"Teen Witchcraft", what's your view?

[Gwendolyn]

I was just wondering what people's opinions were on the whole "Teen Witch" fad/idea. For instance, a magazine might have a feature such as "Interview with a witch!" or something along those lines. The interview will consist of some sort of commercialized view of Wicca/Pagan faith. It might ask, "Do the spells really work?" as if that was the only thing that mattered. The interviewee might go on to reply that they do work. After the interview, the magazine might have an article on how to perform a protection spell, or a love spell. Firstly, you can't <i>make</i> someone love you, and the spell will only be a part of what the ritual would, in actuality, be. I think that it gives a totally wrong impression of pagans, and it makes people think that they can say some words, perform a small action, and be protected for the rest of their lives! The article doesn't say a thing about your state of mind, how you have to be clear on your intentions, harming none, etc! As you can probably tell, I'm not in favor of these types of articles, unless they happen to be really good, truthfully representing the faith. But that's enough of me. What do you guys think?

[Imbrium]

Heh, heh, of course its silly! But look at the audience.:headphone

Teens, as a whole, manage to butcher both common sense and reasonable dignity. I watch them hanging out in the malls, showing off high priced underwear all the while desperately trying to keep their baggy pants from falling off. (I actually saw one guy trying to look the gangsta', slip on his own pant leg and fall on his a#! There went the soda! ) The ones around my neighborhood find the middle of the road more sensible a meeting place than the sidewalk, and then have the nerve to look shocked when you have to slam on your brakes so as not to hit them. Then they laugh................Teens have some of the highest rates for accidents while driving and accidents while having sex.

Witchcraft is not an unintelligent discipline, but when you mix teens and witchcraft you get what? Sabrina the teen age witch. Wheeee.......So of course that's what the teen magazine articles are going to be like. If they went off on a tangent and started into symbolic mythology or spells vs. prayer, and the meaning of faith, they'd lose their audience.

While not all teens are immature, many are. They're just people that got ran over by their own hormones. It's horribly annoying...but with any luck, it'll fix itself out with maturity, and so will the whole teen witch fad.

Disclaimer: this of course excludes all teens who by nature enjoy a more serious pagan or wiccan religious study, or those who actually possess common sense. I know it's out there.....at least I hope so.

[morrigen]

Imbrium said it rather well.

A small proportion of teen-witches will continue to practise their path...most will fall by the wayside as something trendier appears on the horizon...it's the nature of the beastie...

[Romani Vixen]

I don't particularly care for brats in general... teens just tend to have more attitude.... around here... I just get so frustrated on the bus...

Of course... I am reminded of some of MW's younger members, and my hope for humanity is rejuvinated!!!! :D

[ShinningStar_13]

...this of course excludes all teens who by nature enjoy a more serious pagan or wiccan religious study, or those who actually possess common sense. I know it's out there.....at least I hope so.

It is, it's just rare. I at least try my hardest not to be one of those typically hormone guided teens and I am very interested in the mythologies, sciences, beleifs, morals, etc. etc. of different religions and humanity in general. In fact, more and more that is becoming a lot more important than spells are, but I think a lot of teens do go through that - duh. That's obviously what draws teens to the path - even me, for a large part - but I think that those who are...oh. how would say this? Maybe the teens who are in search of something else in their lives, they may be drawn to wicca or paganism because of the spells and siciver something greater. I hope that made sense, cause that's a great deal of what happened to me.

But yes, it is very true that most teens are raging hormones packaged in bodies a little too small to contain it all, and a large portion of those teens give the rare, really good ones a bad name, and magazines like those only make it worse. I've read those before and they are total bull. If the person they are interviewing is a true wicca/pagan, and they are spiritual in their life styles and the religion runs deep in their hearts and minds, the magazine doesn't even bother to add any of that in. It's one of the reasons these religions are so easily dismissed - because of these idiots who don't bother to uncover the whole story. If you're going to dabble in a little, lesser part of something like spells in a religion, you've got to go all the way.

Anyway, I'd better stop my ramble. And I am very sorry - haven't been on in a while. I've missed it. :hugz:

So, basically I agree with most everything said here.

[Philbo]

I think a true, genuine teenage witch would not be fooled by such nonsinsical magazines trying to promote Sabrina and other such trendy witch-like fads. There's a huge difference between wishing you could be a cool witch and actually being one. If a magazine knows how to use witch-like ideas to make lots of money off naive teenagers, that's regrettably their own business. Unfortunately, there are probably lots of young witches (and pagans in general) who don't know where else to turn to for guidance or help or anything. Good thing there's this forum...

[mucgwyrt]

accidents while having sex.


Eh? More, more!

[Tullip Troll]

I think if they are serious they will seek out and read what anyone of us would read. Plus I think wading through the crap gives them time to figure out what they think.

I do think it would be nice if they could have mentors. I am not a christian but one thing I think I miss about the church is that they have a comunity that is there and availbale. They meet share and mentor the new and young. An on-line mentor leaves a lot to be desired. I do wish we had better press...like the Mormon comercials only the pagan comunity could sponsor them.

We need better examples of what we believe and practise for the teens to see.

MheraPai

[mucgwyrt]

It's difficult, with so many paths, to find the right mentor I think.
I mean, I'm on an anglo-saxon/trad witchcraft path, so I would be wholly unsuited to mentoring someone who was into greco-wicca :whatgives

[Tullip Troll]

We do all walk different paths but many of us have common values...and many of us have learned how to find our footing on our paths. Helping them find their way or how to read the signs, might be more helpful, or just to be an example by showing how we try to live our faith.

Even in churches all under the same name each house has their own traditions but they meet on the common things and support one another.

MheraPai

[mucgwyrt]

Maybe you could start a thread in New Pagans, for everyone to offer their best piece of advice to new-pagans?

[elfmage]

Another teen here. I agree with all of what "ShinningStar_13" said!! (Enjoy the karma! :D)

Can I just say, teens annoy me too! I know that sounds arrogant and elitist of me, or like I am trying to "suck up to the adults," but a great deal of them are arrogant, smarmy little s*ds!! And even if it isn't a great deal of them, it is enough to give the rest of us a bad name.

The same goes for "teen witches," I think. You get a few "Charmed" wannabees who then give GENUINE seekers (and us people who know the difference between Wicca and Witchcraft, and WHAT WICCA ACTUALLY IS!!!!! *sorry, rant there!*), a really bad name, especially amongst the Pagan community. It also results in us not being taken seriously by older practitioners, because they have had to deal with the obnoxious little try-hards.

Those who are not genuine also make it hard for those who are genuine to be open about it. If someone in your year at school goes around saying they are a "Wiccan" and then progress to tell people they do "black magic and sacrifices" (don't laugh, I heard this exact conversation, and wow was I scared! LOL), it is not really much of an incentive to be open about your religion, assuming you are sure of it.

There we go, there is my rant also!

[Tullip Troll]

For some "Charmed" is the only example out there. Where else are they going to find an example. Many of them feel an honest deep pull but have nothing to go on. Misguided is easy when there's no guide.

MheraPai

[HorseCrow]

I can only speak from the experience I have had with teen witches/Pagans- so I do not know if it is a general thing or just the ones I have met, but I tend to feel a little unsure as to the motives of teen witches/Pagans. The ones I have met, seem to have chosen to call themselves witches/Pagans, simply to be more interresting to friends or rebel against their Christian parents.
I have only ever met a couple of teenage witches/Pagans that were sincere- and they had all been brought up by Pagan parents. So I see a clear difference in teenagers picking witchcraft/Paganism for themselves, and those that are born into a Witch/Pagan family.

So, I'm sad to say, my impression of teen witches has not been the best.

[Tullip Troll]

I think most are just trying to be different...trying to get attention etc...but Ihave met quite a few who are real. We all started on our path at different places.

I know as a teen I would have loved a mentor.

MheraPai

[Gwendolyn]

I too, am a teen. As you probably gathered from the thread, I dislike the idea of a "teen witch", as it's too much of a label. And as people have posted, the true teen wiccans/pagans are pushed into that category along with the teens who just want the title, giving the wiccans/pagans a bad name. We don't deserve that!

In my grade, there are two people (besides me) who "are" wiccans. One of them, I think, is relatively genuine. That is, she was a wiccan before she came to my school, and she's not too open about it. However, the other person, pretty much a social outcast, plays it up A LOT. But, she also claims that she's an Atheist. So one day I asked her how she was a wiccan if she was an atheist. She replied that she wasn't a wiccan. Wow, ok. So she is a great example of the teens who just want it for the title. She just draws pentacles, protection symbols, etc. on her books and arms (don't ask) for no reason at all but for the title? She says that her goal for the year is to make one wiccan spell work? I find people like that disgusting.

