Witchcraft and The X-Files: Please Read! (1/2)

[The Sheridan Family]

Merry Met, all.

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Ashley Sheridan. I am
also known as Penthesileia SilverWolf and Leia Wolfe. I am a Witch.

Obviously, there has been a lot of discussion recently on atxf in
respect to Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, black magick, pentagrams, the
occult, etc., etc., ad infinitum. This is in direct response to the
recent X-Files episode, "Sanguinarium". I would like to add my two
cents (or 3 or 4, as the case may be<g> ) regarding witchcraft and
paganism in general, as well as how they have been portrayed in this
episode. This first post, then, will be a sort of Wicca and Witchcraft
FAQ. The second will be a response to "Sanguinarium".

_Wicca 101_: yeah, I know, I’m going to be preaching a little here.
Bear with me.
Note: in Wicca, there are no real 'facts'. There is no one truth,
doctrine, or system of beliefs. Every individuals’ opinion is valid.
Therefore, arriving at a true definition of words and practices
associated with the Craft is extremely difficult. Several years ago, a
council of Pagans and Wiccans attempted to define Wicca- that is, set
down a list of laws and doctrines accepted by all those who are
considered Wiccan. After a lot of debating, they realized that it was
next to impossible to please everybody. The point of all this is, (yes,
there is one), the 'facts' I’m listing here are by no means a
definitive outline of the religion, beliefs, and practices of all
Witches, Wiccans, or Pagans. Most are from the FAQ compiled by the
Covenant of the Goddess, a large Pagan group.
(http://www.crc.ricoh.com/~rowanf/COG/iabout/html ) However, there are
many who would disagree with some of the points or definitions here.
Just from reading some of the responses in the newsgroup, I can tell
what an eclectic group will be reading this. Bear in mind, I am under
no delusions that I know everything- or even a tiny fraction thereof!
But this will give those new to Witchcraft a general idea of the
beliefs of those who practice. OK, enough disclaiming! (shades of
atxc...)

_Witchcraft Definitions_

Earth Religion: a religion whose main tenet is that the worshipper is
in harmony with the Earth and with all life. Such religions oppose the
idea that the world is a resource to be subdued and exploited.

Pagan: a practitioner of an Earth Religion; from the Latin ‘paganus’, a
country dweller.

Neo-Paganism: a modern Earth Religion which borrows and adapts from the
best of pre-Christian Pagan religions, sometimes with additions from
contemporary religious thinkers.

Witchcraft: a magickal religion with many diverse traditions derived
from various cultural sources around which covens and individual
practitioners base their practices. Modern Witchcraft traditions
include:
-Gardnerian (named after Gerald Gardner, considered by many to be the
founder of ‘modern’ Witchcraft.)
-Alexandrian (an offshoot of the Gardnerian tradition.)
-Dianic (also called feminist Wicca. Focuses on the Goddess and women’s
spirituality.)
-Celtic (following the traditions of the ancient Celts in Ireland,
Britain, Scotland, and Wales.)
-Shamanic (mainly Native American spirituality, also many other
traditions founded on shamanic principles.)
-and others. (Many others. Many, many others.)

The Craft: another name for Witchcraft.

Coven: a congregation of Witches, usually limited to 13 members or
less. (Although I’ve seen some as big as 50. Also, for large rituals
and celebrations, attendance can reach the hundreds.)

Witch: one who worships the Goddess, and sometimes also Her Consort,
the God; practices magick; and considers her/himself to be following
the spiritual path of Witchcraft.

Magick: a conscious direction of will to accomplish a goal. (Spelled
with a ‘k’ it is distinctive from sleight-of-hand tricks.)

Sabbat(h): one of the eight seasonal festivals equally spaced during
the year, celebrated by individuals and covens of Witches.

Esbat: monthly meeting of a coven, usually held at full moon. There
are about 13 full moons each year. Some groups also meet at the dark
of the moon.

