A disaster on the T.Banks show actually turns out to be a positive thing.
Article sent to me from llewellyn website. Witches on the air
Thanks Friend! See what happens when you open a can of worms? You catch Fish!
I have only seen one of her shows and was disappointed in it. So maybe that is why I missed this one! But maybe it is a blessing that a disaster brought us together as there is an outpour from not only the Pagan community but also the Christians are speaking out! And the exposure was in ways a good thing. Please don't open the blog at work as she has music on. I have included the new books that are coming out in March & April. Be Well Be Happy LI
Article: If you're anything like me, you take notice when anything even slightly witchy turns up on TV. And if that's a Pagan family on Wife Swap or Tyra Banks' all-out assault on our witchy sisters, it really gets your attention! Now if you happen to live in a box that's not hooked up to the Internet, chances are you have missed the flurry of blogs and web commentary galore about the "Lives of Witches" episode of The Tyra Banks Show that aired on January 29 (check out some of the blogs in the links section to get caught up!). However, if you're like the rest of us, you've been reading them all and rolling your eyes. How dare Tyra say she needed to burn sage (our thing) because she got the "heebie jeebies" from her own guests? How dare she insinuate that it was offensive to her viewers to refer to Wicca as a religion? And what roles do Satanists and born-again Christians have to play on a program about Witchcraft? In the end, I guess it's just sad that anyone felt that she would even attempt to be unbiased; she showed clearly enough that she was petrified of offending her Christian audience.
To read the whole article I have put the link. There are other links in the article that does not show up here writen by llewellyn.
http://www.llewellyn.com/newsletters/witchyupdate/witchup_23.html
Viewer Comments link: Witches and Other Controversial Topics
Do you believe in magic? Tyra met some of the 400,000 people in the United States who call themselves witches to explore their mysterious world of spells and rituals. What do you think about the concept of white witches, good witches, dark witches, and Satanists? What are some other controversial topics you’d like Tyra to talk about?
Posted by The Tyra Banks Show on January 26, 2007 08:43 PM Comments:
merry meet tyra....i am 26 and a wiccan. i have to say i was very angry and hurt by your comments on the show. i loved watching your shows. both you talk show and antm. and you talk a good game about tolerance and acceptances. but with this show all you did was prove that all your words are is a good game. you are always telling young girls and women that we need to help each other and and understand each others differences. and you sat there and belittled everything these people believe in. and sad to say this but i would think that you a woman of color would understand how it feels to be persecuted based on your color and in this case religion. i bare you no ill will but it seems you need to practice what you preach. we wiccans have a reid (laws) that we live by and the main one is AND HARM NONE DO WHAT YE WILL. I hope that one day you come to realize that you did cause harm. See even if you don’t know it your words were every hurtful. and as a woman i am very proud to be WICCAN. i just hope that you are happy in your ignorance. and i hope that no one every makes you feel as belittled about your religion as you have made us feel.
merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again. Blessed Be...
Marlene Jones
Posted by: Marlene February 22, 2007 05:26 PM
After reading most of the entries here I am saddened by the way Wicca was presented by Tyra. It is true that those that were guests there tried their best to dispell the fantasy from truth on all points. I openly challenge Tyra Banks to have another show concerning Wicca/Witchcraft, however this time have people like Silver RavenWolf, Laurie Cabot, Patricia Monaghan, and last but not least Ann Duckworth of Pennsylvania on the show. If you are going to present shows about Wicca, have the teachers come on the show and allow them to tell the truth and to speak without interuption and insults. If your business is telling the truth then do it, not some shaded opinion without knowledge to base those opinions on. Morgaine
Posted by: Morgaine February 22, 2007 04:48 PM
Wow Tyra. I guess all models really are brainless bimbos and that you are just bitter because you got too old and fat huh?No, what I said wasn't very nice, but I imagine that that is how you made your guests feel. As for the blonde who was a former "wiccan" There is no way she could have been. She might have picked up a couple of books from the local bookstore, but that does not a wiccan make. The fact that she converted back to Christianity and is still hearing voices in her head means that she is probably suffering from severe mental illness. She needs to be in the care of a mental health professional and be given medication. The only thing that you proved with that little stunt is that 'devout christians' are all whack jobs.
For a show that's all about being open minded and presenting a balanced view point, you failed. Did you go out of your way to seek out the worst stereotypes you could find, fail to do your research and act so appallingly in the name of ratings? Or are you really that stupid and prejudiced?
Next time if the subject matter of a show makes you uncomfortable, is too intellectually challenging or something similar, do us all a favour and just say no. Stick to make overs and hemlines sweetie, it's all you proved you are capable of.Lisa
Posted by: Lisa February 22, 2007 04:44 PM
I was really disappointed how Tyra acted on the Witchcraft show. I am a 44 year old black woman who is Pagan. Her actions towards Witchcraft were very disappointing. Even if she is not in agreement with another religion besides her own, she could show a bit more respect towards others. Especially if you are going to do a show about it. I was really appalled by the horror music and black and white negative visual effects while Fiona Horned performed a sacred ceremony outside. Fiona was nice enough to have it filmed and I am sure she had no idea it was going to be displayed as some sort of horror movie. Can you imagine going into a church and filming a baptism and playing horror music in the backround and show the priest with the negative special effects on his face. That would look bad to anyone. If she was trying to show how she lacks respect towards others religions besides her own, then she had proved that 100%. Espeically knowing how many Pagans and Wiccans are in the World.