[~Broken Lily~]

To be honest I'm not really bothered about the whole teen witchcraft thing. You have to remember that many of these kids are trying to find themselves. It's tough being a teenager and trying to decide where they belong in the world. Many of them will say they are a witch, just to feel different and special. Does it really matter if they do. After a while many of them will grow out of it, while others will concentrate on their path.

[kazzeh]

ahh. i'm a teen too. umm. i feel that those who really do want to practice the wiccan religion don't deserve the image of being someone who.. practices black magic and the likes. i've seen so many shows that are against witchcraft, even novels... i'm pretty hurt by the way they portray witchcraft and the wiccan religion, and it's giving all the pagans/wiccans/witches out there a bad name. i think that's partially why some people are against the wiccans. sometimes i wish people out there would be more understanding, and not just see one side of the story. there's more to wicca than they actually believe it to be.
yeah, i know that some people say that they are wiccan, just to get attention, and seem more... "cool"? i don't know. but i agree that they're spoiling the image too, because they don't actually care about truly being a wiccan, they just want the title. i believe if you're a true wiccan, you won't just go around shouting it to the whole world. but you would be proud to defend it, if anyone were to go against it, and you wouldn't just make up stuff that you think wiccans do so that you can tell people that you're one. nopes. well, i'm proud to be a wiccan. i wouldn't give it up for anything. (kayys. maybe i don't really deserve to be called a true wiccan yet, seeing that i lack good experience...) well... that's about all i have to say, for now.

[Tullip Troll]

[(kayys. maybe i don't really deserve to be called a true wiccan yet, seeing that i lack good experience...) well... that's about all i have to say, for now.[/QUOTE]

I am not wiccan I am pagan but I am sure you do not have to prove yourself, or have time in to be wiccan, it's a label for a belief system.

Teens in their quest to be different can actually find out what they are. I am not happy about mislabels though. I have met too many people who are satans son or daughter and coming into their power soon. ICK !

MheraPai

[Phi]

I wondered about this and whether it will eventually lead those same young people to discredit mysticism in all forms in later years...You know, a rolling of the eyes, the "I did that when I was too young to know any better, and you're a fool if you still believe in any of it" attitude often found in adults. :rolleyes:
It rather discredits the faiths by making them look silly now, and will further discredit them later.
But mysticism is ever discredited by the masses, it seems. Perhaps that is the way of it, it winnows out those who haven't the stamina to delve ever deeper, and who end up rather wondering before they die why their lives seem so very bland and purposeless.

[I have met too many people who are satans son or daughter and coming into their power soon. ICK !] For most of them there is only a false promise of coming into greater power, a lie of the first order and a deception that will leave them bleak, powerless and miserable. I shouldn't worry too much about the majority who think they will come into great power through this path, for it is a path of difficulties and many deceptions.

[DixieWitch]

I started down this path when I was 17. Ten yrs later, I'm still here. But I've always had a knack for taking things like this seriously. But those wanna-be teen witches do bother me. I do have respect for those seriously interested, as the ones I've seen here. And if I had the help they can have when I was their age, I'd know more than I do today. It didn't take me long to figure out the wanna-be---the first questions they ask are about spells. Come to me, asking about contacting a God/dess, casting a circle or how to set up an altar, ANYTHING but how/when/where a spell works, and I will take you seriously. Nothing made me laugh more when I saw a teen at the mall wearing a pentacle she obviously got from Spencer Gifts. I said "Merry Meet" and she looked at me like I was a freak! I should have known something was up when she was wearing all black!

From the way this post reads, you'd think I'd have something against teen witches/Wiccans/Pagans. I don't. Like I said, I was 17 when I started. I only have something against the ones who are doing it because it's cool, to offend (esp. parents) or to just do a spell. If you respect the Path, I will respect you. I definitly think there should be a teen forum here. Something where the experienced can lend an ear and help those in need. There is the New Pagan forum, but I think a Teen forum would be great!!!

[Philbo]

[QUOTE=Phi] the "I did that when I was too young to know any better, and you're a fool if you still believe in any of it" attitude often found in adults.

QUOTE]


Funny, that was my reaction to Christianity...

[Black RiverWolf]

the only one s that get to me are the ones who "practice" to get attention or ti say that thisis whati can do or piss me off and im going to turn you into a toad.those who truly are here to seek and to follow the path i have the utmost respect for them because i was like them. i started when i was 12 or 13 and im 22 now and im still here. i just think that teens are being fed garbage with shows like charmed and sabrina they just need to want to look past that into whats really there and whats whats fake. but those who take the time to learn and grow on the path. they just make the others look like fools even in general conversation

[sincerebliss]

I think it is just a fascination...It only gives people a reason to be more close minded. If a person is truely interested..then they'll find the facts. All I can say is..ugghhhhh! lol

[LadyTrinity]

I think it is great that teens want to practice wicca but I cannot stand it when they want to practice because of spells. That is such bs to me. Its a religion not a fad! :bad:

[Gwendolyn]

Nothing made me laugh more when I saw a teen at the mall wearing a pentacle she obviously got from Spencer Gifts. I said "Merry Meet" and she looked at me like I was a freak! I should have known something was up when she was wearing all black!

I suppose that there's always something to rant and rave about, and always someone to complain about for labels and misunderstandings. However, I figure that this is probably the best place to talk about it. In school we took a trip, and one night we went to an artist's studio. We made cement tiles. You got to design the pattern. So I chose a pentacle, figuring that it would come in handy during ritual (as I didn't have one). I assumed that it was a rather inconspicuous symbol, and some people already knew of my religion. When I went to the artist to get my design approved (couldn't be too detailed), he decided to make a comment. He said, "So, a pentacle...? Are you like, a goth or something?" I was furious. I wasn't wearing black at all, my skin was not bleached, and I did not, in any way, resemble a goth that day. Yet he still managed to draw that conclusion. I replied that I was not , in fact, a goth. I quickly walked away, completely forgetting the reason that I had gone there in the first place. How could he be so rude?! Did he have any idea how inconsiderate that was? Well, I suppose that he must have had no idea, but I was rather pissed off. So many people misrepresent Paganism, it's absurd. Yes, you could say that for just about anything in the world, but I feel that Pagans are often more so. Sigh.

[Tsuchimaru]

*Sigh* I dislike teenagers. They're annoying. Lol, this must odd, coming from me.....

[Shugo]

Well, I'd just like to assure you all that not all teen wiccans are "Charmed Ones" Wannabes. I admit, I've read some Silver Ravenwolf, found limited good information in her BOS, sold the one other book of hers I had, I've only seen a handful of episodes of Charmed, which is all I want to see. I'll tell you one thing, Anyone who can't distinquish between fantasy and reality in my mind shouldn't be allowed to call themselves anything but a bunny.

[kazzeh]

In school we took a trip, and one night we went to an artist's studio. We made cement tiles. You got to design the pattern. So I chose a pentacle, figuring that it would come in handy during ritual (as I didn't have one).
Come to think of it,my Design module in school is coming up... and i WAS about to design a pentacle (i don't have one either, since i'm pretty new to all this, and... i don't want my parents to know anything yet...). i suppose i would still stick to that idea, but if my teacher is gonna be like that artist, i reckon i'll do the same thing as you - walk away. aand... i suppose i'll figure out some other way to get one. as they say, when there's a will, there's a way... :whatmewor

[mucgwyrt]

:whatgives some people just dont realise that a pentacle relates to wicca rather than "gothism". I wouldn't take it personally.

[Tullip Troll]

Sabrina the show is pretty tame and I don't really think is the problem.
Charmed, well I am on the fence with this one because I think it did good and bad.

I think that there have been a few movies that have had a far greater effect on teens and people in general. Like I tried to bring up in another chat, It would be nice if we put ourselves out there more. Do something for the community as a pagan group. If we hide in the shadows what do you expect.

Looking at the teens in the mall it's mostly a Goth thing going on, and thats ok.

Yes teens do wear symbols they do not understand. I also think that the universe works that way. They may not understand it but it attracts them and hopefully the attraction will lead to understanding. Hopefully then they will find good info and good people to help them.

At 13 years and curious feeling your first calling, what do you do. There are 400 books on the shelf, which one do you pick. Which one of your friends actually knows what she's talking about. How do you aproach someone and not feel like an idiot or worse ...A wannaBee.

