How to Spot a Terrible Coven
Any time I write about ritual nudity, conversation about the downsides of group work always ensues. Nudity and sexuality are touchy subjects because there’s a lot of room for abuse, power-tripping, etc. When I write as a proponent of skyclad practice (and magical sexiness generally)—when I describe the emotional and magical benefits within my own tradition and private practice—it’s not to dismiss the reality that some groups and individuals are just terrible. “Terrible” includes a variety of infractions, spanning the mildly irritating to holy-shit-call-the-police. Because of this reality, I present to you a guide that will hopefully make navigating things a little bit easier:
Everyone’s heard horror stories about what can happen to hapless seekers who stumble into unscrupulous teachers and covens. Unfortunately, Pagan, witch, and other occult communities sometimes act as a refuge for the unsavory. Our collective openness to the marginalized (because of our own experiences being marginalized) and our penchant for tolerance (because of our own desires for tolerance) mean that we’re hesitant to exclude. On more than one occasion I’ve witnessed predatory interlopers show up at open circles or festivals for the sake of harassing young women. More common are the self-appointed Occult Adepts™ and Witch Queens™ advertizing online (and sometimes in the flesh) for students—Wiccan initiations for the low-low price of $200!—who don’t have the credentials or experience they claim. Sometimes they’re out for your money, but most of the time they’re just out for the power that being a high priest or priestess appears to command. At best, they waste your time. At worst (well, one version of worst), they leave you with long-term scarring that causes you to reject magical communities in the future.
Read more: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/oathbound/2015/04/how-to-spot-a-terrible-coven/#ixzz3Yeem9vQt
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