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When those girls come out of the forest, somebody will have to check them for ticks and chiggers. Don't want the girls getting sick. I'd like to sign up . . . |
Posted on 03/08/2006 10:13:29 AM PST by NYer
Witches have returned to the German forests, dancing naked in groups under the full moon and calling to their gods.
The covens vary in size and in how seriously they take their calling, but the numbers are rising, particularly amongst the young.
Their religious ideas are described as "pagan" rather than Satanist, and many of the older practitioners have a history in the environmental movement, where they learnt a passionate love of nature.
In some cases this has led on to a belief in the natural powers of the forests. The women are convinced they can work magic.
"The witches' scene is experiencing a powerful revival," says Lutheran theologian Hansjoerg Hemminger. He says the covens range from "girlie witches" to the so-called "Wicca" covens. Wicca is an old Anglo-Saxon term for a group of witches.
Christian theologians are inclined to see the latter as a manifestation of a new heathen movement. The women tend to be members of associations like the Pagan Federation or the Stone Circle.
Maddalina, a 44-year-old witch, is high priestess of a witches' coven in Berlin, who became interested in Wicca about 15 years ago.
The former doctor's assistant, who declines to provide her real name, says she began looking around for women with similar interests.
"Today you are just a mouse-click away from making contact," she says, and she estimates that the number of witches has quadrupled in her time as a witch.
Conceding she is uncertain, she guesses there are several hundred Wiccans in Germany.
Maddalina is scornful of the teenagers interested in the witch cults. She gets e-mails daily from 13- and 14-year-olds, almost all of which she rebuffs.
Her own coven numbers just eight and the youngest trainee witch is 25 years old.
Most of the teenagers interested in witchcraft gain their information from the media, the internet or from books. Television series on witchcraft are currently popular in Germany.
These sources offer love potions aimed at curing shyness, or magical formulas spoken in the light of the moon to help with schoolwork.
Hemminger insists that these methods are never solutions to real problems.
But Maddalina is true to her beliefs. "We are heathens and believe in the power of magic," she says.
She and her coven go into the woods around Berlin several times a year to stand naked in a circle and call to Baldur, the god of light.
Their requests are of a banal sort; wishes for a better job, a new flat with a balcony, for good health.
By contrast with the teenage witches, the Wicca covens tend to be older women with a background in the women's movement.
Most commentators do not believe the groups have any links to Satanism and black magic. But Hemminger sounds a note of warning.
"Some of these circles operate in complete secrecy. We really don't know what they are up to," he says.
In general he regards the Wicca covens as a means to overcome personal crises that only cause concern once the cult begins to take over a person's life.
Maddalina insists her coven's activities are harmless. "We are not hurting anyone," she says.
And the Berlin forest authorities are taking a similar view, allowing the witches to dance under the moon.
First unconfirmed reports of yeti sightings in the Schwarzwald?
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When those girls come out of the forest, somebody will have to check them for ticks and chiggers. Don't want the girls getting sick. I'd like to sign up . . . |
I firmly believe anyone can talk to God any time they want.
I'm not Catholic and don't know the Catholic services, but if one finds comfort in them GREAT. The more often one is in contact with God, the better.
Am I going to dare snub another religion by saying it's "stupid" - NO WAY!
I just can't see why one can't pray to God at any given moment of the day without having to stop the car, jump out on the shoulder of the road, throw off all clothes, jump up and down 10 times, do a back flip, run around the car 3 times counter-clockwise and end with poking your finger to squeeze out 2 drops of blood that you place on a near-by rock that you then throw into a bush... Too much hassle. Just talk. And if you are driving, I recomend keeping your eyes open...
I don't think God is snobbish. Does He like for us to be respectfull? Sure! Wear your best clothes and be clean when you enter his house. Do you show up at your Mom's for Thanksgiving smelling of 2 weeks without a shower and forgetting to brush your teeth for that long as well? I hope not. Give God the respect He is due.
If you have an emergency and need His guidence and protection, I doubt He would be offended if you called out to him in your your work clothes from the emergency room. I know He's forgiving. He'd not turn a deaf ear on a heartfelt plea.
And I also think He'd love to just hear how your day is going when its been good. Your Mom and Dad like to hear from you when you aren't in trouble or need money...
I think He is willing and wants to listen to anyone, any time...
Yep. If your forest is polluted by vermin, follow these simple directions:
1) Consult the Malleus Maleficarum
2) Follow its instructions
3) Repeat as needed.
Persistent infestations may require more than one treatment.
They build their 'religion' the way magpies build their nests--out of whatever shreds of colorful rag and string and straw they can scavenge.
> While free will gives you the ability to say it please do not expect Christians to agree with you.
I do not expect many religious zealots to agree with little things called "facts." Of course, Muslims may see your Saints as devils, too.
> Saint Paul identified all the pagan gods as devils.
*Of* *course* he did. Talking smack about your competitors is as old as any form of marketting.
That's Great!! I was scrolling just to see who would be first in with a Hillary image as soon as I saw the word witches in the title.
> They build their 'religion' the way magpies build their nests--out of whatever shreds of colorful rag and string and straw they can scavenge.
What, you mean "books?" Let me think, what was the Greek word for "book..." "Bible," or something like that.
Yep. Pure craziness to build religious practices based on stuff found in a "book." Much worse to *preach* from a book. The stooopid pagans!
Little children beware...
LOL...One can talk to one's God at any point in time.
I just found your over eagerness to characterize wicca as a bunch of ritual misleading at best. Funny at least.
Many religions have rituals and most admit you can 'chat with God' at anytime, even in the wicca groups.
All the tools, trappings, robes, etc. are symbolic. In being symbolic, like all religions, they are used to focus attention of the masses.
When one has a personal relationship with one's God, none of the symbols are needed. Just don't be so narrow in viewing that which is different and unfamiliar. Even muslims have symbols (though they deny it)just think about Mecca...
No. This story has the ring of truth to it.
parsy, who enjoyeth such things.
If you think this is bad, the situation in England is worse.
My intent was to show you your statement would not stand as a fact in the general population here, or anywhere else for that matter. You made a claim that is not supportable by fact. It is possible to make that claim as a matter of faith. While a Christian does and knows he does, you did not give your faith for others to use in evaluating the statement.
Without meaning to do so you have done so now.
I will give your statement the weighty consideration it merits.
They prohibit younger girls - even the 25-year-old was an exception. So I did not ask...
Yes, Weihenstephaner is the best Hefeweizen around... almost made ME dance in the woods but not naked... *g
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