http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/12/few-quick-items.html A modern Pagan perspective Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/12/few-quick-items.html#comment-21397 The Wild Hunt » The Pagan in South Africa’s Parliament Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:58:31 +0000 http://patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/12/a-few-quick-items.html#comment-21397 [...] piece seems to illuminate a split in opinion among South African Pagans and Witches, while some want to be accepted and named as Witches, and are fighting against anti-witchcraft laws for fear it will affect them as well, Williams (and [...] [...] piece seems to illuminate a split in opinion among South African Pagans and Witches, while some want to be accepted and named as Witches, and are fighting against anti-witchcraft laws for fear it will affect them as well, Williams (and [...]

]]> http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/12/few-quick-items.html#comment-21396 Anonymous Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:15:00 +0000 http://patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/12/a-few-quick-items.html#comment-21396 I'm not going to post my name in that I am not the only person who stands to have a problem if I do so--it's more for the protection of others than myself that I remain anonymous. So I hope that's forgivable--if not, then so be it.There are a number of issues that I have with Ms. Vos, but they can all be listed under the same heading, and that is that she purports to be a Wiccan but shows little to no interest in following what are the Wiccan tenets, most particularly the Rede, and this has caused problems for other Wiccans because the public sees what she does and judges the rest of us accordingly. While this may be a rather dogmatic attitude, I have to say that I resent her advertising herself as a Wiccan when she is a very different <i>kind</i> of Wiccan than I am, and that most of the Wiccans I have met are, and when that advertisement reflects badly on the rest of us. I understand that not all pagans do follow the Rede, and that's perfectly fine--so long as one does not say that one is a Wiccan. But when one lives in a way that does harm to those around one, and then claims to adhere to a "harm none" type of tradition, then it's no wonder that Ms. Vos is regarded with some skepticism--it's hypocrisy of the highest order. I understand that she has a lot of spaghetti behind her name that would lend credibility to her expertise, but there is a difference between learning and living what one learns. To me, that simply means that one <i>does</i> know better, and yet simply ignores what one knows--and that is more a problem than if one causes harm or misrepresentation via ignorance.My experience with her is that she has a hard time behaving in a way that correlates to what she supposedly believes, and that kind of mixed message is harmful not only to those who deal with her on a personal basis, but to all of us who are painted with a broad brush because of her reputation. My personal belief is that we all have a responsibility to one another, especially in these times when an impeccable reputation can do much to support <i>all</i> pagans. Because she has a bit of the limelight, particularly, it would be especially important for her to be aware of how her reputation reflects on the whole of the community, but I've never witnessed any indication that she knows--or cares--about that.Your mileage may vary, of course, but as a Wiccan, I look at this and know that what she does can impact the kind of work <i>I</i> can do, and the way that <i>I</i> am seen by the public. I resent that, personally and for all the people that I do know who hold a higher standard of ethics, and who should be respected for that, rather than to be lumped in with a person who is not willing to practice what she preaches. I’m not going to post my name in that I am not the only person who stands to have a problem if I do so–it’s more for the protection of others than myself that I remain anonymous. So I hope that’s forgivable–if not, then so be it.There are a number of issues that I have with Ms. Vos, but they can all be listed under the same heading, and that is that she purports to be a Wiccan but shows little to no interest in following what are the Wiccan tenets, most particularly the Rede, and this has caused problems for other Wiccans because the public sees what she does and judges the rest of us accordingly. While this may be a rather dogmatic attitude, I have to say that I resent her advertising herself as a Wiccan when she is a very different kind of Wiccan than I am, and that most of the Wiccans I have met are, and when that advertisement reflects badly on the rest of us. I understand that not all pagans do follow the Rede, and that’s perfectly fine–so long as one does not say that one is a Wiccan. But when one lives in a way that does harm to those around one, and then claims to adhere to a “harm none” type of tradition, then it’s no wonder that Ms. Vos is regarded with some skepticism–it’s hypocrisy of the highest order. I understand that she has a lot of spaghetti behind her name that would lend credibility to her expertise, but there is a difference between learning and living what one learns. To me, that simply means that one does know better, and yet simply ignores what one knows–and that is more a problem than if one causes harm or misrepresentation via ignorance.My experience with her is that she has a hard time behaving in a way that correlates to what she supposedly believes, and that kind of mixed message is harmful not only to those who deal with her on a personal basis, but to all of us who are painted with a broad brush because of her reputation. My personal belief is that we all have a responsibility to one another, especially in these times when an impeccable reputation can do much to support all pagans. Because she has a bit of the limelight, particularly, it would be especially important for her to be aware of how her reputation reflects on the whole of the community, but I’ve never witnessed any indication that she knows–or cares–about that.Your mileage may vary, of course, but as a Wiccan, I look at this and know that what she does can impact the kind of work I can do, and the way that I am seen by the public. I resent that, personally and for all the people that I do know who hold a higher standard of ethics, and who should be respected for that, rather than to be lumped in with a person who is not willing to practice what she preaches.

]]> http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/12/few-quick-items.html#comment-21395 Robin Edgar Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:26:00 +0000 http://patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/12/a-few-quick-items.html#comment-21395 Care to put your name to that comment Anonymouse? And fill us in on the gory details while you are at it? Care to put your name to that comment Anonymouse? And fill us in on the gory details while you are at it?

]]> http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/12/few-quick-items.html#comment-21394 Anonymous Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:06:00 +0000 http://patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2008/12/a-few-quick-items.html#comment-21394 The story regarding Donna Vos would be more optimistic and compelling if she weren't the most unethical priestess I've ever met in my life.... The story regarding Donna Vos would be more optimistic and compelling if she weren’t the most unethical priestess I’ve ever met in my life….

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