Now for those of you who are new, and have never encountered persons
calling themselves pagans, witches, goddess-worshippers, here's how to
tell us apart--with a healthy bit of tongue in one's cheek.
Is this the first time you've seen this many pagans together? Well,
you're in for a deflowering, young earth-worshipper, and you've come to
the right place. However, you should realize that there are many, many
types of pagans. In the old day's, we old farts just had to keep making
the rounds until we either found a group that wouldn't kick us out or
founded our own clique. But now, progress has brought us many different
flavors to choose from.
1. Bright-Eyed Novice:
You just read this cool book about a religion where there's a
Goddess and a God, and they meet outside in nature, instead of some
scary old building. They think sex is GOOD not evil, and you want to
know where to sign up.
Distinguishing Signs:
Mispronounces god/dess names, has to think a moment about which is
deosil and which is widdershins. Has a shiny new athame (rhymes with
"A-frame".)
2. Grand Old Wo/Man:
Actually remembers Woodstock (the first one.) Will tell you about
the time they dropped acid with Kerry Wendell Thornley - or maybe it
was Robert Anton Wilson. Anyway, it was somebody with three names.
Or was it three people with one name?
Distinguishing Signs:
Luxuriant gray locks, listens very intently, knows dish about people
you've only read about.
3. Tree Hugging Nature Sprite:
Most prized possession: one of Judi Barry's old tree spikes.
Simultaneously believes in universal love for humanity and
returning the planet to a pristine, uncorrupted state. Apt to remove
clothes and fondle the shrubbery at a moment's notice. Can discuss
compost in great detail.
Distinguishing Signs:
No meat, no fragrance, no leather, no plastic, no smoke, no drugs,
no eco-exploitive products, no animal tested cosmetics, no TV, no
car, but very tolerant.
4. Anal Retentive Ceremonialist:
Book collection actually holds up the ceiling in places. Is studying
Greek, Latin and Hebrew all at once. Does "workings" instead of
"rituals". All twenty volumes of their magical diaries are all in
Enochian.
Distinguishing Signs:
Won't go anywhere without a book. Is constantly aware of which
direction is east. Dresses according to planetary conditions, or
whatever was on sale at Wal-Mart.
5. Womyncentric Gynocrat
A man's shadow crossed her altar once and she spent three weeks
purifying it. She'll have no wands in her chalice, thank you. No
boys allowed in her full-moon club. Can hold forth for hours on the
magical properties of menstrual blood.
Distinguishing Signs:
Tiny axes or curved knives, just right for amputating a penis, are a
favored symbol and often hang conveniently from her body parts. When
a man approaches she rolls her eyes and stops talking.
6. Sexy Pagan Nymph:
Oh, they're so nice! All that warm, round, sex-positive flesh -- and
you can actually carry on a conversation with them between
orgasms... pant, drool...
Distinguishing Signs:
Cute. Horny. Displays prominent cleavage. Will recite love poetry to
you under a full moon. Likes to do it outdoors. Often destitute. All
too few of them.
7. Corporate Closet Witch:
"Hey, boss -- I'd like to take February 2nd as a personal day..."
Has an entire chapter of their Book Of Shadows concerned with spells
for purifying the workplace. Doesn't mind working on Christmas,
especially if there's overtime involved. Quit being overtly Pagan at
work since being canned by that born-again boss, but still refuses
to say "Merry Christmas."
Distinguishing Signs:
Can assume a properly smiley work persona at the drop of a hat.
Constantly glances around the room anxiously looking for co-workers
and their spies. Non-distinctive style of dress, no conspicuous
tattoos.
8. Childe Of Kaos:
Can name seventeen industrial goth bands without pausing to think.
Knows what a Prince Albert is. Personally feels that if no panicky
headlines appear the day after you do a ritual, you screwed up.
Painted on their jacket, engraved in their flesh and/or boldly
displayed as jewelry is an emblem which resembles a combination of
corporate logo and arcane symbol. If you don't know what it means,
they'll think you're a dweeb.
