Real Witchcraft

This is my first post about witchcraft, which was about time.  I love my gothy posts, but I think I'll turn to other subjects as well.  For this segment, I would like to talk about real witchcraft, and not stuff that you see out of the movies.

There is a lot of confusion about witchcraft.  I can understand why, most people aren't very open with talking about it, as it's still seen as a taboo subject.  Like goth, witchcraft has a lot of negative stereotypes, and people who don't follow it, have bad opinions on it.  Sometimes it's hard to talk to someone about it, without them asking if you warship the devil, or have them roll their eyes and say it's not real.  Maybe it's not real, but it's all about faith, like Christianity, etc.  

A few things that witchcraft is not:

• It's not a cure all.  That means that if you cast a spell, don't expect it cure all your issues.  You still need to make decisions, and you still need to live your life.
• It's not about warshipping the devil.  Actually, you can perform witchcraft, and warship any god you want to.  You can even warship the Christian god, though some would argue with this.  
• It's not evil, but neutral.  It depends on what you send out to the world.  As long as you don't harm anyone, then you're ok.
• If you're expecting to do spells like they do in the movie, The Craft, then sorry to say, they don't exist.  While spells that change your eye color sound cool, they don't work.  You need special contacts for those.  Doing spells for invincibility, or invisibility, won't work.  Same thing with controlling the weather, it's impossible.  That's not what real witchcraft is about.  Real witchcraft is, to be frank, almost like praying, for those who follow Christianity.  Sure, we do love spells, money spells, etc, but like preying, it's about faith, hope, and that what you're doing will help you to find what you're looking for.   
• You don't have to be goth to be into witchcraft.  Some of them are, which is cool, but just like how everyone in the goth community is different, so are all those who practice the craft.
• We certainly don't sacrifice animals, or people.  The media likes to over play this in some movies that feature witchcraft.  Despite what everyone thinks, no, we don't sacrifice living things, or would we want to.  Many people that perform witchcraft would rather live side by side with animals, instead of cutting them open.  Just the thought makes them squirm.  
• Witchcraft isn't a religion.  Most people confuse witchcraft with being a pagan religion like wicca, but it's not.  It's a craft, which means that you perform it, and incorporate it into your life/religion.

The Goth Challenge, Day 27, 28, 29, 30

This is the final one, my last goth challenge entry.  I have to say, I had to give some thought on some of the days, like some actual sit and ponder thinking.  It was good, I liked it a lot actually.  I will be skipping day 26, because I don't have any decent pictures of every year I was goth.  Anyway, without further ado, here we go!

Day 27: The worst thing you've ever done to a newbie

I can safely say that I have never done anything rude to a newbie goth.  When i was in high school, there were only about three students, including myself who have curiosity for the dark side.  Besides that, I have never met a newbie before, but if I do in the future, I wouldn't do anything to discourage them from getting their feet wet with the subculture.  I was a newbie at one point too.

Day 28: Do you consider yourself and eldergoth?

I'm not old enough to be an eldergoth I'm afraid.  I'm in my early 20's, so I have a while before I hit the eldergoth bracket.

Day 29: What do you think will happen to goth in the future?

Another question I will have to give some thought on.  In a perfect world, I would hope that in the future that goth becomes more celebrated, where it's more socially accepted.  It would be naive of me to think that it could happen in the future.  Maybe it will, maybe it won't, I don't know, but it would be nice if society had a positive look on goth, rather than the negative stereotypes that cling to it.  

With that being said, I think that goth itself is fairly subjective, and everyone has a different outlook on what is, and isn't goth.  Along with that, sometimes you get the elitists who ruin it for the newcomers, which then less people want to be part of it.  I hope that in the future, such elitists will be more kinder to newbies, and baby bats, since we were all there once.  I think it's rude to state what goth is, or isn't, if it's all based on a personal definition.  So hopefully in the future, people will learn to lighten up on it, and enjoy the subculture for what they believe it to be.

