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The Powerful Appeal of Modern Witchcraft — Even for a Skeptic
In Witches of America, Alex Mar explores the world of contemporary Pagans — and finds herself drawn to their practices. The following excerpt finds her preparing to participate in a weekend-long gathering.
Before the gathering, we each received a packet over e-mail outlining the weekend (it continues to amaze me how much oath-bound witchcraft is made possible by the Internet and Yahoo Groups). In reading it over a few times, I was struck by a defining quality of most rituals I’ve taken part in: the setting of expectations, and the role those expectations play in the group’s experience. The packet included a request for four volunteers to “tend the circle” during Saturday night’s particularly high- energy ritual, “keeping a Witch Eye open for uninvited guests” (i.e., unwelcome spirits), and an additional six to act as “spotters” or “tenders” for the newcomers.
Before the gathering, we each received a packet over e-mail outlining the weekend (it continues to amaze me how much oath-bound witchcraft is made possible by the Internet and Yahoo Groups). In reading it over a few times, I was struck by a defining quality of most rituals I’ve taken part in: the setting of expectations, and the role those expectations play in the group’s experience. The packet included a request for four volunteers to “tend the circle” during Saturday night’s particularly high- energy ritual, “keeping a Witch Eye open for uninvited guests” (i.e., unwelcome spirits), and an additional six to act as “spotters” or “tenders” for the newcomers.
http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/10/powerful-unlikely-appeal-of-witchcraft.html?mid=fb-share-thecut#