I would encourage more teen workshops and seminars and gatherings. If churches can do so can we. We do not have to be sneaky, we are well within our rights. Somebody make a billborad or two with a good message on it. Make a newsletter something.

JUst like my quote says !

MheraPai

[Phi]

[QUOTE=Phi] the "I did that when I was too young to know any better, and you're a fool if you still believe in any of it" attitude often found in adults.

QUOTE]


Funny, that was my reaction to Christianity...

Then you see what I mean! Later these young people may reject completely what they do now, "throwing out baby with bathwater," so to speak...
[off topic, but no rant!]
My own reaction was rather than to "dump" Christianity, to delve ever deeper into the mysteries behind it, which included Judaism, the Kaballa ect, and which lead me to look at all the religions that came before it and after it too, which I am still doing. (Also at the Christianities that were discarded in ancient Rome, and the religions of the Far East, too.) I delved into all that is known about ancient Sumaria, from whence many ideas in Judaism and many other religions seem to originate. Also ancient Egypt. I look into the ancient ideas of primitive people where they are still extant, and whatever remaining history exists regarding their beliefs too. There is wisdom in most religions, if one can see it thru the attempts to grab power thru it.
In the end it lead me to become what I call a "seeker" meaning that I expect not to find all the answers in this lifetime, but to spend this lifetime seeking them. I believe that there is great value in the mystical aspects of most all of the old religions. The new ones always borrow some things from the older ones.
Being female, I needed to find the female in them to relate fully, but without rejecting the male aspects altogether.
There is an idea that one must choose to follow this or that, rejecting all else, and swallow all that the "priests or priestesses" (although they may be called by other labels) have to say, and follow certain proscribed rituals and "join" this or that group. I feel this is a choice, and a valid choice for many, but not a must. I'm not much of a joiner, rather a "student." I don't seek a religion, I seek the truth in religions and try to discern what is spiritual from what is human-made opinion. It is not easy, but it is certainly interesting, and keeps my mind open and my heart warm to many different kinds of people and their ways of seeing what is good and why.
I believe that G-d/G-dess reaches out to all peoples, and not just this or that chosen group. Although certain groups choose to delliberately misrepresent what is given in order to gain power or in order to find excuse for cruelties, it does not mean that the truths they were given are false just that they have been misused.

[kazzeh]

well said, MheraPai! yeah i guess you're kinda right... it's so difficult to choose, with so many things out there. and when you finally choose something... not everything's like a book, with a clear start and end. it makes it all so much harder to try and find where to begin with, where to start learning. i don't know much about wiccan yet, and i'm trying to learn by browsing through the forums here. i don't trust the search engines - after all, they can give you anything under the sun, and it mayn't be even half-true. so i guess it's best to hear from those who really do know and understand it. i love it here, everyone's so friendly and helpful! and i like the idea of gatherings. although... i don't think i can make it, i'll probably have to take a plane or sth... (bahhhh. drat.) but it feels nice to hear everyone's views here on the forum... it's nearly just as good as seeing you all. (although... seeing each other is the best. but, nevermind.) well... i hope that you won't think all teenagers are just wannabes, or just a bunch of idiots that just don't understand the world... i'm just speaking from my point of view, okays? just wanted to say, there are some of us who still DO care to understand.
~kaZZeh

[Phi]

At 13 years and curious feeling your first calling, what do you do. There are 400 books on the shelf, which one do you pick. Which one of your friends actually knows what she's talking about. How do you aproach someone and not feel like an idiot or worse ...A wannaBee. MheraPai

How can anyone ever "bee" anything without having been a wannaBee first?
And before you can wannaBee anything you have to know about that thing, don't you?
I just say I'm a wannaBee, but I only wannaBee informed! :caffeine:

[Tullip Troll]

Keep exploring Kezzah, most of us long timers still do.

MheraPai

[Tullip Troll]

Phi
I agree but wannabee is taken as insult.

MheraPai

[turtlerain46]

Well I think alot of teens get into paganism for the shock effect it has on parents. Most will fool around with "spells" ect for a few months to a year before they realize paganism isn't about saying a rhyme and having everything in your life become perfect. Most then tend to just fall away, and the one's who don't and really enjoy doing all the research and work that goes into discovering any faith will tend to stick to that path. Teenagers go through so many stages anyway, so it's not surprising that many do play around with paganism. They really are just trying to find themselves

[Philbo]

How can anyone ever "bee" anything without having been a wannaBee first?
And before you can wannaBee anything you have to know about that thing, don't you?
I just say I'm a wannaBee, but I only wannaBee informed! :caffeine:

Sometimes it's all about discovering who we are. I don't think I ever wanted to be as empathic as I am. I never wanted to see spirits. Becoming a seer was something I discovered. Paganism has room for that, whereas Christianity doesn't. Perhaps I became a wannabee there, because I wanted something other than Christianity, and discovered Paganism.

[Khuinaset]

I'm a teen too(15, turning 16 in Sept.), and I agree with a lot of what's been said...I don't really get along with my peers too much, they just don't take *anything* seriously. I don't mention my age too much on online forums, that often seems to get the 'teen = fluffy' attitude. I don't want special attention because I'm a teen, I just want to learn the same way everyone else does- I make an effort to avoid books with the words 'for teens' in the title, more often than not the writing just seems to be patronizing and watered down. It makes me want to tell the author that I'm a smart kid, I can figure things out without it being spoon-fed to me. I've had the fortune not to run into any teens in person like the ones mentioned, although I've ran into a few online. Somebody mentioned a forum for teens, I thought that would be a good idea- or maybe a specific thread/sub-forum, where teens(or, I suppose anyone) could post, saying they were looking for a mentor/tutor in a specific subject, for one-on-one teaching. Something like the Circle of Teaching, 'cept one-on -one. I think that would be a good idea- have everyone post with what they'd be willing to teach on, etc. Not as good as in person, but still, if someone is looking for instruction on a specific thing(or a general one) or just a point in the right direction...Dunno if anyone else would find it a good one though. Wow, I got all rambly. Oops :D

[Shugo]

What I can't stand even more than "Teen Witches" are the fundamentalist christians who hate Harry Potter and think everything should teach christian morals. Check out this website (http://www.christiananswers.net/) to see what I mean.

[Child_of_Venus]

:uzi: :shaker:
I agree with most of what's been said (trying not to take offense because yes, unfortunately I am a teen too). Personally, I've noticed that it's not just "teen witches" who have this arrogancy problem but most teens in general these days. In fact, I prefer talking to "adults" now because teenagers can become so pretentious it's not even funny anymore. It's all about the attitude, and I would know because I used to be like that... Uck!!! :bangyourh
So, what are 'we' supposed to do about it? I suppose all we can do is ignore it and hope it goes away... Unless, you guys have some other suggestions?
And as far as the whole goth thing goes I'm really annoyed... Sorry, rant time. We see them everywhere here and the worst is they're prey now to all the wierd sicko's now. I mean, half the kids I used to hang out with went through this 'cool' stage and some of them have joined devil worshipping cults now!!! Not what I expected, needless to say they terminated our friendships as soon as I tried to convince them that what they were doing was wrong. Oh wel... :whatgives

[Phi]

Phi
I agree but wannabee is taken as insult.

MheraPai

Which can be an opportunity for a laugh and a smile rather than hurt feelings...
What is meant by this is that someone is a "pretend to be." Nothing really wrong with a true wannabee, though. :)

[Phi]

:uzi: :shaker:
I agree with most of what's been said (trying not to take offense because yes, unfortunately I am a teen too). Personally, I've noticed that it's not just "teen witches" who have this arrogancy problem but most teens in general these days. In fact, I prefer talking to "adults" now because teenagers can become so pretentious it's not even funny anymore. It's all about the attitude, and I would know because I used to be like that... Uck!!! :bangyourh
So, what are 'we' supposed to do about it? I suppose all we can do is ignore it and hope it goes away... Unless, you guys have some other suggestions?
And as far as the whole goth thing goes I'm really annoyed... Sorry, rant time. We see them everywhere here and the worst is they're prey now to all the wierd sicko's now. I mean, half the kids I used to hang out with went through this 'cool' stage and some of them have joined devil worshipping cults now!!! Not what I expected, needless to say they terminated our friendships as soon as I tried to convince them that what they were doing was wrong. Oh wel... :whatgives

Just be true to yourself.
It's a time of learning and many are still learning even as they "follow the crowd." Most will eventually change their minds about the things they see as "cool" now.

