TheJudge.... Advice for help

Post by **The Judge** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:13 pm

I just recently found out im the only wiccan in my unit(Im in the US Army) and after a hours discussion with the unit chaplian i ended up being his goto for "all things Pagan" and i dont know if I am qualified to give advice on the subjects. i've been a solitary wiccan for 5 years with no coven time or any i could find. So im asking for any help i can get all the noledge i have is from books and personnal experience. Thanx for the help and Blessed Be.

Post by **jcrowfoot** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:28 pm

Well... have you checked out "The Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca" by Kerr Cuhulain? That might give your Chaplain something to start with. For all I know they give that to all Chaplains in the Armed Forces these days.

But I'm also biased in his favor... he has a no-nonsense style that appeals to people who are routinely in critical situations.

For what it's worth, I know quite a few vets who are Wiccan or other flavors of pagan, though none that are currently serving (except for a few who post here... but I can't really say that I *know* them personally.)

Bright Blessings...

Post by **The Judge** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:55 am

Thanks jcrowfoot I'll look into that. I also would like some advice for spoting the people who are using the word wicca for "Shock" value, fakes and the such. I have some simple answers for what they try to get out of but I want to be able to spot them before they cause problems for the rest of us. I don't knowI may be over analyzing this.

Post by **juliaki** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:17 am

My advice is to contact the Military Pagan Network. They've probably run into similar situations to yours many times before:

http://www.milpagan.org/

Post by **jcrowfoot** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:04 pm

LOL. About wiccans for shock value... well, that's not too hard. That is, if you have a chance to talk with them. Ask some basic questions, like, entry level questions, and watch them squirm.

Many of the "shockvalue wiccans" still think wicca has something to do with satanism.

Further, people who are shock-value wiccans often don't have a sense of humor about the whole thing. Sure, there are folks who do know what they are doing who don't have one, but again, it's a good indication.

One of the best ways to tell if you are dealing with someone in it for the shock value is if they try to intimidate you with "oooky spooky" magick.

Bonus points if they don't have a solid ground, yet talk about slinging magick all the time. Funny looks over meditation is another good indication.

The thing is, appearances aren't always a good way. Some people who really actually do know what they are talking about sometimes go in for the heavy makeup and tons of silver jewelry. At least.... I did at one time, and I've always been a geek about witchcraft, even in the beginning. OTOH, I was more of a jewelry fiend rather than the whole makeup thing, but when I was hanging out with the goths... watch out.

Also, many goths really do know their stuff about witchcraft. Or are they calling them emo these days? Oh bother.

So, in conclusion, you could use a small checklist and the more checks you get, the more likely you are to have a shock-value wiccan.

Now, the last thing to remember is that shock-value wiccans can mature over time to people who actually are reasonable. So it could be that person is just... needs to mellow into the path and get some education.

On the other hand... it's a lotta work sometimes. Trust me, I know. And you seem the efficient type. So it's up to you if it's worth it.

Sorry, just been hanging out in the pagan community for a... LONG time.

Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:47 pm

The Judge wrote:I just recently found out im the only wiccan in my unit(Im in the US Army) and after a hours discussion with the unit chaplian i ended up being his goto for "all things Pagan" and i dont know if I am qualified to give advice on the subjects.

Wow, I just enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Paralegal Specialist. I gt shipped in July, and guess what.....I'm wiccan too. Is it harder for wiccans to be in the Army, do they really give you alot of BS? I'm just curious....thanks!

Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm

jcrowfoot wrote:Also, many goths really do know their stuff about witchcraft. Or are they calling them emo these days? Oh bother.

LOL. actually, I've been called a goth, an emo, a skater, a rocker, a punk, crap like that....quite annoying to be honest. but yeah, i think 'goth's gone out of style and emo is 'in'...I still root for the goths. LOL.

Post by **The Judge** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:32 pm

Its not too hard only 2 people know im wiccan, one is also wiccan and the other is the chaplain so it doesn't really matter.

I've been called goth alot myself i cant help if i like dressing in black its just a personality thing.

By the way ill be shipped tis coming june myself to AFG.

Post by **jcrowfoot** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:13 pm

Thanks for serving, both of you!

Post by **The Judge** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:50 am

Don't mention it jcrowfoot.

Post by **Starwitch** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 2:44 pm

Hi Judge,

I just wanted to post on your thread so that if you decide to update your blog with your impressions of Afghanistan, I'll get an email notification about it. I'd be interested to hear about the conditions there, especially how the women and children are being treated - their education, civil rights, financial situation, religious rights, etc. I really don't watch the news anymore at all. I didn't even know that tomatoes were hazardous until my mom mentioned it to me. I live in my own little happy bubble.

Bright Blessings,

Everything Under the Moon

TheJudge.... Advice for help

TheJudge.... Advice for help

Re: TheJudge.... Advice for help