page two of wicca article, by carla bailey

  Ask yourself a question, do I really know what a witch is?  What do Iknow about the Spanish Inquisition, or the Salem Witch Trials?  Were the people that were murdered even Witches at all?  For me, I think that I can identify what a Witch is or isn't.  As well, through out my years, early childhood included, I've read nearly anything that I could get my hands on about the USA's problem with Witches.  The Spanish Inquisition is just as gory, and as the slogan goes, "We should never forget the Burning Times."
   Within the last 30 years, Wicca practitioners(as well as other Pagan traditions)  have come to the forefront of the racial/sexual/women's/religious freedom movements.  Recently, in Seattle, one of our most beloved authors/activists and co-creator of the Reclaiming grop in Berkeley, was arrested for protesting the WTO (World Trade Organization).  Starhawk is her namel she is the author of The Spiral Dance, which recently put out a third edition.
   In our own community, there are many more (besides myself) in and out of the closet, who are highly activ members of society.  Years ago, there was a store in Salinas, called the "Magic Box."  It was a metaphysical shop.  One of the more well known stores, is "13: Real Magick", in Santa Cruz.  It carries a wide arrange of blades, books, incense, and candles.  The staff is very friendly, and helpful.  Raymond Buckland, a famous Wiccan author, lives in the area, and comes to visit often.
   As well, the World Wide Web offers plenty of e-lists, chat rooms, and message boards for communication amongst Pagans.  There are several web sites that offer listings, by state and city, of shops and group/individual practioners for networking.  It's one of the quickest, and easiest ways to make new friends; the sharing of ideas and rituals is made much easier by the Internet, too.
   In the closing of this article, I'm sure that all of what's been discussed seems a little broad in range, a little muddled in content.  It certainly seems so to me, at times, and I wrote this thing!  However, I hope that, at the same time, it has caused you to think about an aspect of society that you might have only believed to exist in fairy tales.
   Questions (or hate mail, but do remember the Rule of Three:  Whatever you send out, comes back to you three times.  To put it another way:  "An ye harm none, do as thou wilt.")  are readily welcomed.  In fact, I'd really appreciate them, since I had no idea where to begin with this article, but knew I wanted to say Something about my beliefs.  A door of human experience has been opened, ne'er to be closed.  With the reaching out to closed/ignorant minds, we can all do the same,...move forward without regret, and learn from one another.  So Mote It Be, So Blessed Be.  As Above, So Below!  May the Lord and Lady Bless you and Keep you safe from harm.

This is the Face of Buddha, and example of an interpretation of Cupid, and the Sphinx and Pyramids at Giza, Egypt...gotta love ClipArt Libraries!!!!!