[Khuinaset]

I agree with most of what's been said (trying not to take offense because yes, unfortunately I am a teen too). Personally, I've noticed that it's not just "teen witches" who have this arrogancy problem but most teens in general these days. In fact, I prefer talking to "adults" now because teenagers can become so pretentious it's not even funny anymore.

Yeah, I've always got along better with people older than me...I have three or four friends right now who vary from 17-20, and I get along better with them than with most of the friends I have that're my age.


So, what are 'we' supposed to do about it? I suppose all we can do is ignore it and hope it goes away... Unless, you guys have some other suggestions?

'we' being the pagan/Wicca/witchcraft community, or 'we' being teenagers? Either way I don't see that too much can be done, except point them in the right direction...it would be a lot easier if we had some way to mentor them like people in churches do, as someone mentioned a few pages back. *shrugs*

[Arinya]

I'll have to say, I am trying to read this thread without being offended by the goth remarks and the instant, "Oh they're wearing all black they must not be serious" remarks. I for one, am not Goth. I do wear all black because it is the only color I am comfortable wearing. I feel good in black, and the purpose of wearing it is so I can melt into the crowd and disappear into the background where I may observe at my leisure.

I am also disgusted at the term "teen witch" in general. It seperates and splits up the pagan and witchcraft community in my opinion. It draws a line saying, "Okay, you're a teen witch, and you're an adult witch" and whatever conotations go along with teen witch are branded on the practioner no matter how serious they are until they reach their twenties.

I for one, am nearly 20 and have been studying since I was 14 or so. Granted, I did look into witchcraft for some of threads already mentioned less than good reasons, but when I found out what it really was my eyes opened to a community I had never seen before and those reasons vanished. I understand this doesn't happen for all young practioners, which is why we as a community of pagans, witches, and general seekers should stand up and try to be the teachers to those who show that they have potential as seekers.

[Convallaria]

(trying not to take offense because yes, unfortunately I am a teen too)Unfortunately?! Embrace it! We get to be complete idiots without a cause and everyone goes "well, they're teenagers... we all went through it. They'll grow out of it."

I've been interested in wicca since I was about 9 years old. I'm 18 now and still learning and growing. I love it and I've always loved it! It keeps me sane, it keeps me grounded, it keeps me whole. It isn't just about that for me, but it seems like sometimes, when the hormones are raging and I'm hating my parents for no reason at all and I'm depressed for no reason at all, I can look at what I've learned on this path and I can center myself and say "alright, you're a teenager and this is what teenagers do. You're not losing your mind and you don't REALLY want to kill yourself. Just take a few deep breaths, and let go of the negative energy." For me it's never been about the spells, or trying to be like Sabrina the teenage witch, or the girls from The Craft, or even the Charmed Ones (who, by the way, were much cooler when Pru was around). I find those movies/shows entertaining, but I don't use them as a guide.

Not all teens are senseless. Some of us are really fantastic people! Look for the good in us. Remember how it felt to be left out. Remember how it felt to be utterly confused about who you were and what you wanted to do. Underneath all that superficial fad stuff there is a soul thats struggling to find it's place in the world. Don't criticize us, because believe me, we do enough of that to ourselves. If anything, do something to guide us. Yeah, we're a tough crowd, probably the toughest, but we aren't stupid. We're stubborn as hell, and angsty beyond belief but we aren't stupid. We'll make our mistakes and we'll learn from them. It might take a while but we'll learn. Believe it or not, we appreciate a guiding hand sometimes, even if most of us think its not cool to say thank you. If you build it, we will come.
---
Anyways, I think that a lot of teens do follow wicca because it's a fad but some of them read up and become truely interested, and their lives improve because of it... Some good can come of it. For those who are Pagan until something cooler and more shocking comes along, screw them.. they missed out. Thats their problem, not ours.

[kazzeh]

*smiles* i'm so happy that you all are so understanding. and... labeling. i agree with Arinya about the term "teen witch" splitting the pagan and witcraft community up. it just isn't fun to be singled out as a group, and worse still, a group that's not looked upon as respectable, or whatever. it's bad enough coping with all the other stuff happening, and teens don't need another person to look at us with disapproval when we tell them our age. it's like that with my parents. they're acting so... protective, because they say "don't be like the other teens". i don't see what's it with the labelling. and i'm utterly disappointed with my own friends(well, a few of them anyway)... they keep telling me to go to church with them, and i've told them again and again that i'm just going to stick with my own beliefs, but they didn't quite care. i've fallen out with one of them because of that... *sigh* i wish i didn't have to. i'm proud of being wiccan, and i want them to respect that too, just as i respect their religion.
i've seen many... okay, teens again, on online forums, asking about whether the spells really do work, is there such thing as a love potion... i think they're really irritating. and i've posted, just that once, to say that i was wiccan, and then they just started bombarding me with questions along those lines... i never did sometihng like that again. once is bad enough. i can't stand those teens who gives us other teens a bad name... and especially those who "claim" that they're wiccan, but are actually doing it for attention. okay, so maybe this is like a repeat of what everyone else is saying, but i'm just voicing out my agreements, and experience...
so maybe i'm new to wicca, but sunset_winds is right, we may be stubborn, but we'll always welcome a guiding hand. confusion seems so normal, like part and parcel of being a teen... some of us just need someone to give us a good push in the right direction, and we'll know how to go on from there, and choose what we want. i haven't uttered a word to my parents yet, but... when i do finally tell them, i'll tell them i've already chosen what i wanted.
okays. that's enough of a rant for now. shall not go on...

[Pentangling_57]

Merry Meet!

*sigh* I'm a teen too, 13-going-on-14 on the 20th this month. Hi Gwendolyn, glad you put this up... ranting time! Yay!

Urgh. I despise the 'teen witch' label. The other day, I was looking around the New Age section (or whatever they call it at Borders, I forget, only remember the B&N name, for whatever odd reason) and I saw this scary, pink book. Why was it so scary? Well, for starters, to be more correct, it wasn't exactly pink... it was shocking pink. Alright, I thought to myself, [I]it is only a book. Simply because it is a disgusting color, you need not discriminate. Looking around warily so that no one would see me with the degrading thing and think that I was considering buying it, I slipped the book off the shelf and looked, in utter horror, at the cover.
Pink was hardly the beginning. It had some ridiculous title, like 'The Girl's Teen Book of Love Spells.' (Sorry, the grammar there isn’t spectacular, I know, but I can't remember the title exactly, it just said that it was for female teenagers.) It was very slim, which in my opinion, if you are looking for a really good and 'deep' (dunno how else to phrase it; forgive me) type of book, is a very bad sign. On the cover were little hearts and female/male symbols. I kid you not! It probably had several little 'spells' in it that involved picturing fluffy bunnies and happiness while you tied flowery bows around, I dunno, pretty flowers, or something. I shoved it back onto the shelf. Very fast.

As if the strange ideas that the spell casting is the only thing being a pagan/Wiccan is about, there is a slew of stupid and annoying questions. "Do you worship the Devil?" No, because we don't believe in the Devil. "Will you do a spell for me?" No, this is my religion, not my job, thanks. "Do the spells work?"

Argh! The latter question is so dreadfully bothersome, it is not even funny anymore. I remember I was in this metaphysical store and was innocently looking at a couple of books. The lady at the counter was being harassed by these two idiots. They were both young men, couldn't have been over twenty, I'm sure. (Besides, what 20-year-old is dumb enought to go into a metaphysical store to bother the lady working there?) They each had an iced coffee from Starbucks and seemed to think that they looked and were pretty cool. *loud coughing ensues* Apparently they had been asking the poor woman how do do a spell or ritual (probably really vaguely, though, the didn't know what the heck they were talking about). Finally I heard one say, "So... does the spell really work?" The woman glared at them and said, in a very stiff and pissed-off tone, "I couldn't really tell you that. If you beleive it works, and you have faith, it will. But if you're just doing it to see if it works, well, then..." It was great. The idiots sort of looked a bit annoyed, said something like 'OK, well, thanks,' and left. It was just so great. ((Remember that, Gwendolyn?))

Sorry for the huge rant. But when something bothers me... Hehe.

[kazzeh]

*wince* i've seen quite a few of those kinda books lying around on the shelves of bookstores... i never actually went near any of them. i suppose those kind of books are what makes people think that wiccans do these sort of spells all the time... sheesh. and i understand why you shoved it back so quickly... a real wiccan, reading that? nah. kind of... degrading? i mean, we have better stuff to do than read a book like that, right? ah well. just a few comments about what i think...

