Totems (and Why Not Everyone Has One)

It seems to be quite the little fad in the Pagan community in which everyone thinks they have an "animal totem". I see numerous forum threads and/or blog posts asking "What's your animal totem?" or "Find out your animal totem here". Little do these people realize they're perpetuation nonsense fed from HORRIBLE sources who think it's ok to STEAL (yes, I used the right word) cultural aspects from indigenous peoples, and it needs to be stopped.

For one thing, you're misappropriating a cultural tradition. Just like the ceremonial Headdress of many a Native tribe (which is worn as a fashion statement to many a music festival and concert, to which we natives find VERY offensive), totems are not something you just throw around because you think it applies to you. It's not a fashion trend or some revered animal you like. Just because you love wolves, eagles and foxes; dream about them and hang their image on your walls doesn't mean this is your "animal totem".

The animal totem is believed to be the emblem or founder of certain indigenous Native tribes. When you go around claiming that the "Wolf" is your totem, you're essentially mocking those Native tribes who take the symbolism of the Totem VERY seriously. It's almost borderline racism.

I mean, you wouldn't walk around with an African ceremonial mask on and claim it has spiritual significance to you having absolutely nothing to do with the African heritage from whence it came, would you? No, because that would be culturally inappropriate. You don't understand the true nature behind the mask, so why would you think it would be ok to wear one? Same concept goes behind assuming you have an "animal totem".

It's perfectly fine if you love the animal you love. It's ok to find spiritual association with them, to revere them in great ways and honor them with whatever decoration you wish. But don't assume these are your animal totems. The animal totem is not what everyone thinks it is.

Animal totems are NOT animals you:
-dream about
-are fond of or have affinities for
-find on an online quiz
-are told from a friend or even stranger
-find following you around the neighborhood


Animal totems ARE culturally important aspects of the spiritual nature found within many Native tribes and clans. They hold great spiritual significance to these people just as much as any Pagan finds in the religion they follow. You see the uproar that happens when a right- or left-wing party misappropriates Pagan religions and turns them into a farce, yet many Pagans find it perfectly acceptable to misappropriate cultural aspects that have ZERO to do with Eastern Pagan systems (including Wicca!!) Excuse me for saying, but HYPOCRITE much!!

The only way a person has a "Totem" is if they are part of an indigenous clan or tribe (and can PROVE their association). No clan/tribe? No Totem!

A Misappropriating "Council"

It has recently come to my attention that there is a "Council" forming, again calling themselves the "American Council of Witches". Not I, nor anyone else I have talked to has been consulted about this "Council" therefore we feel that this group does not speak for us, yet they want to somehow represent us. How can a "Council" represent it's constituents without asking them for their opinion or consultations?

For the record...I...as a practicing Witch who has studied and practiced for going on 15 years...do NOT accept this "Council" as representing me nor any other practitioner of Witchcraft who does not recognize this "Council".

I feel it is a misrepresentation and a misappropriation and want to distance myself from any association with this "Council". This "Council" leaves a bad taste in all our mouths, especially when they don't credit questions asked (and post openly on their site) and delete any comments that disagree with what they are creating.


For the record, this "Council" does NOT represent ME as a practicing Witch. I am not a Wiccan (something they seem to naively associate with Witch and believe are synonymous terms), and do not follow the "13 Principles of Belief" as stated by the ORIGINAL "American Council of Witches 1974".



To see for yourself the misappropriation, click link
http://www.americancouncilofwitches.com/

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**UPDATE**

Seems like this group, like it's predecessors has disbanded (or just given up on the idea entirely). The site is no longer operational and the FB site is gone.

If you're going to create a group that is to represent a LARGE, almost global following, you NEED the input OF those people. You can't simply create a "Council", call it "THE" and expect no one to call you out on it.

And if you do....be prepared to answer ALL questions asked in a timely manner, as well as clearly and concisely. That was the problem of this "council"...they couldn't answer 80% of the questions they were asked, and any questions that were answered were met with skirting the issue, and avoiding the main question.

It's not surprising this group "disbanded". But just for the record...I am not a part of any "Council" claiming to represent ALL Witches, unless otherwise stated. My practices are my own and are not governed by any groups, councils or organizations. PERIOD!

"What does this MEAN?!?!?!??"

I get a kick out of some of the questions I see on a regular basis. There is no end to the illogical queries I see asked by so many people out there. Do all these people really think there is some sort of "occult" or similar reason for the many mundane, logically-explained things they see every day?