_Witchcraft - Basic Philosophy_

Wicca, or Witchcraft, is an earth religion -- a re-linking
(re-ligio) with the life-force of nature, both on this planet and in
the stars and space beyond. In city apartments, in suburban backyards,
in country glades, groups of women and men meet on the new and full
moons and at festival times to raise energy and put themselves in tune
with these natural forces. They honor the old Goddesses and Gods,
including the Triple Goddess of the waxing, full, and waning moon, and
the Horned God of the sun and animal life, as visualizations of
immanent nature.
Our religion is not a series of precepts or beliefs, rather we
believe that we each have within ourselves the capacity to reach out
and experience the mystery -- that feeling of ineffable oneness with
all Life. Those who wish to experience this transcendence must work,
and create, and participate in their individual religious lives. For
this reason, our congregations, called covens, are small groups which
give room for each individual to contribute to the efforts of the group
by self-knowledge and creative experimentation within the agreed-upon
group structure or tradition.
There are many traditions or sects within the Craft. Different
groups take their inspiration from the pre-Christian religions of
certain ethnic groups (e.g. Celtic, Greek, Norse, Finno-Ugric); in the
liturgical works of some modern Witch poet or scholar (e.g. Gerald
Gardner, Z Budapest, Alex Saunders, Starhawk); or by seeking within
themselves for inspiration and direction. Many feminists have turned
to Wicca and the role of priestess for healing and strength after the
patriarchal oppression and lack of voice for women in the major world
religions.
There are many paths to spiritual growth. Wicca is a
participatory revelation, a celebratory action leading to greater
understand of oneself and the universe. We believe there is much to
learn by studying our past, through myth, through ritual drama, through
poetry and music, through love and through living in harmony with the
Earth.

_Witchcraft - General Practices_

Ritual
Modern Witches hold rituals according to the turning of the
seasons, the tides of the moon, and personal needs. Most rituals are
performed in a ritual space marked by a circle. We do not build church
buildings to create this sacred, ritual space -- all Earth is sacred
and in touch with the Goddess and so any place, indoors or out, may be
consecrated for ritual use. Outdoor spaces tend to be used from Ostara
to Lammas (about March 21-Aug 1), indoor spaces from Mabon to Imbolc.
(about Sept 21-Feb 2)

The Circle
Within this sacred circle, two main activities occur:
celebration, and the practice of magick. Celebration is most important
at the major seasonal holy days, the Sabbats. At these times, the
myths of that particular holiday are enacted in ritual drama, and
dancing, singing, feasting, and revelry are all part of the
festivities. On these occasions we celebrate our oneness with life on
Earth, as well as assimilating on the deepest level myths and
archetypes which map and assist our own life-passages.
Magick is more often performed at smaller gatherings, called
Esbats, which coincide with the phases of the moon. Types of magick
practiced include psychic healing sessions, the focus and direction of
energy to achieve positive results, and work toward the individual
spiritual development of the coven members. Magick is an art which
requires adherence to certain principles, and a conscious direction of
will toward the desired end. We believe it to be an attribute of
magick that results toward which the will is directed return to the
sender threefold. Therefore, Witches are very conscientious in their
use of magick.

The Tools of a Witch
A primary tool, which is owned by most Witches, is an athame
(ath’-a-mee or ath-a’-may- we still haven’t decided yet! Any
suggestions, Mulder? <g>) or ritual knife. The athame is charged with
the energy of the owner and is used as a pointer to define space (such
as casting a sacred circle) and as a conductor of the owner's will and
energy. (Note!!! Many traditions insist that the athame be dull and
never used for any type of physical cutting, others use the athame to
cut herbs, flowers, etc. However, the athame is *never* used for any
type of blood sacrifice!)
Other important tools are the symbols on the altar which
represent the elements- Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. A pentacle (an
object- usually a disc- inscribed with a pentagram) or a small dish of
salt or soil may symbolize Earth. Incense, a feather, a wand, or a bell
may represent Air. A candle, a small fire, and sometimes the athame or
a sword is used to symbolize Fire. A chalice of water or a seashell
represents Water. Sometimes, a crystal or a statue may represent
Spirit, or Akasha- the element of Life, and all other Elements
combined.
There are many other minor tools which are used for some specific
purposes within magickal workings, but the tools described above are
the basic ones used in the practice of Witchcraft, and many of the
minor tools are extrapolations of the basic ones (e.g. the broom of the
wand, the sword of the athame, the cauldron of the cup, etc.) Goddess
statues, some form of divination (runes, tarot, etc.) and crystals are
other common altar decorat
ion.

