I’ve noticed that whenever a Wiccan is interviewed on television, she (it is usually a she) tends to be wearing a black robe, a lot of jewelry, and far too much eye makeup. Laurie Cabot, the “Official Witch of Salem”, is a prime example. These Wiccans will often talk at length about what goes on at a ritual, or how they think spells work, but rarely do they speak about the spiritual aspects of Wicca.

I guess it comes down to what makes good TV. Who really wants to listen to Sally Normal talk about the ethics and spiritual fulfillment found in Wicca when they can watch a genuine witch perform a real ritual, complete with swords and nekked people. To be fair, many religious representatives on TV tend to be flamboyant. Who provides more interesting TV, Pat Robertson or your childhood preacher?

What the public needs to keep in mind, and this goes for Wiccans too, is that the people on television are there because of their personalities and their willingness to provide entertainment. Generally speaking, they aren’t representatives of the average practitioner. My devoutly Christian grandfather was no more like Pat Robertson then I am like Laurie Cabot.