1) Dreams: I see so many people asking what dreams mean. Typically if a dream stands out in your mind for days at a time OR repeats or is recurring, there could be some sort of meaning to it. But...if you had just a random dream last night, it doesn't necessarily mean there is some meaning behind it. I saw one post on a forum where the member said "dreams always mean something"; No...they don't! As Sigmund Freud said: "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar", meaning a dream is just a dream meaning nothing at all. And Freud was a well known psychoanalyst, who would analyze patient's dreams. If you can't find a meaning to a dream or it's got you "stumped"...perhaps that's because there's nothing to analyze and it means nothing. Not all dreams have to mean something, and no, dreams don't normally mean what you think (i.e. marriage meaning marriage; baby means pregnant).

2) Animal parts on property: Another common question I see asked. Not all animal body parts are the result of "Witchcraft" or other sinister means. When I drive down the highway, and see a dead animal, my mind doesn't automatically jump to the conclusion that a Witch deposited it there. I think logically, and realize that this poor animal was hit by a car and died. If we use this same logic and apply it to animal parts on our property, we can conclude the most likely reason is other animals. Foxes tend to roam around farms attacking small livestock (i.e. chickens, baby animals, etc). Wolves tend to roam around sheep farms. If you see a rooster wing on your front lawn and you know there is a farm nearby, logic dictates it was most likely a fox that killed the bird, and left a wing behind. Hardly anything sinister...it's just nature.

I'm not going to discount the remote possibility that there could be something out of the ordinary going on once in a while. Some odd scenes that could logically conclude the involvement of the occult or Witchcraft would probably involve more than a simple rooster wing. Many Witches would create elaborate creations as manifestations of their spells or other works, and would place them in what would seem to be odd places (while being perfectly normal to them). If the rooster wing were to include strings, herbs, odd liquids and stones...THEN perhaps I would logically conclude some sort of occult activity. However, if it's just a wing...it was a fox.

I'm a Witch...but I don't jump the gun and think everything out of the ordinary is automatically Witchcraft. Sometimes people pull pranks, and poor Witches get the blame; sometimes it IS Witches, and you were unfortunate enough to stumble upon something they're doing. 9 times out of 10 though, what you see that's odd has a more logical explanation. It's just like UFO's. 9 times out of 10, UFO's we see in the night are logically explained. Airplanes, satellites, helicopters, RC planes, weather balloons, Chinese fire lanterns, etc.

When you encounter something you can't quite explain, let logic help you first. If logically you cannot explain what you see...then perhaps assume the occult. Don't jump the gun right away...you'll end up looking foolish once the real reason is discovered.





Ma’iingan

Supernatural, Fictional Creatures vs. Witches.

Hmm...Deja Vu...I think.

Ok, sometimes when writing my blog posts I may start writing about the same thing, bear with me, cuz this time I thought I wrote about this already, but can't seem to find it.

So many people think Witches belong in the category of supernatural creature, along with the vampire, zombie, werewolf and mermaid. Let's look at the difference between them and us.

Vampire - Thought to be a creature known as the "Living Dead" in which the person is dead, but walks around as though living, feeding off the blood of victims in order to stay alive. The logic in such a creature actually existing? There isn't any. NO ONE can walk around dead, and live only off blood. It's unhealthy, and impossible. Sure, there are vampire lifestyles out there, but that doesn't make them REAL vampires. REAL Vampires are the stuff of fiction and legends. Walking around with pale faces, dark, gothic like clothes, black-dyed hair, and red makeup doesn't make you a vampire, it makes you a poser.

Zombie - Another living dead creature, only this time it feeds on the flesh of the living. Where the vampire's body still functions, the only functioning part of a zombie is it's brain. There is no activity in the heart or lungs. It's only sole in (after)life is to feed. So far, there is no such creature living in such a way today (but then, give it a few years (or even the end of the year, as so many like to think..."zombie apocalypse")).

Werewolf - A person whom, at the right peak of the full moon (or even a glance at it) transforms the infected into a wolf-like creature for the night, then back to human form the next day. What's the problem with this one? It all comes down to anatomy. The human anatomy cannot accommodate for the parts of a wolf. Humans and wolves are shaped and built differently. There would be massive bone fractures, hemorrhages, muscle and ligament tears should a transformation occur, that it would kill the victim. There would be no going back. This is science FACT people. No one can turn into a werewolf.

Mermaid -  I'm not sure which one I'm more sick of seeing most...Vampires or mermaids. The logic behind a mermaid doesn't seem right. The upper torso of the human body is built to accommodate an environment of air and other non-toxic gasses, it's not suited for a life under the water. I was watching a show once where a guy thought he saw a mermaid swimming by. They did all kinds of tests to see if it was possible for a mermaid to exist, but in the end, they determined that IF mermaids existed, they would look NOTHING like Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" They would actually be quite the ugly creature. It would need gills to breathe, protective skin to withstand the cold temperatures of the ocean, and prevent an over saturation of water in the skin (you know, like when your hands get all prune-y after washing the dishes or having a bath?). The scientific, logical facts behind mermaid are that they do not exist, and cannot exist. I have yet to see anyone come up with a good enough reason as to how they can possibly exist, and still maintain their...fantasy physique.