Personal Development
Since these tools are merely the conductors of personal energies,
as copper is a conductor for electrical energy, most covens provide at
least some degree of training in psychic skills and healing practices
to strengthen each member's ability to participate in the religious
activities. Each individual decides what level of such training is
useful for them. We see psychic abilities as a natural human
potential, and are dedicated to developing this as well as all of our
positive human potentials.

_A Witchcraft FAQ_

Q. What form does the practice of Witchcraft take?
The form and context vary from group to group and between each ritual,
and may run the gamut from elaborate ceremony to spontaneous ritual to
simple meditation. Generally the practice is to consecrate a sacred
space, the "circle" and then work magick and worship the Goddesses and
Gods within it according to the forms agreed upon by that particular
group of Witches. Also, many Witches, known as Solitaries, practice
their faith alone.

Q. How do you see the Goddess?
As the immanent life force, as Mother Nature, the Earth, the Cosmos,
the interconnectedness of all life. Each group or tradition of
Witchcraft or Goddess worship may call Her by different names or assign
her different attributes, but to all Witches, She is the Great Mother
of Life.

Q. Do all Witches practice their religion the same way?
Yes and no. Wicca is a highly individual religion. Moreover, the
number of different sects within the Craft may give the impression that
no two groups practice the same way. Though practices may vary, most
traditions have many similarities, such as the working of magick and a
respect for nature. Most Witches find enough common ground for mutual
support and productive networking throughout the Craft community.

Q. Is Witchcraft a "cult"?
No. A cult is generally taken as a gathering of people who owe blind
allegiance to one charismatic leader who ostensibly represents "truth".
They indulge in "extravagant homage or adoration" (Webster's
Dictionary), usually of their leader, thus trading the ability to think
for themselves for "salvation" and a sense of belonging. This is the
antithesis of the Witchcraft experience. Most Witches come to the
Craft through reading and communing with nature and later finding
like-minded groups. Witches tend to be highly individualistic. (And
how!)

Q. Do Witches have a "Bible"?
No. A bible is supposedly the word of a deity revealed through a
prophet, or more generally, "a book containing the sacred writings of
any religion" (Webster's Dictionary). Witchcraft is a Pagan
folk-religion of personal experience rather than transmitted
revelation. A Witch may keep a "Book of Shadows" which is more like an
individual's workbook or journal -- meaningful to the person who keeps
it -- containing rituals, discoveries, spells, poetry, herb lore, etc.
Covens may keep a similar group book. There is no one document taken
by all Wiccans as authoritative, as in Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.

Q. Do Witches cast spells?
Some do and some don't. Since a commonly-held belief is that what is
sent out is returned to the sender threefold, Witches tend to be very
careful with spells. (very careful. very, very careful.) A spell is a
formula, or series of steps, to direct the will to a desired end.
Energy is drawn from the earth, concentrated, and sent out into the
world. It is believed that with proper training and intent, human
minds and hearts are fully capable of performing all the magick and
miracles they are ever likely to need, through the use of natural
psychic power.

Q. Do Witches fly on brooms?
No. Brooms were (in rural Europe) and sometimes still are ridden
astride in ceremonies. (Form your own Freudian conclusion. <g>) In one
such ceremony, people ran through the fields astride a broom to coax
the grain to grow, or participants would leap over a broom, telling the
grain to grow to the height of the highest leaping. Uninformed
observations of such ceremonies could lead to tales of flying on
brooms. (Better recall that APB for the broomstick, Scully.)