I can't wait to see what happens in the future, regardless if it's for the better or worse.  

Day 30: Make a list of blogs you regularly read

I will be more than happy to make a list of the blogs, however, I don't feel right about linking to them, since access was not granted. 

• Sophistique Noir: It's a wonderful blog with fashion ideas for the adult goth, who wants to break out of their baby bat shell, and have a more mature style.
• Stripy Tights and Dark Delights: I think this a blog that all goths should read, young and old, new or not.  The author has some great advice, good information about the subculture, and she's pretty humorous.
• GIY (Goth It Yourself): This blog has some neat DIY project ideas for the darkly inclined.  I'm looking forward to doing one of these projects soon. 

DIY With Bleach

I think most of us had experience with DIY with bleach, or at the very least, know what happens when bleach gets onto dark, or colored clothes.  I've seen quite a few interesting designs on clothes, where people used bleach.  I even did one of my own, with some pretty nice results.  There are a few things to remember while using bleach though:

• Bleach is a chemical, so be responsible while using it.  This should really be obvious, but I felt the need to say it, just in case.  Also, take precautions.  Use a news paper, or cardboard for easy mess cleanup, and to make sure that the areas you don't want bleach on, is covered.
• When using bleach, it's best used by spraying it from a bottle, and using a stencil to guide where you spray.  I used a cheap paint brush to apply bleach, and little did I know, the bleach ate my brush's bristles.  There was nothing left by the time I got done with my DIY project.  The moral of the story, don't use paintbrushes with bleach.  The bristles will disenigrate.
• After bleaching, I would let it dry for a few hours, then I would wash it.  After that, you can wear it proudly.

Goth Challenge, Day 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Happy late goth day everyone!  I hope that everyone had enjoyed the spooky day as much as I did.  For this segment, I'll be busy completing the goth challenge.

Day 21: What body mod do you have, or have you considered?

While I do like some people's body mods (and they do look quite artful), I have never been the type to want to do much of it.  It's a personal choice, I'm content with my ear piercings.  If I do choose to get a body mod done, maybe either a nose piercing, or another ear piercing would be nice.  I had considered getting a tattoo, but then I remember that I'm fearful of needles, so I don't think I'll be getting one of those anytime soon.

Day 22: If you could attend any goth event, what would it be?

Right now, I think any goth event would be a good one.  Living at an area where there aren't any goths my age (unless you want to count baby bats, but I'm older than that, so it would be a little awkward), and the closest thing remotely promoting alternative subcultures, is a Hot Topic, it gets a little aggravating.  I have considered making my own goth event, but sadly, I don't think I can get a goth friendly event group to help out, especially at a place where goth isn't welcome.

Day 23: Your favorite artist or photographer?

I don't look at enough photography to really know who my favorite is.  As for art, I like some of the classic artists, Picasso, van Gogh, but other than that, I don't pay attention to new artists as much.  I pay more attention to the pieces, and if I like it.

Day 24: Name the best websites for goths

I haven't been many goth websites.  If I had to pick one, I would say Blogspot.  It's not exactly a goth website, but there are a lot of goths on it, and a lot of goth blogs are very helpful for baby bats, and elder goths alike.  It's a nice place to share beauty tips, fashion, and advice for everyday goths.  

Day 25: Did you ever consider leaving the subculture?

Yes and no.  A few years back, I wasn't happy about how things were going, and I had just started college.  College was frustrating at times, the workload and exams were harsh enough, but making new college friends was tough too.  I decided to still be my spooky self, but try to dress in a more mature, goth way.  I never truly left the subculture, but I reinvented myself to be mature, instead of looking like a rebellious baby bat.  I figured out that I can still be goth, but I can also be a mature adult about it.

Of Goths and Makeovers

A few things have been bothering me as of late, it has to do with making over goths, and yes, I do believe I feel a slight rant coming on.  

