Saturday 24th July saw the start of 'The Goddess Festival 2010' in Canterbury, Kent; it started off with a cute little parade up the city's High Street, Pagan Pride banner in hand.
But please tell me! Why the fancy-dress costumes? Repressed childhood fantasies of becoming Gandalf or the next Tinkerbell bursting out maybe? Seeing that amount of middle-aged 'faeries' all in one place was a first (and hopefully a last!!). Possibly a genuine display of inhibition, in all probability it's a lack of self-respect.
This is proof enough that the 'old ways' should remain under the stewardship of select groups and individuals.
Look how Neo-Paganism is treating itself; with unhealthy doses of crushed velvet and costume wings, give an inch and not only is a mile taken but also the piss is taken too! Neo-paganism and mass-marketed Wicca, Pandora's Box is well and truly open and there is no closing it for you.
There's no hiding in plain sight with fluorescent pink, glittery tutus I'm afraid, your magic is fading. Then again, I'm just a rambling outcast, though humble steward of hidden mysteries and lore long forgotten.
Nice effort getting the public attention and taking their minds' away from the monotony of the McDonald's mainstream way of living, showing an alternative, but not quite the way to go about things I'm afraid.
Oh dear, yes it is quite sad to see that public perception of what it is to follow the ‘Old ways’ involves dressing up in synthetic crushed “velvets” and owning a collection of crystals and plastic fairy, dragon, unicorn and dolphin ornaments. At Pagan pride marches one can sense the static charge and stale air rising from folk sweltering in their shiny synthetic garb! Perhaps, as an antidote, and ‘Old Ways dignity march’ might be nice – a river of hand crafted thumb-sticks, cotton Barbour check shirts, tweeds, corduroy, wools and bramble proof denims!
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I agree with you. It's the same way in the States: NeoPaganism has come to be represented as wearing sparkles, Ren Faire garb, and generally dressing up in what looks like Halloween costumes. Now, I've nothing against dressing up per se, but I don't see what it has to do with tradition, and I definitely don't think it has anything to with with following the Old Gods. If Witchcraft and traditional practices have to be publicly exposed at ALL, I do wish it would be done with a bit more dignity and restraint. One gets the feeling that even the people participating in these things don't take their own beliefs seriously, so why should anybody else?
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