Q. Do Witches worship the Devil?
No. The concept of "the devil", a personification of a supreme spirit
of evil and unrighteousness, is a creation of Middle Eastern thought
which is fundamental to the religions of that region, including
Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Worship of this being
as "Satan" is a practice of profaning Christian symbolism and is thus a
Christian heresy rather than a Pagan religion. The gods of Wicca are
in no way connected with Satanic practice. Most Witches do not even
believe Satan exists, and certainly do not worship him. Historically,
the gods of an older religion are often branded as the devils of a
newer one in order to promote conversion. (The traditional image of
"Satan" as a horned beast may have stemmed from a defamation of the
Horned God of many pre-Christian traditions.)

Q. Are Witches only women?
No, but in this country (USA) women do predominate in the Craft overall
(in Britain, men predominate). Some traditions have only women
practitioners, just as others have only men. Most traditions admit
both. Men are also called "Witches", and most take exception to being
called "Warlocks".

Q. With the bad mental image people get at the mention of Witch and
Witchcraft, why do you still use these names?
Virtually every religion can look back into the dark corners of history
and find a period when it was held in disrepute. Some religions were
accused of crimes through ignorance and malice (e.g. Medieval
Christians were sure that Jews ate Christian babies). Other religions
face prejudice because their practices are different from those of
their accusers (e.g. the Mormons for their polygamy). Others defame
each other for being on the opposite side of some power struggle --
consider the many incidents from the Crusades through the Inquisition
to current affairs in nations such as Ireland or Iran. Just because a
group was or is persecuted and maligned is not a reason for it to
change its name. The practices of prejudice and scapegoating seem to
be universal human pastimes, and we have had our share of being
victimized. (Personal note: I, and many others, use the name "Witch"
proudly, in order to help restore dignity to those who fell under the
Inquisition. Also, the term "Witch" is often held to be stronger, more
forceful, than the more ‘politically correct’ term "Wiccan", although
both come from the same root.)

Q. How can someone find out more about Witchcraft?
Wicca is not a missionary religion and does not proselytize. One must
seek rather than be sought after. There are excellent books available,
and many Witches teach classes or facilitate discussion groups. (Try a
word search for "Witch" or "Wicca" on the Web- there are some great
resources, and lots of them!) In this way, people may connect with a
like-minded coven or form a study group of their own. There are also
many good periodicals, networks, and national and regional festivals
through which a seeker can make contact with the larger Craft
community.

In closing, it is important to emphasize that Witches *are not* devil-,
demon-, or Satan-worshippers. They do not practice blood sacrifices.
They don’t kill unbaptized babies. They’re not a cult that’s out to
convert you, steal all your money, or take over the world. (Well, maybe
the total world domination part- I could go with that. <g>) Anyone who
does such things and calls themselves a Witch is *not*!
Unfortunately, the infamous "witch-trials" are not over. Every day,
Witches and Pagans are persecuted because of their religion.
Misunderstandings about Witchcraft lead to discrimination and
oppression. There is hardly a member of the Pagan community who cannot
relate a personal horror story of their own. (Myself included.) If you
are interested in learning more about the modern witch-trials, you can
visit The Witches’ League For Public Awareness (WLPA) at:
http://www.celticcrow.com/
I urge everyone to learn more about one of the fastest-growing
religions in the US. This Wicca 101 is by no means exhaustive, in fact,
it barely scratches the surface. Even if you are not Pagan yourself, I
encourage everyone to learn more about the different facets of
Witchcraft. (No, watching "The Craft" doesn’t count. Sorry. <g>)

Merry Meet, and Merry Part, and Merry May We Meet Again! (In post #2,
if I haven’t scared you off already!)

Ashley Sheridan
aka Penthesileia SilverWolf, Leia Wolfe
AmazonFox on IRC

[The Sheridan Family]

Merry Met, again!

Yay! You’ve made it this far (I hope!) and hopefully have a little bit
of understanding as to what Witchcraft is and isn’t. With that in mind,
I think you can understand my shock and disappointment at the recent
X-Files episode, "Sanguinarium".

