Witches and wiccans, if your classmates harassed and teased you because your a witch, what do you do?

Hey, I'm sorry to bother you all, but this problem has been going on for 3 years, when I was a freshman in high school. People teased me anyways, calling me nerd, or freak or little miss oreo(usually). But when I went to the bathroom, apparently I wasnt aware that some girl looked in my backpack, and Saw my books Teen Witch and Solitary Witch(Both Written by Silver Ravenwolf. I know she's not a good source, you don't have to tell me. I didn't know that back then) Anyways. When I got back into the classroom, some girl smeared a honey bun in my face. And the same girl who took the book, came up to me holding the book and ask me, "do you practice witchcraft?" The whole class stared at me, there's no point in lying to them so I said yes. Ever since then, I couldnt spend one day of school without being called, She's a witch, She works for the devil. Or hearing stupid rumors like she walks into the night and eat dogs and cats, she uses human body parts in her spells. I just want it to st

Witches and wiccans, if your classmates harassed and teased you because your a witch, what do you do?
This is more of a straight-up bullying problem and you should approach your guidance counselor or principal to handle it. They are legally bound to provide a safe and harassment-free learning environment for ALL students. Whether your parents agree with your beliefs or not, I'm sure they don't want you being harassed at school. Talk to them, tell them how bad it's become. As for the kids, treat them as you would any bully. Sometimes you have to stand up to a bully in order for them to stop. Other times, it's best to lay low and try to be low-key about things. If you hear someone talking about you or if they out and out ask you, tell them the truth of your beliefs -- explain that the rumors are being spread by narrow-minded and malicious people. However, at this point, it does sound like someone in authority needs to get involved.
Reply:i'm a christian, but i have respect for any other religion(as long as they dont worship satan or anything like that). and i respect yours too. tell these dickweeds to go fall on knives and to leave u alone. tell someone u know because no one deserves this and it violates rights and the constitution and a whole lotta other things too. i respect u and your beliefs. just hang in there and show them it doesnt bother u
Reply:Turn them all into frogs but ofcourse its a little difficult,


Stand up to yourself, punching one of them straight in the face would be a good warning for others :)
Reply:Telling the cops won't accomplish anything because no laws are being broken. Being a jerk isn't against the law. You should talk to the school. You have the right to attend school without being harassed.





On the other hand, one has to question your motivations for bringing the books to school to begin with, if you didn't want people to know. I think you should also examine your own behavior that might be reinforcing this. Minimally, you should ignore it. Everytime you respond, you just validate their accusations.
Reply:If you can not get results from the school administration, then the best thing to do is gut it out.





You have only one year left, and BELIEVE me - this sort of teasing just does not go on outside of school.





Even in college there isn't this sort of thing. Later, in the real world, it just doesn't matter who did what in highschool.





There will always be people that do not like you, and always there will be people that may gossip. But believe me, in the real world it just does not matter that much.





I know that is little consulation right now, but DO talk to your school administrators. If they do not help you, use the 'magic' words "I will sue you and I will call the papers for not protecting a minority religion!" But that will be a whole different ball of wax.





If you can not resolve it, remember that you are on short time now in HS and almost out of it!
Reply:im sorry that that happend(s) to u. i could just say cast a spell on em all, but then again maybe not. look, they're all just complete jerks anyway, so u needn't waste ur precious time on them. just ignore them, there are people who r better then them anyways, so, yea. however, if i were u, i'd enjoy scarin them a little, like giving them a major evil eye or something, scare em off. no use denying and/or hateing who u r cuz of some morons. hope this helped, if not, sorry.
Reply:Hey, look on the bright side your days of torment are nearly at an end. After graduating you can move on to be around better people at college and the likes. I had to deal with the same things all my time in high school but its been a year since i graduated and the whole mess was left behind when i moved.





Anyway my point is the school won't do much of anything, parents...yea...seems like the most logical thing to tell them ...but if your parents are like mine then....yea not a good idea. for you graduating and moving on seem all the more golden choice!





Blessed Be!
Reply:FIrst of all, you need to speak to the teacher as well as the principal for this harassment- which is illegal in most states. Tell your parents, and see if something can't be done about this. Being phyically assualted should be UNACCEPTABLE!


