Re: Wicca - What's it good for?
In Harry Potter stories and in less fictional scenarios, we sometimes hear about people who are naturally gifted with supernatural powers. Joining a Wiccan church may not be able to immediately confer power upon a witch (though in some cases, it has), but it is good to be able to find a satsang, as when Harry's pals from Hogwarts revealed themselves after years of his being tormented by his uncle, aunt, and cousin. A shaman is a person whose artistic and intellectual sides communicate with his attention in a more conscious way. When a witch talks about this with "muggles", derision usually ensues. So, if one delights in the exploration and development of mental powers that cooperate with unseen beings and wells of energy in the Cosmos, it is often good to have access to people with similar affinities. Of course, there are often unscrupulous folk lurking about, but I think the way Hogwarts is set up recognizes that ignorance is an even more insidious force in nature than malice. That is, at least Voldemort and Umbridge at some level appreciate Harry's talent. When it comes to his uncle, aunt, and cousin, they have no respect whatsoever for him, bearing down upon him with jealousy and derision on a daily basis. A group with pagan beliefs, values, and practices is an environment that may just lead to the flowering of mystical and magical creative abilities, the way a university can do so when it comes to academic pursuits. So, when the nudge comes from ones tutelary deity, it often means that it is time to locate a coven with the proper structure and goals that can help keep the individual mage on track with challenges better suited to shamanic needs than what one ordinarily finds in family, work, school, or a church chosen by parents.
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