I’d always considered The X-Files to be a sort of 'occult-friendly'
show, in that it’s very purpose is to methodically research and expose
the myths and misunderstandings surrounding obscure and infamous
practices and beliefs. Mulder’s mention of Wicca in "Die Hand Die
Verletzt", however brief, brought a lot of positive publicity to a
group desperately in need of some good press! Despite our internal
attempts to dispell (pardon the pun!) some of the misconceptions about
Wicca and Witchcraft, our words are only heard by those willing to
listen to us in the first place. The X-Files, however, reaches a large
(yeah!) and diverse audience, and has the opportunity to clarify and
eliminate many of these misconceptions.

Well, had the opportunity.

While it is obvious that the writers/producers/creators are quiet
knowledgeable about Witchcraft and other aspects of the occult, instead
of presenting these facts to their audience, on 11/10’s episode,
"Sanguinarium", they opted instead for the sensational route. The
majority of people still associate Witchcraft with pointy hats,
double-double-toil-and-trouble, and the ever-popular "wicked witch".
Few would ever question the distinction between Witchcraft and black
magick or Satanism. In fact, I’m sure most would assume a connection on
their own. Why waste a lot of time explaining what Witchcraft really
is? After all, it’s really not very exciting. A bunch of people
gathering to light candles and celebrate the seasons isn’t exactly a
ratings-grabber. Even an episode of "Picket Fences", dealing with
modern Witchcraft, showed a scene of a small coven worshipping skyclad
(nude). I guess it’s just not the same when the Witches are wearing
jeans and sweatshirts. (They were in *Wisconsin*, for cryin’ out loud!
In *October*! Brrrr.)

So why show a group of people dancing around a small fire when you can
show a woman leaping from a pool of blood? Why show a book with a
boring title like "The Spiral Dance" when you can show "Witchcraft and
Demonology"? Blood, gore, spookiness, that’s what X-Philes want, right?
Forget "The Truth is Out There", guys. Perhaps they had it right in
"Teliko": "Deceive, Inveigle, and Obfuscate"- in this case, the basic
tenements and practices of one of the country’s fastest-growing
religions.

It is my honest belief that the misconceptions about Witchcraft
presented in this episode were neither intentional, nor the result of
ignorance. I refuse to believe that Chris Carter would deliberately set
out to slander Witchcraft and it’s practitioners. And while I will
perhaps cling to the belief that he was *asleep* when he approved this
episode, I also doubt the fallacies were the result of the authors’
lack of knowledge. As has been pointed out by many others, there are
far to many *accurate* facts to make ignorance plausible. For instance,
to know that the date 1953 was at all significant to Gardnerian Wicca
(btw, it was the year in which Doreen Valiente was initiated by Gerald
Gardner, not the year Gardner 'founded' Wicca), the writers would have
had to have read about Gardner and his works and beliefs. Yet somehow
some of the details seemed to have slipped by them. (oops.) To have
Gardner and Gardnerian Wicca associated with the 'bad guy' in this
episode, not to mention the blood bath, was truly inexcusable. If they
truly felt the need to use his name, there were plenty of other
places to put it other than one where he would be associated with a
horrifying serial killer.

In truth, the mix of fact and myth in this episode was somewhat
baffling. The X-Files has had a lot of experience at mingling fact and
fiction over the years, however, wild’n’wacky speculations about
Roswell and total misinformation about a major religion are two very
different things. Yet, repeatedly, truths were used to validate
untruths. For example, Mulder did say the pentagram was a symbol of
"protection and positive power used to control the elemental forces".
Pass Go, collect $200! Then later, he claims the inverted pentagram
symbolizes "the goat of lust attacking heaven with his horns." WHAT??
Bad Mulder. Bad, bad, Mulder. While it’s true that due to the
popularization of the inverted pentagram among Satanic cults in the US,
the symbol is usually shown point-up when used for positive workings,
some Witchcraft traditions (especially in Britain) use the inverted pe
ntagram to signify the Second Degree of Initiation. And I sincerely
hope the "goat of lust" business wasn’t a reference to the ancient
Horned God of Fertility, known to many traditions and still worshipped
today.

