The Sacred Hearth

The Pagan community is beset by issues related to its lack of organization and not the least of these is the very real possibility that people claiming to be Pagan teachers will use the mystery of Pagan religion and the promise of power associated with magickal traditioni in order to victimize Pagan and magical seekers. We periodically hear in the news about adults claiming to be Pagan or Wiccan luring young people into their homes with promises of mystery, excitement, power and drugs only to victimize them in one way or another, oftentimes claiming that this abuse is a normal part of the Pagan religious experience, or is necessary to gain the "power" needed to perform magicki.

Recently a grown woman revealed to me that she had been approached by a much older man who claimed that she was a "natural witch" and that he had been attracted to her aura and would like to teach her. As she had been looking for a teacher she was thrilled. Later he told her that the hierarchy had approved of her as his sex magick partner and that she was to meet him at a particular house where, supposedly, the entire coveni would be there to witness her induction to witchcraft through sex with him. Huh? This was a woman who had no clue what sex magick was. She had not even been properly inducted and had not learned the basics of magick and now she was supposed to just show up at some house and put out so that she could be part of a coven she really knew nothing about? I think not. We didn't hear about her on the news because she didn't go.

Not that sex magic doesn't have it's place. Of course it does. But it is not for beginners. No teacher of any integrity would insist that a pure newbie perform a sex act in order to receive training. Beginners are terrible at sex magic anyway. If you have no idea how to control your energies in the first place, just exactly how are you supposed to do it while having sex? Throwing sex magic at a newbie is a sure sign that a potential teacher is no good.

Another warning sign to watch out for is the old "natural witch" line. Anyone who says that you're a "natural witch" is selling something. He or she is playing up to your ego. The fact is, everyone is a "natural witch". Every human being on this planet is born with the potential to create magic. Alli you need to do is learn how. Some people are more attuned with different styles, but nobody is born absent the ability.

Drugs are another tool used by these predatory "teachers" to victimize unsuspecting seekers. Yes, drugs have their place within some magical systems. However, anything you can do with drugs, you can usually do without them. Astral projection sober is easy, unless you've gotten used to doing it stoned. If you use drugs as a crutch to achieve altered states of consciousness, you'll soon find that you're unable to do it without the drugs and that's a dangerous position to be in. Addiction is not helpful in magic. It hides our true selves and it makes our intent unclear and thus our results unreliable. If you must use drugs, you cannot use the same drugs during rituali that you use for recreational purposes. Otherwise you will soon find yourself leaving your body at a party or unable to do so at a ritual. If your teacher doesn't understand this, then your teacher needs some more training before he or she teaches someone you.

Most Pagan religions emphasize following the law of the land among their rules of conduct. If your potential teacher wants you to do something illegal, or anything at all you're not sure is right or that makes you feel uncomfortable, then listen to your warning bells and just walk away.

Any teacher who attempts to victimize a potential student in this way should be reported. Unfortunately, because Pagans are poorly organized, we have no internal structure to deal with predatory teachers, no outline for certifying good teachers and no recourse aside from going to the police and having the entire community look bad in the eye of the media. Don't let this hold you back. Predators must be stopped. If you do not report someone who attempted to victimize you, this means they get a free pass to go victimize the next person. Don't be responsible for someone else's pain. Go to the police immediately. The Pagan community will sort itself out.

Check out Isaac Bonwits' Cult Danger Evaluation Frame for more information and tips.