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Your Rights Depend On It
Thoughts On Our Image At SamhainYour Rights Depend On It
A friend just called to say that decorating elves in her office had put up the ubiquitous warty, green faced witch figure on the wall, next to the Frankenstein, Dracula and the other holiday whatnot. Here's the good news: they were good enough to take it down the evil hag image when she asked them to. Thank you, nice people.
A lot of folks don't know why we dislike that image. In short, it is for Pagans the equivalent of black faced entertainers to African American feelings. (And for some of us that's putting it too mildly, see "She Returns: The Halloween Witch" below). I appreciate the fact that her co-workers listened to my friend and honored our heritage and beliefs, even though they do not share my spiritual path. Which brings me to the image I've posted here. It looks to be the exact opposite of the Halloween Hag, yes?...or no? Or is it just another cliche? (Click on the photo to see the larger image and get the full effect). Speaking for myself, I have a love/hate relationship with this photo. It is beautifully done. The women and the silky, golden-eyed black cat (1) look great. At the same time, I could wish they were laughing or looking more like women together really do then posing in such a serious, witchy woman-gazing-into-the-distance kind o' way. (Fine for a album cover, sure, but not quite the image I think of when I remember the faces of my women friends in circle who do, I'll admit, look fab in costume). In fairness to both the photographer and the subjects, they may have chosen to do it this way simply as a gothic giggle - no harm at all in that. But when I look at it, as a Witch, I think that this is, in many ways, how we Pagans like to see ourselves - beautiful people in romantic clothes, mystic ..er...mist whirling around us, eldrich gazes that hint of things not normally wot of and, of course, the Hogwarts owl. Such a mythic, muggle tease this image. Somewhat limited, as well. As Terry Pratchett likes to say "It bodes".
You Say "Witch" Like It's A Bad Thing !?
This stuff is fun, I know, you should see my closet. Still, I keep thinking that this photo really doesn't capture the Witches I know, women who tend to have armfuls of laundry, or kids or food. Often as not you'll see them with garden dirt on their shoes and a book on their minds. What if we took a photo that's a bit more real, one that showed three witches in a kitchen where we see a cauldron (used, not showy) next to the recycling bin? Let's put some tarot cards (or beads or knitting or a CD) on top of a long To Do list. Put them in street clothes, with the pentacles and such tucked inside their clothes, close to their hearts. Not nearly as sexy an image, I know, but it's a bit more true to form. (2)
Here's another thing: As a Green Witch who does, in fact, live in a forest, I'm thinking, "Gosh, they must be freezing out there". Go ahead and laugh, I've known covens go out in into the cold wearing much less and others who think they have to drum the sun up in February and then wonder why they all get so sick every year. Our great-great grandmothers knew better then to wear fru-fru outdoors in winter, and those candles! Unshielded?...in the woo-eds? Somebody's gonna start a fire. Still, the girls are lovely aren't they? Not a wart among 'em. So, I'm of two minds about this one, even as I love the idea of the fun they must have had when making it.
To me, this photo begs a question: When do we move beyond both the scary Hag and the dark, sexy/dangerous (Succubus! Incubus!) fantasy images in the public mind and become just Jack and Jill, the Pagan folks down the street? When that day comes, you and I will be much safer. Yet, when we move from being "the other" to "just folks" we will need to lift our fair share of the civic load. I hope we are up to the task. Are we willing to do that as a group? When you think about it, it is so much easier to stay in the shadows, looking "Cooler than thou", and chant......
What do you think?
Blessed Samhain, Happy Halloween, A Peaceful All Soul's Night and a Joyous Dia de los Muertos to you all,
Sia
Related Articles:
Pagan Celebrations Honoring The Dead At Samhain
article at SF Gate
She Returns: The Halloween Witch
Those Pretty, Sexy Witches
Pagan & Earthwise Groups Doing Charity Work
Day of the Dead Feast & Recipes
Lovely video, too. I want to eat at Mama's place.
Dia da los Muertos (Day of the Dead) webpage
This is a lovely page filled with history, recipes, art, crafts and altar notes and photos.
Go Vote!
Endnotes:
(1) Only one? Not bloody likely. But major points for showing the image of a happy, friendly and well cared for cat instead of the spooky, evil or frightened beast we usually see this time of year.
(2) A cat is sleeping on top of the (very full) bookshelf. Perhaps there is a dog nearby waiting for that walk in the park. Add a cell phone and maybe a lap top. There is pot of bubbling soup on the range or maybe a cake in the oven Put some sacred herbs in the spice cupboard and a pile of bills on the counter, held down by a handmade trinket from someone she loves. Now add a busy bulletin board to the wall. It is covered in photos of friends and family, and some greeting cards with nature images or art pieces she finds compelling (you might not recognize the meaning n all these images but she'll explain this if you ask). Add the odd poem or two. Look closer; there's a note reminding her about that rally/fundraiser/charity drive/PTA event she's organizing even though she said she was going to say "No" more often. There, I think we have it.
Hat tip to Mindmist for the image by Isselinai
Note: Old Samhain
Old Samhain is the midpoint in the year between Autumn Equinox and Winter Equinox or Yule. A Cross Quarter holiday, Samhain occurs when the sun is at 15 degrees Scorpio; this year it is Nov 07, 2008.
Herbs, Fruits, Veggies, Spices, flowers, and Evergreens I use to celebrate Samhain:
Acacia, Acorn, Alder, Allspice, Almond, Amaranth, Angelica, Apple, Asphodel, Basil, Benzoin, Betony, Bindweed, Blackberry, Blessed Thistle, Borage, Broom, Burdock, Carnation, Catnip, Chrysanthemum, Cinquefoil, Cinnamon, Clove, Cocoa Leaf, Copal, Corn, Cowslip, Cypress, Dahlia, Dragon's Blood, Elder, Enchanter's Nightshade, Evergreens, Frankinsense, Gourds, Hazel, Heliotrope Mint, Marigolds, Mugwort, Mushrooms, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Oak leaves, Pomegranates, Pumpkins, Rue, Sage, Straw, Turnip, Yarrow, Yellow Cedar, Wormwood.
Recommended Reading:
The Sabbats: A New Approach to Living the Old Ways by Edain McCoy
Rodale's Herbal Guides