I’m not much of a herbalist, but even I know that belladonna is used
for more things than indigestion and "hexing rituals". In fact, it’s
probably most famous as an ingredient in flying ointment. And since he
never clarifies his casual use of "hexing rituals", now’s a good time
to point out that many Witches don’t even *believe* in hexing! Also,
since many out there know that belladonna is poisonous, it should be
noted that no Witch would *ever* attempt to poison anyone under the
guise of "hexing" them.

Another disturbing mix of reality and (dark) fantasy was the character
of Rebecca Waite. In the words of Glinda, "Are you a good Witch, or a
bad Witch?" Watching, I was torn between hissing at her and admiring
her altar. Even though many have pointed out that in the end, Rebecca
was shown to be a "good Witch", I find this even more dangerous. While
I am not denying that her motives were probably ‘good’, I shudder to
think how a "good Witch" can ever be portrayed as placing leeches on a
patient’s stomach or leaping, snarling, from a hot-tub o’ blood.
Rebecca was shown chanting over a very authentic, very elaborate altar.
(I *adored* her mirror!) However, at that point, we were still
considering her a prime suspect, and this scene was interpreted by many
as her casting a curse or working some other form of "black magick".
Then our dynamic duo appear at her house. As cats meow menacingly and a
broom leans threateningly against the back door, (since when is a broom
probable cause anyway?) Scully mutters something about putting out an
APB for someone in a pointy hat, riding a broom, latching on once again
to the concept of the typical "wicked witch". And Mulder, guardian of
occult practitioners everywhere, smiles knowingly and points to the
pentagram worked into the doorframe. (I, for one, applaud Ms. Waite for
having the courage to place one in so conspicuous a spot. As someone
pointed out, they’re usually met with curses, vandalism, and worse.)
All this paints a very confusing portrait of Witchcraft. If Rebecca is
a "bad witch", how come she is shown trying to protect the patients,
and performing a very authentic-looking protection ritual? And if she
is a "good Witch", why does she stick *leeches* on a patient’s stomach?
(ever hear of ink?) Why does she possess a book titled "Witchcraft and
Demonology"? And *why*, in the name of Discordia, does she jump out of
a bathtub filled with *blood*? How is someone with no background or
understanding of Witchcraft draw the line between fact and artistic
(cough, cough) license? How do they differentiate between actual
practices and sensationalism? This was extremely irresponsible of the
entire production staff, especially since so many people look to the
show to accurately portray such obscure subjects as the differences
between Witchcraft and Demonology. (Hey, if it’s on X-Files, it *must*
be true! Except maybe that Flukeman thing. <g>)

And what of the last victim's birthday? Samhain (and yes, for those of
you that still don’t know, it’s sah’wen!) as the crucial date for the
evil surgeon's (boo, hiss) renewal? Too horrible to think they were
consciously using that symbology. Samhain has already been bastardized
enough. (Pardon the language, but I think it’s appropriate.) From one
of the Celtic culture’s most holy days, the night when those on this
plane of existence could contact those beyond, the eve of the new year,
rebirth and renewal, to a night either trivialized by trick-or-treating
and jack-o-lanterns, or, even worse, denounced as a night of
demon-worshipping and black magick.
Now, Mulder can’t even *pronounce* it right! (oh guardian of sacred
and spooky occult stuff) In addition, the blend of festival names was
quite possibly one of the most eclectic I’ve ever seen! (And trust me,
I’m pretty disorganized as far as they go myself.) Samhain (however
it’s pronounced) and Lammas are both Celtic, but I’ve never even heard
of ‘Roodmas’ for Beltaine Eve, although some of my friends say it’s a
Catholic festival held on the same date. (Many pre-Christian Pagan
festivals were renamed as Christian feasts.) However, why would a Witch
use a Christian name for one Sabbath, and Celtic names for two others?
(Not to mention the unmentioned Imbolc/Oilmelc/Brigid... hey, the way
this thing was going, they might even have called it Groundhog’s Day!)
Once again, however, the residual traces of research are still
apparent. And once again, we are left wondering, "*what* were they
thinking???" (or smoking?)

