Silver Ravenwolf

{{Paganism}}
'''Silver Ravenwolf''', born '''Jenine E. Trayer''' {{lived|1956}}, is a [[Neopaganism|Neopagan]] [[Author|writer]] who draws highly divided reactions.  A prolific author of many books for teenagers considering [[Neopaganism]] (''To Ride a Silver Broomstick'', ''Teen Witch'', etc.), she is the starting point for many Neopagans.  Many Neopagans who come to the [[religion]] on their own thus feel a strong attachment to her, to the point where she is often referred to as "Mama Ravenwolf." She is also the founder of the "Black Forest Clan", an organization of [[Wicca]]n covens.<ref>[https://claneagle.org/about About Clan of the American Eagle]</ref>

However, many older Neopagans consider her work to be [[Fluffbunny|historically revisionist or overly simplistic]], and it often involves either erasing the differences between Neopaganism and other religions (and even more often between different branches of Neopaganism), or else just mindlessly castigating [[Christianity]].  The idea that she's driven by money, rather than any sincere religious ideals, has earned her the derisive nickname "$ilver Ravingwolf."

==Particular complaints==

While many mature Neopagans find her earliest books "[[Fluffbunny|fluffy]]," it is her later work that really twists them in knots.  ''Teen Witch'' in particular has been noted for making sweeping claims about what ''all'' "[[magic]]kal" people believe.  Leaving out that many Neopagans would cringe at being called a "magical person" (with or without the extraneous "k"), there is no single orthodoxy for all Neopagans.<ref group=note>In fact, it is this lack of orthodoxy within the Neopagan movement that brings many people to it.</ref> In particular, she just claims that any practice she doesn't like (black magic, blood magic, etc.) is not practiced by [[No True Scotsman|''real'' Neopagans]].<ref name=broomstick>Silver Ravenwolf, ''To Ride A Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft''. Llewellyn, 1993. {{isbn|087542791X}}.</ref>{{rp|13}}

She also makes up her own interpretations of long established symbols (including the most ubiquitous Neopagan symbol, the pentacle), and refers to people who worship a [[monotheism|monotheistic]] [[god]] as "grovelers."<ref name=broomstick />{{rp|43}}

==Issues for those outside of the Pagan milieu==

Her books also encourage Neopagan parents to [[Evangelism|preach]] to other people's kids, despite the fact that Neopagans in general hate proselytizing.  She also encourages young Neopagans to lie and deceive their parents.<ref group=note>For kids in deeply [[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] families, this may be a good idea, but should not be promoted as the general rule she claims.</ref> Her books also push an unrealistic form of the religion. She says invoking the proper spells or using the proper herbs/candles/metals will make all of your problems go away. She has written many books like ''Silver's Spells for Abundance'' which claim that you will become rich just by casting her spells.<ref>Silver Ravenwolf, ''Silver's Spells for Abundance''. Llewellyn, 2004. {{isbn|073870525X}}.</ref>

She is also guilty of the (sadly common) [[negationism]] in which the "Witch Burnings" of the Middle Ages were an attempt to [[Margaret Murray|squash the last of the paleopagans, killing up to nine million people.]]<ref name=broomstick />{{rp|19}} Of course, they were no such thing (and nowhere near that many people were killed-this was around 40-60,000 people at most).<ref group=note>Which isn't to say witch killings weren't—and aren't—horrible things; it's just that we shouldn't exaggerate their size or scope.</ref>

Most conspicuously bad, from any kind of [[rationalist]] point of view, is her insistence that Neopagans are in fact just practicing [[science]].  In her best-known work, ''To Ride a Silver Broomstick,'' she wrote "It is my personal opinion that most people are attracted to the Craft not by its religious content, but by its scientific and technological allure."<ref name=broomstick />{{rp|27}} So spirituality and/or religion don't enter into it?  It's like saying you're drawn to Christianity because you like communion wine! *burp*

Another of her books, ''MindLight'', uses the most laughable version of [[quantum woo]] to say that you, too, can use [[The Secret|quantum physics to get whatever you want]].  She also tends to use the [[energy]] crux of most woo-masters, but doesn't even try to come up with any kind of explanation for what that "energy" means.

Ravenwolf also refers to people in her books that don't believe in magick or [[reincarnation]] as "once-borns."  Apparently "once-borns" are easy to trick and deceive because they are ignorant and don't have the supposed knowledge of "magickal people."<ref name=broomstick />{{rp|158}}

==See also==

*[[Fluffbunny]]
*[[Magical thinking]]
*[[Witchcraft]]

==External links==

*[http://wicca.cnbeyer.com/ravenwolf.shtml Why We Despise Silver Ravenwolf]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ravenwolf, Silver}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Paganism]]
[[Category:Pagan and occult leaders]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]
[[Category:Quantum woo]]
[[Category:Shysters]]

Categories: Authors, Living people, Paganism, Pagan and occult leaders, Pseudoscience promoters, Quantum woo, Shysters