Distinguishing Signs:
Easy to picture as an alternative musician or bike messenger,
difficult to visualize as a school teacher or research assistant,
impossible to imagine as a TV news anchor or bank officer. Always
wears black leather, even when sleeping.
9. Pagan Celebrity:
At conventions, stays on the hotel floor that requires a special key
for elevator access. Lurks around knots of conversation
eavesdropping in order to see if their name is being mentioned.
Arrives in helicopter especially for rituals. Starts every sentence
with "I". If you ask them how it's going, they hand you a press
release.
Distinguishing Signs:
Always has plenty of books to autograph and will personally sell
them to you at a slight discount from cover price. Never seen
unaccompanied by beefy amazonian bodyguards and doe-eyed hangers-on.
Seems vaguely afraid of anyone they don't already know.
10. Scary Devil Worshipper:
Would never been caught dead skyclad. Rarely smiles, except in a
snide, knowing way which insinuates you are an ignorant peasant
worthy of conquest. Secretly enjoys Rush Limbaugh and read The Bell
Curve with smug satisfaction. Fascinated with Nazis. Probably has
never hurt a fly, but they want you to think they're capable of vast
destruction.
Distinguishing Signs:
Lots of black and red. Men like goatees, women favor heavy black eye
liner. At least one inverted pentagram somewhere on their person. If
you see several of them getting tanked in a bar, it would be wise to
stay far away.
11. Crowley-In-A-Past-Life:
Every magical gathering has at least one of these, along with
several variants along the lines of Gerald Gardner, Tituba, Morgan
LeFey, or somebody who was Atlantean royalty. Many of them were
abducted by aliens recently, and have disturbing dreams rich with
arcane symbolism that they will tell you all about, in great detail.
Distinguishing Signs:
Look for the intense gleam in the eyes, the backpack rattling with
various psychiatric medications, and the garments that were clearly
designed and tailored on another planet.
12. Ravin' Pagan:
Young and psychedelic. Can dance non-stop all night. Refuses to do
boring Eurocentric rituals and prefers deities from sunny climes
with lots of interesting local plants. Can say "Ayahuasca" ten times
real fast and deliver long quotes from Terrence McKenna.
Distinguishing Signs:
Dresses in color combinations that hurt the eyes unless you've taken
ecstasy. Bloodshot eyes, blissful smile, never goes anywhere without
ritual drum.
13. Faerie Queen:
Is he a she? Is she a he? Are they a couple, or are those two a
couple or are all four of them a quadruple? If getting answers to
these questions could disturb you, best stay away. If, on the other
hand, these kind of questions seem overly judgmental, you might have
a real good time...
Distinguishing Signs:
When you look at this person, does every sex act you've ever
experienced in your life seem hopelessly vanilla? If so,
congratulations -- you've found a Faerie!
14. High Episcopagan:
Do their rituals have a script, a choreographer, a stage manager, an
orchestra with chorus and last at least three hours? It's a High
Episcopagan! They can memorize pages and pages of Olde English, have
more ritual garbs than most people have socks, and consider their
main pagan influences to be Gerald Gardner, Judy Garland and Busby
Berkeley.
Distinguishing Signs:
Book of Shadows exceeds five volumes. Knows every note of "Carmina
Burana". Don't ask them about that 18th century seed pearl trim on
their ritual hat unless you've got an hour to spare.
15. Fundamentapagan:
If it's in a book, it must be true. If it's in an old book, it must
really be true. If it's in an old book that was handed down from an
oral tradition of people who couldn't read, then it must really be
way true. Gnashes their teeth if anyone shows up at a circle wearing
a watch, glasses, or other mechanical assistance. Believes that
anyone who lives in a city, eats meat or has a regular job dare not
call themselves a pagan.
Distinguishing Signs:
Has hissy fits when somebody brings up the old "Crowley ghosted
Gardner's books" argument. Goes around correcting everyone's
gaelic/old norse/latin/babylonian.
16. Dances With Bunny Rabbits:
Uses animal symbolism to express nearly all opinions and feelings.
Charter member of PETA. Thinks meat eaters should be publicly
executed. Has many, many, many pets. Has a spirit animal. Personally
owns 927 models, pictures, and other depictions of their spirit
animal.
