A Question for the Wiccans.

Jun 28 16:35 UTC 1994

How much theater is there in Wicca nowadays?  That is, would
a solstice ceremony or new moon ritual hold any interest for
non-Wiccans?  Also, would you mind awfully being stared at?
You know how agnostics and Jews will attend a midnight
Christmas service at a High Anglican church, just to ooh
and ahh at the splendor of it all, and the Anglicans couldn't
care less?  Have you reached that level of self-confidence and
openness to the curiosity of "outsiders" yet?  

response 2 of 169:

Jun 28 20:43 UTC 1994

By and large, I don't mind non-pagans being at public rituals,
as long as they make some attempt to join in with the ritual.
If they just sat in a corner and stared at us, I would get
really ticked off, and that would ruin any effects the ritual
might have.

Private rituals are, of course, private, so it's up to the
group to decide who gets invited and how serious they should be.

response 4 of 169:

Jun 29 15:29 UTC 1994

I think that the only problem that *I* have of those who come to just "see" is
that those who have preconcieved notions of what it will be like (like this one
guy who thought that it would be satan worship).  Other than that...I do not
mind a bit!  Infact...that is how I cam to know it, by just comeing to an open
ritual, and MEETING people...

As for "theater" umm...I dunno what you mean.  There is a "presentation"
sortoof but it is DEFINATLY interesting to look at, and more to be in.  

I MIND ALOT being stared at.  if you are going to do it, and be there, just
try and concentrate on you...that is MY philosophy.  When I was Catholic, I got
stared at, and it bother the HELL out of me (no pun intended) :)

response 6 of 169:

Jun 29 17:00 UTC 1994

I've never heard of a ritual blade, in Wicca, being used in a staged fight
scene scene...where did you hear this Brett??  It could be that while he was
creating the circle he poked someone accidently. But that's why generally
speaking ritual ritual blades are dull. Less chance of cutting someone. Has
anyone heard of ritual fight scenes at all, let alone with weapons...??

response 8 of 169:

Jun 29 19:12 UTC 1994

Alex Sanders was quite a guy, wasn't he?  I read Stuart Farrar's
book about Alexandrian Wicca, I think the title is "What Witches Do",
and if that's what witches do, I ain't a witch.

response 10 of 169:

Jun 30 02:09 UTC 1994

an amen, here? doubt it.
maybe an "AmenPraiseBobHallejulah," from ol' fuz, though.

response 12 of 169:

Jun 30 05:37 UTC 1994

I love what the Farrars write, just for the writing, but I seldom agree with
what they say...  Oh well, it beats Buckland, who can't write his way out of
a paper bag and has written the same book about four times, equally badly,
with slightly different god and festival names... (Sorry for the off-topic
rant.  Pet theme.)

I've seen some excellent public ritual, and some terribly weak and/or confusing
stuff.  I think Open Arches tends to do fairly strong and impressive work, 
although I don't always agree with the choice of myth.  Perhaps GLPC goes too
far in the direction of being safe, and loses some impact or focus.  The 
Wiccan Church of Canada does an public ritual in a park every Sunday night,
advertized and everything (indoors of course in the Winter), and they do some
of the best public ritual I've seen although not every one of their rituals
are that memorable- kind of depends who's running it and how experienced they
are.  I don't think they tend to do "mystery plays" as much as Open Arches does
ADF, which isn't wiccan at all, is specifically set up to offer large public
ritual 8 times a year with groups being free to do other, closed, more intense
rituals besides.  

I can't imagine anyone being cool with gawkers, and one effect of casting a
circle can be that it gets hard to look at or to see the people inside.

Blades are impressive, but can certainly cause problems with observers or the
cops.  Oh well, a bit of caution goes a long way.

response 14 of 169:

Jul 7 01:17 UTC 1994

I have to disagree on that one - we had an Open Arches ritual where
a few of the folks decided to sit off and watch the ritual rather
than participate.  The energy just did not flow.  (I mean, even moreso
than at a typical OA ritual.  >8)  Finally, Aurora asked them to leave,
we got going again, and it went really well from there on.  Maybe
it's just us, of course.

response 16 of 169:

Jul 7 15:05 UTC 1994

I was speaking for myself.  It's unlikely I could find a group of people who
would all feel equally comfortable with quiet watchers.  When I was first
ing, I _did_ sit quietly in the wings while my wife went through a solitary
ritual and that was no problem for her.  But I know that others in my coven
would completely despise the concept, regardless of the relationship.  We have
had two rituals now, though, were hangers-on were present within the circle,
and they didn't do anything (by their choice).  It worked for some (most), but
I'd ruther'd they stayed out of the main action.  Maybe it's because of the
size of the group -- we have but nine, which are rarely all there.  I dunno.
There ae so many variables, it would have to be a group-by-group,
person-by-person, ritual-by-ritual decision.  And it is indeed stranger to have
onlookers during Esbats (when we do our magic) than during Sabbats (when we
just celebrate).

response 18 of 169:

Jul 11 14:40 UTC 1994

For my part, I have done open rituals, but everyone was invited...I suppose
that makes it different.  The only problem we ever had was at my handfasting
when a good friend brought his mom!  A true blue Fundie.  She opted to sit
 outside of the circle...everything was fine until our HP called in theLord
as the "Great Horned God, Cernnunos"  and followed that up by casting the
circle with the coven sword. My back was to her, but I heard that she
almost passed out. :>  Interestingly enough, she doesn't appear on any of
the pictures or anywhere in the video.  I like ritual in ritual.  Myth plays 
are one of my favorites. My coven in Toledo did a "going behind the veil" for
Samhain.  Marvelous. Oh, I am Brighn's covensib. <g>

response 20 of 169:

Jul 12 05:00 UTC 1994

My first ritual, I had NO idea what to expect...same for my she'endrea,
nne..(who is in ireland right now)  We were BOTH nervous (our firsts were
at different times) but we articipated, and learned.  we has good energy,
and felt BETTER for having participated, then sitting out.

I get freaked if someone just stares in the backgound.  If they want to
be there, and learn, and understand, then the group should understand
and open up..it makess it feel SO wonderful!  *8^)

response 22 of 169:

Jul 12 17:49 UTC 1994

It all just depends...at my first, Aurora and Dreamsinger were wonderful
and helped people feel right at home...

response 24 of 169:

Jul 12 23:05 UTC 1994

Sounds like a very moving ritual.