If you can't find help, then you're going to have to knock some heads. For some reasons, these sort of kids understand only a slap in the face. Yes, it might tick em off, but it will let them know you will HURT them if they don't back off.


Now, as for dealing with other students in regards to your religion. Age doesn't matter. I was teased when I was in my early 20's because of being a witch. Rumors of my sacrificing goats went around a jobplace I had. I never could find the instigator, but luckily a girl who knew my religion stuck up for me.


As I got older, I used humor to deal with. I use lines such as "I'd turn you into an *** if someone didn't beat me to it" or "Give me the good old days when we fed them to the lions". And I'm not above mentioning that its freedom of religion.


And lastly, bear in mind that you don't need to bring up your religion in most situations. Nor do you need to be ashamed of what you practice or belief. I find in most situations, its best to not bring up religion at all, but not to be embarassed or act ashamed of what you are either.


Maybe you could tell the kids "I'd need a virgin for the next rite, but everyone knows I can't use YOU" or better "I could use a virgin for the next full moon- are you free?"
Reply:I am not a witch or even do anything to do with that, but the ppl have nothing to do if they are just bullying you for no reason. They have no life. They take ppl like you that have an interest in something and see that they dont have anything like that and want to spoil it for you. I know what it feels like to be an outcast or feel like crap just to go to school. I hated it...that ppl would make me feel like crap for no reason. I always look for the positives. Like lunch break or after school. My last year in school was the easiest. Those ppl that always made fun of me didnt have an interest to do so once we was seniors. They had more interesting stuff to do. I dont know if it was the fact I just stop talking to everyone and they noticed they didnt have an affect on me anymore or what. Just hang in there and it will get better. Just dont let them knock you down. Make sure you get to do what you want to do and dont let them harass you into making you feel obligated to do something else. Bullies what you to do bad...because it makes them feel better about themselves.
Reply:hold your head high and smile. show them that the taunts don't get to you (even if they do). Once they see the taunts don't work, they will back off, but you'll still have the occassional jibe now and again (take that with a smile or counter-joke as well).





You can also approach the school board, and ask them to hold sensitivity training. When they balk at that, offer a compromise, for you to hand out information literature explaining religious discrimination issues. If they refuse that, let them know you are ready and willing to bring the ACLU into the picture.





I know it's a lot of effort, and standing up to officials is scarey, but it's worth it! You're not just standing up for your own freedoms, don't forget.
Reply:Tell them to get a life and ignore them. You have a right to worship and read what you like. Those that do that are petty jealous and uneducated! As for Silver Ravenwolf, she is a good source for her part of the path. Don't forget there are many paths in Wicca as well as Witchcraft and Paganism. You can find good information even from her!





Blessed Be!





Rev. Kaldea
Reply:Harassment is harassment. No one has the right to harass someone. I would talk to your counselor, vice principle or even principle about this harassment. No one should have to constantly look over their shoulder while going to school. A person should be able to feel safe and secure wherever they are...ESPECIALLY at school. I would tell someone of this harassment. No one can harass you about your race, religion, sexual orientation, or whatever. You have the freedom to believe what you want, same as they have the right to believe what they want.





Oh, and if they come up to you and call you a witch, say "you say that like it's a bad thing", "So?...Your point??", or "thank you."





(p.s. sorry for saying harass so much, don't have my thesaurus with me)
Reply:First of all they should fear you, i find it surprizing that they think they can get away with teasing you, first rule of conduct never p off a witch! there are many ways you can combat this . a balance spell to keep harmony, a reversal to return the teasing to them etc email me.This is something you can have a lot of fun with, man are they going to be sorry lol cackle ,cackle.
Reply:When I was in high school in the early mid 80's many of my friends and students new I was "a little different". I didn't dress like a Dead head or Goth (wasn't truely popular style then) or heavy metalish, I was more like a Hippie I guess. I always knew more about history and anthropology than my teachers did and they would come to me for info. Back then the Fudementalists and the big Christian movement wasn't at it's height just yet (but it was on it's way - thank the Goddess I lived in Southern Indiana back then and not in the bible belt I live in now!) Indiana and Kentucky - then - was the place to be if you studied Paganism of any sect. (outside of California). I am sorry they treat you as they do but maybe you should ask your History teacher about teaching a history on Paganism and the truth, myths, and it's progression from the Spanish inquisition to Modern day. Best to do this after Holloween, you know the Christians and the sheeple of the world. Make your English paper about the history of Paganism and anyone calls you a "Witch" tell them you are a


Fundamental Pagan of the Church of Gaia and watch them scratch their heads on that one. Then change it again and again until they quit asking and they'll think you are doing it for the shock value or they'll get tired of the game. It worked for me, but most of the people I went to school with wanted to know more about Paganism and Anthropology of cultural beliefs than take the Bible as the answer to all the questions in the world.