Distinguishing Signs:
Not counting the pagan his/herself, how many animals can you see
when looking at them? If the count surpasses five (including
critters found on tattoos, jewelry, garments and undies), you've
found a worshipper of beasties.
17. Priest/ess of Political Correctness:
Analyzes everything they read or hear for
sexist-racist-homophobic-imperialist-Eurocentric content without
paying attention to what is actually being said. Believes in
personal liberty -- everyone has the right to be overbearing,
dogmatic and holier-than-thou, not just the Christian Right.
Incredibly boring yet annoyingly self-righteous all at the same
time.
Distinguishing Signs:
Beady hyper-alert little eyes are constantly in motion, waiting for
someone to do or say something bad. Has loud and attention
attracting hissy fits when confronted with everyday things such as
advertising or corporate franchises. Rudimentary sense of humor is
rarely activated.
18. Our Lady Of Intense Suffering:
Is constantly persecuted. You're probably persecuting her right now,
you just don't realize it. Became a Pagan because she decided it was
that most persecuted religion of all. Can't enjoy anything because
it would be selfish to have any fun when so many are suffering.
Distinguishing Signs:
Tales of woe. Even less of a sense of humor than #17. Bristles when
anyone says the words "masochist" or "whining".
19. I Am Not Spock (at the moment):
Knows at least three filks about Cthulhu and at least forty Star
Trek jokes. Has found a clever way to create simple furniture from
stacks of science fiction paperbacks. Can name ninety different
kinds of space ship.
Distinguishing Signs:
Two fisted drinking style. Probably still lives with parents. Many
cryptic buttons, badges, patches and other insignia. Too smart for
their own good.
20. Het-Case:
Insist that they aren't homophobic; they just believe that Paganism
is about a goddess and a god and they do it and what could be more
obvious than that? It just doesn't "work right" if you try any other
way! Are secretly afraid that gays and/or lesbians are dying to jump
their tender hetro bones.
Distinguishing Signs:
Living spaces abound with depictions of satyrs with enormous
genitals and huge-breasted, doe-eyed goddesses. Long manicured nails
and wreaths of flowers (on females only -- men have big, bushy
beards instead.)
21. Norse Code:
Heroic and vikingly, these pagans often get into trouble with
festival organizers and park rangers due to their fondness for
running around with a huge battle-ax in one hand and a full mead
horn in the other. They throw the best parties, but if you're a
wimp, you're expressly not invited.
Distinguishing Signs:
Look for the large, foreboding, biker-like persons wearing runes,
with many pounds of amber dangling from their necks.
22. Pentacles, Inc:
Pagans have disposable income too, right? So how come they aren't
buying my hand forged Venus of Willendorf necklaces -- they come in
silver and gold, and each one has a genuine cubic zirconium belly
button. Would you like a reading? Will that be Visa or Master Card?
Distinguishing Signs:
Has business cards featuring little embossed pentagrams. You've
never seen so much Egyptian god/dess jewelry on a human being in
your whole life. Rarely leaves the dealer's room and can't believe
there are so many jewelry sellers present.
23. Monster Truck Pagan:
Can grow their own food, build their own house, sew their own
clothes, home school their children and brew their own organic
hooch. Are looking forward to the bleak, post-apocalyptic world
postulated by the environmentalists as they can't wait to run amok
through the country, worshipping ancient gods, blowing up strip
malls and rutting on the divider line of every interstate.
Distinguishing Signs:
Resourceful, clever and very well versed in the U. S. Constitution.
Eats meat with visible twitches of pleasure. is aware that primitive
religions have nothing to do with crystals, Atlantis or unicorns.
Can assume a properly smiley work persona at the drop of a hat.
Constantly glances around the room anxiously looking for co-workers
and their spies. Non-distinctive hair, no conspicuous tattoos.
... You may be a monster-truck pagan if your anointing oil is 30
weight.
... You may be a monster truck pagan if cakes & wine means tailgate
party.
... You may be a monster truck pagan if Autumn is the Burning Time.