Wiccan response to ‘Fox and Friends’ hosts’ take on the Wiccan faith

After viewing a recent video of a portion of last Sunday’s Fox News and Friends Weekend, it becomes necessary to respond to the disturbing discussion between the show’s hosts, Anna Kooiman, Clayton Morris, and Tucker Carlson.  The show’s hosts did little more than belittle Wicca and its practitioners.  Readers can view the clip from the show above.

The show’s hosts, primarily Tucker Carlson, purposefully mock and ridicule the Wiccan faith and its adherents, and the hosts’ comments are unprofessional, unethical and unwarranted.  Carlson willfully attempts to make Wiccans, and anyone that acknowledges the faith system as valid, appear ridiculous.  His assertions and many of the statements offered by his co-hosts have no sound basis in fact.  The commentary on the show only serves to belittle an entire population of people that the hosts of Fox News and Friends Weekend really know nothing about.

First, Clayton Morris mentions the Wiccan and pagan population and questions whether or not they make up a large percentage of the population.  Tucker Carlson responds with: “I do, they don’t.”  

This response is interesting since there are no clear statistics on just how many pagans and witches there are, so how can Carlson possibly know more than anybody in the entire world about the pagan population.  The majority of population surveys are mere estimates, but if one bases an understanding on any estimates (including the notion of a “large population” as subjective,) one will find that the pagan population is considerable.  A little bit of research reveals that according to 2001 statistics, there are an estimated 200,000 to 768,000 Wiccans and pagans in the US alone, depending upon the cited source.  Additional research reveals that the US population of Wiccans is doubling about every 30 months and in Scotland, the Neo-Pagan population is doubling annually (source: http://www.washington-baltimore-paganclergy.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/wiccaprofile.pdf). 

The Puralism Project at Harvard University has a variety of statistics sources, several of which make estimates related to the pagan population.  In 2000, the Covenant of the Goddess, a highly regarded pagan organization, suggests that there were about 768,400 pagans and witches in the US.  The Ontario Consultants from Tolerance.org suggest a population rate of 750,000 (with a 50% margin rate for all errors) and The Witch’s Voice estimates a population of 1 million pagans and witches in the US and 3 million worldwide.  Additionally, When Carlson says that there are more Zoroastrians than Wiccans in an effort to make the population of Wiccan and pagan practitioners appear small, his efforts do not negate the validity of the Wiccan faith, diminish the significance of the faith system to its followers, or devalue the tremendous spiritual fulfillment Wiccans derive from their religion.

Clayton Morris then mentions the University of Missouri’s Guide to Religions: Major Holidays and Suggested Accommodations and the Wiccan and pagan holidays included in the guide.  Nowhere in the guide does it say that pagans and witches need to have all of their holidays recognized.  In fact, if the hosts take a look at the guide, eight Wiccan holidays are mentioned, not 20 as it is erroneously mentioned in the hosts’ conversation.  (and yes I can name them all).  The eight holidays include Samhain, Yule, Candlemas (also called Imbolc), Ostara (also called Spring Equinox), Beltane, Summer Solstice (also called Litha), Lammas, and Fall Equinox.  If one looks under each of the holidays in the guide, there is a description of the holiday along with some information detailing pagan practices.  However, there is no mention of any recommendation whatsoever to stop planning exams or significant study activities.  Thus, despite the fact that Wiccan holidays equal about one-fifth of the 46 holidays mentioned, there are no recommendations that would suggest to faculty members of the university to allow the holidays to influence academic planning. 

Wiccans do not choose their religion based upon the number of holidays in the faith system.  For Clayton Morris to say such a thing is ridiculous and is tad amount to saying that a Christian is a follower of Christ because they like to take Christmas and Easter holidays off each year.  When Carlson later asks how many Wiccans can name all of their holidays, guessing about 50%, again such a comment is completely out of line.  Any Wiccan who is a sincere practitioner will have little difficulty telling anyone about the eight seasonal sabbats celebrated on a yearly basis. 

