Checking In With The Witches Next Door
Last month I reported (skeptically) about a Wiccan family appearing on TLC’s new reality series “My Unique Family”. The episode, entitled “The Witches Next Door”, featured Rev. Kendra Vaughan Hovey, elder high priestess of Duxbury’s First Church of Wicca, and her family as they struggled with their day-to-day life. The episode in question aired on Monday, and feedback from Pagans who watched the show has been appearing in the blogosphere. Surprisingly, it seems that the Hovey family acquitted themselves well, and that TLC didn’t pull any of the usual reality-television dirty tricks.
The Hovey Family: Kendra, Tim, Alana, and Alec
“For once, I was actually quite surprised and pleased with it. The family was portrayed as being regular people who had regular concerns within their family and in daily life. It seems that the main theme of this episode was religious tolerance, which makes sense to me. There are so many people that do not have an understanding of Pagan religions for several reasons, including not having any exposure to it. One thing that struck me was that Rev. Kendra Vaughan Hovey said that she would rather have people say things to her face rather than saying things behind her back. That way, they have a chance for communication and education.” – S. Nichole, A Pagan Sojourn
“I have to say that I was pleased beyond my wildest expectations. It was a fair and honest portrayal of the Wiccan faith. It was a fair and honest portrayal of an American family who just happens to follow a faith that is outside the societal norms. It showed the good and the bad (each child expresses feelings of being “left out” because of how busy their mother is with her with her congregation responsibilities).” – Mama Kelly, A Blog of Two Witches
“I was really presently surprised though! The family was as normal as can be, the father was an IT consultant and the mother ran the First Church of Wicca in her town and was a full-time mom. Take away the pentacle and she could have been any religious minister. They are raising their two children in the Wiccan path but they also are prepared to let them walk their own path if they so choose.” – Jaspenelle Stewart, Graceful Symmetry
More reviews of the episode can be found, here, here, here, and here.
In reading over all the reviews I have found so far, it seems the main criticism of the show is aimed at Rev. Hovey’s insistence on constantly wearing a Christian clerical collar everywhere she went no matter what she was doing. But aside from that issue, the feedback seems generally positive. So congratulations to the Hovey family for winning the reality television lottery
*Like winning the lottery, the chances of another Pagan family experiencing the same treatment is on par with being struck several times by lightning on a clear day while taking a walk. So remember my semi-official guideline for Pagans and reality television, if it isn’t Oprah (or TLC I guess), just say no.
4 responses so far
…it seems the main criticism of the show is aimed at Rev. Hovey’s insistence on constantly wearing a Christian clerical collar everywhere she went no matter what she was doing.
Increasingly, many Witches are seeing their liturgy in the context of the Independent Sacramental Movement, in which Gerald Gardner was consecrated bishop.
The clerical collar is a visual shorthand: people “get” that I’m sworn to a lifetime of service, listening, advocacy, and championing/cheerleading your spiritual journey. You can tell me something in confidence, or turn to me for help. You have to admit that’s pretty handy: a great deal is communicated in a very short period of time.
I viewed the My Unique Family Wiccan show from an evangelical Christian perspective (more out of curiosity than anything else) and these are some of my impressions.
Kendra (notice I’m refusing to call her REVEREND) seems like a nice enough lady, loving mom, kind neighbour, has a good heart, enjoys helping others, etc, etc., and that’s fine and dandy but the fact is that what she is doing, is WRONG!
In light of the fact that in Old Testament days, witches were put to death by stoning, I found it both interesting and ironic that before she became a card carrying witch, she was Jewish!
I’d like to know if she’s ever read the Old Testament. If so, she must have skipped over ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.’
It was also interesting (though not surprising) that the way she became lured to witchcraft in the first place, was through being given a deck of tarot cards by her aunt (or whoever it was), when she was 11 years old.
Moral of the story: Be careful what sorts of gifts you give folks. I bet her aunt had no clue that that ‘harmless gift’ would cause her to become a full fledged witch later on in life, some 20-30 years after the fact.
The only reason witches aren’t still killed today (under God’s law that is) is because of the New Covenant we’ve been given through Jesus.
