wicca and goth

[D. Medvedev Fan]

why do some people associate them like they do?

[Piebald]

While there are many people (like Justin, for example) who treat Wicca like a religion, there are many, many other people (especially teenagers and young adults) who treat it like a flakey fad. "Goth" is also a fad. Goth and Fad-Wicca both share the same theme: I am mysterious, scary, intimidating, and different *cue crack of thunder*.

So if that is the kind of theme you are going for, you pick one or more gimmicks that match that.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go cut myself with a straight edge so my parents will pay attention to me and post the pictures in my livejournal :: sigh ::

[James Peter]

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go cut myself with a straight edge so my parents will pay attention to me and post the pictures in my livejournal :: sigh ::

:lol:

I think Hamster pretty much nailed it. There is an awful lot of overlap between goths and wicca - especially in the 'teen' segment (and those who think they're still 14 when they're actually 25).

For many (note: there are exceptions, many of whom are on here) Wicca is just a way to 'shock' and 'rebel'. "I'm a witch, I can do spells...I'm so cool! Everyone be scared of me!" Its a shame really, I think the majority damage the reputation of the minority. Then again, thats true of christianity too...

[tmancour]

:lol:

I think Hamster pretty much nailed it. There is an awful lot of overlap between goths and wicca - especially in the 'teen' segment (and those who think they're still 14 when they're actually 25).

For many (note: there are exceptions, many of whom are on here) Wicca is just a way to 'shock' and 'rebel'. "I'm a witch, I can do spells...I'm so cool! Everyone be scared of me!" Its a shame really, I think the majority damage the reputation of the minority. Then again, thats true of christianity too...


Actually, while I agree with the general assessment, there is an element to this that I think you're missing.

One of the foci of Wicca and related religions is an emphasis on "living a magickal life". While this is a little hard to describe, it is usually something that takes many years, many false starts, and many . . . ahem . . . unusual side trips before we master it. One of the ways in which we persue this is the choice of a magickal name, and it is quite common for the young Wiccan to choose something gothy (The "Goth Talk" SNL skit, with "Circe Nightshade" keeps coming to mind) because at that age everyone wants to wallow in their own adolescent misery. Similarly, finding clothes that reflect that "tragically magickally hip" inner self is likewise common. And while it is tempting (ohhhh, soo tempting . . .) to give these kids verbal abuse for their pretention and arrogance, it is a phase. And an important one. Gothy stuff gives kids who feel alienated a focus, gives kids who feel powerless a chance to feel dangerous, and if properly understood it can help them navigate through the very real horror of high school.

Similarly, the later period of the early 20s is usually when the goth persona is shed for something more mystical and crunchy, also taken to the extreme. You move from "Circe Nightshade" to "Rowan Silvershadow" and the clothes go from lots of black and lace to something a little more Tolkien-y. Mid-20s, you see the emergence of the "Rainbow Warrior" earth-cookie. In ages past this is usually when they discovered Marx or Ayn Rand or both, but since both of those fell out of favor in recent years the militancy is usually channeled towards more socially and environmentally active issues.

Late 20s you see the discovery of shamanism, Carlos Castenada, and mystical truth. It is at this point that the young witch realizes that they really should get a job, a car that works, and start thinking about the mundane future. This is the phase in which the real magickal persona starts to emerge. There might be vision quests. And drum circles. And sweat lodges. They start to realize that maybe they don't have all the answers, and maybe their parents weren't quite the stupid reactionaries they thought. It is also at this age when every red light becomes a mystical experience, and arcane areas of thought are explored.

All of these phases are important to the eventual settlement of the magickal persona, and if nurtured carefully and understood for the psychological issues they reflect, a wise teacher can help them through it without them making total asses of themselves.

But that almost never happens.

Arion the Blue

[Dave G]

I saw a goth guy on one of the news channels who took the name Voltaire. The anchorman was asking him about similarities between gothica and satanism, and he said that satanism affected all walks of life, there are satanic businessmen, and farmers.

My question: Has this guy ever been on a farm?

[Durthorin]

I saw a goth guy on one of the news channels who took the name Voltaire. The anchorman was asking him about similarities between gothica and satanism, and he said that satanism affected all walks of life, there are satanic businessmen, and farmers.

My question: Has this guy ever been on a farm?

Voltaire.?? If its the guy I'm thinking of is sort of a Goth Singer/Comedian/author..


Goggle a book titled "What is Goth?"




From Publishers Weekly
Simply put, a Goth is "a fan of gothic music" (a rock-and-roll subgenre that emerged out of the late-1970s punk scene). In general, Goths wear lots of black clothing, favor pale skin and sport black lipstick. They’re drawn to the darker aspects of human existence: death, romance, feelings of loneliness and isolation. Sounds like a fun bunch, huh? Voltaire, author of the comic book series Oh My Goth!, actually makes it seem so with this handy guide to Goth culture. Similar in layout to The Preppy Handbook and last year’s The Hipster Handbook, the book matter-of-factly dissects a subculture, with copious photos and descriptions of various types. There’s the Sad-Sack Drac, a combination of 19th-century nobleman and vampire; the "Oh Crap, I Forgot to Wear Clothing" look, which entails looking like a cheap French hooker; and many others. Voltaire’s humorous approach will lift the lid on Goth mystique for many. As he puts it, "They’re basically just melancholy.... The truth is that very few Goths actually kill themselves—they’d much rather contemplate suicide and then just write a really bad poem about it."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


I've seen his show... and have to admit he is a hoot. Does a Star Trek Goth routine

[Malista_Dove]

:lol:

I think Hamster pretty much nailed it. There is an awful lot of overlap between goths and wicca - especially in the 'teen' segment (and those who think they're still 14 when they're actually 25).

For many (note: there are exceptions, many of whom are on here) Wicca is just a way to 'shock' and 'rebel'. "I'm a witch, I can do spells...I'm so cool! Everyone be scared of me!" Its a shame really, I think the majority damage the reputation of the minority. Then again, thats true of christianity too...


I do agree that many teens will admit to being Wiccan or a Witch because they want others to fear them. They want attention and they want others (bullies) to leave them alone. Alot of them claim to be Wiccan and yet know nothing of the Wiccan past. Alot only know of such things as spells.

Alot of teens think that being Goth and Wiccan are the same. I think they believe Wicca is the same is witchcraft. People view witchcraft as dark and mysterious. They believe it to be dark arts. So when people think of Wicca...they think it is the same thing and so they try to form to societies view of witchcraft: dark, mysterious, lonely, creepy, and powerful.

These teens are often called "Fluffy." They believe what they are told and do not even try to seek information on the truth behind their "so called" new religion.