Wiccans, and Witches. When you read witchcraft books written by fake witches, would you feel stupid?

Question

When i asked some questions regarding books, i get negative comments about this Author Silver Ravenwolf. She wrote this book called teen witch, to ride a silver broomstick and solitary witch.


I have recied negative comments about Silver Ravenwolf,
whats so bad about her? is she a fraud?

So if shes selling all that stuff for profit, she has sinned. according to wiccan laws scriptures, it is a sin to use your magickal gifts for profit. as it quickly control him or her. be not as those as other religions

Ever since i started witchraft 3yrs all i ever read was silver ravenwolf. But I just discovered today, that she is a fraud, the world's oldest fluffy bunny. A Sinner. You found that after you became her biggest fan, and now you suddenly feel stupid. i was all, I wanna be just like her, she has a coven, she owns a pagan orginization, and leads her own clan, I wanna be a wiccan and witch teach just like her, when i found out she is a fraud who cares about money, i wanna cry.

I wanna cry after finding out, and at the same time, not only am I mad at her for being so selfish, I'm also mad at myself for being Stupid, retarded, and slow for falling into her trap. And she targets teenagers like myself. I feel like crying and I call myself stupid, i was turned away from the real truth. How could i have been so stupid?!

Answer 1

Whether or not she's a "fake witch" isn't really even the point. For the most part, it's that she has a horrible code of ethics. She blatantly bashes Christianity and it's followers while at the same time preaches about how open and tolerant Wicca is. She tells her readers that it's okay to lie to or be vague with their parents and others when they ask about Wicca, and basically says that anyone who disagrees with what she is teaching is wrong without question.

In addition to this, I find that her books contain very little content on the religion itself despite most of them being introductory books on Wicca. What information her books do contain is essentially regurgitated into every new book she writes, with very little new information added. Her books are also heavily padded with pages of spells bearing headings such as "Fun Spells Just for You." This clearly undermines the practice of witchcraft and turns it in to a sleepover activity for bored twelve-year olds.

Now, I certainly wouldn't say she's sinned, since there's no such concept in Wicca and I dont really know what "laws" and "scriptures" you're referring to, despite all my years of being a Wiccan. I just feel that she has been incredibly disrespectful to the religion of Wicca and to the readers of her books. You shouldn't feel stupid, after all, you were looking for information and assumed it was comming from a respectable source. I think you are just beginning to question your beliefs which is a huge step for anyone of any faith. It's a long, rocky road but, if you continue on it, you will realize a lot about who you are and what you actually believe.

If you're interested, here's a couple of links on what others have to say about Ravenwolf:
http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.shtml

http://www.ecauldron.com/opedtarnishedsilver.php

Answer 2

I hate to disillusion you, but you have been seriously misled.

It is true that Silver RavenWolf has many detractors, but most are poorly informed at best about her long career in the Pagan community.

Long before she wrote her first book Silver RavenWolf was famous as a Pagan artist whose work appeared regularly in the Pagan Press -the collection of Pagan themed magazines and newsletters which supplied much of the communication in our community before the coming of the internet.

More significantly Silver RavenWolf was the founder and long time head of the Wiccan/Pagan Press Alliance, whose purpose was to support the Wiccan/Pagan press and to advance the Wiccan/Pagan image in the mainstream press. This was extremely significant at the time, and an important part of Wiccan history which many today are ignorant of.

Subsequently Silver RavenWolf founded WARD, Witches Against Religious Discrimination, which together with the older WADL was a leader in advancing Wiccan civil rights at the time. These two groups are the ancestors of the contemporary AREN.

It is true that Silver RavenWolfs later books are considered light weight by some -but they were meant as introductory books and serve that purpose quite adequately. However even if one regards her written works as deficient, this is far ouweighed by her real-world accomplishments for both the WPPA and WARD have had long term benefit for our community -far more to be sure than the accomplishments of most of her detractors.

Answer 3

::sigh::

"Ever since i started witchraft 3yrs all i ever read was silver ravenwolf."

That's the first issue - there are so many authors out there, why have you only read Ravenwolf for three years?!?

I think that she has some good information to be found in some of her books (particularly the early ones), but there's also a lot of misinformation and bad information in them.

Wicca is a learning journey - why do you restrict yourself to one author and take what she writes as "gospel"?

"But I just discovered today, that she is a fraud, the world's oldest fluffy bunny. A Sinner."

A sinner? How do you manage to be a sinner in a religion that doesn't have a concept of "sin"?

I think you have a lot of learning to do about Wicca in general and yoru path in specific, and a lot of understanding to accomplish.

Answer 4

First off, you're not stupid. Anybody can be deceived, *especially* when they're seeking something that they really want.

Second, "sin" isn't quite the right word. She broken (or at least seriously bent) some of the Wiccan ethics, but that doesn't quite make it sin, per se - though, I can see why you might use that word for ease's sake.

The biggest problem with Silver is that, despite being wrong about several things, she remains popular. She's talented enough in her writing to draw a lot of people in, especially if they're looking for a home. But just because her version isn't accurate, doesn't mean that the desire you had is necessarily wrong. You can work towards being a Wiccan and a teacher, and all that other stuff - just don't use her as a role model. An example, sure - an example of someone who let ego go to her head.