We must ask that question again, several times, as our illustrious
heroes glibly use terms such as ‘witchcraft’, ‘black magick’,
‘sorcery’, and ‘ritual magick’ interchangeably. Wince! For instance,
Mulder says, "It does make sense that witchcraft or black magick could
find a theatre in a place like this preying on the weak and
vainglorious." Well, which one? Witchcraft or black magick? It is
impossible that both could be practiced simultaneously, since most
Witches don’t even *believe* in "black magick", the same way we don't
believe in Satan. For one, the terms ‘black’ and ‘white’ magick are
inherently racist, and another, there is no clear delineation between
‘good’ and ‘evil’. (That would be *way* too easy!) Magick yields what
is poured into it. If that is positive intent, then positive results
will occur. If that is ill intent, well... that’s between the
practitioner and the Gods. Anyway, Mulder also calls Rebecca a
"practitioner of ritual magick", and then "a practicing Witch".
(Mulder, Mulder, Mulder...) Ritual magick and Witchcraft are two very
different things. Ritual magick is just that, the use of ritual and
magick. It implies no religious connections whatsoever. I have known
ritual practitioners who were Christian, Jewish, Pagan, and Atheist.
Witchcraft is a religion of which magick is sometimes a practice.

Speaking of blood.... putting aside the gore factor of this episode
(hey, what can I say, I even loved "Home"!), several uses of said blood
also made me quite uncomfortable. Blood is used (very) liberally
throughout the episode, often in ways connected to the workings of
magick. As if Witches don’t have enough problems already, trying to
refute claims that we drink blood, perform human sacrifices, eat
babies, etc., etc., ad nauseum. Now, we have to deal with people
assuming that we use leeches and blood to trace pentagrams! (In case
you couldn’t tell, I’ve *really* got a problem with leeches. Yee-uck.)
Mulder then calls blood "the most potent offering in black magick."
Since both he and Scully use ‘black magick’ and ‘Witchcraft’
interchangeably, a lot of confusion could arise as to what purposes
blood is actually used in modern Witchcraft. I’m no expert, and again,
uses and practices vary from tradition to tradition, but even if blood
is used in ritual, it is never for harm! Blood is considered a very
powerful substance and should never be misused.

I think the one word that most adequately describes my feelings towards
this episode is 'disappointment'. Betrayal, bewilderment, shock, and
fear come in close behind, but I am truly disappointed in the creators
of The X-Files for this episode. All the more so because I expected so
much more from them. I’ve become almost resigned to Witches being
slashed by the general media- movies, newspapers, TV (remember Kerri
Patavino, anyone?)- but all throughout 'Sanguinarium' I was waiting
almost desperately for Mulder to make a disclaimer of some sort, at
least- and then I watched all the credits, hoping against hope that
*somewhere* in there they’d say *something* to the effects of, 'keep in
mind real Witches don’t do any of this stuff, ok?' Alas, none was
forthcoming.

I sincerely hope that no one drew any harmful conclusions from this
episode. From what I’ve heard, most people could at least acknowledge
some of the more outlandish actions as pure fiction, but then, there
are a lot of people out there, and if even one now assumes that Witches
drink blood and kill people, "Sanguinarium" will have done irreparable
harm.

Please, please, spread the word to your friends! Don’t let any of the
misconceptions shown here take root. I know that sounds kind of
melodramatic, but it’s true. I think it would be really great if some
of you with X-Files pages could include a link to a page with a Wicca
FAQ, or the WLPA homepage at http://www.celticcrow.com/ Amazing how
one one-hour episode could result in so much trouble-shooting, isn’t
it? Chris Carter, if you’re reading, take note- the media has a *very*
powerful influence, doesn’t it? Please don’t misuse it!

That ends my rambling for now. If anyone has any comments or would just
like to talk, feel free to email me at sher...@ix.netcom.com
(Flames will be used to light the Yule logs!)

Merry Meet, and Merry Part, and Merry May We Meet Again!

Ashley Sheridan