Subj: regards to your site
From: Mystic
To: Ivy

I Truley enjopyed your fresh honesty! I JUST STARTED USING THE WEB. Have an interest in hearing from some common folk.

[Hmm, "common folk"--that should have been my first clue that this dork thinks she's a keeper of secret knowledge who's been reincarnated since the days of Stonehenge or something. Anyway, moving on to my response.]

Subj: Re: regards to your site
From: Ivy
To: Mystic

Thanks for letting me know you looked at my site and enjoyed it! What parts did you read and enjoy? Do you have any suggestions for it? Just curious. :) Welcome to the Web, it's a great place. --iVY

[So. On to her nose-in-the-air response, which is still kind of "nice" in comparison with how she eventually started acting.]

Subj: Re: regards to your site
From: Mystic
To: Ivy

Dear SwankiVY2,

I realy did not have time to read all of it. I have not seen such honesty in regards to your religion. As for your teaching, do you feel like you have the knowledge? How long have you been a crafter? I JUST BECAME A NEWBE on the net. So I really donot know all the in and outs of the way things work. I have stated before to people, the net is a place where people can play at life. They can be what and who ever they want to be. Honesty is the best policy I think. I have a covenstead in Ohio.
Teaching the craft should be done by an elder. Your site is very sincere.

I will read it when the time is ok for me. Then I WILL give you my honest response.

Blessed BE
[Real name and e-mail deleted]

[So, notice the not-quite-subtle air of "are you sure you really know what you're talking about?" Not to mention that if she "realy" did not have enough time to read it, it's definitely not because she's studying spelling. Interestingly enough, before I had answered this one, I got another one from her:]

Subj: Your site
From: Mystic
To: Ivy

Merry Meet IVY!
I just read your spell craft section and circle cast. Can you help me with a candle color for a healing on a friend who has cancer. Do I NEED TO TELL them that I am doing the spell?? these are things that I DESIRE to know. What does Blessed Be mean? What is your religion? I AM NOT going to tear your site apart. Just need your honesty.

[Weird--it seemed almost like it was coming from two different people, but later she made it obvious that wasn't the case either. Why would she say "What does blessed be mean?" if she'd signed her last mail with it? How could she be a high priestess but be asking me for help on candle colors, especially since my Pagan site has that information on it in no uncertain terms? Also, this mail gave me her e-mail address at the end telling me to mail her, and she spelled it wrong. I hope since then she has realized that misspellings in addresses and URLs can be quite disastrous on the Internet.

My response was not at all nasty, but she had kinda gotten under my skin.]

Subj: Re: regards to your site
From: Ivy
To: Mystic

I have not seen such honesty in regards to your religion. As for your teaching, do you feel like you have the knowledge?

I don't actively "teach" the Craft. I have a website about it up for people to read about it, but I do not take students and I can only give my experiences honestly.

How long have you been a crafter?

That depends on where you draw the line. I've been pagan for over a decade (more than half my life), but haven't really created formal spells or rituals except for the last couple years.

I JUST BECAME A NEWBE on the net.

Well, welcome.

I have stated before to people, the net is a place where people can play at life. They can be what and who ever they want to be. Honesty is the best policy I think.

I agree. People like to pretend to be anything they can't be in real life. I try to just put forth an image that matches my true self.

Teaching the craft should be done by an elder.

I think teaching anything should be done by whoever has experience with it. I would be honored to learn anything about the Craft or anything else from someone who has more insight and/or wisdom about it than I--that person to me is never necessarily an "elder." I'm very passionate about this belief.

Can you help me with a candle color for a healing on a friend who has cancer.

You might try red or possibly light blue, or some other possibilities are green or white or purple (the last is sometimes best for severe diseases). The bottom line is, use anything that has the symbolism that fits best with what YOU want to do, because its color is mostly a symbol to you to raise your energy appropriately.

Do I NEED TO TELL them that I am doing the spell??

"Permission" is not always necessary, but if you know the person would be opposed to you doing a spell for them, you should not do it. Just use your judgment on this one: I know that it makes me annoyed when someone who thinks I just don't get it says they'll "pray for me," so doing a spell for someone who doesn't believe in magick or even worse thinks it's evil would be unethical.

What does Blessed Be mean?

The same as "be blessed," but more archaic. Just a general goodwill statement, a bit like "bless you" or some would say "God bless you."

What is your religion?

I'm pagan, and I practice the bits of the Old Religion that make the most sense to me. I'm just an eclectic crafter.

--iVY

[NOW. Here's where it got really screwy.]

[AS I was writing this e-mail, another one popped up. I finished my e-mail and sent it to her only to open THIS ONE. The date on her last one was 8/23 and the date on this one was 8/24.]

