Ma'iingan's Mashup

It's time...for another episode of "Ma'iingan's Mashup"!!!

1) "Don't be so Open Minded..."
--Driving home after running a few errands today I passed an electronic billboard outside of a church. The brightly lit message read "Don't be so open minded, you'll spill your brains" or words to that effect.

I couldn't believe I read that! After reading that, what popped into MY mind was "Don't be so closed minded...you'll suffocate your brain". 

2) "Im Wiccan but not Pagan"
--lol I saw this in a forum discussion and I just had to laugh at it. By definition, Wicca is a Pagan religion, so for one to claim they're Wiccan but not Pagan makes NO sense lol. Another forum member asked if they then strictly practiced Witchcraft. If they did, then by definition they would be a Witch and not a Wiccan, yet still sorta Pagan (going by definition, of course). And if that were the case, why would she call herself a Wiccan? By ignorance, perhaps? I was originally interested in the discussion purely for the debate, but now I'm interested in it for a much different reason lol.

**Update**
Boo-urns...for some reason the blog topic is gone. I was really interested in what this person had to say. I really wish this discussion continued. Blargh.

3) "Black Book of Shadows"
--In the same forum as above, someone starts a discussion in which they encounter someone who claims they work the "dark side of the craft", and plans on making a "Black Book of Shadows". By this I assume they plan to input dark magical information.

-_-...stares blankly...blinks repeatedly

Um...I have probably a dozen "Black" books of shadows, and they all pretty much contain the same information. In fact, for probably the first 5-8 years I'd been a Witch, it was almost DEMANDED that a Witch use a BLACK book of shadows. When I created my first book(s) (my book took up three notebooks), it was taboo because I had used what I could find and all I could find was a flowery, shiny purpley-pink notebook (of which I still have). Heaven forbid my book not be black!

Anyway, at the time all Witches created their books with black covers. None of them were "working the dark side of the craft" or whatever, in fact, many of them (or at least the ones **I** talked to) found a "dark side" distasteful, and anyone who WAS a part of something "dark" were looked down on (NOTE: I know better now), mostly because they were into it for showmanship, rather than anything practical.

Anyway. I see this post and think to myself in a sarcastic manner...congrats buddy. You're making a "black book of shadows". I have maybe half a dozen black books of shadows. I also have brown ones, multi colored ones, and ones with prints, and they all have the same info. It's not that compelling that you make a "black book of shadows" because you work the "dark side of the craft". I work what many would consider to be a "dark side" when needed, but 1) I don't flaunt that information as though it were a banner...I do it primarily for protection and 2) I don't store it strictly in a "black" book. Look around my blog and you will see my other books.

This dude seriously needs to grow up. I'll assume this person is probably 13, saw some new fad tv show featuring a spell book and thought "hmm...I wanna do that because my life isn't that interesting".

It makes me feel sorry for all of us who truly embrace this craft and try to make it in this world in a serious manner, and have to deal with children like these. It's no damned wonder no one takes us seriously.