[Golden Princess]

When we were growing up, we were led upon a religious path, our parents may not have been strict in their leanings, yet they still chose that religious path for us.

My 9 year old has come to me and said, "I want to go to church, my friends go to Sunday school, and it sounds like fun". I've asked her if she believes in God - she said "yes". I've said "so why do you need to go to church to believe in God" She has responded that she doesn't.

I think the difference today, is that, as parents we don't push religion, or lack of it upon our children. So by the time they are teenagers they get to experiment and choose their own path. Good or bad.

Unfortunately the media is in a position to exploit - to what end I'm not sure

[Convallaria]

When we were growing up, we were led upon a religious path, our parents may not have been strict in their leanings, yet they still chose that religious path for us.

My 9 year old has come to me and said, "I want to go to church, my friends go to Sunday school, and it sounds like fun". I've asked her if she believes in God - she said "yes". I've said "so why do you need to go to church to believe in God" She has responded that she doesn't.

I think the difference today, is that, as parents we don't push religion, or lack of it upon our children. So by the time they are teenagers they get to experiment and choose their own path. Good or bad.

Unfortunately the media is in a position to exploit - to what end I'm not sure
But don't you think your child has the right to learn about God, and the Bible (however false you may find it to be)?
I think it's sad that people who havn't read the bible, or who have and didn't fully understand it because the language isn't what you'd call modern, walk around calling themselves Christian, without knowing the first thing about Christian Morals and values. I've encoutered these people, and they've made fun of me, and judged me, which is rather unchristian.
Don't push the religion onto your child, but she has chosen, has she not? Chosen that she believes in God and in Christ? It seems appropriate that she continue her learning by going to church, doesn't it?

I'm not trying to tell you how to raise your child, I just think that simply believing in god does not make one Christian.

[Pentangling_57]

kazzeh,
Naturally we have better things to do! You hit the nail on the head. I find it terribly degrading to be even near one of those books. The other day, I saw a really scary one. It was purple backround, with the world on it (as seen from space). And -- dare I say it? -- the world was *shudders* heart-shaped. It was called 'The Chick's Guide to the Universe.' Now, if the cover must be purple and involve hearts, and if the content must be, in a word, crap... do they really have to use the term 'chick'? Things like that REALLY bother me.

[kazzeh]

whee. yeahh. i never actually went near one. thankfully i don't see this kind of books going around in bookstores so often anymore. (waha. this might sound mean... but i hope whoever wrote those books went out of business. they probably deserved it anyway, 'cos they're degrading our religion.) *shudder* and when i see a book in a bookstore that says "for teens" i walk away hurriedly. half the time the stuff they put in books like those are pretty lame. worse still if it has a heart anywhere on the cover. i'd rather do twice the amount of my homework now, than read that book (and that's saying something, because who likes homework for every subject everyday???). fwah. i suppose i'm getting a bit farfetched. sorry. anymore... scary-looking books? hope there's no more... it's better not to see any at all, than to know it exists.

[Pentangling_57]

I haven't seen any recently, thankfully. If I had, I would probably be twitching on the floor. Well, a bit exaggerated, I admit. Yeah... ignorance is bliss in matters like this, eh? hehe. Those books, pink and heart-filled covers aside, really bother me because I feel that they project the wrong image of our religion. In my opinion, the general public are idiots (*cough*Monty Python reference*cough*)... No, but really, anyone silly enough to pick up a book like that (unless they're picking it up to throw it into a fireplace) is getting the idea that, in a nice pink cloud all their love problems will be solved (and, incidentally, in a green cloud financial issues will vanish). That's not at all why we chose this religion (I hope)! Unless that's what drew you to the religion and then you became serious about the more spiritual matters etc. But no book can teach you about how to follow your own Path, because it's a personal experience, and.... AARGH!!!! Following some ridiculous book like that is not truly going to help you... Some people define magic as the power to create change, and yes, I find that a good definition, but you should be able to create a bit of change in those areas yourself (without magic) before you use any spells etc.! I don't have a problem with doing magic to try to improve your life, but if you're not seriously interested in the other aspects of the religion and you simply want your life to be easier, then, yes, I do have a problem! Ugh....

Oops. That was a bit of a rant. And a slightly redundant one at that. *wince* All apologies.

[Iris]

Disclaimer: this of course excludes all teens who by nature enjoy a more serious pagan or wiccan religious study, or those who actually possess common sense. I know it's out there.....at least I hope so.

At least I never claimed to have any common sense! ;)

Alas, I won't be a teenager for much longer. Ho hum.

Anyway, I think there are two sides to this phenomenon, as there are to most, if not all, things. On the one hand, someone reading such an article might be a silly, empty-headed kind of person who will think that chanting "Goddess make Bobby love me" is A) an acceptable activity and B) qualifies them to call themselves a 'witch'. On the other hand, someone who reads this article may be a sensible, level-headed teenager who takes the article with a pinch of salt but becomes interested in certain aspects of Paganism and goes on to research their path and becomes a pagan for life, and might not have found their path had it not been for one of those articles. I think it just depends on the individual. Goodness knows, there are enough foolish adults out there as well as foolish youngsters.

[Garden of Eden]

Exactly Iris! Foolishness cannot be limited to the young! (By the way... you're in N.Ireland?!)

*clears throat*

As a teen witch... I think it is wrong to generalise that all teen witches are into the 'power' aspects or simply into witchcraft for show. I'm certainly not. I'm firmly in the broom closet, and I don't use spells for personal gain that often. I'm very much into the religous aspects of my craft (as are the few friends of mine who also practice it) and quite proud of that fact. But in a country like N.Ireland, it's not easy to be openly pagan... (Religon is taboo here... no one ever talks about it...).

[KaimelarFeylove]

I work in the mall now so i see alot of the "look at me, I'm so goth" people. Now, i wear black most of the time, and yes i own baggy pants ( but i dont even need a belt to keep them on.. they stay by themselves) but i like to think i dont look that crazy. i also get alot of questions form my co-workers about it...

Also, i worte an article in the school paper about being a witch and brought up the whole fact that people ask lots of stupid questions and explained why they were.

Of course liveing in a southern baptist town it didnt do much good

[Antoninus]

Heh, heh, of course its silly! But look at the audience.:headphone

Teens, as a whole, manage to butcher both common sense and reasonable dignity. I watch them hanging out in the malls, showing off high priced underwear all the while desperately trying to keep their baggy pants from falling off. (I actually saw one guy trying to look the gangsta', slip on his own pant leg and fall on his a#! There went the soda! ) The ones around my neighborhood find the middle of the road more sensible a meeting place than the sidewalk, and then have the nerve to look shocked when you have to slam on your brakes so as not to hit them. Then they laugh................Teens have some of the highest rates for accidents while driving and accidents while having sex.

Witchcraft is not an unintelligent discipline, but when you mix teens and witchcraft you get what? Sabrina the teen age witch. Wheeee.......So of course that's what the teen magazine articles are going to be like. If they went off on a tangent and started into symbolic mythology or spells vs. prayer, and the meaning of faith, they'd lose their audience.

While not all teens are immature, many are. They're just people that got ran over by their own hormones. It's horribly annoying...but with any luck, it'll fix itself out with maturity, and so will the whole teen witch fad.

Disclaimer: this of course excludes all teens who by nature enjoy a more serious pagan or wiccan religious study, or those who actually possess common sense. I know it's out there.....at least I hope so.

Not all teens are retards. Ive met some real idiots my age but Ive also met some real smart, sensible people my age. Ive met some very intelegent adults and ive met some real idiots who call themselves "adults". Teens are NO different than "adults". Teens do stupid things at JUST the same rate as adults do (Read The Darwin Awards if you dont believe me). Adults can get just as idiotic about religion, if not more so, than teens.

With that said, I think that Wicca has been somewhat over-glorified by people. In my experience, the ones that over-glorify Wicca tend to be people who want to impress others "Woooo I can do MAGICK!" And it does tend to be a teenage thing, the desire to impress others by any means possible. Adults do the same thing, but it tends to be more through displays of strength or intelegence.

[Gwendolyn]

Wow! I posted this basically as a rant, not really expecting too many people to reply, but I check the thread and there are six pages. Thank you all for expressing your opinions on this matter! But keep going, please. This isn't meant as a wrap-up post in any way.

[Iris]

Exactly Iris! Foolishness cannot be limited to the young! (By the way... you're in N.Ireland?!)