Subj: Why no ansears to my inquires?
From: Mystic
To: Ivy

My dearest Ivy,
I had hoped that you were adult enough to take the honest critisicm. I am not playing games and have been very honest with you. I did continue to read some more of your site today, and have a few small questions.

"IT TAKES A WITCH TO MAKE A WITCH." Your statement afterwards clearly says you do not agree with this. " WHO WAS THE FIRST WITCH?" Maybe your studies have left some areas void of certain knowledge. There is a highly regarded book written about just such a statement. Unfortunately, being a witch made by another witch, I can not and will not disclose the information. You see sweetie, learning by ones self, has its benifits, but it also has its pitfalls. Your concepts on the LAWS need work. I can best state that of all that I have read on your site, your trueth with honesty I liked the best.

Please be advised that this e-mail is not to harm, it is to open the door way to more knowledge. You must understand that a true WITCH will not teach over the net and will not encourage others to spell craft when you do not know who it is that is getting some of thle suggestions. I ask you a very simple question the last e-mail,"What color candle should one use in a healing spell with someone who has cancer?" I await my answear.

[Yes, because if you don't answer immediately it's evidence of you not being adult enough to take criticism. (There wasn't really any criticism in her first mail anyway, just kind of comments and questions.) Oh, and I think the folks at The Witches' Voice would be pretty pissed off to hear that no true WITCH teaches over the Internet. You'd better believe I replied to this.]

Subj: Re: Why no ansears to my inquires?
From: Ivy
To: Mystic

I did not get this e-mail until I'd finished answering the last two, just so you know. Here are my answers to this one.

Why no ansears to my inquires?

You mentioned that you are a "newbie" to the Internet. Perhaps this could be your first lesson: Some people do not have time to write e-mails every single day. I get over 40 e-mails every day and sometimes it takes a few days before I get the time to answer them. If people do not write you back immediately, remember not to take it as an insult. They are probably just busy (as I have been).

I had hoped that you were adult enough to take the honest critisicm. I am not playing games and have been very honest with you.

Please do not make condescending statements like this to me if you honestly want to talk to me and share information. I did not at any point get offended by any criticism, did not think you were playing games, and did not think you were being dishonest. For some reason, you took my lack of immediate reply as some kind of insult, and I only hope that if you decide to continue discussing things with me in the future you take my busy lifestyle into account.

"IT TAKES A WITCH TO MAKE A WITCH." Your statement afterwards clearly says you do not agree with this. " WHO WAS THE FIRST WITCH?" Maybe your studies have left some areas void of certain knowledge. There is a highly regarded book written about just such a statement. Unfortunately, being a witch made by another witch, I can not and will not disclose the information.

Right, I do not agree with the statement in question. Since you seem to be questioning my credentials because you don't agree with me, I refer you to the disclaimer of my site; it clearly states that I *am not* any kind of authority or member of a recognized group, and I refuse to allow anyone to make me out as if I don't know what I am doing just because of this. I do not believe that I must be accepted or even acknowledged by any group or individual in order to practice a perfectly legitimate version of the Craft. If anyone chooses to believe that because I haven't been inducted in a certain fashion, might not practice in a certain fashion, and might not believe in a certain fashion, that I am not a "real" witch, that is their own business, but please let it be understood that I do have my share of wisdom that you only exclude yourself from if you dismiss me. (Not just you particularly, but anyone who believes this way.) I don't have respect for someone *just because* of having been inducted and accepted by a known, practicing witch; I only begin to have respect for people when they show they were worthy of the title. (Please don't take any of this as an accusation against you, however; I'm speaking generally about my stance and perceptions.) As for the statement about your being made a witch by another witch and therefore being unable to share information, I think it is the only part of this e-mail that makes me think any less of you. I understand your unwillingness to share information if you were trusted to keep something in confidence, but I fail to see why any group would attempt to withhold knowledge from unprejudiced, honest seekers. However, you should not consider this a request or a demand to reveal your sources. I would not have even thought to ask on this subject; I'm willing to read anything but am not interested in being told that I cannot practice a "true" witchcraft if someone else hasn't given me permission. If at some point someone who was not a witch was made a witch not by another witch, it can be done by anyone--and it matters little since I am not out for any sort of recognition.

You see sweetie, learning by ones self, has its benifits, but it also has its pitfalls.

Sweetie? Hmm. Apologies if you don't mean it that way, but it seems you are talking down to me now. Addressing the statement: I know that learning alone has benefits and pitfalls, but I am not learning alone. I practice alone, but learning is a different story altogether.

Your concepts on the LAWS need work.

My concepts on the laws are my own thoughts on them--they may change as I incorporate more experience into my conception of them. If you think something I've written is incorrect, feel free to let me know.

You must understand that a true WITCH will not teach over the net and will not encourage others to spell craft when you do not know who it is that is getting some of thle suggestions.

