Leif,

This is an excellent post. 

Like many, I have met literally thousands of New Agers, Wiccans, fringe political people, and of course Heathens.  The Heathens were nearly entirely good self-sufficient people who were not attempting to prey on or victimize anyone.  The fringe political people were mainly only interested in converts to there cause and aside from wanting converts I would not classify them as predators.  I personally never had any experiences with the sexual type of
predators that you mention, but that may be because I was not their type.

However regarding an Antagonist type of predator I have had some experience, and I think that they are the worst and most dangerous type.   I feel that the only non-final solution for that type of predator is to have no contact what so ever with that type of person.  

Regarding the Guru and financial type of predator, it seems quite laughable but the majority of Wiccans in the early to mid eighties in Chicago were Guru and or financial predators.  It is laughable because with that many trying to prey on each other there was no doubt a great shortage of victims for them.  Many have observed the quantity and relentless nature of infighting among the Wiccans in the Chicago area, but few realize it is because of the amazingly disproportionate number of guru / financial predators among their ranks.  Such people can not easily cooperate. 

Edward A. Anderson II   

Great post, Leif!

I have come across a few people that fit some of these moulds. Luckily, my bulls*it detector is always kept in well-oiled condition and goes off around these types of pathetic human debris, but I know of people who have been taken in by them.  You are right about one thing, unfortunately it is usually young women who fall for it. I know one young lady who was in the "spiritual teacher/student" situation and this "spiritual teacher" would do card readings for her, and "low and behold" the cards always said that she should be with him.  Well, she ended up leaving her husband for him and he is a pathetic, low life who calls himself a "druid".

I think it is good to let people know about these kinds of predators, especially young, impressionable people, in hopes that they won't fall victim.

Joan Broneske 

 Ha! Are you kidding me? I've been a victim of such people! You bet they exist! If you've opened just one person's eyes, you've done your good deed for the day. Don't sweat the rest. I was victim of the cult ones and the one right below that. (I don't have the article in front of me, sorry.) I was also further victim to all the others who attacked me when I told he emporer he had no clothes, so to speak. And it wasn't just me, it was my (then) husband and my boys, too, who had never been hurt by such things before. For that alone, they'll rot in their hell. It was by a certain religious group, but I won't say who for fear of lumping all of them in with these creeps and setting certain predjudices off here. I don't think I have to say more than that. We were disowned and set out on our ear. It was devastating and I'm still not over the damage they did. Once again, I feel vindicated and better about myself that I'm not the only one and I'm not alone. Who knows who else you spoke to
 today? Don't worry about the rest

  ~Tianna~

 Hail Leif!
         Thank you for that heads up! And dire reminder. I have also  seen many of these types at work, and I have also been victim to them. I came into this life not understanding what was out there. My family life in youth was filled with people who were honorable, and deeply family oriented, especially the men. I absolutely adore my Da and all my uncles. I absolutely adore my Ma and all my Aunts. My Grand Parents, who have gone the way of my ancestors, have a
permanent shrine in, and outside of my home. The roll models they have all set for me have carried me threw the hardest of times. I came into the this world with a horribly vulnerable personality. If not for the love I knew in my family, I believe many of the knocks I received would have been the last one. I always had hope, and knew that love was alive and well. I've hardened up, but not without that spark which they gave me to carry me threw. I'm not bleeding on you guys, I don't bleed, Bleeding is for the dying. But at reading Leifs post, it brought back much. And that is a good thing Leif. I thank you.

 Yulfa >;~)

Leif,
Wonderful article. May I have permission to use it in our local newsletter? I think, unfortunately, we have both victim and predator in our community, and this may wake some people up.

Cat

Fantastic work!

Wonderful!

M

Thank you so much for your article on predators. This will be helpful to me when pointing out the predators I see. As a former victim, I try to help the youth in my community to avoid these pitfalls and to be aware of these scary individuals.

Again, thank you.
Laura

While I am an advocate of choice...and finding one's niche...be it dark or light or whatever...I do take deep offence of intentional harm to others.

In this regard, I found resonance and a sense of comfort with the  "article on predators"...in that Leif's sense of justice has always been forthcoming and therefore admirable! 

In light of that...Leif & Spirit - do keep up the good work!

Chela

I apologise for the invasion of privacy by repling to you directly, but I don't feel it is appropriate to clog up the board with personal requests....

I thought your article was very well written, and am hoping that you will allow me to forward and repost it elsewhere.

Thank you for time.

Dragonlady

Leif - your article on predators was great - I've taken the liberty of forwarding this to a friend who was putting together articles on this theme for her newsletter (in Montreal, Canada), so she could read it and then contact you if she wanted to use it.  It may be a couple of days past her deadline, but maybe she'd like it for her next issue.

I do a newsletter too, with a different circulation, and I'd like to use it, if you'll give permission.  And I'd like to post the URL for it on our website - we've been thinking about writing and posting some warning-type article, but you've covered it very well.
Pagan Pastoral Outreach - www.paganpastoraloutreach.ca
Pagan Federation/Fédération païenne Canada - www.pfpc.ca,
"To protect & promote the reputation of Pagans & Paganism in Canada"

Greetings from Canada!

 A friend passed me the link to Leif's article on predators:

http://au.geocities.com/folkvangrkindred/predator.html

This is an excellent article and I congratulate you.... and I'd like to have permission to reprint it.

In Montreal, the Pagan community is currently putting together a booklet of articles that specifically address sexual predation in Paganism.  We've had some problems in our community recently and have decided to take the bull by the horns and acknowledge that this is a problem within the greater Pagan community and the best defence is talking about it and education.

I would like to have permission to use your article in this booklet.  I'll be happy to send you copies of the finished product once it is finished.  Our intention is to distribute the booklet to student pagan clubs and other groups.

I am also the editor of the local Montreal pagan newsletter.  We are doing a special issue on predators, and I'd love to have permission to reprint your article in that as well.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings

Raven

Comments from those who did not appreciate the article!