Now comes the Versus part

Witches - Common, modern day (and even pre-modern day) Witches don't really fit the criteria needed for a supernatural creature. The FICTIONAL Witch, is portrayed as a green skinned, warty old hag, with black scraggly hair, riding a broom, casting spells that appear in an instant and in a big poof of smoke, cackling with laughter after each malevolent act. The FACTUAL Witch is average looking, with varied skin tones, and of varied age (ranging from late teens and beyond). Any acts participated in can be EITHER benevolent OR malevolent, however neither produce instant results (and very few of us cackle after each act).

I have yet to see any legitimate Witch make a wild claim, like they could fly in the air on their broom, make things appear out of nowhere, or even make money fall into their laps by a mere thought (oh how I wish the last part actually happened, I'd be debt free and living comfortably).

Witches are no more supernatural than your favorite artist, craft maker or baker. It just makes fiction more fun when they "exaggerate" what Witches are and do. There IS a logic behind every act of Witchcraft (that is...behind every REALISTIC act of Witchcraft). We're not all running around in capes, waving a wand and yelling "Expecto Patronum"








Ma’iingan

"Nine Challenges of Being a Witch"

While there isn't a place to respond in the articles section of "Llewellyn" I though I may as well post it here...more people would probably read it here as opposed to there anyways

Nine Challenges of Being a Witch

1. Taking Self-Responsibility

Yes, I agree that a Witch must be responsible for his/her actions and speech. But I don't think it should only be limited to those who practice Witchcraft, but for EVERYONE in the world. It's so easy to place blame upon another person (or in this case a creation as the author uses the "Devil" as an example), especially if that "person" has no voice to defend him/herself. Responsiblity is a big thing...something no one wants to take, especially if they've royally screwed up.

Witches must remember that we have something most people don't: a broader understanding and a unique education system, therefore we know a lot more than some people, and knowledge is power. With great power comes great responsiblity. Let us always keep this in mind.

2. Living with Nature

Firstly, I just want to note, it's not that Witches "choose to reconginze that we are part of nature"..many Witches realize that they were a part of nature all along, they had just been told we are a separate entity, thanks to other organized belief systems, and many scientific theories. They don't "choose" to identify with nature...their eyes have been opened to the realization of their inevitable interconnectedness was there straight from the start.

Now, it's just as important for the mundane society to recognize the benefits of nature, as it is for Witches. Because we possess this greater knowledge, it may be our responsibility to perhaps make those mundane people understand the value that is in nature.

However, I wish to say this: My Dear Llwellyn. Not all Witches believe in deity figures. Witchcraft is NOT a religious system, though it is flexible enough to be able to incorporate religious elements if the individual practitioner so wishes. Witchcraft is a practice. It does not require religious elements for successful practice. I'd say that it's quite naive to believe all Witches believe in some form of deity figure. Deities are more of a religious context, and are more fitting within a religoius setting, rather than in a craft setting. You don't see chefs worshipping the God of Cooking as they prepare meals, do you? Why would you assume that all Witches worship the deity of Witchcraft as they work their craft? There IS a such thing as an atheistic Witch!

As for changing our ways...yes, while we as humans need to realize that the actions we take against nature may ultimately destroy her beauty, we also must realize that nature will not allow that to happen to her. Once fed up with her creatures poking, and digging at her, she retaliates with a fierce force. We must understand that Nature is a far more powerful force than us mere mortals. We can't win over her, thus should attain to live in harmony WITH her.

3. Facing our Shadow Side

I'll agree that Witches need to face the dark side of ourselves AS WELL as our lighted side. To maintain a balance (as so many claim they do), they need to understand that life isn't always pretty roses and colorful rainbows. Our lives are filled with fierce storms and rough earthquakes too, and there's nothing wrong with acknowledging those in our lives.

I can admit to the many earth shattering events in my life, and know that they have indeed allowed me to grow as a person. They have not beaten me down, and I look back fondly on those memories and know with great pride that they have made me a better person. The dark side of our lives isn't necessarily something bad, or something we must shun away We can embrace our darker selves to gain a greater knowledge ABOUT ourselves. We shouldn't force it into the light and turn it into fluffy clouds...that breaks us down into something sterile and plastic. Embrace the dark, for without the dark, we have no light.

4. Following a Different Ethic

The first line of this point, to me sounds a LOT like a Christian priest during his homily or sermon: "Too many people follow laws and commandments without living in the spirit from which they sprang. Some do what is right only because they fear judgement."