What is inherent in the definition of "true witch" that states that he/she will not teach over the 'Net? In any case, I am not "teaching," nor am I "encouraging others to spell craft." I am of the opinion that wicca, witchcraft, and other "occult" practices are shrouded in too much mystery in some cases, and I wish to make information available to those who want to know. I do not encourage people to use magick for frivolous things, which is more than I can say for many well-respected authors. I also understand that spellcrafting is not for everyone and that putting the information out there might mean it could fall into the wrong hands. I think that this is preferable to shrouding the information in mystery, as the powers that be have a way of teaching their users right from wrong. If you have read my spellcrafting section, you should have seen that I am very careful to provide cautions as to how the information should be used. If people are frivolous with their spells, they will not have the power to cause any harm, and if they are unethical with their spells, it will only harm themselves (about which I warn quite profusely). My spellcrafting section is there to help people who want a simplified guide on how to begin learning to use magick and also just to provide an idea of what spells are about to the curious. (And I don't think that that is unethical, mind you--I don't believe in withholding knowledge.)

I ask you a very simple question the last e-mail,"What color candle should one use in a healing spell with someone who has cancer?" I await my answear.

I find it odd at this point that you say no one should teach over the 'Net and are still asking for advice over the 'Net. I am more than happy to provide it, as I don't think there is anything wrong with "teaching over the 'Net," but I still wonder where you stand on this issue as with this question you seemed to be on both sides of the fence. I believe I answered the question in my past e-mail with some suggestions for colors and an invitation to use whatever symbolism speaks to you the most. Best wishes, I'm sorry for the person you know that has cancer.

--iVY

[I wonder if she ever discovered that (gasp) people are writing books on Witchcraft and ANYONE could get them? So whatever shrouded b.s. she was taught in the shadows of the night doesn't actually make her superior anymore. I wonder if her little world fell apart when she realized people actually know this stuff AND find nothing wrong with helping others along their path?]

[Five years and then some after the above e-mails went down, she found this page because of searching for her organization and her name, and I suppose she still had difficulty grasping things on the 'Net because she wrote me and asked me to stop claiming to be part of her coven. (I guess I must be claiming to be in her group if searching for it brought up my page, huh?) So we had another lovely conversation (read: e-mail fight) in which she scolded me for my irresponsibility again and proceeded to ignore every refute I presented by simply arguing the same point I'd just argued against. It was one of those things you can't win because the other party has already decided how YOU think and how YOU believe based on misinterpretations. That is the way of the close-minded. In any case she also e-mailed my friends who had commented on this rant, chastised THEM, but mixed them up so each one got the other's mail, and then denied that she had gotten them confused. For all her lecturing me about proper behavior, she sure gets her wires crossed a lot.

In any case I decided not to drag this on discussing the second encounter since it is a) more of the same as above and b) mostly not about the subject of god ranting, so if you're really that interested let me know and I'll tell you more crap. But for now, this one rests.

Check out Ivy's Pentacles, my Pagan site, if you need more info.]

Mikey: This woman claiming to be a High Priestess I think not just high some one should tell her that you are not supposed to drink the bong water. And for some one so dedicated to the learning and understanding she sure doesn't know too much wait I understand she has probably seen the Craft at least 12 times, and watched Bewitched since she was just a wee sorceress and has now evolved enough to watch Charmed and Harry Potter. And now she is the all mighty High Priestess, UMM no I don't think so!!!!!!!!!

D.: Wow. The part where she just wouldn't listen to anything you said makes me think of my mother. She sometimes makes things up, then says they are fact! This can be especially scary when I know the actual facts. >.>

SHO!: I want to be in Mystic's Coven stead!! But only if they have pizza parties on Thursdays during Smallville and help me to put curses on cheerleaders. *shudder* Cheerleader were created by Satan and can only be battled with the divine goodness of thick crust and extra cheese....

What was I talking about?

Tempest: She sounds extremely narcissistic and I would venture to say she has psychological problems. I am not saying this in a snide way, nor am I trying to be condescending towards people who live with psychological illness. But as someone who lives with comorbid psych disorders myself, I have to say that the people who have the real problem are those who refuse to believe that anything is wrong with their approach to life and other people, and thus never work on their issues.
By the way, many of the books that I read when I was younger stated that if you are mentally ill, you should not do magick. At this point in my life I am extremely offended by that assertion. I think that living the Pagan life saved me from certain suicide or otherwise destroying myself.
Blessings,
Tempy

Wolfgang: One question: does "magick" mean something different than "magic", or is it just an eccentric spelling? I've heard it said that it's used to distinguish fantastic magic from the kind Crafters and Wiccans practice, but I've seen it used in your fiction to describe instantaneous hydrokinesis, which I assume you treat fictitously.