In the discussion, Carlson mentions that the downside of Wiccanism is “that it is obviously a form of witchcraft,” and this statement raises two questions.  First, does Carlson know anything about real witchcraft at all?  Since he identifies the “upside” as being a “ton of holidays,” and he states, “Every Wiccan I have ever known is a compulsive Dungeons & Dragons player or is a middle-aged, twice-divorced, older woman living in a rural area who works as a midwife,” it is clear he knows little.  When he co-host Clayton Morris pipes in his view and says, “and [Wiccans] like a lot of incense,” the extent of their knowledge about the Craft and its practitioners is made brutally clear.  Therefore, knowing as little as the hosts of Fox News and Friends Weekend do about witchcraft, Wicca and its adherents, what puts them in the position to judge?  Second, witchcraft is a downside for who?  If the practice is not right for the hosts of Fox News and Friends Weekend, that’s perfectly fine, but why then is it necessary for the show’s hosts to devalue the practices and beliefs of others? 

As far as Samhain (Halloween) being a major holiday for Wiccans, the day is one for honoring deceased ancestors.  The hosts mock one of the most sacred sabbats, suggesting it is not something to take seriously.  Then Clayton Morris suggests that Halloween is an event that has more to do with paganism than Wicca.  Here it should be mentioned that paganism is an umbrella term for people who do not follow the major Judeo-Christian religions, and Wicca is just one branch of paganism.  A bit of research will reveal to the hosts of the show that modern Halloween practices are actually pagan based practices.  If they had read the university’s holiday guide more thoroughly they would have been able to read the full description of the holiday on the university’s website that reads as follows:

“One of the four "greater Sabbats" and considered by some to be the Wiccan New Year. A time to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on, welcome those born during the past year into the community, and reflecting on past relationships, events and other significant changes in life. 

General Practices: Paying respect to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets and other loved ones who have died."  

Wiccans honoring of Halloween is no different from when Christians honor the death and resurrection of Christ on Easter.  Just as Easter holds tremendous significance to those who follow Christ, Samhain holds great meaning for those who are adherents of Wicca. 

As for the interview with Tammy Bruce with her suggesting that Wiccans and Pagans are being used for political purposes and to devalue tradition, the question arises, how do our equally valid traditions devalue the traditions of other faith systems, especially when the university’s guide has no recommendations to make any academic changes for Wiccan holidays whatsoever?  How does the integration of Wiccan traditions “downgrade” other traditions through an “anti-tradition action?”  With confidence in speaking for the majority of the Wiccan community, Wiccans are pleased to have come as far as to have their holidays acknowledged as celebratory events.  Nowhere have Wiccans demanded academic accommodations for them.  Of course, if Wiccans did start asking for holiday accommodations, there would be absolutely nothing wrong with doing so.  Again, Wiccan celebrations are just as significant, important and meaningful as holidays in any other religious tradition. 

Anna makes mention of when Christians in the U.S. say “Merry Christmas” to others it is sometimes viewed as pushing one’s faith on others.  In part this sentiment is true, and the issue works both ways.  A Christian might be highly unappreciative of someone wishing them a “Blessed Samhain” or a “Blessed Lammas.”  The underlying message in such situations is that it is important for everyone, Christians, pagans, and people from all faith systems to have consideration for others.  Whether we agree with someone’s religious values or beliefs is of no import.  What is most important is that we respect one another and act in considerate ways: this is something the hosts of “Fox and News Weekend” failed to do.

There is a petition on Causes.com looking for Wiccan practitioners who want to demand an apology from the hosts of Fox and Friends.  Interested individuals can sign the petition at the following link http://www.causes.com/actions/1733105-demand-fox-news-apologize-to-pagans-and-wiccans.

A Facebook page has been established, demanding an apology from the show’s hosts as well at https://www.facebook.com/FoxNewsPagan.

The co-hosts of Isis Paranormal Radio are planning a discussion on Sunday, Feb. 24 related to the show and the hosts’ commentary.  Interested individuals can listen to the live online radio show at 1 PM ET at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isisparanormal.  Listeners can join in the conversation, call into the show, and express their opinions in the chat room.

Article by: Dayna Winters, a Wiccan and the co-author of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? BreakingThrough the Misconceptions.

Yuletide Greetings for the Witch in Your Life

Acknowledging the holidays celebrated by the special Witch in your life is a wonderful way to express appreciation for and understanding of a very unique aspect of your loved one. When December rolls around, why not add a personal flair based on an understanding of what this season means to those close to you who practice Wicca? By doing this you can deepen your understanding of what this time means to your loved one, while also showing that you are willing to acknowledge a large part of what spiritually fulfills the individual.