A lovely picture of a goth, from Wikipedia

A lot of you are probably familiar with shows like What Not To Wear, or How Do I Look.  If you're not, then I'll give you a quick synapse of what the shows are about:

What Not To Wear and How Do I Look are both makeover shows (hence the tittle of this entry), who give makeovers to those who are fashionably challenged, as well as those who 'give up' on fashion.  Usually the 'fashion victim's' family will nominate them, and tell the hosts how horrendous the victim's fashion is.  Sometimes the hosts of these shows have some good fashion advice, like dress according to your body type, or a nice belt can help create a nice hourglass shape.  The hosts will then turn to say some pretty crude comments about the fashion victim's style, making fun of the people who they're suppose to be helping (I suppose the quickest way to get someone to stop doing something, is to make fun of them, but I feel that is beyond rude, even for the right reasons).  There is a difference between wanting to change your fashion choices, and being forced to change, which I feel that the people who are nominated are being forced to change.  If someone wanted the help with their fashion crisis, then I say go for it, because it's wanted change, instead of forced change. 

Now, what does this have to do with goth?  Both shows have featured punks, goths, and alternative people who 'looks scary, and are in need of a makeover'.  We know that non goths don't have a great opinion about goths, and subcultures alike.  We are very much aware that mainstream likes to put everything in boxes, even if the stereotypes are true or not.  It amazes me that the hosts of these shows try to rationalize why someone wishes to dress alternative, and give some sort of psychoanalysis, because we know that people don't wear alternative fashion because they like it, there has to be something wrong with them psychologically to want to wear it *rolls eyes*.  

Like many non goths, the hosts think that either someone is 'still in their goth phase', or they think that the person doesn't feel attractive, and pick at their insecurities, just to make the person that they are trying to help, admit that they have self image issues.  Again, making fun of someone until they change their fashion style, so they can be accepted within mainstream society, isn't a very productive way to go about it.  If anything, it makes the person feel worse about themselves, and feel like they have to do what they can to fit in, sort of like high school.  

I understand that not everyone will accept alternative subcultures fully, and there will always be criticism everywhere you go, but is it possible to have high self-esteem, and confidence, eventhough one is goth?  I personally believe it's possible.  As long as one is happy with what they're wearing, and one knows how to dress for the occasion, I don't see a problem with someone being goth, and therefor, don't think that they need a makeover, unless they really want to change something about their wardrobe.  They key word being want, and not have change forced upon them by family members who thinking that the person has to change, just to fit in.  

Goth Challenge, Day 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20

I really want to finish up these goth challenges, because I'm really behind.  So, in order to do that, I'm going to group together five days per post, which means that I will only have to do three posts.  It makes a lot more sense.

Day 15: Your favorite or most expensive item in your wardrobe

I'm pretty sure that the most expensive item in my wardrobe is my Tripp pants, as much as I'd hate to admit that I wear them from time to time, though, they aren't my favorite.  I'm not sure which is my favorite to be perfectly honest.  I like my clothes, but I'm not super emotionally attached to them (though if I do get a hole in one of my dress shirts, I will go ballistic).  My favorite accessory, however, I can answer easily.  It's a beautiful silver snake bracelet that my boyfriend gave me for my birthday.

Day 16: What's the most casual you've ever dressed?

This one is very easy.  I wear a pair of jeans, flip flops, and an anime t-shirt, for casual wear, or when I'm going to the store.  I wear no make up, I don't bother doing my hair, except for brushing it.  I actually look pretty normal when I'm running late for an appointment.

Day 17: Your favorite goth brand?

I'm not sure, I don't really pay attention to goth brands much (though I do have a few things from Tripp).  I like clothing that is flattering to my body type, and doesn't look tacky, nor like I'm trying to be a rebellious teenager.  I do recommend Dysfunctional Doll, for accessories.

Day 18: Worst hair experience?

Once, I tried styling my hair to look more rockabilly.  It worked, but because of the length of my hair, it was less rockabilly, and it made me look like Michelle Pfeiffer, when she was playing Catwoman in Batman Returns.  It was about the same length, and made my hair look really poofy.

