Announcement
PRESS RELEASE
Dixie Deerman, HPS Coven Oldenwilde
Phone/fax: (704) 251 - 0343
e-mail: Oldenwilde@aol.com
Word count: 780
Hallowe'en time is fast approaching, and with it, the usual murmurs of demonic rites and satanic kidnappings. This year, however, such rumors may be dispelled by none other than area witches themselves. Members of the Old Religion are coming out of the broom closet and inviting everyone to watch or participate in Asheville's first public witches' ritual on Monday, October 30th at 7:30 p.m. at the Asheville City/County Plaza in front of the courthouse. There Wiccans plan to educate their city neighbors that the witches that live and work among them practice a peaceful, celebratory Nature religion, not black magic.
The rite is free, but canned goods will be accepted for donation to a local food bank. Interested parties should meet behind Habitat for Humanity on S. Lexington at 7 p.m. Everyone will "center" (focus their energies), then proceed on the sidewalks to the City/County Plaza green. Those participating will join hands to form a circle, and the rite will begin with the calling of the powers of the four directions. Wiccan clergy will lead everyone in a simple chant while weaving a web of undyed cotton rope through their hands. When the web is completed, all will dance the perimeter of the circle, spinning the web like a giant dreamcatcher. With this rite, the witches hope to symbolize the continuation of their strong bonds within the community. Everyone will link hands and end the ritual with a spiral dance.
The rite itself precedes the Wiccan sabbat, or holy time, of Samhain (pronounced "sow-in"). More commonly known as Hallowe'en, this night is celebrated by the general populace for its spooky feeling, crisp air and adorable children who taunt adults with pranks to elicit candy. Witches mark this night as the beginning of their New Year. They believe that on the night of Samhain, the veil between the ordinary and spirit worlds is thin, enabling them to honor their ancient dead. The early Catholic church, aware of the Old Religion's persistent appeal to the people, renamed the day All Hallows to encourage reverence of saints.
Witches have existed since the dawn of time. The wisest of their tribes, they were the original healers. They were midwives, metal-smiths and prophets who guided the others throughout their lives. Witches foretold coming events so their people could prepare for problems, increasing their chances of survival. Rites were powerful, to ensure success in the next day's hunt, abundant harvests, and painless childbirth. Witches of old were esteemed far longer in history than they have been reviled.
Grassroots popularity of the Craft in America is mushrooming, partly because of Wicca's reverence of the sacredness of the female as the giver of life. Witches worship the Goddess as well as the God; indeed, many are polytheists honoring many Gods. This sharp contrast to the staid patriarchal framework of Christianity is viewed by many as more life-affirming and fulfilling. Women witches are highly esteemed, run covens as High Priestesses and have power positions in an ancient religion while being simultaneously barred from becoming clergy in the mainstream religions.
The spread of Christianity nearly wiped out pagans of many nations. Persecution forced magical practitioners to go underground with their beliefs; to initiate in secret, to make tools of wax easily broken if detected, and to pass along their traditions orally. Recent repeals of anti-witchcraft laws and the diminishing power of the Church have enabled witches to lead lives of magic a bit more freely. Though many groups of Americans once ostracized have benefitted from a more tolerant shift in people's perceptions, witches as a whole feel they remain misunderstood and feared by the majority. Frequently equated in both Hollywood and the pulpit with Satanists, modern witches counter that Satan is a Christian concept they do not believe in, and, therefore, cannot worship.
In reality, witches are ordinary people living and working throughout the world, meeting at sacred times to do spells to ensure the continuation of a very troubled planet. Witches are tree-huggers, watchers of tides... people who listen to the wisdom in the wind. Though they may differ in particulars of practice, all witches share a deep respect for the Earth and for life. Their one rule is that despite their abilities, they must not harm anyone. Wiccans spend many years learning and perfecting many forms of magic, from dowsing and dream interpretation, to Tarot and astral travel. Some practice alone as Solitaries, and some work in groups, or covens. Others operate on the national level through such organizations as Covenant of the Goddess.
Return to First Public Samhain Ritual table of contents.
Return to Asheville's Public Samhain Rituals.
Return to Coven Oldenwilde's home page.
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