Finding out that you've been deceived is heartbreaking - but you've taken the first step. Your eyes are open now, and you know that not everyone is innocent in their actions. It'll make you a little more wary - but that's not necessarily a bad thing. There are sources out there that are good, and once you learn how to weed out the bad sources, you'll be golden.

Answer 5

I'm so sorry, hun, but if you're using the word sin, you still have not found any decent authors to read.

Silver Ravenwolf sells a list of goods that many other people (including teens) see and WITHOUT ANY TRAINING realize is fake.

I strongly suggest investigating why you fell for her nonsense and other people do not....What are you REALLY seeking? Is it magic, or is it a living, breathing relationship with the gods?

As for whether she's a real Witch or not, she may well be a good witch, but she's a terrible author....and she's striking out in any definition of good person, too.

Use what you have learned now, to make your life better.

Answer 6

Throughout history, those persons of religion who have held themselves to be of high importance have sought to lead those of lesser power in closed groups, following a certain path in a certain way, chosen by the person leading the group.

Sometimes they over stretch themselves and fall from power, sometime they are brought down from there power by those that follow them, through someone realising that the path down which they are being led is false.

There are those who lead a false path in the purest belief that they are doing what is right, and these people are to be pitied.

What the case is with Silver Ravenwolf I do not know, but 'fraud' seems rather a heavy label. If she was writing only rubbish, the publishers would have received so many complaints that no one would publish her work any more.

There is no sin in using one's skill or knowledge to earn a living. The witches and wise ones of history would be supported by those for whom they practised the ancient arts, and this is the means by which any crafts or trades person would expect to live.

That said, there is no need to consider yourself to be stupid, or even to consider that you have made a mistake. If you now find that the path that Ravenwolf writes about is not the path that you sought, rest for a while, and let life draw you to a new source of knowledge and a new path of power.

I hope that this may be of some comfort to you.

Blessed Be
Karl Leofrsson

Answer 7

:) I don't think there is an universally loved neo-pagan writer; pagans are a contrary opinionated folk. Selling books is not considered a violation of the Rede, no more than selling supplies, having a job, or selling a car is. Charging for training or mentorship might be considered a violation. Teaching lies, and teaching bad ethics definitely is. But fundamental to much of pagan ethics is that 1) individuals are responsible for their choices (regardless of the negative OR favorable opinions of others) 2) individuals are NOT generally responsible for other's choices. You don't need to worry about Silver Ravenwolf's ethics or development, only your own.

Some pagans use the label "fluff bunny" as a blungeon, but insisting on conformity and style are as much marks of immaturity in gloomy people as in terminally perky ones. If you learned useful things from this writer, good. If you find other writings more helpful now, that just means other things are helpful now FOR YOU. Don't expect everyone to be eating the same meal.

If you want to be a disciple - well, neo-paganism isn't actually great for that. :) So - if you are free of thinking and acting like Silver Ravenwolf's disciple - great! Because thinking and acting as ANYONE's disciple ain't what it's all about ;)

Answer 8

Merry Meet young one! Don't beat yourself up over such a little thing. It is a learning experience as is all things in life. I do suggest Scott Cunningham for many aspects of the craft. His book "Wicca; for the Solitary practitioner is a very good place to start. Unless you truly want to be Wiccan, not a solitary witch (as I have been for 40 years now) I would avoid Gardner & Crowley. Some of Raymond Bucklands books are pretty good, especially The complete book of Witchcraft, but even that is more focused on coven life than it is solitary. One he wrote "Scottish Witchcraft, History and magic of the Picts" is a pretty good example of my path, I am Pictish. Anyway, YOU ARE NOT STUPID! If there is one person out there who has never made a mistake I certainly have not met them! Good luck on your path!
BB
)O(

Answer 9

Sweetheart, one thing you need to understand about Wicca is that there is no dogma that has to be followed like there is in other religions, such as the Bible and Christianity or the Koran and Islam. Wicca is basically all about your own opinions and beliefs. It is true that most Wiccans tend to be duotheists and follow the Wiccan Rede of "An it harm none, do what thou whilt" but those are not really requirements. I suggest you read all you can by as many authors as you can, but be sure to take all you read with a grain of salt. Decide for yourself what you do and do not agree with and go on that alone.

several authors I would recommend for a wide spectrum of reading, in no particular order, are:
Scott Cunningham
D. J. Conway
Patricia Telesco
Margot Adler
Silver Ravenwolf
Raymond Buckland
Ted Andrews
Migene Gonzalez-Wippler
Sandra Kynes

Notice I did include Ravenwolf. Read from both end of the spectrums and compare and contrast them all to see what you think is right and what you do not agree with.

Blessed be.

Answer 10

It's okay. *virtual back-pat* You aren't the first one to be fooled by the fluffies. The reason why she is so disliked is because she's hypocritical, misleading, makes up stuff out of thin air to put in her books, etc. Of course not EVERYTHING in her books is tainted info, but a good portion is.

http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.shtml is a fairly good essay regarding why she is a bad author. If you browse the rest of the site, you'll get more info on telling real Wiccans from fluffies.