The question on the Witchcraft board of a popular website asks, "Are you into Witchcraft? Tell us about it!"

I don't know about you, but I'm not "into" Witchcraft. I practice Witchcraft. I have been practicing Witchcraft for the past 4+ years. I was never simply "into" it.

There is something that really bugs me about saying one is "into Witchcraft." I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think the issue is that this phrase seen far too transient. At present, with the help of tv shows like Buffy, Charmed, and Sabrina, and movies like The Craft and Practical Magic, Witchcraft is becoming nothing but a fad. Perhaps "into" is now a common phrase, but very few people I know who actually plan to stick to learning and practicing witchcraft hardly say they are "into" it.

To me, the phrase "into" is one that is normally concluded (at an unspecified later date) with "out of." "I get into and out of trouble." "My dog got into the garbage and I chased him out of it when I saw the mess." "My little sister gets into the mud to make mud pies, but she gets out of it when Mom threatens her with a bath." And so on...

A more abstract use of the phrase could be "The basketball star got into a zone last night, but he seems really out of it tonight," or "I got really into European techno music at my favorite club in Paris, but I got out of it as soon as they played some disco."

I don't plan to say "I was into Witchcraft but now I see the error of my ways and I got the hell out of it as soon as I saw the light." Nope. Not for me.

I love my religion (Wicca) and I love the practice of Witchcraft. I have found a lot of love and caring, plus the emphasis of responsibility of my own actions, within these practices. Wicca may be the "in" religion, and it may be "in" to practice Witchcraft, but fads come and go. And with it, maybe a lot of the "trendies" (to use a new term) will go with the fad.

You won't hear me ever say I'm simply "into Witchcraft." I plan to stay.

(to Bird's Eye View Main Page)