Nevertheless, any sort of trafficking in the occult (this also includes astrology, palm reading, tarot cards, psychic mediums and communicating with the dead) is strictly forbidden by God.
Any and all attempts at divining the future through supernatural means, is forbidden in the Bible. We are also forbidden to make contact with the dead. This is called ‘necromacy’ in the Bible and it’s strictly off limits (what they are really doing is making contact with DEMONS).
Witchcraft is still as forbidden by God today as it was in Old Testament days and witches are still listed amongst those who will not be allowed into Heaven, according to the New Testament.
I know this will anger the pagans reading this but sometimes the truth hurts. This is what the Bible says folks. You can deny it all you want but you will learn the truth some day.
Our redemption is this side of the grave however. Once you’re dead, it’s too late to repent.
I was also angered and offended by that clerical collar she wore—even to get icecream— (she could at least wear ‘normal’ clothes when taking her kids out for icecream or going cranberry picking).
I personally would have been VERY embarassed if my mother took me out in public dressed like that (occult jewellery and all).
It also angered me to see her son reading fortunes with tarot cards; her 2 kids playing with a Ouija board (trust me, they are nothing to fool around with), as though it were as innocent as hopscotch; seeing her 2 kids wearing those pentagram necklaces and seeing her daughter ‘meditating’ with worry stones, incense, etc (we are never to ‘empty’ our mind. The Bible tells us to be sober at all times–blanking out ones mind in ‘meditation’ is spiritually dangerous).
I’m not saying that these Wiccan parents have INTENTIONALLY misled their kids but nevertheless, they ARE deceived (the entire family).
They are sweet lovely children but they are doing things that are very spiritually dangerous (out of ignorance of course), just as their parents, (educated and all) are doing the same.
She’s making withcraft seem like it’s this sweet innocent thing, where all pagans do are good deeds but she neglects to speak about the dark side of The Craft.
By that I mean casting evil spells on enemies and things of that nature.
Furthermore, the Bible makes no distinction between white and dark witchcraft. In other words, they are equally an abomination in God’s eyes, even if one party only does good works and never any evil.
Still, both parties will be sent to Hell for doing something which God has expressly forbidden in His Word.
I have no intention of arguing this matter with anyone. You are free to believe what you please but you cannot plead ignorance by saying that no one ever told you the Bible truth on the matter because you’ve just read it here now.
Please get a Bible and read it cover to cover. Look up all the verses that pertain to witchcraft and study them. You can also do the same on the Net. If that doesn’t alter your perspective on the matter, then nothing will.
First off, evangelical Christians who post anonymously don’t get much respect from me. If your so secure in Christ why not give us a name and e-mail?
Secondly, I could care less what the Bible says about witchcraft or divination. I’m not a Christian (a condition shared by many in this world), so your book of rules isn’t going to sway my opinion.
That said, I have read the Bible, several times. In fact, I may go out on a limb and say I may even know the Bible better than you do. Your admonitions against sorcery and obsession with eternal torment tell me you spend too much time interpreting archaic rules in the Old Testament (many of which strict evangelicals like yourself don’t follow today) and too little time studying the welcoming message of Jesus.
Any further “anonymous” messages on our “hellish” fate will be deleted.
I agree with Jason and wonder why someone would take the time to hunt this site down, just to call others of another belief down. I doubt most , if not all of us, would do such a thing in regards to christianity. Many current pagans were once christians and were NOT lured in. We chose this path, as did the Reverend in this family on this TLC show. You must also realize that christianity is not the only faith practiced in the United States or the world and is not the template for everyone’s lives. Not everyone believes in heaven and hell or is focused on avoiding eternal damnation. Also return to that Bible where it talks about judging others, unless you want to be judged on what you do or don’t do. Also recall the golden rule. Would you like the roles reversed and have someone attacking you for beleiving in god and jesus? Fear and intolerance drive much of people’s reactions to anything different and it is detrimental to everyone including yourself. Please bear in mind , anonymous poster, that christianity was built on pagan beliefs and customs, of which many still exist today in modern christian holidays. Paganism is hidden in nooks and crannies of our lives on a daily basis and most people don’t even know what the symbols mean , but assume they are christian, art, or mean nothing.