The "Hollywood" Tradition What's a Witch to do?

The "Hollywood Tradition" is a phrase I coined to describe the  naive belief that many people (especially youngsters and the gullible) hold about Witches: that we are able to perform magick and feats of spell-casting akin to that of "Samantha," the beloved Witch of 1960's American television.

Propaganda (One definition) Carefully conceived misinformation (lies) to manipulate or control another's viewpoint.  Emotional or intellectual manipulation of the truth. Such manipulation was used against Pagans in the Middle Ages, the Burning Time, the dreaded Inquisition.  Originally meant as a way of prosecuting heretics, eventually Pagans were perceived as heretical, and the Witchhunt began in earnest. The word "Pagan" originally meant "country dweller" or "s/he who lives outside the city walls" - a place not liked or respected by the city dwellers who looked upon the country folks as backward and coarse.

Classic Examples of Anti-Witch Propaganda

A few of the ridiculous accusations that were and are spread about Witches, Pagans, etc.: * that we sacrifice live animals or children * that we worship Satan or demons * that we can fly through the air on brooms * that we would blight crops and afflict herds These are only a handful of the ridiculous and offensive accusations made against followers of the Old Religion.  It is common practice to accuse any group which you wish to destabilize of attacking, killing, or otherwise committing violence against children.  Jews, Buddhists, almost any religious group and sometimes racial groups have been accused of killing children, and sometimes of consuming them.  This is one of the classic and outrageous accusations. The worship of Satan or any of his minions is relegated to those adherents (probably not Pagans) who actually believe in the existence of such an entity.  I've never met a Pagan who believed in the existence of Satan.  The devil is an off-shoot of the Christian religion, and makes no appearance within Wicca. While a symbolic form of broom-flying might have occured (trance-induced or meditative journeys), it's inaccurate to believe that Witches can fly on brooms.  Once upon a time many generations ago when we were an agrarian comunity, it was more of a dance form, the riding of the broomstick like a hobby horse. The accusation of blasting crops and afflicting herds is most likely a complete fabrication.  Pagans, living in tune with the seasons and cycles of agrarian community, would have had the ability to bless and protect the well-being of the area, enhancing the fertility of the Earth and crops, animals and humans.  And surely, when there were fewer or no means of extensive transportation, to blight crops in one area would have been to cut your own throat. Thus, most of the accusations and propaganda raised against Pagans is either rubbish or symbolically misunderstood.

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