Unlike many other holidays, there is a great deal of overlap in seasonal celebrations this time of year with pagan and Wiccan celebrations. In fact, unlike Samhain which may take some practice to get used to, the Wiccan celebration in late December bears a name with which most of us are familiar: Yule.  It is important to note that many traditions and customs later carried out during December festivals such as Christmas, St. Stephen’s Day, and other Winter Holiday traditions originated in pre-Christian, pagan cultures. The roots of many of these traditions still hold strong in the modern Wiccan and Pagan celebration of Yule, or Midwinter or Winter Solstice. This holiday occurs circa December 20-22, depending on the year. It marks the beginning of winter. A great example of a special tradition for Yule is the decorative or functional Yule Log, or an evergreen log with holes drilled along the side for candles. Holly, Mistletoe and other natural accessories of winter are very important and symbolic, as well as beautiful accents used during this holiday. Even wreaths and other remnants of nature’s stoic survival in the harsh winter months make great Yule gifts.

As it marks the heart of winter in the northern hemisphere, this holiday is a fire festival. Any gifts that bear the mark of fire, from candles, to warm spicy foods and ciders, to specialty stews or toasty warm blankets, carry the energy of this holiday: warming the heart and home and uplifting the spirit in an otherwise dark time of year. Gifts that capture the light are a great way to acknowledge this season as well, and can be given in the form of sparkling, glittery or shiny ornamentation, jewelry, and household accents. Gold colors are significant this time of year as they relate to the Sun and this is being the holiday marking the “rebirth” of the Sun God.

While most symbols of Yule are close enough to other winter holiday décor and symbolism to be compiled together in one big politically correct happy family, acknowledging the specific celebrations of one you know to be Wiccan can be deeply heartwarming. When in doubt consider that since Wicca is a nature based religion, most symbols reminiscent of winter holidays that stem from the natural world will be held in high esteem. Go for the holly, mistletoe, and pinecones in decorative or fragrant arrangements, even the reindeer as symbolic of the “Stag King” (fertility representative of the God) or any variety of candles or representations of warming and fire. Choosing gifts carefully can help you avoid awkward moments on the holiday and during family or workplace gatherings.  With the right gifts you can demonstrate that you took the time to choose seasonally appropriate gifts for the known Wiccan in your life: gifts that show an understanding and respect for Wiccan holiday customs and traditions.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

The Devil You Know….

by Fuzzypeg/Wikimedia Commons

When the Devil card appears in a Tarot reading people have strong reactions. “Does this mean I am evil?” they ask, or “Is evil around me?” they wonder. Neither is the case, although the second fear comes closest to the implication of this card. The Devil appears stark and sinister, a demonic looking beast seated authoritatively, smugly watching as a distortion of the “lovers” stand in chains at his feet. There is often black or dark backgrounds, flames appear and we know this is an indicator of difficulties encountered by the Querent in his or her journey. The Devil in Tarot is a helpful indicator, though. Not to be confused with the presence of evil, this card represents the presence of an interpersonal type of evil; the enslavement brought on by compulsion and addiction.

It is no surprise that during prohibition alcohol was likened to and called “the devil” or a “demon” and people describe embarking on rehabilitation processes as personally being called to “face their inner demons.” A popular Irish folk song calls Whiskey the “devil” and “Demon Rum” was a popular term in days past to conjure the reality of those living with alcoholism, and alcoholics, in American history. The Devil here is not portraying an evil person or entity, it is alerting the Querent to the fact that their life is being drained and slowly overtaken by some form of compulsion or addiction. Looking at the other cards, or discussing this with the Querent can often yield clues as to what that addiction is.

Regardless of the external vehicle for one’s addiction, it is a force to be reckoned with. It assumes a position of power, becoming an obsession and taking priority over all other goals and relationships. High moral posturing aside, those who have been acquainted with the demon of addiction know all too well that no one is spared its influence.

A loving parent will follow the inner obsession with their child in the sidelines; a dedicated worker will find their career infiltrated by the infestation of their addiction. It creeps in gradually with allure and seduction and slowly takes hold, taking no prisoners. Usually before one realizes it, the wondrously gratifying illusion they have been pursuing has brought havoc to their lives and relationships, naturally they simply try to leave, only to find they are fastened in place by heavy chains that are not so easily unlocked. Just as the fellowships of AA and NA propose that it takes a power greater than an individual to restore “sanity” in the grips of an addiction, so do we see the powerful clutches holding the Querent in slavery, likewise sucking away any chance at spiritual progress so long as the Querent remains in bondage.

