Cultural Backlash: An Open Post

[causticus]

There were some interesting discussions on yesterday's Magic Monday post and on the past month's or so posts on the Ecosophia blog regarding the collapse of alternative spirituality in the West and a likely impending cultural backlash against decades of general rot and grubbiness that is decaying our civilization from within.

Some of us here in the US are afraid that a sudden cultural jolt in the other direction, away from leftism/progressivism, will result in any type of spirituality that doesn't fit a narrow, literalist Christian/Abrahamic format as being seen by the reaction mob as "part of the problem." Anything the people leading and directing this backlash deem to be adjacent to the aforementioned cultural rot will be lazily lumped together into one big, bad conspiracy against what they believe they are trying to save and preserve. This likely means anything occult/esoteric, overtly pagan, or too foreign will be included, with very little nuance. As we know, the moral collapse of both Neopaganism and the postmodern occult scene hasn't helped matters at all in this respect, especially in light of recent tragic events.

Anyway, I want to know what anyone else here thinks of this and anything in your own area (US or somewhere else) you have seen indicative of a new cultural direction that may or or may not involve the condemnation of the things I listed above (or anything else that comes to mind). Also, we could use this space to think up ideas on how to preserve and carry on various spiritual teachings and practices if/when an intolerant religious climate becomes reality.

This is an open post that will stay open for quite a long time.

Comments

[sanctuaryofroseandchalice]

I've been thinking about how Pagans and Polytheists could "rebrand" themselves so that they come off as either silly or sinister. Just enough respectability to be left alone. These are some brief initial thoughts. For Witches drop the "Witch" label, the negative connotation (both historically and due to recent events) is not helping. Firstly, emphasize the "craft of the Wise" part of the Path more so than the "Witchy" part. I suppose Witchcraft could be rebranded as Wisecraft or Witcraft, but that implies individuals being called Wizards. That's too Harry Potter for my comfort, talk about not being taken seriously.

Greco-Roman polytheists and Heathens should ditch the togas and furs and leathers respectively. The classic white robes of the Druid revival may still work outside of the USA, but in America most folks associate white robes with a certain organization (you know who). Where does this leave us for ceremonial clothes? I say a post on twitter advocating a style of clothing from the 5th century common to both Germanics and late Classical Romans (if I find it again I'll share the link in the comment section). Laity could where business casual, or their "Sunday best." Even sharp looking vintage clothes would be an improvement.

That's all I have for now. Feedback is appreciated.

Sincerely,
Sanctuary of the Rose and Chalice

[slclaire]

Most of the US Druids that I know (and I am one) wear robe colors other than white, or if they do wear white, it's regular clothing styles that happen to be white. I'm an exception - I'm wearing my white robe in the photograph - but I took the sleeves off, leave the hood down, and wear it on top of street clothes to avoid drawing on the imagery of the group you referred to. I have been thinking about adding a purple coneflower design to my robe as it is my favorite flower and a source of inspiration; I'm bumping that plan up on the to-do list. In the meantime I'll do my rituals in street clothes as I usually do outside of the Druid holy days.

Iolo Morganwg wrote that depending on a Druid Revivalist's specialty, green, blue, or white robes were worn. That may have been something he made up, or it could have been a bit of authentic lore that he found, but it does provide for options within the Druid Revival tradition. AODA does not dictate robe color or style; it's up to one's personal Awen or inspiration.

I don't have anything to add to what the rest of you have brought up so far, but the issue is certainly on my mind.

[(Anonymous)]

Good ideas...!

As a solo practitioner I don't have a set of robes. I wear my regular clothes. In the warm months I might take my shirt off, but I'm in a city, so I'm inside.

Anonymous Anonymous

[(Anonymous)]

Someone on the Ecosophia blog mentioned rebranding as cottage core. That makes sense to me. Kitchen witches, etc. Lots of right leaning Christians are getting into herbalism and such now... could be some crossover appeal as they really start to learn from plants.

Anonymous Anonymous

[causticus]

That aesthetic would be much better, yeah. Have to drop the "Witch" bit though. Once you remove the cursing and other forms of nasty magic from contemporary pop "witchcraft" you're left with with a grab-bag of watered-down ritual and folk magic practices.

Just call it "Folk spirituality" or something innocuous like that.

[(Anonymous)]

Good idea... thanks for all your responses, and hosting this btw. The folk element could be good, cause there is a lot of folk stuff that is essentially Christian. Hoodoo, appalachian folk magic, even some "traditional witchcraft"

AA

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, and you see that with people like Violet Bertelsen (violetcabra on Dreamwidth), an herbalist and occultist who in recent years has reoriented her books towards a Protestant Christian audience.

[causticus]

That's quite interesting. I remember conversing back and forth with Violet a few years ago.

[causticus]

I totally agree with needing to drop the "Witch" label. It was puerile and purposefully-transgressive from the getgo and those attitudes have only gotten more obnoxious with time. Not only that but "Wicca" and "witchcraft" as something to identify one's organization as needs to go as well. Neopaganism in general has always been caught up in the transgressive aesthetic and in function (POSWID) has been way more about being anti-Christian than it's been about promoting and practicing a positive spirituality of its own (there's been exceptions of course, but the general pattern holds strong). It won't be too long until most ordinary people associate "Witch" with "Satanist." Self-identified "Witches" have done no shortage of stupid things to make this conceptual association plausible.

On what to wear, I know that the more serious of Heathen groups have embraced the "Sunday best" type attire for lay participants. For Druids or any other sort of polytheist cleric, the simple white alb robe works just find and doesn't stand out as anything remotely weird or nefarious. I agree that wearing a toga or bear pelt or whatever is totally stupid and and immediate sign that one's religion/spirituality is unserious. The cosplay nonsense has to go.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't have much skin in the game in "how to dress as a polytheist" -just wear stuff that you like and is practical. Until whatever wave of pagan persecution happens (or doesn't) its best to probably at least not make yourself a target. I think we can all agree on that.

AA

[causticus]

Yeah, dressing ordinary when out and about is the most sensible. And if you're doing some ritual or other activity in the privacy of your home, then wear whatever.