By Phil DevinThoth
As Wiccans, I
am sure we all know what it is and how it feels to be stereotyped. You do not
have to be Wiccan. All you have to be is different from someone else or have
different beliefs. Some may call it a form of prejudice. Personally, I do not
believe it to be in the same category, but it does walk hand-in-hand. I prefer
to call it assumption.
What is
stereotype?
One
definition is a conventional oversimplified and standardized conception of
a person or group, to label or
categorize, and as some believe, to judge by sight. For me, it reminds me of my
readings in Witchcraft concerning Mulengro.
Mulengro
is the name of an entity that is like an alien
barb, one that has become an out-of-control arrow that pierces generation upon
generation with it’s poison. It feeds on it’s likeness and human beings are its
host. It could be considered to be like the devil that Christianity invented in
the Middle Ages to ensure obedience to its dogma.
Some utilize
Mulengro’s force as a tool of manipulation. It is passed on like a virus
through the spread of the seven attributes of greed, envy, guilt, deceit,
denial, expectation, and yes, assumption. It denies the individual the right to
be an individual and assures that the victim remain emotionally crippled. The
only way of ridding the psyche and the spirit of the virus is to abruptly and
completely stop hosting it.
When we
decided to pursue our paths in the Craft, we automatically set ourselves up to
be stereotyped if we choose to come out of the broom closet and reveal our
beliefs to a biased public. As Witches, we have learned in our teachings not to
stereotype anyone for any reason. It goes against all we stand for. We are
taught to overcome such obstacles, but not by negative action. It is beneficial
for us, believe it or not, in a way where we gather experience by dealing with
bad situations with a positive approach.
We can not
stop others from stereotyping us, but we can refuse to allow others to spread
any of these seven faces on us, and do not use them to abort the truth no matter
what the seeming advantage. These faces, (behind each is the other six), are all
vices of disrespect.
How are we to
know what is true and false when others attempt to use stereotyping against us
or to cloud our minds? As I said before, stop hosting it and refuse it to gain
access into your life and beliefs. I warn you that the eradication of these
acceptable modes of behavior will place you squarely outside of the general flow
of social stratum. That’s okay. The Way of the Witch is not for everyone.