I have starred your question so some of my Wiccan, Pagan, and athiest friends can see it and may be able to give you better advice.


Blessed be and Peace


Eclectic Pagan


(Glad you realized that Ravenwolf is not a good reference - try Cunningham, Buckland, and Lust for starters)
Reply:I find myself in agreement with Lisa W. It is never a bad idea to learn about other paths, and perhaps even incorporate some of their philosophies into your own. By now you know there is no hard'-fast rule as to what a witch believes and practices. Before I chose witchcraft as my primary belief I was deeply into Tao Buddhism. They work quite well together. If people ask then you should tell them that unlike them you are trying t broaden your understanding and don't want to remain ignorant......like them. As a well known philosopher once said "the mind is like a parachute, works best when open" Keep yours open and keep in mind that you will only have to deal with these jackasses a little longer. Maturity comes slowly to some, if it ever comes at all


BB


)O(
Reply:Maybe she was laughing at the Silver Ravenwolf books. I certainly did.





Seriously, they just tease you because they don't understand you. Tell them that if they believe that you actually worship their devil, eat dogs and cats, and use human body parts in your spells, then they are idiots. Tell them to get some info on the subject. Also, force them to prove what they're saying. And when they can't prove it, laugh in their ignorant faces.





Don't let their ignorance and intolerance change who you are.
Reply:I would wonder why you had those books out in class unless it was a study hall or some other reading period. There isn't much you can do if you have talked to your parents and teachers unless you're planning on going to the police and filing charges of harassment. I don't see that happening though since you apparently don't want your parents to know. Please try to remember that you will be out of school before much longer and this kind of thing will end.
Reply:You said that this problem has been going on for 3 years since you were a freshman, so I guess you are in the last year of high school now. All I can say is that your days in school are almost over and you will soon be free to believe in whatever you want without being a victim of bullying. You must keep having a positive view on your future or else you won't survive. SCHOOLS SUCKS BUT NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.
Reply:I see. This is a problem. I have to deal with this and other similar issues. The main reason harassment like this is effective and continues is because the perps see how it affects you. The NATURAL response is to pull away into a shell and try to avoid the whole thing. You just want to be invisible. This NEVER works!!!





I am going to recommend something to you, which is a technique I read about in a book called "How to Get Anyone to Do Anything" by Dr. Joseph Lieberman. It is also utilized by the US Army's Special Operations Command in Psychological Operations. And it is the OPPOSITE of what we naturally feel like doing in these situations.





OK! The cat is out of the bag! EVERYONE knows you practice witchcraft! Why do they make fun and harass you? Fear, lack of knowledge, and insensitivity. So what can you do?





PLAY ON THEIR EMOTIONS!!! It is called The Flip. When they accuse of worshiping the devil, instead of denying it, say something like, "That's right and he and I have had a long talk about you!" When they accuse you of using human body parts in your rituals say, "Only the parts I do not eat!"





This is how it works: When they accuse you of something, Claim to do something even worse! Something so outlandish that NO ONE can believe it! If you ever saw the movie, PRACTICAL MAGIC, the investigator asks Sandra Bullick if she or her siter killed the bad guy. She said, Oh yeah! A couple of times!" She actually did not lie, but it was so fantastic that it was totally unbelievable.





I have used this technique MANY times with great success. However, it requires that you think about the past things that people have said and accused you of and then pre-planning responses.





Good Luck!
Reply:Get some books on Buddhism, Taoism, Book of Mormon, etc. Allow people to see them They are going to talk. When they mention it, simply say that you are looking for your path. A little clue in Buddhism, you are not to say anything about it unless someone asks three times. You are not denying your beliefs, just broadening your horizons. People are afraid of what they don't know.....perhaps you should tell your counselor bullying is against the law in many states.