Morbid Outlook - Re: Laurie Cabot

Mike Ventarola wrote a tidbit on the infamous “Witch of Salem”, Laurie Cabot. The feedback from individuals with the gothic and pagan communities was very interesting and very divided:

I feel that the woman has done well for herself and I am not one to judge her motives. Only the rule of three will hold her accountable for any missteps she may have taken along her path. One must remember that this country is still hostile to us and being open about ones following of the Craft can lead to hardship and persecution. Believe me it is not fun. Look, one can read all the books in the modern bookstore and still be ignorant in the ways of the Craft.

I think she’s a wonderful person not ashamed by being different and on her appearance – I say you go girl! How many proclaim they’re a witch or live in a town known for killing people since for being a witch? So I say: KEEP DOIN YOUR THING GIRL!

For me Laurie Cabot is a modern day Aleister Crowley. She wants attention so what? Like someone said, whenever she speaks about the craft, it isn’t in an inclusive way. I mean you gotta give her credit for wearing a black robe which she started doing in the 50’s.

To me she represents the type of witch I came in the craft to be, one who actively uses their psychic abilities and well, I mean how many of us were using Alpha for magick before her books came out. She gave the knit and grit of the how’s and why’s of witchcraft. I don’t see anything wrong for charging for psychic counseling or spells. If you are good at it and love to do it, why not? You are offering a good talent to the public. Despite her lime light addiction, I applaud her as I would Mr. Crowley because surely he would have done the same thing. Let’s not forget what he has done for Modern witchcraft. In short we owe them both for their courage and their spirit to share regardless of the tradition of the arts we follow.

I am sort of Goth myself, but that not withstanding, I can’t really not like Laurie Cabot’s image. She came out in public with it a long time before all the Silver Ravenous Wolfe’s of the world were here and Laurie took the stuff slung at her by the public back then, but I don’t know if Laurie ever worked in a grocery store or not.

Laurie might have been a magickal Witch at one time, I have heard some stories about that, but give her a break... she is just an older lady who has done most of her thing. Perhaps its the younger folks time to do some of the struggle, and for her a time to just reflect and enjoy!

Individuals have the right to believe what they want to (Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). The more choices available, the better, and if you don’t like the choices available, make a new one! Paint your star red if that’s your color, follow the lightning if that’s your calling, and don’t let anyone doom you to some eternal fire just because you don’t share their beliefs.

I think she’s a sell-out fluff bunny. Why? Because I watched through the media and through articles, books, etc., go from being a serious practising witch who supported her children by means of the Craft and being very prestigious, to becoming someone who demands to be put on camera whenever a documentary is done in Salem, to splattering a bad artworked tattoo on her cheek, of all places (purely to stand out in a crowd – attention gimmick), and to charging ridiculous prices for services that we should Not be Charging for at All. She became a limelight addict and has lost sight (in my opinion) of what the “Arts” are really about. She’s not the same person she was 26 years ago, helping to fight for religious recognition and battling discrimination. She let fame go to her head, like many have fallen prey to.

That is why I never want to be famous. It is why I publish under aliases, never letting personal info or really defined photos get into the public. I just want to finish my Masters degree, write maybe a total of 3 books, and be the Archaeologist Witch that I am right now.

Anyway, ...that’s why I feel she “sold-out”, and Janine ...sorry ...Silver RavenWolf is quickly on her way down the same path. The “Teen Witch Kit” Talk about Gimmicks. What’s next? Colonel Jackson’s snakebite medicine?

We need so desperately to be seen as a dedicated, serious spiritual genre. And certain popular Witches/Wiccans are mucking it up for us, and are being seen by the “straights” as silly or cheezy ...or as just plain stupid.

I have no problems with Laurie Cabot’s dress or make-up. I have no idea if she is a goth or not, nor is it my business, but her style is her own and if she feels that it brings her closer to the Lord and Lady, so be it.

I do feel that the article was a little one sided and more of a “she’s really great” piece. It did not really deal with the controversy which surrounds her and upon what grounds, if any, people try to refute her practices and teachings.

As for her seeking or obliging in media coverage, I see no harm with it. For the most part, from what I have seen, what she speakings of is abstract and although she cites her own line of teaching, is general enough to include all of the paths of wicca and not be offensive. I have actually used her as an example of an open witch and showing myself (who for the most part the only part of me that allows you into that aspect of my life is a pentacle I occasionally wear) as another witch – therefore demonstrating the breadth and depth of the wiccan world. We are all not Laurie Cabot like, we are all not like me (more metropolitan) and we are all not like my friend Ann (more of the tree hugging type)...We are, as like in any other religious or spiritual path, a wealth of differences.

Continuing on this and sharing discussions that I have participated in, where are the new leaders of wicca or paganism coming from? And if Laurie Cabot is one, why are we so quick to jump on her and criticise someone... isn’t this precisely what we do not want? Where will the Alistair Crowleys of the future come from if not from within ourselves? And can Laurie Cabot be considered one? Controversial as she does not follow word by word, letter by letter the tradition of one, but perhaps is exploring and re-educating, enlightening and expanding our (wiccan, pagans and the like)

Much of what I had discovered was a lot of right wing religious fanatics that purported that Laurie Cabot is the next thing to the devil. It was a lot of misinformed rhetoric by the same bible thumpers that put down any other group that is outside their “churchianity” view. Some of these same articles “alleged” religious leaders demonstrated total intolerance and stressed the growing concern that Wicca is one of the largest growing religions in the country, thereby equating that the “devil” has his hands on your children kind of mentality.

The sell-out aspect came about because many folks felt her “image” was catering to the Hollywood misinformation and dressing accordingly. She explains that black absorbs light energy and is conducive to channeling higher energies.

Cabot is also very much in the media spotlight which seems to unnerve some folks. She is not the only witch to own a shop or write a book, or do a talk show, however folks seem to hold the fact that an independent Wiccan women has done well for herself.

Despite the research, no one article clearly indicated what it is that pisses people off about her, which leads me to surmise that it is more jealousy and sour grapes than anything else.

I worked for Laurie Cabot for many years, gaining much more that a pay check. There are many sides to this woman who has seen more than most of us will ever see. If you have the chance to know the woman, I know then you are a very lucky. She is not the person so many people would like to believe sits in her office counting her coins.

She works very hard for what she has, creating beautiful things into the wee hours of the morning. If you don’t find the magick, you don’t have to buy it. Yes some things she does have vexed me; yes, she may have high prices, but have you seen her clothe a family for yule and fill the room with gifts for someone who can’t afford it? I have seen the bare months of January and Februrary when pennies were pinched and still she had something special for anyone who needed it.

This woman of 68 something years (long, powerful years) has lived like most of us will never know. If you meet her and she is guarded, rushed, or just busy, don’t point a finger at her. Give her a break. She has put herself in the public eye and tries to accept it. Stand in her shoes before you judge her. I have seen her shine. I hope you can too.

I have also worked for Laurie Cabot, and not sure if I should put down on paper what I really feel about this woman.

I believe when she started this mission it was with all good intentions, but through time and ego it has become more about the money and less about the religion or helping people. She is very easily influenced by fame mongers who want to be her or enjoy the lime light of it all, afterall, you do attract what you are.