In the past few years, we have all recognized an almost unprecedented increase in interest in the Craft among an increasing number of people seeking to pursue a more spiritual path than has heretofore been available from traditional religious teaching. The Craft, in all its many forms, has been in the forefront of this increased interest. We must now accept the fact that the older traditions of training may no longer be sufficient to meet the needs of the increasing number on individuals evincing an interest in the Craft - there are just too few experienced witches who are willing and able to work with all those now exploring these paths. This lack has, predictably, led to more and more "How To" books making their way to the shelves of mystical and New Age bookstores, as well as to many of the more mainstream types of stores. And the new popularity of these books and the growing demand for access to Magickal tools and supplies opens the door to what many construe to be a dangerous trend.
While we see nothing wrong with the manufacture of tools for sale to those already skilled in their proper use, or to those under the tutelage of such persons, we of SOTEG are adamantly opposed to the willy-nilly commercialization of "instant enlightenment" or "do it yourself witch kits" in an exploitative manner!
We are concerned that the range of products now being made available goes far beyond the scope of providing basic information, history, and a true perspective of what we are. Do we truly want to provide access to information on the energies with which we work in the Magickal world to persons who may not as yet have developed the self-discipline and responsibility to use them in an ethical and responsible manner?
Those of us with experience in the Craft are all too well aware of the effectiveness of the energies with which we deal, and of the need for thoughtful consideration before invoking these powers to evince change in the mundane world. We can not help but be concerned that placing these tools into the hands of young people who may not yet have developed the degree of maturity necessary to understand the full consequences of working with these energies, without adequate guidance and supervision represents a growing danger to the healthy development of the modern Craft and its acceptance by society at large. We are deeply concerned that providing such access will, in the long run, cheapen our Craft and the ethical standards by which we stand.
Also, we are concerned that this commercialization of the dissemination of information on the Craft, if carried to extremes, violates the very oath to which many of us have sworn, in one form or another. In that oath, we have stated that we "…furthermore promise and swear that I will never sell my services, or accept coin of the realm for them, while acting as a representative of Lord or Lady. ---- I furthermore Promise and Swear that I will always endeavor to act within our Craft, both as a person and Priestess, with Love, Trust, Honesty and Integrity, for the furtherance of the Free Will and benefit of all of the craft, insofar as my abilities so to act permit….". It is the position of SOTEG that such unwarranted commercialization as has recently appeared in the production and sale of "How-To" kits being made widely and generally available represents a violation of this oath to which we have all sworn.
Our final concern represents what appears to be a targeting of the teen-age audience for products of this nature. In the first instance, we feel that the dissemination of religious and/or ethical teaching of children is the rightful responsibility of the parents of those children; we feel that the marketing of books and products to entice and recruit these young persons into the Craft, without adequate guidance is a gross exploitation of a vulnerable audience.
This concern has recently been brought to the forefront by persons within the Wiccan community, such as Silver Ravenwolf, among others, who appear to be targeting this impressionable population with a broad range of books and products designed as a "Do-It-Yourself" manuals on how to become a witch. They appear to be in opposition to the Wiccan understanding that the Pagan path is, and should be experiential in nature - not something that is presented as a system of belief, or dogma. That is why SOTEG has made a decision that, although we had previously recommended books by Silver Ravenwolf as a good starting point in pursuing the Wiccan Way, we are, at this point withdrawing our recommendation on the basis of unwarranted commercialization, and the apparent targeting of products to the young adult population. Further, we will closely review any further books or products according to the position we have presented in this paper before recommending them to the public. This is also why SOTEG feels it necessary at this point in time to present this position paper specifying our concern that any undue commercialization of knowledge related to the Craft, as well as any attempts to usurp the responsibility of parents for the ethical development of their children in WHATEVER path they may choose is a violation of our responsibility as Witches and Pagans and our oaths as responsible members of the Craft.
For more information on SOTEG, you may visit our website at http://members.spree.com/sip/soteg/, or you may reach us by e-mail at Durwydd@hotmail.com or siddhe@eznet.net.
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