Well, I've done it now!
Recently, I wrote a feature story for work for our yearly business section. No big deal. My topic was the "NEW New Age Movement" and how popular alternative medicine and healing and the like was becoming. It was a good spread, if I do say so myself. LOL And for such a large section, it was one of 50 stories, and the section came out yesterday.
Well, I received an e-mail shortly after luch at work. The man introduced himself, said he had read the article, and thought it was "interesting." Translation: he had a bone to pick about it. Without going into too much detail, he said he wanted to meet with me, and discuss true spirituality versus making money. He also added that he is a fourth generation "traditional" witch, whatever the fook that means, and that he did readings at the only true witchcraft shop in town.
I read the e-mail to a couple of my co-workers, who promptly began singing "I put a spell on you..." from Hocus Pocus, and my husband said "Great, there will be a pentagram on the front lawn in the morning! HAHAHA." Everyone had a good laugh about it, myself included.
But in the back of my mind, I was concerned. I don't believe in witchcraft, although I would never begrudge another peron their beliefs. But still, something was niggling in my brain, or my spine, and wouldn't go away.
I thought about how to reply, or if I should reply at all. I decided to err on the side of professionalism and respond. I thanked him for his e-mail. I told him I appreciated his generous offer to discuss spitituality vs. making money with me. Then I explained to him, as I explained to the other people in the story that I interviewed, that it was not an in-depth or investigative piece, but a light feature story for a section that was focused on local business and business owners. And I thanked him again for his interest and pressed "send."
I haven't heard back from him. As I said, I don't believe in witchcraft, but I do come from a long line of superstitious people. Even though I would never admit it out loud, and I am the first to poo-poo such things, I would never completely rule anything out. Even a witch.
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1 comment:
I'm not sure what he was getting at either, but there are a lot of... unsettling people out there, and their religion and beliefs have nothing to do with any of it. It seems to me that you handled this situation perfectly. It's always better to graciously thank them for their interest and leave it at that.
My guess is that he didn't feel your article delved deeply enough into what he considers Truth, and he wanted to enlighten you. Referencing being a fourth generation Traditional was his way of conveying his accreditations as a witch. His family has practiced it and passed it down. Notice he did not say Wiccan. Witch and Wiccan are not interchangeable.
For what it's worth, a lot of people who consider themselves witches do not particularly like the New Age movement as they feel it's too "light and precious" and without balance, but there are an equal number who embrace it because they're all about "light and love." And then there are people out there who are Christians who also admittedly practice spellcasting. Actually, it could be argued that anyone who prays to have something specific happen is actually casting a spell. I don't want to go into this here in your comments section, but at the heart of the argument is the definition of a spell and what constitutes one.
This is probably more than you wanted or needed to know, but I offer it up for reference and reassurance purposes. :)
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