pic stolen...er...borrowed from Morbid Outlook Ezine
But being both a goth and a witch...well...it brings up some interesting points. Let me say before this goes any farther that "goth" and "witch" have nothing to do with each other, except that I am both, and so are many other people. But I have also known Christian goths and preppy Witches. They are neither mutually assured nor mutually exclusive.
Now...the good things. They loved it when I dyed my hair blue...and when it was pink and when it had a purple stripe, etc, ad nauseum. They like things that their peers like, but they also like things that most people don't, things like cemeteries and gargoyles and bats. They think that clothing made of velvet and PVC are cool. They think dressing different from everyone else is fun. They like all sorts of music - everything from Sarah Brightman or Big Bad Voodoo Daddy all the way to Marilyn Manson and the soundtrack from Nightmare Before Christmas. They take care of the earth and try not to litter. They look at the moon and see our Lady. They are (relatively) polite - they're still kids, after all! They love to camp and hike and be out in nature. They feel the wind on their faces and know it is the Goddess making Her presence known. They see an animal and know it is the God, providing for all creatures.
The bad things? Well, like any other "difference" there has been some teasing and namecalling. But kids are like that - picking on the different so as not to get picked on themselves. Mostly my kids take it in stride, ignoring it if they can. If they can't, they come and talk to me about it and I try to explain to them that people degrade what they don't understand. They're getting to where they understand that, at least to a degree. My oldest is only 8, so the level of understanding is still minimal.
All of these things aside, there is strong love in our family, and we can get through anything together. We talk and we laugh and we love just like any other family.
So really, that's what it boils down to. No matter the clothes or the haircolor or the music or the religion...no matter the subculture, if there is love, that's all that matters.
pic stolen...er...borrowed from Morbid Outlook Ezine