Yeah, at the moment I am...Belfast, to be exact. I'm not from here though, I don't even live here...just visiting the in-laws. lol. My boyfriend's family live here...he's from Antrim, just outside Belfast, you see. :)

Ooh, you're in Derry...cool. I haven't been there but I'd like to. I've heard it has cool historical things. City walls and stuff.

Um...I'm not off-topic, honest. *looks shifty*

[calria]

I will admit I haven't read *everything* in this thread (it's 11pm and I have a sociology essay to write lol) but a lot of what I'm seeing kind of bothers me...

While I don't think there are many of us who are serious about paganism who don't in some way resent the fluff, or, more importantly, how it reflects on the rest of the community, I have to say that I for one am at least partially glad for it. Had it not been for the fluff online, I never would have started actively looking into the idea that paganism didn't die out with the advent of the Catholic church. There are probably a lot of us who started study because of a bunny somewhere. I started studying wicca and other modern pagan paths when I was 13-14, and I'm 19 now, and have been studying for most of that time.

The fact that I was/am a teenager, though, doesn't mean that I fall into the general "teenager" grouping in regards to this stuff... Personally, I even think phrases like "merry meet" (no offense!) and "blessed be" are a bit on the fluffy side... I use a twinge of more formal language in my BOS, but other than that... it's sort of a the-word-is-spelled-m-a-g-i-c-and-thats-it kind of philosophy. I wear a lot of black... but because I'm a theatre person, so it's easier to just own a lot of clothes that work with my career goals. I wear celtic knot jewelry because my aunt owned a lot when she was my age, and gave it to me a few years ago.

So, to those of you who are condemning all teenagers... there are actually quite a few of us who resent the crappiness of our generation twice as much, both on a pagan plane and not. I personally wish that I could slap just about every other girl my age... not only do the bunnies reflect on my religious beleifs, but because of my age, people think that I wear ridiculously expensive jeans, shop at Hot Topic (I stopped shopping there in 2001 when it started getting "cool"), and know popular music... when I don't. I wear walmart jeans (when I wear jeans... lately I mostly wear long skirts), don't shop much at ALL, and listen to concertos...

[Alexandra Asinine]

I doubt many people are attracted to WitchCraft for the "right" or "real" reasons. But the fact is, many who pursue it have their lives bettered by it in the long run, no matter how rediculous the start is. I'm wondering how many Witches here who were Witches in their teens don't remember performing down-right stupid spells. I know I remember!

Either they'll get bored with it, or they'll get a clue.

[Antoninus]

I doubt many people are attracted to WitchCraft for the "right" or "real" reasons. But the fact is, many who pursue it have their lives bettered by it in the long run, no matter how rediculous the start is. I'm wondering how many Witches here who were Witches in their teens don't remember performing down-right stupid spells. I know I remember!

Either they'll get bored with it, or they'll get a clue.
I agree completely. Wicca/Witchcraft is its own failsafe. Once people discover "Hey, we cant do magic like we thought." They ither get bored and leave it entirely, or embrace it out of curiosity

Gods do I remember my newbie days. I imposed restrictions on myself after I figgured out how stupid I was being.

[Gede]

MM~
I'm a teen Witch and proud to be, not because of my age or because of what society associates with me, but because we are the new generation of Pagans; the ones who will take what has been going on in the Pagan community during the past decades and walk into the future with a relatively contemporary view that has been inspired by the ancestral lore of the past.

I suffered from the stigma that is attached to 'Teen Witchcraft' during my early years of being involved in the Pagan community and it was only after I had 'proved myself' to be dedicated, serious and mature that the Pagans in my area saw fit to acknowledge my ideas and input. I am aware that western society has a tendency to categorise, segregate and group people together by culture, creed and age in order to influence the heirachy of the modern political arena, however what is achieved by this? Segregation and categorisation is the filter for discrimination.

Last year during my visit to Bali to see my father I remember sitting down with my cousin and her neighbours while quietly observing how they interacted with each other. Beside me there was a middle-aged woman and two teenage girls who were talking together as if age was simply a flimsy triviality, which it is. In Balinese culture, as I understand it, everyone has a say, no one is regarded as lesser simply because of their age and conversation is the means of strengthening community and upholding cultural ethics. I only wish that these concepts were reflected in the NeoPagan community, and in some cases I have seen this happen, however I have also seen brutal in-fighting occur and useless drivel about fluffy-wannabes etc.

Yes, I accept that there is an abundance of teenagers who react to the media's portrayal of Witchcraft as if it was the revelation of scripture and who instantly 'become' Witches who have ironically been practicing for decades and who have mastered Astral Travel and Ceremonial Ritual. Then again I understand this to be an expression of a deep-seated fascination and interest with Witchcraft heated by the confusion and uncertainty of the teen years. I too came to Witchcraft influenced by Hollywood's misconceptions of Magick and Spellcraft seeking power, however I quickly began to realise that there was much more to Witchcraft than what I had previously believed.

Rather than attack those who come to Paganism with misconstrued ideas, why not educate them and correct their misconceived notions with compassion and peace. We have much to learn from each other.

Unity in Diversity; beautiful, simplistic and ultimately self-serving~

Namaste, Gede...

[Iris]

Gods do I remember my newbie days. I imposed restrictions on myself after I figgured out how stupid I was being.

*chuckles* I had a similar experience. Once you do a love spell and it backfires, it makes you really re-think! Still, everyone makes mistakes. I'm wiser now. At least that's what I like to believe :)


I too came to Witchcraft influenced by Hollywood's misconceptions of Magick and Spellcraft seeking power, however I quickly began to realise that there was much more to Witchcraft than what I had previously believed.

Me too! (see above, heehee. oh the shame) I just think that, while there's a negative side to the kind of 'Hollywood Paganism' you see in the media more often than not, it has a positive side too, and that is making people AWARE of Paganism, if not exactly showing the big picture. I came to my path via the influence of Hollywood, and yes I WAS a teenager and probably obnoxious with it too to begin with...but that was about six years ago. When I started serious research into Paganism, I began to realise how little I knew and that much of what I THOUGHT I knew was totally wrong! But I was eager to learn more, so I stuck with it, and at times it's been a steep learning curve! I'm still here though. That counts for something, I think. :)

[Gede]

MM~
I can relate :) And yes it definitely counts~

Namaste, Gede...

[Navalina]

I'm a teen Witch and I think it's very wrong when people try to generalise an entire age group. From reading some of the posts in this thread, I get the impression that most people think that almost all teenagers are silly little girls/boys who have no idea what they're doing and just run around casting love spells. I'm rather offended by that to be honest. It's not because I'm not 18 yet, that I don't have any intelligence/common sense. I've never even cast a spell, because I realise that spells are serious things that shouldn't be taken lightly and that you certainly shouldn't use spells to manipulate others. And I believe that more teenagers know that than some of you might think. It's not because there's so much nonsense in teen magazines, that everyone who reads them believe everything the writers say. I can't stand it when people look down on me just because I'm a teenager, like I don't know anything because of that. I'm rather shocked to discover that so many pagans, who are supposedly open-minded, let themselves be guided by such stereotypes.

[cornishfaerie]

I'm a teen witch...but not from any mag..and I get mad @ mags aswell, they don't go thru anything bout 'BELIEF' but just spells. there's more to witchcraft and pagan than spells. U can't (as u have said) MAKE some1 like u etc and..well......2 cut a long story short...it enoys me aswell....and the peeps that put their names down 4 it?!? r they just trying 2 get attention? A job as some kind of journalist? or become popular @ skool?
My ex-friend asked me 2 do a luv spell 4 her....I had 2 go thru the whole 'we don't do that' criteria...then she was complaining that ...she only asked me coz I'm experienced and wen she did it from a mag it didn't work!!! How sad.......ALSO she tries 2 dress 2 the trends..i.e. s8r girl 1 second...goth the next...then she came 2 me and told me she was bored with looking like a s8r girl and goth and might try 2 look like a witch and wat do we look like coz I nevr dress in special clothes....hemce wy we're ex-friends!!! Buy yeah..it's just something more for editors 2 shove in their mags and no teen girls will read it 2 get their own way..and believe in a fake religion like *clik of fingers* that!!!

[cornishfaerie]

(2 Navalina)
I agree that some of us are under estimated...but alot of peeps in my skool do it as fads, fashion etc......a lot of peeps under16 are like SO non religious about witchcraft and do do it 4 their own sake!!
By the way...it's gr8 2 talk 2 another teen wiccan.....glad 2 no there are others out there!!!
Hiya and hope my remarks dion't insult u @ all!!!!
Bye...have fun!