Posted by: Debra February 16, 2007 01:33 PM
There are many more comments sent by our community.
http://telepicturesblog.warnerbros.com/tyrashow/2007/01/mysterious_lives_of_witches_co.html
-- Back to the llewellyn article--exerpt.
I'll tell you what (here comes my two cents). There are always going to be newcomers to Wicca, who will seek out those 101 books so many of us are bored with; who are curious about a new, empowering belief system that works for their lives; and if they find even a grain of interest in what gorgeous blonde Fiona had to say, then Fiona did deserve to be on that show. And you know what? There were tons of viewer comments asking who she was, what the book she mentioned was, how they can do the spell she talked about. And if she can get these curious seekers into the metaphysical section of the bookstore or library, or even to do a little exploring on the Internet, it is widening their horizons and opening their minds. As Fiona wrote in her blog, "Despite the ending being so loaded with negativity against Modern Witchcraft (as the show wrapped on the Christian girl's negative opinion and Tyra echoed that) something wonderful happened. I have had so many Christians emailing me and saying they didn't support Tyra's opinion and saying positive things about Modern Witchcraft." (Check out her blog for the full account of what happened behind the scenes that day with Tyra, and afterwards!)http://www.myspace.com/fionahorne [This is very nicely done!]
Fiona Horne (Singer/Songwriter) Fiona is also an accomplished author on the subject of witchcraft. Fiona has released 8 books on the subject. In 2005, Fiona toured Australia with her One Enchanted Evening Tour. She has also been a guest speaker at Harvard University and at the prestigious Learning Annex in New York, Los Angeles and San Diego.
Entry: I love your book 'Wtich: A Magical Journey'. It's a while since I read it, so I think it's about time I did again! There is so much valuable insight in there. It's a book I feel I can return to time and again.
Entry: Hello From Austin, Texas! Ms. Horne, I was mesmerized by your appearance on the Tyra Banks' show the other day, so I sought you out on myspace, thanks for the add... I had to go though planty of fiona's before finding the right one. I agree with some of the other coments here, that TB was just atad close minded to the hold witch thing. she was caught up in a narrow world-view that was really exposed on that show. Anyways I'm glad I saw it because it introduced to me you. Have a great week.
Entry: I love you, Fiona! Your books have changed my own perspective of Witchcraft and I've discovered so much with your help. Blessings from Canada, Lorelei
-- Back to the llewellyn article--Later this spring we will be publishing a book by Fiona, L.A. Witch: Fiona Horne's Guide to Coven Magick by: Fiona Horne
* Available: April 2007 ISBN 0-7387-1034-2 Australia's favorite witch is now on our side of the globe! Leaving behind her successful life Down Under, Fiona Horne made the risky, exciting move to Los Angeles-a city of dreams and glamour-where she was inspired to form her first coven. ...
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/book.php?pn=H034&reference=witchyup23
that details in a fun and rather bubbly way how to get together with like-minded people to form a coven. (Having fun is a good way to get people involved in their spiritual life - just look at Christian youth groups for a case in point.) In it, Fiona never says that her way is the only way. She encourages readers to go further, to form reading circles, attend workshops, and "experiment, explore and enjoy!" She outlines a whole slew of study topics that wouldn't fit into just one book, and recommends her favorite books, including ones by Phyllis Curott, Amber K, the Farrars and Gavin Bone, etc. So what's my point? Simply that we have enough Tyras to bash Pagans; why should Pagans bash each other? In today's American media, yes, sometimes we need a beautiful, articulate celebrity just to open the door for people to actually consider us as something other than evil, dark, scary and Satanic. I say go for it, Fiona! All right, enough of my soapbox rant. Let's get to some new books!
In March we have the long-awaited new book from Christopher Penczak - Ascension Magick. This hefty book is more than 500 pages and it is incredibly fascinating. If you automatically think of Christians when you hear the word "ascension," think again! I never knew what ascension and "lightworking" really was and how it nicely tied into neopagan magickal beliefs until I read this book. Beyond a greater understanding of the philosophy behind it, you also get practical exercises in energy healing, meditation, past life regression, spells and more. I highly recommend this one! Ascension Magick: Ritual, Myth & Healing for the New Aeonby: Christopher Penczak ISBN 0-7387-1047-4 * Available: March 2007
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/book.php?pn=H047&reference=witchyup23
Also coming in March is Soul Flight by Donald Tyson:
Soul Flight: Astral Projection and the Magical Universeby: Donald Tyson
ISBN 0-7387-1087-3 * Available: March 2007
http://www.llewellyn.com/bookstore/book.php?pn=H087&reference=witchyup23
posted by LadyIrene @ 2/23/2007 06:21:00 PM
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