hear...stay away from books and groups promiseing you "wealth power and fame" Magick does work, when we understand the laws which goven it...

Read Amber K's book "True Magick" its a little green paperback written by a widely noted authority, (Amber K) it tells it like it is, without the polotics that tend to infiltrate our faiths todAY...

And finaly, KNOW THYSELF, people fear magick when they hear of how it will change your life, Magick does work, however, it is YOU that does most of the work, and we need not fear change, for we dont really change, we simply evolve into something greater...there is not one sincle cell, atom, or molecule in your body that will not be here 3 months from now, nor was it here 3 months ago...on a physical level, we constantly change and our cells and molecules are replaced by new ones...

[mato]

1. Freedom, Love, Responsibility, Knowledge, and Trueth.

2. I could have done without it really, but to the public, everyone knows that we arent just paranoid. It will prove to be benificial if only to serve to enlighten generally dark thoughts.

3. I say, "hay prince of egypt is on dvd!" It is not my job to convince people that what they believe is wrong, so long as they arent hurting any one I see no point in trying to convince them to see a movie they consider to be evil.

4. I really dont know, I dont go for the title thing cause I dont need it and any one who needs any sort of massive title to their name isnt exactly the type of person I want to hang out with. Generally I refer to other witches simply as witches or wiccans, without such titles as elder or high priest, but some will do that.

5. My path is my own and I refuse to follow any one, and I refuse to be followed. That seems to threaten those who are used to being followed or following, I dont know why, I leave them alone they should leave me alone, but when subjects like harry potter come up both leaders and followers (on either side of the issue) seem to disapprove of the person walking his own way.

[Myst]

1. Witchcraft is a magickal system that can be practiced in conjunction with various religions practices or alone - there are no principles inherent in the practice of Witchcraft.

2. Harry Potter is supposed to be fun reading, and as usual it's entertainment.

3. It's a movie. Entertainment. MAKE BELIEVE. Should we stop producing any movie not based on fact? All faerytales? I think not.

4. Witches are practitioners of magick. They may practice alone or in groups. Any other title then Witch (ie. Priestess, Wiccan, etc.) is relevant only to the pertinent belief system practiced with Witchcraft or coven.

5. I don't believe in harm none. I don't hex people who tick me off. All I do is try to connect to divinity, better myself spiritually and mentally, meditate, heal, and divine.

[Lavender]

The following are my own personal opinions & beliefs.

1. Respect yourself, respect others, and respect the Earth.

2. I think the attention will die down in time. Some of it has been positive & some negative. I think books like HP will help kids to see there is more to life than just what's on the surface. Perhaps it will influence them to see outside the box once in a while. As to if it will convert innocent kids to witchcraft? I don't know. The book & movie will make it a bit more acceptable.


3. I feel sad that people see HP as evil. They're missing out on a wonderful children's story. HP is an entertaining children's story & movie. It's fantasy...that's it...no hidden agendas or motives. That's my opinion but I don't think I would even try to convince people otherwise. Mainly, because they're entitled to what they believe...whether I agree or not. I don't think whatever I have to say about the matter will change anyone's mind.

4. I don't really know. I'm a solitary green witch. I don't use a lot of trappings & titles other paths may use.

5. My path is mainly a green one, mostly herbal craft. I have studied herbal healing lore from many different traditions & cultures. It's mostly a conglomerate of different things. Magick is an integral part of what I am & what I do. I believe that no one path is exactly the same as another. We may meet & journey together for a while, but each path goes it's own way.

[Kaylara]

Thank you to everyone who submitted an answer!

Kaylara

[Lavender]

No problem! Thanks for making me think! I think this is a great topic of discussion. Even though the survey's done, it would be interesting to see what others think.

[Xander67]

Kaylara,
I want to thank you as well for that most Profoundly Self awareness survey....I had one of the most incredidle meditations of my life, (this brings me to remind everyone, when you are meditatiing, tkae it easy, there is plenty of light to go around, dont get greedy and overdose or you will be stricken with the headache of your life LOL)

Mato, "the road to eldorado is on dvd too" I got the same thing from it as you did from price of egypt...;) .......um:( UHT OH! I think I feeel another headache comming on, I better go get me a delicious FRUIT SALAD :T

[mato]

Originally posted by Xander67
Mato, "the road to eldorado is on dvd too" I got the same thing from it as you did from price of egypt...;) .......um:( UHT OH! I think I feeel another headache comming on, I better go get me a delicious FRUIT SALAD :T

I've never seen either i was just saying that I would give other options to those who thought the HP movie was evil...