[AreagneTheo]

*chuckles* I had a similar experience. Once you do a love spell and it backfires, it makes you really re-think!
I think we all have probably tried a love spell when we were younger. I have, not because I wanted to make someone fall in love with me, but because my parents told me not to. And when your young (Goddess I still am now), you tend to do the complete opposite of your parents.
And carrying on. I am a teenage Pagan and i'm proud to be so. Im not at all attracted by the whole Sabrina/Charmed thing.. in fact the complete opposite. I am attracted to witchcraft through my love and respect for nature and my beliefs.

:broomride On a lighter note, I think this smiley is soo cute. :flowers: <- And this one.

[charmedkisses1]

I think for most teens a fad (i.e. the fluffy ones who probably aren't a member of this site and HAVE to watch charmed "like all the time" and have fiona horne books everywhere they go.. those kind...) :runs and hides:

[Asthmorte]

well.....I am a teen. I didnt get my religion from silly magazines or anything....It started with dreams and voices. If thats a part of a fad, then this world is really creepy. lol...

[Silver Stardust]

I am a teen also and i didn't do it for anything but myself. I like being wiccan it's the best thing in my life next to the person i love. So i think most teens do it cause they feel it's right for them.

[Laurelei]

Well, I'm a teen, and I've come across four Wiccans and a Witch at my school. The wiccans are well meaning, just naive, I think. Then again, they're very big on the victim mentality thing and seem determined to fight a predjudice campaign that just doesn't exist where we live. As for the witch... well, she is the most backward person I know. She reguarly says she's giving it up because her spells don't work, she uses love spells very other weekend, and she's threatened plenty of people with voodoo.

I try to keep my faith distant from these people (I call myself a Pagan Witch and leave it at that). My religion is a completely natural thing to me, I've had Paganistic (is that a word?) values ever since I was a small child, I can remember levitating when I was a toddler, and I've always believed there was more to life than what science tells us there is. If I am part of a fad, it's a 14-year fad.

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

I started looking into Paganism, first Wicca, when I was 16 years old. I did a lot of the things that most new Wiccans do...I focused heavily on spellwork, I was quite public about my beliefs, I waged that "anti-discrimination" war, ect. However, as the time went on, my path changed just as I changed. I refused to join the coven that my friends were starting, as I felt that I wasn't ready. I stopped talking about being Wiccan and starting actually living my life as a Wiccan. I observed nature, the turning of the seasons, and put all those spells in the very back of my BOS. I learned more about my heiritage, and my path changed...I became Pagan. Then I found a group whose teachings I wanted to study....and that changed me as well.

Seven years later I am running an the only open, interfaith circle in my town. I am publicly Pagan, but more by default than choice, since I am the contact listed for my group--but my own spirituality is something very personal and I talk to few people about it indepth. I am a counselor, teacher, and friend to my circle members. I have dedicated and initiated into a Pagan tradition and am pursuing my Second Triad (degree). I consider myself first a Priestess, and secondly a Witch.

I have changed. My path has changed with me. If I were not content and my needs were not fulfilled, I would have left. If I were only in it for the attention, I would have left because I don't get too much of it, to be honest. The people who need to know about my spirituality are the ones who do.

I am very much of the opinion that if you are going to make this your path, then you will walk it long after the "fad" is gone. Time has a way of weeding out those who are into it for the power/glory/titles/ect. However, it is important to note that there are just as many adult Pagans out there doing all those same things. Behavior such as what has been discussed in this thread is not limited to teens.

Avalon's Blessings, ~Rhiannon

[Grey]

Well, I'm a teen, and I've come across four Wiccans and a Witch at my school. The wiccans are well meaning, just naive, I think. Then again, they're very big on the victim mentality thing and seem determined to fight a predjudice campaign that just doesn't exist where we live. As for the witch... well, she is the most backward person I know. She reguarly says she's giving it up because her spells don't work, she uses love spells very other weekend, and she's threatened plenty of people with voodoo.

Im myself have come accross "whitches" at my school... thankfully most of them were to spastic to be able to even get through a magazine spell without leaving things out or forgetting there place half a dozen times.

The victim mentality thing is what gets me the most... the most Ive ever gotten is 2 dates that probly would have been turned down anyways and a few dozen conversion attempts that were all along the lines of nice people with there hearts in the right place that just didnt work. One of my good friends did end up alienating herself from me... but there were other things and shes got some mental problems we wont go into.

Ive found that with the magazine types all you have to do is bring up meditation, auras, and ask them for a couple of correspondences... and all of a sudden they get all bug eyed and take one of 3 paths. 1 they start slowing down what theyre doing rather quickly and stop inside a month or two. :( 2 they ask for teaching... if they can get through a few hours of meditation and a couple theological-philosophical conversations I do my best to give them the information they need :) 3 they start claiming to be a very high and powerful magic user who has no need to discuss things with the likes of me... more often than not either completely evil or completely good. In this case they dont tend to be able to discribe ANY kind of magic or ritual or religion and are just misguided kids who need some guidance... or occiasionally some prozac.

In the end the "fad" as you put it is just another human stage... and the more people that go through it the better. They do learn atleast a little something, and generally that helps with all sorts of acceptances later in life. Not to mention the few that keep going with it and become the community in time.

[!~*Ganesa Fire*~!]

I am 15 years old (16 next month), and I am taking my path very seriously. I have been looking up information almost everyday, and I have connected with my God and Goddess. I know that I have been on this path all my life, I just didn't know it. I know that a lot of teens are just trying to find themselves and dapple into Paganism or Wicca, and that some kids just use it to defy their parents. But there are teens out there like me who do take this seriously, and are not in it for the spells. Hopefully there will be more of us! Thank you to the other people who have been practicing for a long time for accepting the teens who are serious about our paths! :yourock:

[Gwendolyn]

It's nice to see that there are other teens seriously interested in the pagan path.
When I go into the store 'Enchantments' it's pretty easy to tell the difference between the people who are really interested in the Craft, and those who are not. One of the workers there is really nice, as he puts up with the people who don't seem to be as interested, even though it's pretty obvious why they're there. After a while, they tend to get the picture and just leave. But sometimes they'll stay, and keep on listening to what he has to say, or recommend. It's great to know that there are people out there who help people get out of the "fluffly" phase of paganism. I mean, I knew that there were after reading some of the posts on this thread, but it's great to see it real life.

[charmedkisses1]

However, I think *most* teens on here are mature enough to know what they want and what direction they are headed in, or at least patient enough to wait.

[kiara]

I'm a teen too(15, turning 16 in Sept.), and I agree with a lot of what's been said...I don't really get along with my peers too much, they just don't take *anything* seriously.

I don't want special attention because I'm a teen, I just want to learn the same way everyone else does- I make an effort to avoid books with the words 'for teens' in the title, more often than not the writing just seems to be patronizing and watered down. It makes me want to tell the author that I'm a smart kid, I can figure things out without it being spoon-fed to me.

I'm 19 now, and if you're anything like me, it really doesn't get that much better in college. Although, maybe I hang out with the wrong people. ;)

My experience with the "Teen Witch" phenomena has been limited because I live in the Bible Belt. But my experience, for what it's worth, has been that hormones are the ruling factor in most teenage interactions with anything. It gets annoying really quick for me, because I want to discuss things deeper than who's wearing what or doing who or the pop music scene and who's so hot and she/he's a slut, etc. I want to talk about politics, comparative religion, alternative music, etc. And then, I get looked at like a freak, because I have a mind and actively use it. :rolleyes: Teen books suck for me, because I've been reading at an adult level since elementary school. I just get the regular books; they seem more straightforward and less focused on making things look 'cool.'

But then, most young adult type people I've met have short attention spans, which may be why they don't attack anything other than the surface. And I think that is why most teens don't get past the surface glamor of Wicca/Paganism/what have you, because it's hard work learning the elements and what they correspond to and goddesses and gods, and the mythology, and proper technique. The thought of a spell that can give your teacher permanent diarrhea is far more intriguing than a discussion of why you cast a circle the way you do. But then, a lot of people are like that, not just teens; adults are better at hiding it. :shhhh: :) Hopefully most people grow out of it, although the people my mother works with have discouraged me.

[StormChaser]

I hate to break it to the masses of adults on Mysticwicks, but there is a great majority of teens who practice Wiccan\Paganism\Heathen paths that have a good head on their shoulders, that have, are, and do sort out the BS and commercialized nonesense from what is true and 'real'.

