Doreen helped destined witches around the world realise their potential to become who they are. Her positive words and outlook on life has inspired many others to work towards making witchcraft, paganism and magic a wonderful spiritual path in their lives.
She has inspired books, poetry, art and lifestyle.
We thank her so much for her sensible and optimistic view into how witchcraft and magic can be, not anything to be feared, but explored with love.
What I love about Doreen is that we agree on the same thing - our belief that witchcraft is witchcraft and no amount of bickering or elitism should stop us from celebrating and being proud of another persons' spiritual path.
Really, if you are on a personal path that delves into witchcraft and paganism or heathenry, then you should be happy with your personal path. Why on Gaia's green earth would you put down other people's paths, even if they are nothing like your own? There is no reason you have to be elitist about it. No matter what your path is, it isn't better than anyone elses. It's just yours.
Thorn Nightwind's recent article 'Building bridges between different practices and traditions of witchcraft' talks of how if Doreen disagreed with a coven she was currently working with, she 'voted with her feet' - by leaving that group, if the nastiness got too much for her. The theory that 'the scary thing about this is, it is so much easier to join a new group than it is to leave it' is quite true. Walking away from a coven certainly can cause a rift in friendships, and gossip about you is bound to occur, although Doreen knew that it was best to show it wasn't worth staying around. The behaviour of other pagans and witches did not diminish her love for witchcraft and discovering many other aspects of the craft, researching information about craft in her local area, her ability to change her views when confronted with proper research or personal experience.
She found it was no good to tell people how things were, when things were liable to change or an experience may work better for each coven or individual. You could show off all you want in regards to the knowledge about something you have studied, but in practice, a coven may happily do the opposite of what you suggest. Doreen was humbled by all she was learning, she had love for the craft, so had love for everyone's paths.
The Eight Wiccan Virtues are Beauty and Strength, Power and Compassion, Honour and Humility and Mirth and Reverence.
I don't think it's hard to attain all of these virtues. I've shown dishonour in the past, but luckily, it was to those already dishonourable! And now I just surround myself with people who don't deal with dishonour, but I know what mistakes not to make again in the future!
I think compassion and humility are really important in the Craft. Doreen had great humility for everyone and their path. There is no room for hubris in the Craft. If you want to know how Doreen behaved in her life towards those covens that dealt with dramas, then read 'Rebirth of Witchcraft' and her biography by Philip Heselton. Perhaps her experiences can teach you how to behave in such a situation.
Be like Doreen.