Day 19: Share beauty advice and take a picture of your makeup

I'm not wearing makeup today, so no pictures, but I will share some makeup tips.

• Make sure that you know how to wear eyeliner correctly.  I don't mean not to experiment with it, because everyone should, but if you wear too much, it could make you look like a raccoon, and people might miss the good job you did with your eye shadow, because they're too busy paying attention to the eyeliner.  With that being said, don't go overboard with the corner eye designs too, that can be just as bad.  If you're a baby bat, then it's the perfect time to learn how to correctly apply eyeliner.  
• Experiment with different styles.  It doesn't matter if they turn out good or bad, experiment and find out what works best for you.
• There is nothing wrong with not wearing makeup once in a while.  Actually, it's nice to go without makeup some days.
• When you use white foundation, apply it tastefully, and don't look like a ghost, unless that's what your going for.  Having a pale look is great, but it's just bad when you're white as a ghost.

Day 20: If you could dye your hair any color, what would it be?

Lately I've been getting into reds and purples, and a year ago, I had a mix of the two for a hair color.  I have to say, it came out awesomely, and not what you would expect from the two.  

Goth Challenge, Day 12, 13, 14

I really do hate allergy season.  I'm busy sniffling up a storm, and I really hope that the pollen will stop soon.  On another note,I'm still trying to play catch up with this challenge, so I think for now on, I'll just group days together.  

Day 12: What is your gothic inspiration?

This is another hard question to answer, and one that I haven't gave much thought.  While growing up, there weren't many inspirations for goth.  I was going off of TV shows, and cartoons that had goths in them, so I was pretty limited with inspiration.

  If I have to choose one person as my gothic inspiration, it would be a mix between Morticia Adams and Lily Munster.  Both women dress elegantly, have well put together make up, and have wonderful personalities that goes against the negative goth stereotypes.  There is no doubt in my mind that both women make great gothic role models, and it's no wonder why someone would be inspired by them.  

Coming at a close second, is Lydia Deetz.  I appreciated the fact that she was a young goth, who's personality also defied negative goth stereotypes.  She knows that she's different, but she doesn't let the non goths bother her with their comments.  I liked how she was friends with people just as spooky as she was, and had fun with them, instead of worrying what everyone thought about her.  Her clothing choice isn't half bad either.

Day 13: What was your first band t-shirt?

I'm still waiting on that one.  I really want to see Inkubus Sukkubus, and I love their music, so I just might search around the internet for a t-shirt featuring them.

Day 14: What was your best and worse DIY disaster?

Best:

I have trouble thinking about my best DIY project.  If I really have to pick one, I would say my shirt that I had to sew fishnet onto.  Fishnet alone is a difficult fabric to work with, and I was going nuts sewing it onto the shirt.  It seemed that every five minutes, I ran into either a snag, or something went wrong with the fishnet material, so you can imagine how much of a victory it was to complete such a task.  I altered the shirt about a year ago, and the fishnet is still holding up like new.

Worse:

I was given a long, black dress, which was a pretty material.  I had a vision for a spooky dress, cutting the bottom to make fringes.  Well, I got sick of the fringes, and cut them off.  Then when I went to measure the length of the dress, it was too short for me to wear, so I had to scrap it.  I really wished that I would have drawn out the design first, before cutting it.

Goth Challenge, Day 9, 10, 11

I decided to yet again, group three days of the Goth Challenge into one.  I'm trying to play catch up, and some of these questions, I can answer very briefly.  

Day 9: What genre of music do you dislike?

I'm not fond of rap, hip hop, or country.  For some reason, I can't stand listening to anything of the like.  I'm not sure because it's the sound that bothers me, or the lyrics, or both, but I'm just not a big fan.  Don't get me wrong, I have some top 40 hits that I secretly like, but when one of the three genre show up, I either turn it off, or have to listen to something else.