More over, there are a great many adults parading around as know-it-all Pagan\Wiccan\Witch\Heathen guru's who know aproximately zilch about what they preach.

There are sites, books, articles, magazines, geared towards all age groups. I'm personally tired of hearing about how its -just teens- or -primarily teens- who give Wiccan\Witchcraft etc a bad name.

Growing up in a Wiccan household I can tell you that adults are far far FAR more guilty of this crime. From talking about sacred sexuality none-stop, to being elitist and closed mouthed about ritual structure and purpose, to the arrogant 'heredtary witch' to the 'sage' elders. Adults talking about spirituality and religion and magick... who only engaged in actively participating in their craft 2 times a month and have never tried to apply their principles on a day to day level.

It is not the teens who are the problem, it is their 'teachers' and 'role-models' and those who know better but aren't trying to create solutions who are to blame.

~Sarah M. Dove- Miller

[StormChaser]

I happen to like Charmed, and Buffy, and Xena\
I'm 22
I was raised in the Blue Star Tradition although I am only loosely affiliated with the Trad. now. My father is Devyn Christopher Gillette, a pagan author, HP, and activist, most publicly known for his work 'The Pentagram and the Hammer'.
I am a spiritual and religious person... and my tv and book viewing and reading habits do not reflect my knowledge or understanding of matters of faith.

[Gwendolyn]

I happen to like Charmed, and Buffy, and Xena\
I'm 22
I was raised in the Blue Star Tradition although I am only loosely affiliated with the Trad. now. My father is Devyn Christopher Gillette, a pagan author, HP, and activist, most publicly known for his work 'The Pentagram and the Hammer'.
I am a spiritual and religious person... and my tv and book viewing and reading habits do not reflect my knowledge or understanding of matters of faith.
I don't mean to say that Charmed, or any tv show like that is bad, it just fluffs up people's idea of Witchcraft. Oh, and yes, I do agree that there are many adults who give the Pagan faith a bad rep. I have just seen more teens do this than adults.

[Khuinaset]

I'm 19 now, and if you're anything like me, it really doesn't get that much better in college. Although, maybe I hang out with the wrong people. ;)

My experience with the "Teen Witch" phenomena has been limited because I live in the Bible Belt. But my experience, for what it's worth, has been that hormones are the ruling factor in most teenage interactions with anything. It gets annoying really quick for me, because I want to discuss things deeper than who's wearing what or doing who or the pop music scene and who's so hot and she/he's a slut, etc. I want to talk about politics, comparative religion, alternative music, etc. And then, I get looked at like a freak, because I have a mind and actively use it. :rolleyes: Teen books suck for me, because I've been reading at an adult level since elementary school. I just get the regular books; they seem more straightforward and less focused on making things look 'cool.'

But then, most young adult type people I've met have short attention spans, which may be why they don't attack anything other than the surface. And I think that is why most teens don't get past the surface glamor of Wicca/Peopleism/what have you, because it's hard work learning the elements and what they correspond to and goddesses and gods, and the mythology, and proper technique. The thought of a spell that can give your teacher permanent diarrhea is far more intriguing than a discussion of why you cast a circle the way you do. But then, a lot of people are like that, not just teens; adults are better at hiding it. :shhhh: :) Hopefully most people grow out of it, although the people my mother works with have discouraged me.

thank you! you've said exactly what I meant! :D "Teen" books more often than not just end up annoying me, because they seem to use the same teaching method as a lot of my teachers do- repeat repeat repeat. I get it after the first time, let's move on already! :p and some of them try to use slang, which is just...weird....but I've been reading pretty adult-oriented books for ages, so it doesn't bother me to just cut the 'teen' crap and buy the stuff that doesn't have glitter and pompoms and such. I'm sure there are good teen books out there somewhere, I just haven't found them- I recently ordered the Pagan Teen Survival Guide, that's supposed to be good. :)

[StormChaser]

I don't mean to say that Charmed, or any tv show like that is bad, it just fluffs up people's idea of Witchcraft. Oh, and yes, I do agree that there are many adults who give the Pagan faith a bad rep. I have just seen more teens do this than adults.

You are worried about what the -masses- think because of these shows and teen books? The masses think what they always have 'what a load of shit' or 'isn't that cool' or 'thank heaven, an hour of mindless entertainment'. Thats what they think of the shows.

What do they think of teens practicing Wicca or reading the books or burning incense? The same thing most other practitioner adults think- that they are simply rebelling and it's a phase they will grow out of.

Adults present paganism far worse than teens do. From best sellers like The Da Vinci Code's portrayal of Paganism as the Mallieus Maleficarum would show it, feminist to feminazi degree's, sex based and -scary- for people who don't know "whats going on" and potentially dangerous for young eyes; to as my husband calls it 'Llewllyn Traditional Wicca" from Silver RavenWolf to Starhawk perpetuating myths that Wicca, and Paganism are entirely without definition and hard history.

Eclectic and Traditional Wicca and Hereditery (I will bite my tongue on this one as I don't feel like getting into it with those people right now), Wicca- there is a traceable history that is acurate back to Gardner. Before that, its all supposition and wishful thinking. Adults seem to believe, and its only adults mind you, that the older something is the more validity it has. They perpetuate this ideal and pass it on to younger generations, and so then those younger generations either grow up and realize this is bull, or they believe it and continue to pass the nonesense on. But they aren't the ones ultimately responsible for giving Wicca a bad name.

It is not the students fault that he or she had a crappy teacher, they did not know better, and their teachers did not and continue to not step up to the plate and assume responsibility for the bullshit they are teaching.

Thats why there are fluff-bunnys, wicclets, and paga-bees out there. For no other reason than what is available to them widely is loaded with crap. The adult of these kinds aren't non-existant or lesser in number, its merely that because they are older they are able to get away with it more under the guise of being self-actualized authorities.

The majority of society does not care what teens or children practicing a religion think or say its about, they look to the adults.

[StormChaser]

And by the way, its funny that teens are getting blamed for the shameless fluffing of Wicca and Paganism yet it is the grown adults who have taken to calling non wiccans and pagans 'Muggles' in light of the Harry Potter Series

*disgusted groan*

[kiara]

thank you! you've said exactly what I meant! :D "Teen" books more often than not just end up annoying me, because they seem to use the same teaching method as a lot of my teachers do- repeat repeat repeat. I get it after the first time, let's move on already! :p and some of them try to use slang, which is just...weird....but I've been reading pretty adult-oriented books for ages, so it doesn't bother me to just cut the 'teen' crap and buy the stuff that doesn't have glitter and pompoms and such.

You're welcome :) I'm not really sure why there are special teen books. I personally think that we can read and understand the regular 101 books--they're not that hard, and most of them are pretty straightforward. And, at least in Cunningham's books, there are pretty pictures for those who want/need extra stimulation. :bigblue: And then there's the ... For Dummies series, which is very good.


I'm sure there are good teen books out there somewhere, I just haven't found them- I recently ordered the Pagan Teen Survival Guide, that's supposed to be good. :)

I think I may have to look up that book sometime. It seems interesting.

And I really like your sig line.

[Æon Flux]

Teen Witchcraft really sounds like one big happy pill you can take when the world is going down the drain and your guy is dumping you.
In my opinion there are, unfortunately, a lot of teens out there parading around claiming to be witches and chuckeling in front of a black candle at midnight on a full moon and trying to cast curses on that kid that called you those names.

But there are also teens like me, (I'm 18) who are genuinly interested in the nature aspects of Witchcraft as well as the ritual ones.
We do as much research as we can and have time with between school and homework.

Sometimes I feel that there is a great deal of ageism in some parts of the Witchcraft community.
If I come along as a teenager and say that I am a Witch you automatically get taken for a show-off youngster who's watched Charmed one too many times.
(Fortunately that has not happened to me yet here)
I can understand the sceptism, but it eventually feels pretty hopeless to have to be so persistant to even get acceptance as a Witch in some communities.

As for the magazines doing their stupid articles... that's the way it's been the last 5 years or so here in Sweden.
Magic(k) will never seize to interest people, especially not teenagers.
Which is why we would need more edjucated and traditional witches to step forth and point out these errors to those who make them.
Write a letter to the magazine who published these spells, and tell them your opinion.
It can't do more damage then good, can it?

That is my opinion.
I do not practice Teen Witchcraft, I practice Witchcraft, period.

[Pentangling_57]

I do not practice Teen Witchcraft, I practice Witchcraft, period.
Well spoken! :clapping: