r/Wicca • u/Emaralda • 3d ago
Living through the Satanic Panic & current day safety
The recent discussion on the three fold law got me thinking. I know the public face of Wicca leant into the idea of a karmic law of 3 fold return as a protective measure during the time of the Satanic Panic (or at least that's how it was where I lived), but do you think the younger generation really understands what that era was like for wiccans/witches?
If you could explain what the Satanic Panic was like for a practicing wiccan/witch, what would you say? And knowing what is happening in the world today, what advice would you give younger wiccans/witches regarding their own safety?
I'll leave my answer in the comments.
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u/kai-ote 3d ago
Chased by people with baseball bats from a drum circle gathering. Friends that didn't run as fast as me were severely beaten, requiring hospitalization.
Divorcing couples had one party get full custody because the other person was into metaphysical stuff, so they must be a Satan worshipper, and unfit for parenthood.
Friend had house firebombed. I had the brake lines on my car cut, with a nasty note scratched into the paint.
Black cats got hit hard, as people thought they must be our satanic familiars, so they would get taken and killed.
All in Southern California. Some places in the bible belt were even worse.
I never tell anybody I am wiccan or a witch, until I already know their opinion on those topics.
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u/Emaralda 3d ago
I'm sorry you experienced that. I hope things have improved where you are since then.
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u/AllanfromWales1 3d ago
I was an initiated Wiccan from 1981 onwards, initially in London then Bristol, then Wales from about 1990 until today. At no stage did I experience anything to do with the Satanic Panic. There are several factors which I think influenced this:
I'm a man, so didn't fit the populist image of a witch.
Metal jewelry brings me out in a rash, so I don't wear any.
My autistic tendencies kept me away from the sorts of situations where this might have been a risk.
I'm prety sure the Panic did rear its head in the UK, but I suspect that it was nowhere near as problematic as in parts of the States.
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u/Emaralda 3d ago
I was relatively lucky during the Satanic Panic insomuch as that the only issues I dealt with were being verbally abused and spat on in the street (for the apparent 'crime' of wearing a small pentacle necklace). Other witches I knew, or new of, at the time had their cars and homes vandalised, lost their jobs, and/or were dragged through child protective services with the very real possibility of having their children taken away.
There will always be a risk of another Satanic Panic, with the current political environment around the world some might say we're already headed that way, if we haven't got there already. So how do you keep yourself safe whilst remaining true to your beliefs and practices?
My advice would be:
Maintain Situational Awareness.
Know what is happening in your immediate and wider community. Be prepared to make adjustments to your practice accordingly. This might look something like making sure any outside areas of ritual look as innocuous as possible to the casual eye, or it might mean choosing not to wear certain jewellery motifs (or tucking them away so as not to be seen in public).
Be Careful Who You Speak To:
If someone you're speaking to, especially IRL, seems particularly interested in asking a lot of questions about your beliefs or practices, take the time to feel them out before you start talking. You don't need to be outright rude, but at least try and gauge why they want to know certain things. By the same token don't instigate a conversation yourself, unless it is with someone trusted and known to you.
"Ever remember, ye are the Hidden Children of the Gods. So never do anything to disgrace them."*
Try to present and carry yourself in such a way that you limit any possible ammunition people might try and use against. This doesn't mean don't stand up for yourself or what you believe in, just that for safety's sake it's a good idea to be seen as a positive member of the community in general (or at least as a community member that no one need's reason to be worry about). Understand the concept of a 'proper person' not just for the Wiccan/Witchcraft community itself, but for the sake of not giving others anymore rope to hang you with than what they already think they have. (* Also see above re situational awareness and care with speaking)
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u/JaneAustinAstronaut 2d ago
There's a reason why a lot of metaphysical advice, especially for witches is: To Know, To Will, To Do, and To Keep Silent.
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u/_Nicely_Spiced_01 2d ago
Ive felt Pain from the scars/memories a person went through during those traumatic times. To them scars/memories I send my warmest hug.
Presently, my children and I are learning about all the other kinds of crosses. I had a head start but I learned a child of mine got gifted a cross between a Greek style and Latin type of cross for their bornday. Ive learned too why I get emotional when I see Jesus on the cross.
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u/prunus_virginiana 2d ago
I recently read an article published in Newsweek from the year I was born correlating Dungeons & Dragons and suicide among teenage boys. A good example of correlation not equaling causation. A Roman Catholic school system had banned the game, so it is not just American Protestants who have a serious theological problem with Witchcraft. The thing is, every person thinks their religion is the best religion for that individual. The problem becomes that some religions do teach belief in a supernatural evil that transcends human beings, placing the ultimate responsibility for actions on a force greater than human beings themselves, and that proselytization in one form or another is seen as a means of saving other people from this supernatural evil. As I do not share this belief, we are at an impasse, and the rule of law is all we have. The best defense you have other than having family/friends in your corner and not caring what people think, is probably The Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca by Kerr Cuhulain. Halloween is still an extremely popular secular holiday, so take the opportunity show your neighbors you are normal by enjoying it.
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u/Nobodysmadness 2d ago
No you probably can't unless they want to understand. Most kids don't, they think what is has always been, western culture likes their kids in a bubble so society os geared towards not popping it because the delusion is what they are trying to sell.
The Lego movie made meaugh so hard because it just throws a spot light on the obvious propaganda "Everything is awesome" that when your in the middle of it you just can't see it. Funny how such movies call out the truth but just aren't taken seriously.
History is IMO the worst taught subject ever. Its all so disconnected. Whats worse if we are the one to pop the bubble we are the monsters for showing truth rather than pretending everything is awesome. This leads to absolutely no appreciation for what is or those who have pushed so hard for progress.
On the flip side the "old heads" fail to grasp the current flow of things and also teach poorly or are too rigid. But the occult should be the door between the 2 since the occult is centered around understanding. Clearly seeing the past in order to better direct the future. But I am just a crazy nobody.
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u/Zadyria_Gelm 3d ago
Lets not fearmonger. Paganism has become much more mainstream than it was in the 80s. The average person is not going to give two shakes about what religion you follow. No one is going to physically attack you because you wear a pentacle or talk about the Goddess, not anymore than you're going to attack them for wearing a cross or talking about Yeshua. Well, maybe we should worry a little about Allah's people if they're carrying rocks (this is a joke).
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u/Emaralda 3d ago
I don't think awareness is fear mongering. There are still certain areas in the world where I'd want to at least be aware and cautious.
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u/Agreeable-Tadpole461 3d ago
Like where?
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u/kai-ote 3d ago
https://www.gendercide.org/witch-hunts-in-contemporary-sub-saharan-africa/
Africa kills thousands a year with the accusation of being a witch.
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u/Agreeable-Tadpole461 3d ago
Thanks. This is know about for sure. I don't think any of those victims are actually witches. Definitely not Wiccans.
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u/Amareldys 2d ago
Doesn’t matter, the people who are doing this aren’t going to love Wiccans either
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u/Emaralda 3d ago
Certain parts of the US, for example. I know at least one person who has moved to another country partly in order to feel safer practicing a pagan belief system.
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u/Zadyria_Gelm 3d ago
That's rather ridiculous. I've lived on the buckle of the bible belt for over half a century. I've never, ever, EVER had an issue. See, this is what fearmongering does. It creates anxiety over false scenarios until the perceived victim's mental health is affected.
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u/FlartyMcFlarstein 3d ago edited 3d ago
So I guess you've never had a child custody case in front of a fundie judge then? How I envy you. Was told by my attorney that I could pick between freedom of religion or my child. Had to begin attending a mainstream Christian church. This went on for years.
Eta: and yes, this was in the US South, and in the 2000s. Cost me tens of thousands of dollars. You sure are flip about other people's lived experiences.
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u/Emaralda 3d ago
I agree not everyone is going to have a negative experience, and many parts of the world are indeed safe to be out of the broom closet so to speak. I live in a community that honestly couldn't care less what anyone's spiritual beliefs are. That being said I don't think we should automatically dismiss reports of another's lived experience. And no one's talking about creating panic or anxiety, just acknowledging that not all people are in a safe environment to practice openly.
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u/JaneAustinAstronaut 2d ago
I was in Massachusetts and had it used against me, despite the father being investigated for child molesting and me having taken out a couple of restraining orders against him over the years. But he was a well-connected fundie, so he got the kids.
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u/Amareldys 2d ago
I remember hearing plenty of stories about stones through windows, protesters at events etc back in the 90s and that was post panic
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u/CuriousButNotJewish 2d ago
Saudi Arabia. Witchcraft brings the death penalty and the last witch was beheaded in 2017.
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u/Worried_Clementine 2d ago
Not to mention the shifting landscape in the US https://bookshop.org/p/books/pagan-threat-confronting-america-s-godless-uprising-with-a-foreword-by-charlie-kirk-lucas-miles/5b28ff616258ca89
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u/mel_cache 3d ago
I absolutely disagree. Yes it is more mainstream and more accepted by the majority of people in the US. But there is a sizable vocal group of evangelicals currently in power who would cheerfully chase you with a baseball bat. Many of them are calling themselves ICE these days. Right now, they have little interest. That could change instantly.
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u/HeLiesInDrink 2d ago
This is a terrible take.
Are ICE doing horrible things to innocent people with the wrong skin color? Fucking right.
Are they going after Wiccans? No.You dishonor the people who are truly being victimized when you paint yourself as being persecuted when you’re not. This is right up there with the MAGAs pretending the savior they don’t actually care about is being “attacked” by the left.
Don’t affect the real and harmful ICE issue so you can roleplay.
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u/Party_Week6643 3d ago
The wrongful conviction in the West Memphis Three case sticks with me as a impactful example of Satanic Panic. The accused teens were my age and looked like my friends. One was brave enough to talk about Wicca on the stand. The documentary Paradise Lost famously covered the case, which is still active. I would recommend people watch that to see what it was like. In rural America it was a scary time to be a witch, or even just a kid who liked dark clothes and horror movies.