Day 10: What do you hate and love about the subculture?


Hate:

• How expensive clothes and accessories can be, even if you DIY sometimes.
• Elitist's attitudes, like people who say that you aren't a real goth, or not goth enough.
• The negative stereotypes attached to goth.
• People who know you wear a lot of black, have the need to point out the fact that you are indeed wearing color, and are amazed that you can wear something other than black.  Yes, even other goths point this out.
• The clothing are targeted towards thinner people.  Even if you find an online store for plus sized goths, you have to pay out the nose, and it can be extremely expensive. 

Love:

• The music and fashion, along with the literature, and art.
• The outfits that people put together, and the effort they  put into them.
• The community and how nice it is to find people with similar interests.
• You don't have to feel pressured to impress a fellow goth to talk to them.  You just have to go talk to them. 

Day 11: Is Goth a lifestyle for you?


This is something that I really haven't gave much thought on.  It does play a big part of my life, but it's not to the level where it becomes my whole life.  I have a lot more going on than doing spooky things all the time, no matter how much I love the subculture.  So pretty much, I love the subculture, it's nice to get involved with it, but I don't let it consume me to the point where it becomes obsessive.

Rude Comments in the Supermarket

A few days ago, I went grocry shopping at a store to which I havn't been to in a while.  While nosing around for what I needed, my mind began to wander, and I randomly remembered an event that had taken place a few months before that disgusted me.

A few months back, I was in the same store, grocry shopping.  While waiting in the check out line, an older woman was infront of me, giving the cashier a hard time.  It's not that the cashier was mean, or that she was snooty.  No, the thing that the older woman had to complain about, was the cashier's nose, and lip piercing.  The older woman wasn't even trying to be mature about it either.  She kept baggering the cashier, putting her down relentlessly, and the cashier couldn't be mean to a customer, so she let the woman say what she needed, while trying to do her job. 

I rolled my eyes at the woman's comments, especially how over the top rude she was to the cashier.  It's one thing to not to like a person's piercings, but to complain about them in the  most rude way, in public, is just immature.  I seriously felt bad for this person, she didn't deserve to get a lecture, wihle doing her job, about something that shouldn't be a huge issue. 

Now, I like piercings just as much as the next person, and I can understand that if the cashier was dressed poorly for her job, or have too many distracting piercings, but she wasn't dressed badly, and she only had two piercings.  I know that not everyone is going to be respectful of everyone's way of expressing themselves through the ways of fashion, but it was just rude how the woman expressed her dislike for what the cashier looked like. 

When it was my turn to check out, I apologized about what the lady said.  It wasn't my fault, but I felt as though the cashier needed a little encouragement.  I complimented on her appearence, because to tell you the truth, her piercings were pretty cool.  She seemed to be in a slightly better sprits after I talked to her, though after a rude interaction with someone like the old lady, I can understand why she was still a little annoyed.

 I never had an older woman be rude to me by the way I looked (though, the only piercings I have, are in my ears, but that's my choice), except for my peers, but that was in a different situation. 

 I want to know that if a simular story did happen to you, then how did you handle it?  What was said?

Goth Challenge, Day 8

A few hours after my post today, I decided that I feel well enough to post day eight of the goth challenge.  This one might be a long one, so be prepared for a wall of text coming your way.  I apologize in advance that some of the font in this entry is different.  I tried to change it to the default font, but the post decided to derp on me, so I guess I'm stuck with it for now.

Day 8: What's your worst and best experience with non-Goths?

I think I'll talk about my worst experience first, just to get that out of the way. 

We've all been to high school, so I don't have to bellow how harsh it was, being a baby bat outcast.  I'm pretty sure that some of you, if not all of you know what it's like being teased a bit.  This does take place in the dreadful years of high school, when  I was a Junior, and I was first getting use to my days as a baby bat.  I knew what goth was in middle school, but in high school was when I really began dabbling into it, and experimenting with different looks.  Well, sometimes when teenagers experiement with the goth look, we get heckled, and I was no exception.

