New Witch Magazine Banned

[Flar's Freyja]

Received this in an e-mail. The letter is from the publishers of SageWoman and Pan Gaia. New Witch is their new magazine geared toward new pagans and younger witches.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE FREELY
November 5, 2002

CONTACT:
Anne Newkirk Niven, Editor-in-Chief
newWitch Magazine
877.726.4242

NEWWITCH MAGAZINE TEMPORARILY BANNED IN LARGE CHAIN
STORE

Issue #1 of newWitch magazine was briefly banned in
October by the buyer for one of the larger chain
stores. The reason given, and we quote, was “customer
complaints”. Reportedly this was on account of
objections — no kidding — to the “W” word. One
distributor even reported that a member of his staff
objected to carrying nW on account of “all witches
should be burned.” Gosh, and we always thought witches
tasted better medium-rare. (There’s no accounting for
taste.)

All joking aside, if your local store doesn’t carry us
yet, the best way to get them to carry us is to ask
for newWitch by name. Because of that, we're asking
you, our readers, to go to your local chain
bookstore and ask for newWitch magazine. We would
especially appreciate requests to Barnes & Noble,
Borders, Wild Oats and Whole Foods. While
this ban has been lifted, we are currently facing
reduced orders in larger chain stores.

We also encourage you to support your local small
Pagan bookstore should you have one, and ask for us
there as well. Most of all, though, we ask you to
speak up; your voice counts, and you might
change a mind or stop a prejudice.

[Leviyah]

OMG! How rediculous! So basically they'll stock a magazine about witchcraft as long as it doesn't say it's about witchcraft?

[Witchy Cowgirl]

I don't know what to say.

[Leviyah]

There was a quote I read recently that I think applies here - "If only closed minds came with closed mouths" :(

[MammaStar]

OMG!!!! How close minded!!!!!

I am a subscriber to NewWitch. I LOVED the first issue. I've read it like 3 times already. I'm itching for my next issue. I can't believe some chain got cranky about it. I bet the same chain carrys SageWoman.

stupid...stupid...stupid.

That's all I have to say about that.

[st0rm]

*sigh*

[shnen]

Can we get it in Canada???

I WANT A MAGAZINE!!!!:wah:

oh, and about the witch thing... another stupid comment from some closeminded person with WAY too much timeon their hands....:rolleyes:

[Wyrdsister]

Hey shnen,

I'm sure we'll be able to get it here. I can get SageWoman and PanGaea here, and I like them both. Also, have you ever read Wiccan Candles? They're based in Ontario. :) Here's their site (http://www.wiccancandles.com/)

BB!
Wyrdsister

[shnen]

Thanks Wyrdsister!

*runs to look at site*

[Flar's Freyja]

Thanks for that site, Wydrsister! I'll be making requests at Wild Oats (a very nice health food market here), Barnes and Noble and Borders. I can't afford subscriptions right now and am lucky to be able to pick up single copies, which are usually around $5 each....but so is Yoga Journal.

I was told a while back that the local owners of hte Borders bookstores here were no longer carrying any pagan books but found out that this was a hoax. They'd only moved the section and I was pleased to see it more organized than ever :)

[Pan]

I don't have any of those stores close to me.. but I will go to the local pagan store here downtown and ask him to carry it so I can grab some issues. I'll also ask about PanGaea and SageWoman.

There's a British mag that I really love.. but can't think of the name for it. Hmm... Pagan Dawn! Yeah! I had some sent from England and I love that mag!!! Too bad we don't get it in the US.. do we?

[Storm]

jUST(DRUNK)wondering if any of those mags are pagan but not wiccan. Nothing against wiccan but I am not so therefore want witchy magickal related information, interesting reads. So on and so forth.

[Flar's Freyja]

I got my hands on a copy last night. Barnes and Noble had one left, and I had to dig for it.........it was buried behind the less blatant New Age magazines in the rack and the only copy left.

I'm disappointed. I've been having issues lately with lots of stuff that's out there that deals with spells and potions and so-called magick but neglects the spiritual aspects. The only way I see the magazine address this is through their book reviews, which are very good.

