laurie cabot, the official witch of salem

[whiporwill-o]

what do you guys think of Laurie Cabot, "The Official Witch of Salem"? i have read a few things about her, some good and some not so good. i have never met her or her daughters, but my mother and i are planning a trip to salem, massachusetts some time in the distant future. so i was just wondering if any of you have ever met her or been to her store and what you think about her.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

It kind of seems like a publicity thing.

I mean really, who would there be to declare her the "official" witch of Salem?? Who would get together to vote on that? Would it be like Witch Idol or something?  

[Morgandria]

Violet Song jat Shariff

It kind of seems like a publicity thing.

I mean really, who would there be to declare her the "official" witch of Salem?? Who would get together to vote on that? Would it be like Witch Idol or something?

I believe it was the Salem City Council. It's totally a publicity thing.  

[whiporwill-o]

Violet Song jat Shariff

It kind of seems like a publicity thing.

I mean really, who would there be to declare her the "official" witch of Salem?? Who would get together to vote on that? Would it be like Witch Idol or something?

"In 1977, Laurie finally received the title she had long been seeking and was named ‘the Official Witch of Salem’ by the then governor of Massachusetts ‘Michael Dukakis’. He bestowed upon Laurie the states Patriot Award, known as the ‘Paul Revere’ citation, this is an historical award issued by the Governor to honour citizens of the state for their public service. The citation for the award is signed by the Governor and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in her case it reads: “I proclaim Laurie Cabot the Official Witch of Salem for her work with children of special needs”. "

source: http://www.controverscial.com/Laurie Cabot.htm  

[Morgandria]

whiporwill-o

Violet Song jat Shariff

It kind of seems like a publicity thing.

I mean really, who would there be to declare her the "official" witch of Salem?? Who would get together to vote on that? Would it be like Witch Idol or something?

"In 1977, Laurie finally received the title she had long been seeking and was named ‘the Official Witch of Salem’ by the then governor of Massachusetts ‘Michael Dukakis’. He bestowed upon Laurie the states Patriot Award, known as the ‘Paul Revere’ citation, this is an historical award issued by the Governor to honour citizens of the state for their public service. The citation for the award is signed by the Governor and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in her case it reads: “I proclaim Laurie Cabot the Official Witch of Salem for her work with children of special needs”. "

source: http://www.controverscial.com/Laurie Cabot.htm

*nods* That too.

I don't have much use for her, really. She's always seemed like a showboater, very sensationalist, and she books suffer from revisionist history and poor research. Her bit on 'Stephen Fry in America' was really really cringe-worthy, as well:

"Witchcraft is my religion - Wicca has become a colloquialism meaning witchcraft, so people don't have to say the "W" word."

W.T.F!  

[Starlock]

Don't know her personally, thus I'm not going to presume to be in a position from which I can judge her fairly. What she does is her business anyway, not mine.  

[RubyLight]

I know a very little about her, beyond her mass marketing.  

[TheStarlessSkye]

Now I know your guy's opinions on her, and I've looked into more info about her, I dislike her. She seems quite "fake" and "dodgy" to me.  

[achilles_tendencies]

I haven't met her, although she seems like a nice enough sort. It might be fun to stop by her shop and look around just to say you went, just for gits and shiggles, that is if your going to be in that neck of the woods anyway.

I read her book Power of the Witch, and even though I didn't agree with everything it contained, (I find I rarely do) it was a good read, and it helped me with medidtating. I have a very active mind, extreamly hard to quiet, and I found some of the exercises for relaxing and meditating to be very helpful.

Other than that, I don't judge her, just like some other famous or imfamous characters that publish alot of books and have publicity. I don't have to walk her path, I only have to walk mine.  

[The Falling Leaf]

Starlock

Don't know her personally, thus I'm not going to presume to be in a position from which I can judge her fairly. What she does is her business anyway, not mine.

I agree completely.  

[Esiris]

Morgandria

whiporwill-o

Violet Song jat Shariff

It kind of seems like a publicity thing.

I mean really, who would there be to declare her the "official" witch of Salem?? Who would get together to vote on that? Would it be like Witch Idol or something?

"In 1977, Laurie finally received the title she had long been seeking and was named ‘the Official Witch of Salem’ by the then governor of Massachusetts ‘Michael Dukakis’. He bestowed upon Laurie the states Patriot Award, known as the ‘Paul Revere’ citation, this is an historical award issued by the Governor to honour citizens of the state for their public service. The citation for the award is signed by the Governor and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in her case it reads: “I proclaim Laurie Cabot the Official Witch of Salem for her work with children of special needs”. "

source: http://www.controverscial.com/Laurie Cabot.htm

*nods* That too.

I don't have much use for her, really. She's always seemed like a showboater, very sensationalist, and she books suffer from revisionist history and poor research. Her bit on 'Stephen Fry in America' was really really cringe-worthy, as well:

"Witchcraft is my religion - Wicca has become a colloquialism meaning witchcraft, so people don't have to say the "W" word."

W.T.F!

I've been thinking about this- and it really makes me angry. Isn't that whole thing a violation of the separation of church and state?  

[Morgandria]

Esiris

I've been thinking about this- and it really makes me angry. Isn't that whole thing a violation of the separation of church and state?

I think it is, myself. It's one of the things that comes up fairly often in the ongoing saga of Salem - some people aren't happy that they're a tourist trap, some people less happy that it's somehow 'gov't' approved, some people at the fact that there are merchant wars going on with some people trying to maintain a strangehold on businesses. It's a mess, honestly.

And maybe it's just me, but I've never once felt that I'd like to go to Salem. I find the entire thing sort of...repellent? It's just big and loud and fake, and that's not anything I want associated with me or my craft.  

[FluffyPinkChaos]

It's easy to judge people, be it by their appearance, their speech, their social graces, and by the words of others. I choose to meet these people first and then after thinking long and hard, make a call. So since I've never met her and only seen her on tv and paper I can't say anything good or bad about her.  

[Esiris]

Morgandria

I think it is, myself. It's one of the things that comes up fairly often in the ongoing saga of Salem - some people aren't happy that they're a tourist trap, some people less happy that it's somehow 'gov't' approved, some people at the fact that there are merchant wars going on with some people trying to maintain a strangehold on businesses. It's a mess, honestly.

And maybe it's just me, but I've never once felt that I'd like to go to Salem. I find the entire thing sort of...repellent? It's just big and loud and fake, and that's not anything I want associated with me or my craft.

I think of it as an interesting part of US history and how people can effect others- if anything regarding paganism, I think it's a good example for people who get carried away in their "I'm a Fairy/Angel/Mermaid/Sorceress sent by the Old Gods to save the universe from evil and I've been trapped in a human body!" drama.I think the same kind of "OMG! Us v. Them!" stuff fuels both- and if Salem can teach neo-pagans anything, it's not to get carried away and hurt people.  

[Loona Wynd]

I visit salem every year for birthday. I respect her for her books. Her store is fake. I prefer the store Hex or Nu Aeon which are much more what I would associate with witches. The Cabot tradition is where the Core of the Temple tradition comes from. I have never met her in person, but I want to someday.

Yes there is a lot of hype and fakeness. My first visit to Salem I felt was all fake (due to the tourist traps I had to endure) but not any more. There are three stores I can tell you are just that. However the sensation of the history that took place there as horrid as it was is important. I do believe that people should visit Salem.

It has become a pligramage for me. Every year I connect more to my spirituality and my path when I visit Salem. I also feel welcome and home. They don't treat me like your average tourist. I can talk with those shop owners and the historians there with the same amount of ease I can with the people that work my local shop.