NAVIGATION

Screaming Queen Syndrome

The following excellent article was written a couple of years ago by Janval Phagan, a good friend of mine and describes very well the current trends we find within Neo-Paganism today, especially as regards the power struggles so prevalent with the many newly formed Asatru or Odinic Organisations as well as paganism in general. Many of these organisations have self appointed rune experts depending on whose popular consensus you choose to believe. My advise is:

Never accept anybody's word on the fuÞark Runes (including mine) Always verify and authenticate your sources. This does not mean buying UPG off the shelf (Unverified Personal Gnosis) based rune books especially if your book source is written by New Ageist self proclaimed "rune-experts". As a general guide, rune scholars write dissertations on the runes and back up their findings with bibliographies or well indexed references. Look up "Runes" in any respectable encyclopaedia or scholastic texts. If you are serious, go to a library and photocopy the relevant sections on runes from the library resources. Read up on as many history books on the Northern Way. It is through sound scholarship and reasoning rather than *magickal experimentations that some sense can be put back into the runes and take forward the Northern Way with certainty. You will then be able to see for yourself that over 90% of the New Age runic books and websites are completely inaccurate and virtually useless.

Rig

Screaming Queen Syndrome © By Janval Phagan

With the report that yet another ‘worthy’ has lost the plot and is now both throwing around curses and threatening to send out their ‘psychic warriors’ against those that disagree with them, one has to ask what makes previously respected ‘occult’ folk lose their marbles, their path, perhaps even their sanity—even if only for a short time? We all know someone, it would seem, that has built a reputation for being good teachers, running well-regarded covens/groves/hearths, being fair-minded, pioneers, etc., and who, for some reason unbeknownst to anyone, suddenly goes off the rails to become either a ‘dick-happy HP’ or a screaming harpy of a celebrity. 

To balance the more common situation of a slighted student’s whinge at not being given what they want, when they want, and in the manner they want it every now and then tales abound of previously respected folk that have started to prey on their students for money to fuel their drinking habits, or who try the sexual predation techniques, send their unsuspecting (and naïve) minions to psychically attack and deal with any potential backlash from the unprovoked attack someone deemed to have harmed the adept (at least in the adept's mind!) or who libel and slander students or  colleagues that have outgrown them and perhaps, horror of horrors, become more successful than themselves.

So what’s going on?

We could argue that the very nature of some of the magical practices can lead to someone coming back, mad, bad or a poet. After all, we do tend to push the boundaries both internally and externally.  We could also argue that eventually the most patient of people can be driven into a blind and frenzied fury by some of the antics in this world of un-monitored instant access and anonymous trouble stirring and rumour passing (Bitchcraft/Bickatru/Bickerdry—from the word ‘Bicker’). The downside of instant communication around the world is instant communication around the world—and little to no chance of being able to confront someone to put up or shut up if they decide to go off on one.

One explanation did occur to me recently.

Some of the people currently behaving in less than a professional manner started their magical or religious ‘career’ at a time when information about certain areas was scanty if extant at all. Very often imprinting on Wicca as their first exposure to anything other than Christianity they spent their first 5-10 years on the thrilling chance for information. Endorphins flooded their system with every new ’discovery’ or challenge. And, because of the nature of this   exploration time, these natural ‘highs’ were common. Unfortunately, as with all chemically induced euphoria's, habituation meant that they gradually needed a bigger fix. Not a problem for those that went into teaching Craft or whatever, the challenges of setting up their own groups/covens/hearths made for a ready supply.  Then, as before, things become routine, hard work, slog, boring. The endorphins dry up. And to make   matters worse, those that travelled the path with them became the competition instead of the companion. 

Having been (in the 70’s and 80’) the big fish in a little pond, religious conversion by increasing numbers of new people meant that instead of being the head honcho's, they are diminished. New information on the market showed the flaws in the books they had learned from.  New converts understood from the start that Wicca wasn’t ‘The Old Religion’, simply a Greek influenced construct; that there were other ‘pagan’ religions to explore.  That archaeological information disproved some pet theories and adherents of the outmoded were classed as ‘flakes’.

The world had changed around them and, having backed themselves into a corner by writing books that promulgated the old information, couldn’t  relinquish their pride enough to say ‘Look folks, I’ve re-assessed, grown changed too.’  Preferring to cling to their sinking ships of past glories. In fact, those suggesting that they too evolve and grow became ‘The Enemy’. Some people in this situation respond well with a support network of people willing and able to work with them through this crisis of faith—for that is, essentially, what it is, a crisis in self confidence and belief.

Recently the above types of lost souls have been joined by ‘attention seekers’. These are most evident as starting their new religion via joining a moot, becoming the moot organiser, not having much contact with experienced people of other religions/traditions, in fact often eschewing/vilifying the more     experienced folk because public contact shows the weaknesses and flaws in their budding knowledge and spiritual growth.  Yet they cannot seem to help themselves out of this spiral because to do so and to devote themselves to structured study doesn’t feed the ego and the need to be needed. The burning desire to ‘Be someone’. Unfortunately, this tends to create the opposite effect and they become no-one (important) as the flaws become so wide as to be obvious.

The other victim is the person who having joined ‘Paganism’ (sic) as a   reaction against society/religion/authority/family rather than converting through a genuine calling or vocation.  Usually spotted due to the anarchist uniform, behaviour and language they form small cliques which as self-fulfilling and nurturing, and ultimately, self-limiting.

So what can or should be done?

Recognise it is a facet of human nature. It will always happen to someone.             Also, recognise that much of what goes off is analogous to the Showbiz world. The One Hit Wonders will be recognised and treated accordingly—that’s human nature. Unfortunately some will become bitter until they grow up spiritually.

Some might even grow out of it given firm but fair treatment. For example, the moot organiser that sets themselves up as a mentor to control and access the work of their moot    attendees. One way to handle these (if we can be bothered –and that is a side issue perhaps to be discussed another time), is to ask those handing in their ‘reports’ to the organiser why they feel they are in the position of ‘student’?  What qualifies the moot organiser as a tutor of a subject in which they have not been trained?

Another is to politely require the individual to ‘put up or shut up’. Prove the allegations in the proper manner (legally in required!) or stop whinging.  When faced with someone affected by SQS we give them these questions to ask themselves.

1)              What is this person to me?

2)              Whom/What does this action benefit?

3)              Would the Old Ones/gods/etc., actually sanction such behaviour?

4)              Is this ‘Right’ and ‘proper’?

5)              Is it ‘honourable’?

6)              Would I do/ask it of anyone else, including myself?

7)              Would I give it anyone else?

8)              How would my family react if they knew?

9)              How would those I respect react if they knew?

If *it* makes you ‘ashamed’ then it is ‘wrong’!

In my (not so ‘umble) opinion none of the religions, magical practices etc., endorse behaviour that encourages the diminishing of reputation; or that encourages the tutor to abuse the trust placed in them by colleagues or students with regard to moral or ethical behaviour, or the truth. And no one of good reputation will encourage another to slander or libel, rumour mongering, going behind a partner’s back to ‘loan’ money; neither will they ever sink to coercion for sexual or other favours. Especially will they not set someone up to ‘attack’ a third party through either physical or magical means. If the complaint is genuine then any ‘adept’ worth the appellation is more than capable of handling it themselves.

Screaming Queen/HP’s/Celebrity Syndrome is a scourge we can all do without –and to combat it we are constantly accountable to/for those with whom we work.

 © Janval Phagan

A false friend is worse than a bitter enemy.  Book of Gramarye

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