Learning more

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 416.

It's cool to be a Witch

Since the 1960s young people have become interested in magic and the spiritual world through popular books, television series and films. “Bewitched” (1964-1972) showed one of the first representations of a Witch on television. Samantha was a quirky housewife with magical powers who was desperately trying to conform to the 1960s ideal and stop her 'witchiness' leaking out.

The 1980s and 1990s saw a huge rise in the popularity of magic and Witchcraft as it began to flood the mainstream media. Witchcraft became much more acceptable and the characters portrayed were much stronger and more open about their practices.

A US television drama, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, has probably been the most influential media representation of Witchcraft. One of the main characters, Willow, is an alternative to the sugary 'Barbie' - type role model. She is a Witch who dabbles in lesbianism, dresses in sexy clothes and casts spells.

Hollywood also picked up on the trend for the magical with films like “Witches of Eastwick” (1987), “The Craft” (1996) and “Practical Magic” (1998).

Although the mass media shows Witchcraft as glamorous and exciting, teenagers who are serious about learning more use library books and the internet to research the subject.

Books like Kate West's “The Real Witch's Handbook: A complete introduction to the Craft for both young and old alike” is a good starting point for real beginners who then go on to read the basic texts of Wicca and Paganism. This even includes a draft letter that a young person can send to his/her parents explaining why she has become Wiccan and what it is about.

They learn that Wicca involves more that just the practice of magic. It is a religion that involves the worship of the Goddess and God and the veneration of the Divine in nature.