There was this girl in my creative writing class.  She was the stereotypical blond haird, loud, and obnoxious, type girl, who liked to spread gossip around.  I just so happened to be one of the lucky contestants, where gossip was spread about me.  How did this all start?  It all started when one of her friends decided to play a game called 'Ask the goth girl a question, let her answer, then make fun of her with my friends' (I know that's a rather long name for a game, though I didn't have a witty name to call it.  Sorry.).  So, the girl asked me a simple question.  "What's a prep?" 

 I do admit, when I was a dumb teenager, sometimes I labled people, just about as much as they labled me.  Since then, I learned that we're all just people, no matter what style we follow, or what we look like.  Anyway, back to the story.  The question was subjective, I thought there were no wrong or right answer.  So, I fell for their trap, telling them what my definition was.  As expected, the girl went back to her group of friends, and told them what I had said.  The girl that liked spreading the gossip, then decided she would tell me off for my subjective definition, and accused me of calling her a prep.  At first, I thought She'll get over it, it's not like I specifically called her one.  However, I was proven wrong.

Soon after, she decided to spread gossip, saying that I called her the said stereotype, and made it out like she was just an innocent bystandar, as the goth girl was 'picking' on her.  It got to the point where she called me out infront of the entire class, yelling at me for no reason.  She only wanted to make a scene, and make it look like I was 'picking' on her again.  Everytime we passed eachother int he hallway, whomever was with her, had to know the 'horrible' name that I so called her, and of course, made a scene about it.  She even threatened to sue me for defimation of character, whch just seemed ridiculous, and I rolled my eyes to. 

I let it take it's course, and it eventually stopped.  Life at high school began anue, and everyone forgot the whole melodramatic events that happened prior.  I understand that I was in the wrong for being just as close minded as the non goths were, at some points.  However, this whole event just escalated to the point where it got tiring.

  

The best non goth experiences I've had, were when I graduated high school, and went to college.  I have a few non goth friends, who accept the way that I dress, and the things that I like.  Eventhough they don't enjoy horror movies, or a walk in the cemetary, I still enjoy being with them, and doing activities that we both like.  My mother even went from hating my gothy attire in high school, to coming with terms, and even accepting it, when I first went to college.  In her words, 'I blossomed in college, because I didn't have to deal with being made fun of, or the non goths that were hateful toward alternative subcultures'.  I even met the love of my life, who also accepts me for me, who is also a non goth.  I even gained confidence in college, and recived compliments on the way I dress from older, and younger non goths.  I can keep continuing on how non goths in college were some of the best experiences of my life, but I think you get the idea. 

Thanks for reading my long wall of text.  Next will be day nine, coming soon.

Goth Challenge, Day 5, 6, & 7

You may have noticed that today, I'm grouping a couple of the challenges together.  I decided it would be easier to do it this way, since this post will be way too short if I didn't.  That and with me being sick, I just want to get this part over with.  I promise to get in more depth on the up and coming challenges. 

Day 5: Is there a local Goth band or group in your area? 

 A very easy question to answer.  No, there isn't.  I wish there were, but sadly, not many people around my area are goth friendly, nor are there many goths (if any) in the next town over.

Day 6: Hand write your favorite lyric and take a picture.

With me being sick, I really don't feel like taking a picture of my favorite lyrics.  However, I'll be more than happy to post them on here.  

'Fallen angel at my side
Take me by the hand
And lead me far into the night
Far away from this life'

Sirenia: Fallen Angel

 Day 7: Ten of your favorite goth bands.

I know that some of these aren't goth, but I still like the music, and I thought that they at least deserved a mention.

1. London After Midnight

2. Razed in Black

3. Bauhaus

4. The Cruxshadows

5. Creature Feature 

6. Joy Division

7. Nightwish

8. H.I.M.

9. Inkubus Sukkubus

10. The 69 Eyes