Wiccan - Rev. Norm Vogel

Rev. Norm Vogel

Contact: Rev. Norm Vogel

Religion: Wiccan

Book Recommendation: Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (Llewellyn's Practical Magick)

Web Page: http://www.witchfacts.net/

I'm going to talk about my time spent with Reverend Vogel, or Norm as he asked me to call him. Really I think the interview is the important part, as I always say. And, in this case, there wasn't service that I could attend with him.

Right now, Norm is a religion of one. There are Wiccans around the Tampa Bay area, and I'm sure I'll find more. Norm, right now, isn't an active member of a coven.

Here's a man, living out his faith in his own way. At his house, in a corner, he has his alter. An aged picture of his mother and father, he in his soldier's uniform, she in a beautiful white gown, stands in one corner. Around it are statues representing various aspects of creation, a small place for incense.

I couldn't help but feel something of a connection to Norm. When I was a kid, I was one of 4 or 5 Mormons in my school, and sometimes, standing out can be tough. On Norm's web page, he has a small message of an audio recording that politely asks people to respect his beliefs, and not blame him if their children asks questions.

In the interview, Norm talked about a time where he was invited to give a talk. Turns out, local religious leaders - mostly Christian - protested and tried to prevent him from giving a talk. Here was a gentleman who wasn't going door to door to spread his religion, he wasn't standing in the middle of a park. He was invited by people who wanted to hear his perspective - and evidently, that was too much for some people based purely on them believing *their* religious beliefs outweighed *his*.

Why does it seem that those with the least confidence are the ones shouting the loudest that they're right? How does it happen that the people who claim to be the most "right" when it comes to fundamental questions belief, are the ones most likely to silence any other voices?

It would seem that if people truly believed what they preach, they wouldn't be afraid of letting someone speak to people they are invited to talk to. Norm has a belief that the universe can hear his requests through his prayers. He's not hurting anyone, he's not attacking anyone, he's just living out his faith at his home, in his own way.

Doesn't seem to much to ask.