Chasing the Bunny:
Why We Should Welcome Newcomers to the Craft

Charlynn Walls

We often think of Witchcraft and Wicca as being fairly inclusive spiritual paths. There are Pagan Pride days and festivals around the globe that enable us to come together and celebrate who we are. We hope to present a positive and welcoming image to those seeking a new path, and the majority of the time that is the case.

However, when we perceive that someone is not as serious about their spirituality as we think they should be, we sometimes deem them to be a “fluffy bunny.” This derogatory term is most often thrown at those who are young in years or in spirit, and may not be based on anything more. It can also be utilized for those who have been seen as dabbling in the Craft.

Those who are exploring a new path may not be fully committed, and nor should they be until they are sure that this is where their heart is. But what they do bring with them in their pursuit is a fresh outlook, overwhelming enthusiasm, and a sense of wonder. So why are we so hard on those coming into the Craft?

We Have All Been There

At one time, each and every one of us was new to the path. It takes courage to begin a new venture, as you are never entirely sure what the outcome will be. There is a lot of uncertainty that surrounds one’s newfound interest, and it often leaves one with more questions than answers. Each of us took our time, did research, became comfortable with our newly solidified spirituality, and then started reaching out to others in the pursuit of community. There was a feeling that we had finally come home. We probably had moments when we received positive feedback. We have also probably all been shot down at one time or another.

Our experiences entering our path helped to shape our outlook on Paganism. I, personally, was solitary for the longest time. This was because when I reached out to others, I was met with silence, or I was told that I needed to study more or did not have enough experience. I had a difficult time understanding how I could gain experience when no one would give me a moment of their time. I, like many newcomers, became frustrated that my search was in vain.

I can be a stubborn person at times. Because this was something important to me, I started working to prove myself. Since I place a high value on education, I dug in and studied. I read everything I could get my hands on and went to classes at local shops. I was persistent and kept trying. I continued to try to reach out to those around me.

It was still very hard to get a response from people in my local area. Fortunately, I moved soon after my journey began and was able to land in a community where people were more receptive and welcoming. They met my enthusiasm equally and provided ways for me to become involved. They even helped steer me toward community service. In my new community, my awe was seen as an asset rather than something detrimental. That perspective enabled me to have conversations with peers and elders alike. They shared their experiences and we were richer for having discussed our similarities and differences.

Supporting One Another

Almost every day I come across an email from someone who is searching, whether it is for information or community. I take those emails as an opportunity to do for someone what I would have liked to have been done for me when I was just starting out. So I take a moment to respond. You would be surprised how much such a simple act affects people.

Many people who are new to the Craft have been met with silence or have been disregarded outright. I do believe that anyone who is just starting out should have a good foundational knowledge, and I will often recommend several books for them to read. However, a person can only read so many books. The information in them is invaluable, but so is interaction with someone who has been walking the path. A book cannot have a conversation with you or provide you with additional insights into something that has caught your interest. I am also aware that groups rarely extend an invitation to a seeker without some prior knowledge of how the person interacts with others and how they behave in a group setting.

Knowing my local community gives me a way to provide novices with information on how to come into contact with people who could enhance and help them on their journey. I often recommend that the person contacting me get out and meet people. In my local area there are often discussion groups that meet, along with open full moon and dark moon celebrations where people of various pathways can share their knowledge or participate in ritual. I take note of when and where these activities occur and who facilitates them. I want to point people in the correct direction but also toward activities that will be public and nonthreatening.

In order to cultivate positive magickal experiences, we have to be willing to put ourselves out there for people and work with others. We need to create places where people are free to explore the possibilities available to them. The more positive experiences that we can create for a new person, the more likely they will be to commit to their path and to be able to deal with times of stagnation and frustration.

There will be some people, of course, who decide that this path is not for them. That is natural and is to be expected. For those who decide to move on, hopefully their time of exploration was filled with positive experiences that they can relate to others. For those who do decide to take the next step and dedicate themselves to the path, you will have provided the scaffolding for a well-rounded practitioner, solitary or not.

Chasing the Bunny

Seasoned practitioners are often faced with disillusionment and burnout from involvement in community activities and groups that they run or take part in. There are also those who have faced a crisis of faith and have come out the other side. Some of the fun and excitement of the Craft may have dissipated, but they are firmly rooted in their path. They take their commitment to their path seriously and want others to be just as sincere. So they often mistakenly think all newcomers are lackadaisical in their approach.

