No, seriously, where are they?
So, when I first started reading about Wicca and paganism, I went online. It was cheaper than a bookstore, and there was no need to explain to my parents why I was carrying around a book with a picture of a witch on the front. Not that they would have been mad, but I never really felt like dealing with the thinly veiled skepticism and condescension that they are humoring their strange daughter that comes up any time religion is brought up. (Still don’t, but at least now all I have to do to escape is hang up the phone.)
Now, this was back in the early to mid 1990s, so the internet was awash with geocities and aol pages filled with stuff. This was pre-blog, so rather than focusing on personal journeys, most of these were packed with information–spells, deities, rituals, traditions. They were also packed with animated .gifs, hard to read red text on black backgrounds, and those god-awful midis that played obnoxious music and top volume and didn’t have an off switch, but it was the 90s, so I’m willing to overlook that.
As I’ve found my way onto this path once again, I find myself wondering–where did all this go? I look and I find some blogs, which are great, but they focus almost entirely on personal journeys or news. The only information seems to be on the few geocities style pages that are still hanging around, and nobody who is used to the current incarnation of the Internet is going to be able to stomach those for more than five seconds, much less take them seriously.
So…where is everyone? Where’s the information? Sure, there are more books than ever but not everyone can buy books. It’s expensive, they take up space, people may live with others who don’t accept their path, or maybe they just aren’t to that point yet. So, are they just being left with a great void? Personal journeys and blogs are great, but when you’re trying to get started it can be frustrating to see people along the path and be stuck want to scream, but HOW DID YOU GET THERE!?!
Maybe I’m missing something, and there is some vast treasure trove of up-to-date, non-black background, non-midi, non-animated-.gif website out there that everyone knows about but me. Or maybe there isn’t. Maybe I should start one. Is there a need for this, or is it just me?
And someone please tell me, where have all the pagans gone?
Tarot Card of the Day: Three of Cups
I wish I could tell you. I know that I rarely talk about my own journey because I have been slacking…
I tried Witch Vox because that’s what everyone recommended but that really didn’t help me much. I mainly learned what little I know from library books and hounding people. I took a Wicca 101 class but it was a joke and the teacher canceled it after the first class.
Ok, what I forgot to put but might as well tell you about is that in the first (and only) class there was this adorable jewish boy who was writing a paper for a class about the similarities between all religons. He was so cute and awesome and young and hopeful!!!!!!!!! I was sorry that the class couldn’t continue for his sake as well since I think that would have a been a pretty cool paper.
LOL. I sometimes wonder if it’s a requirement that witchy websites be nearly impossible to read with jumping flaming animated gifs. Actually I have a list o’sites that I find useful in my work; if I haven’t sent them over to you in an email by the time I get back from vaca, remind me and I’ll do so.
And maybe you and I get to team up on a (ahem!) modern awesome website. Now there’s an idea!
Blessings,
Sue
i can ask my friend susie, if you’d like…she’s full of all sorts of information and my have a suggestion or two.
The sites have, thankfully, rationalised themselves somewhat so you don’t have to dither between three or four hundred!
Try wiccaforums.com, or whitewicca.com for good overviews and a good fellowship.
I’ve been searching myself… there are some good/interesting sites you just have to dig really hard. The only forum I really enjoy chatting on is filled with mostly UK wiccans… http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk. They also have fantastic resources there. They’re also very active.
http://www.paganforum.com is an interesting US based forum. Pretty active.
Also try http://www.witchvox.com not only do they list stores, clergy, services etc in your area but also if you dig (at the bottom of the page) they list articles on different subjects which are useful.
Also, sadly as I hate to admit this….. about.com has some pagan articles as well, however I feel quite silly looking for wiccan/pagan articles there.
Also – at first site this is one of those frightening geocities pages… but it really does have a wealth of information: http://www.pagan-world.com/paganinfo/
It might be the longest main page I’ve ever seen.
I have quite a few other pages bookmarked, you just have to delve deeper!
ya, you just have to search like a mad woman…