No offense intended here, but from what I see, that's almost exactly what the Rede sounds like. For the most part, particularly with newbies, they follow the rede almost literally "An it Harm None, Do As Thou Will", and they only follow this for fear of the reprocussions of what will happen if they DO harm; the "Karma" that follows (please see my post on Karma for my views on the New Aged ideas of Karma).

I also think it's naive to assume ALL Witches are Wiccan. I say this only because of the automatic assumption that people (particularly the authors of this post) believe all Witches adhere to the "Wiccan Rede" (I quote directly from this piece: "Witches live by the Rede, "An it harm none, do as ye will"). For one to follow the Wiccan Rede, one would have to be a Wiccan. Not all Witches practice Wicca and DEFINITELY come from varied backgrounds ranging from Christian to Norse, Celtic to Eclectic (and continues on from there, of course).

While some may have similar beliefs to the Rede, that doesn't mean they adhere to the Rede itself. Many Witches adhere to their own form of ethics; for instance mine is "to be responsible for my actions and to accept the consequences OF those actions". This ethic, while not as poetic or short as the Rede, simply means that I can do what I feel is necessary, being negative OR positive, and by taking whatever actions I do, I must accept what comes of it. THIS requires me to think hard about the actions I am about to take; to determine if the action is necessary. The Rede merely determines harmless actions, and allows the follower to perform whatever harmless actions they wish. I prefer to be able to perform both harmless AND harmful actions, based on the degree of need, of which **I** determine, without the guilt trip hanging over my head. I don't need a guilt trip; I need to assume responsibility.

Naturally there are those who will try their hardest to live a harm-free life; and there will also be those who wish to inflict as much harm as they can. The adherence also to a Threefold law also doesn't resonate with all Witches. Not all Witches believe that what's sent out returns in a pre-determined amount (I know I don't). Not all Witches believe ANYTHING returns, while some believe what's sent out returne multiple times until the person learns their lesson. The fact of the matter is...to lump all Witches into one category doesn't help anyone. Witchcraft is an eclectic system, no matter how hard we try to label each system within. Each individual; each "tradition" is as varied as the next one. There's nothing wrong with all Witches "marching to the beat of their own drum", so I don't see the need for everyone to try to force us to "dance" to the exact same "song". We all just don't have the same "rhythm". Why is that so hard to accept???

5. Being Free

"As Witches we must think for ourselves, and refuse to be guided by...dogmatic religions or political ideologues."

I agree wholeheartedly with this excerpt. However, for us Witches (Witches, not Wiccans) to be able to live as freely as you suggest...Wiccans CAN'T be confining us to THEIR ethic. Just because we do not follow the Rede DOESN'T mean we have no ethic. The Rede is NOT the only acceptable Pagan ethic around, so Wiccans MUST STOP assuming it is. They are at risk of being Christian-like in their ideals about proper ethics and beliefs. This will be a hinderance, not a help to those who practice Non-Wiccan Pagan religions.

Being free means finding our OWN beliefs, rules and practices; following what feels right to US, not what's determined by one group.

6. Having Faith

I think faith doesn't always have to be reflective of a religious belief. One can have faith in themselves, in their ability, in others, etc and not have that mean they're focused only on the religious aspects of those things.

7. Living in a Wider Reality

It doesn't necessarily take a "special kind of mind" to imagine such a reality...everyone has the ability to understand that the universe is vast and expansive, that goes far beyond our five senses. The problem lies in those who undermine such understandings. Those who must bring people "back to reality" (or their idea of reality), claiming that science explains all and that everything in this universe has some sort of explanation, when the fact is, not everything that exists in this universe can be explained. There are most definitely things, events and abilities that are unexplainable...just because we can't explain why or what these things are, doesn't mean they don't exist. We can't explain how we as a species got on to this planet (we have theories, both religious and scientific, but they're still just theories), does this mean we don't exist?

8. Working Magic

Again this author seems to want to separate Witches from the "average" person. Witches are no more unnatural than anyone else in this world. We carry no more "power" than anyone else, the only difference between us and "average" people is we have taken the time to learn how to use what we all have inside to achieve the goals we set out for ourselves, using unconventional means. It does take a long time of study and practice to become proficient in Witchcraft and working magic...it doesn't come overnight, or after reciting one spell...but because of our study, and dedication, this doesn't separate us from "average" people, because they can learn it just as well as any of us.

9. Transforming Ourselves

Change is a hard thing to accept, even for us Witches...therefore for the author of this piece to claim "we embrace change instead of wanting things to stay the same" is somewhat erroneous. It would be better for her to say we embrace change, some of the time, as we are all humans and sometimes cannot always accept change, whether for the good or bad.

I think the ultimate goal for us as Witches is to make the transition in change as smoothly as we can (however difficult some can be). Change is inevitable and doesn't always have to be painful, because even some change can be a wonderful thing.