The thing is, we all strive to get back to those moments of pure joy in our practice. We long for the moments when we experience something profound and affirming. These are the attributes that come easily to the novice who comes into things with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective.

I often wonder if the reason that we are so hard on those whom we think lack experience is really more about ourselves than about them. I do not think that it is simply jealousy on the part of the seasoned practitioner that makes them hesitant or has them lashing out. I believe that it has more to do with an inability to adequately connect, perhaps due to becoming jaded or becoming overwhelmed by the daily grind of life.

What we want is to once again experience the astonishment when a spell or ritual works beyond our expectations, to once again hold the deep reverence we once had when we enjoyed a moment of communion with our deities or simply out in nature. We need to embrace those who are new, because through them we are afforded the chance to experience such moments again. Those moments are infectious and allow us to return to a simpler time in our lives when everything held wonder for us.

I am reminded of my attendance at a ritual during one of my first festivals. There were several of us who had started our paths into the community at the same time, and we were like a close-knit family. We were thrilled at the prospect of participating in one of our first large rituals. The drumming felt like a pulse, and we became caught up in it. As we walked to the place where the ritual circle was, we were already entranced. The ritual spoke to us and we experienced energy on a new level. It seemed to build around us and provided a protective shield as it began to rain. Several of us remarked later that we had remained completely dry during the ritual even though the rain shower had been substantial. We talked and shared this experience with one another as well as those who had facilitated the ritual.

As you can imagine, we were ecstatic about what we had experienced together. How was it possible that others around us had been wet after the rain but we were dry? We talked excitedly about the possibilities, and it was just as affirming for those we talked with as it was for those who had experienced it. We were brimming with excitement. Through our enthusiasm, the others tapped into something that they thought they had lost. They experienced with us that moment of elation, and it brought back fond memories of their early days. It also had the added benefit of confirming for them that they really were making a difference and that their hard work was worth the effort.

Conclusions

There is a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between those who are new to the Craft and those who have been involved in it for a number of years. This is perhaps one of the greatest mysteries that is not often discussed in modern Paganism. Each of us brings a perspective that others can utilize in their own practice. We benefit from one another’s insights and experiences. It is more than just an elder passing along information to the novice, though that is often how it is presented in books and movies.

Each moment has the potential for knowledge to be shared between both the novice and the seasoned practitioner. We can all learn from one another.

Each moment has the potential for knowledge to be shared between both the novice and the seasoned practitioner. We can all learn from one another. There was a time when our coven gathered at Samhain and we were relaxing around the fire after a particularly emotional ritual. A log in the fire suddenly started to spew a long, solid-blue flame. Another member and I looked at each other and we raised our eyebrows. We realized that we still had spiritual company from the ritual.

The other members were intrigued with the activity going on in the fire but did not realize what it meant. Since I was still relatively new to the group and many of them had been involved with Paganism for much longer, I was hesitant to share what I knew, even though these were women I considered family. We ended up discussing how this was an indication that the spirits we had invited to our rite had not taken the cue to leave at the appointed time, so we acknowledged our visitors and then firmly asked them to go. In that moment, we were able to share knowledge, and it became a powerful teaching moment for all of us.

Experience is also a powerful motivator. It is ultimately what determines if we will continue with an activity or not. Our perspective of a ritual or spell is uniquely our own, but we can share what we have witnessed or felt. We form strong connections through shared experiences. The women in circle that evening will always remember what we shared and what we learned from each other.

So while someone may be new to the Craft, they do still have knowledge and experiences to share with us that are invaluable. It would behoove us to be open to what they have to offer and reserve judgment on their intentions. After all, if we do not, then who is really the fluffy bunny in the situation?

Charlynn Walls resides with her family in central Missouri. She holds a BA in anthropology, with an emphasis in archaeology. She is acting CEO of Correllian Education Ministries, which oversees Witch School. She is an active member of the St. Louis Pagan community and is part of a local area coven. Charlynn teaches by presenting at various local festivals on a variety of topics. She continues to pursue her writing through articles for Witches & Pagans magazine, several Llewellyn annuals, and her blog, Sage Offerings, at www.sageofferings.net.

Illustrator: Kathleen Edwards

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