When this card appears, there is a need for some higher intervention, a greater perspective, and a force larger than will or ego to help break the chains tying the figures to each other and the Devil. What that powerful benevolent force will be will depend on the situation. It will involve some form of spirituality that has been missing from this dark vacuum of compulsion and obsession, but the type and manner can be varied based on the individual’s lifestyle and circumstances.

When the Devil appears be ready to face facts; something that began as rewarding and pleasurable, fun and positively reinforcing, has taken on a life of its own. What has enslaved you? What do you feel you cannot live without? Are there relationships that have become compulsive, needy and codependent? Has work become an obsession, draining energy from you and keeping you from nurturing other goals? Are substances like alcohol, pills, drugs, or even food carrying more significance than they should? Are processes such as gambling, cleaning, exercising or care-taking defining you more than your spiritual path, leaving no room to have a life? These questions can be difficult to answer because as dark as the Devil is, this card also represents a sense of need and often accompanies a belief that the substance, behavior, or relationship is needed and that without it life would not be manageable. This is a false illusion.

It can be useful to contemplate both the Devil and Lovers card and meditate on what has been missing, what is needed to set the figures involved free again. As always don’t hesitate to seek professional help if matters seem to be beyond your personal control, and when the Devil card appears there is a pretty good chance things have reached that point.

Temperance - Finding the Right Combination

by Fuzzypeg/Wikimedia Commons

While navigating the landscape of the less desirable within the Major Arcana of the Tarot, The Fool has encountered a challenge requiring Strength, has been hung out to dry as the Hanged Man, and has recently undergone the transformation of Death. Now a light beckons. A peaceful landscape, a serene pool and a divine winged figure present what will perhaps be a relief after all. The Temperance card promises calm, tranquility and balance. It promises these things, but does not automatically grant them. With Temperance, we must conquer the challenge of patience and prudence. This is no easy task in a modern era in which most would rather be scraped from head to toe with straight razors than have to wait for delayed gratification. The Temperance card reminds us of the need to cultivate patience. The right combination will be found, success will be had, and accomplishments will be achieved. Just not right now.

Death brings a transformation and sometimes painful losses. Temperance brings a challenge to the soul as well - that of a gradual emergence into relief. The Fool would love to tear through the kitchen throwing ingredients into a skillet to whip together an impromptu stir fry which just might be tasty. Zest for life and enthusiasm pulling the reigns, caution and reason nowhere to be found. Temperance on the other hand, carefully hand picks the finest quality foods, carefully combining one at a time into a slow cooker, allowing the aroma to waft through the air. Dinner will be served - eventually. Luckily we know that with Temperance, our reward will be worth the wait. Now as for the whole waiting thing….

Temperance challenges us to delay spontaneous reactions. We must re-examine our motives, and strive for balance. If we are used to acting in complete control and flying solo, we are now faced with the need to share, to admit that we have not perfected every skill and to find the blend of talents, resources, strengths and capabilities to bring about a more ideal combination. Esoterically speaking it is a card of Alchemy, purification through combining the right increments of the right elements. This requires a knowledge that spans beyond the comfort zone and allows for gradual exposure to ideas or skills that may be foreign or new. Compromise, combination, pulling creative forces together, this is the nature of Temperance. There is no dash to the finish line here.

This card suggests processes involved that contribute to a whole. Assembly, separate skills brought together for a common good, specialization and cooperation and harmony and contribution as part of a team rather than for individual gains. When this card appears it is a reminder that as good as you are at your trade or niche, it is by combining talents with others of equal skill in complimenting areas that completion is found. You may be required to exercise patience while working as a team or coordinating or collaborating on a project over which you do not have complete control. It is a card of acceptance, surrendering, cooperation and moderation of efforts. It is also a card of creative energy, bringing the best of your abilities to the fore, combined with the best resources in your surroundings, including other people, and bringing together various facets to find completion, refinement and achievement. Just as the Magician earlier in this process granted the lesson of wielding one’s thoughts to manifest in reality, Temperance raises this lesson an octave. It is not just the refinement of one’s thoughts and restraint of one’s reactions that cultivates success, but the discipline of one’s own mind and collaboration of skills with others to serve a common good.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.