It's more stylish and contemporary than SageWoman and I think that they do need to have a publication out there that's not quite so deep, but it seems a bit fluffy to me. I considered that maybe it's because I'm in my forties but one or two of the writers are in their thirties, and the mag is supposed to not just be directed at young witches but also new pagans. To me, they're not quite getting both audiences. I wouldn't buy another copy at this point.

Maybe I should submit an article myself..........

[Old Witch]

Go for it!!:D

[Flaire-FireStar]

That's a good idea, Freyja..


I'd have to request the book store get one for me, because, most likely, they wouldn't have it in stock as we speak. :rolleyes: (The joys of living in the middle of no where)

[Flar's Freyja]

I looked through it some more and it does have its good points. There's an article on gays and witches coming out of the closet and another one on Islam. The magickal articles were the ones that I wasn't really thrilled with. Again, it might appeal more to a younger person that it does me and I'm glad they're making the effort.

But I do have an idea for an article ;)

[WynterWynd]

What a bunch of a@@'s for not carrying a magazine because some goober didn't like the title!!!

I dont have any of those stores near me, but my Waldenbooks pagan section is getting smaller by the week!! And my ONLY witch shope here has turned into a fluffy 'feel good' store instead of the way it was *grumblegrumblegrumble*:mad:

[FlamedLilly]

all those people who have complained, what would they say if we started complaining about their magazines?

[WynterWynd]

I think when I go to the mall this week-end and go to Walldenbooks, I will complaim about the fact that while I am looking at books that interest me, I have to put up with the hemming and hawing of the people who are looking a x-tian books!!! Because they are on the set of shelves in the same isle(just turn around) as the pagan books!!:mad: :rolleyes:

[Flar's Freyja]

Originally posted by VroomBroom
I think when I go to the mall this week-end and go to Walldenbooks, I will complaim about the fact that while I am looking at books that interest me, I have to put up with the hemming and hawing of the people who are looking a x-tian books!!! Because they are on the set of shelves in the same isle(just turn around) as the pagan books!!:mad: :rolleyes:

Our Barnes and Noble stores here have the same setup - there are actually Christian and Pagan books facing each other in one aisle. I think it's hilarious, especially when one of the Christian customers slips one or two of their books into our section. We once considered doing the same but agreed that as good pagans, we would not make more work for the store EMPLOYEES like that! I tend to sit on the floor and go through books. If I'm stared at, I just smile back. Often, I've gone after work and have been professionally dressed, so I think it's positive that they see someone who looks pretty darn "normal" frequenting the Magickal Studies section.

Interestingly, I don't think that our Waldenbooks is set up like that. One of them is such a small store that it wouldn't matter anyway, we'd still be bumping into each other.

[WynterWynd]

Thats the only 'chain' book store we have here. I miss Barney and Snowballs!! Although I have had to put books back where they belong on OUR shelves because my hubby is a smart-a@@!!!:D

[Flar's Freyja]

:T The more I look at the magazine, the more I'm liking it, and I think I noticed what might have caused it to be banned. The title reads NewWitch with the Witch part so much larger than the New, that Witch is the first thing you notice. Also, the cover highlights the coming out article. Although it's not stated blatantly, anyone with a brain can figure out they're referring to gays. I think it may have been a combination of both.

There's a short story that I really enjoyed and another article encouraging pagans to get involved in efforts against drunk driving.

[MammaStar]

I'd KNEW it'd grow on you Freyja. I'm eagerly expecting my next issue.

I emailed the editor about writing music reviews. But he never got back to me. Oh well. :cool:

[Flar's Freyja]

Originally posted by LdyStarlite
I'd KNEW it'd grow on you Freyja. I'm eagerly expecting my next issue.

I emailed the editor about writing music reviews. But he never got back to me. Oh well. :cool:

I e-mailed Dag a long time ago, when they were soliciting articles for the magazine and he was very responsive. I was going to write an article and chickened out. Give him another nudge, I'm sure he'll get back to you. Sounds like they're busy and he may have just forgotten.

[Morrighana]

Here (in Canada), I've seen NW at Chapters and Indigo, in with the other pagan mags. If they have it, chances are Coles and Smithbooks have it too.

I'm going to have to pick up a copy tomorrow.