Links and Books You Might Find Interesting

I used information on several of the following pages to help write this site, even though they weren't speaking specifically about Pagan or even religious bullying.  Others I have listed because they are really good Pagan resources, and/or well done.

Bully OnLine is the website of the UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line. It is an incredible and extensive site, and the source of much of my information on bullies and how they operate. Although it focuses on workplace bullying, all bullies are basically the same and employ the same methodology. See the sections on Bullying in the Workplace, .Bully Injury, and Bully Relations: http://www.bullyonline.org/ 

KickBully is another site on workplace bullying which gives practical advice on how to mentally prepare yourself to fight back and win against a bully. Much of what is written here can be used to fight bullies in the Pagan Community and elsewhere: http://www.kickbully.com

The Coven Abuse Self-Help Index (CASHI) is a must-read: http://www.wyrdweavers.org/files/cashi.html

"Trollspotting - How to Keep Your Coven From Being Destroyed" is the title of a multi-part essay on what the author calls "trolls".  It breaks down how Pagan groups fall apart, especially through the interference of a bully, and is a very important read for anyone leading a group in the Pagan Community:  http://esoterica.bichaunt.org/Trolls/index.html

The Witches Voice has an excellent section devoted to Witch Wars: http://www.witchvox.com/xwars.html

Also on Witchvox is a great essay called  " It's a Mystery (Part I): Dysfunctional Behaviour and the Pagan Scene." The author speaks brilliantly about how and why functional groups disband while dysfunctional ones go on for years, leaving newcomers to paganism to deal with a lot of messed up people. She very eloquently explains the difference between being judgmental and having good judgment - something every Pagan should understand. Last but not least, she lists what to look for and avoid in Pagan groups and teachers. The URL for this essay is http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=basics&id=10091

"Crick" has published a few articles on Witchvox too, and most conveniently has also posted them on Whispering Wood's website. The one called A Pagan Community at What Cost? is the article that originally attracted my attention, and is an especially good read.

Shadow Witch has a monthly review of Pagan websites, and is full of excellent information: http://www.shadow-witch.com/

For ten tips on how to spot a liar, click HERE.

This is a page on Narcissistic Personality Disorder: http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/npd/traits.html

This site is about emotional vampires, and the page you will end up in talks specifically about the narcissistic kind. Take the "test" to see if your bully is a narcissist as well as a jerk: http://www.albernstein.com/id59.htm

A very interesting article on Acquired Situational Narcissism, which some people in the Pagan Community may suffer from. While people with this start out "normal" acquiring power in the community goes to their heads and they soon develop a personality disorder: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/npd/105399

This is an article from Psychology Today about recovering from a cult. I have included it because many of the techniques Narcissistic bullies use are similar to those of cult leaders. This site may be very helpful if you are trying to break away from someone you know to be a bully: http://www.rickross.com/reference/recovery/recovery4.html

Ways to recognize Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: http://www.ptsdsupport.net/what.html

Things you can do about phone harassment: http://www.aardvarc.org/stalking/about/phone.shtml

BullyEQ has a great page on behaviour which may not be immediately recognized as abusive.  http://www.bullyeq.com/abuse_you_may_not_realise.htm

This is a Pagan humour site, where they have an article entitled "How Not to Make Enemies in the Pagan Community." I find it very sad so many of her observations are right on the money. Go there and you'll understand what I'm talking about: http://swansong2.tripod.com/humor/will_get_you.htm

Another humour site, entitled How to Participate in an Internet Flame War. Unfortunately many of us have actually seen these tactics in action. http://www.velvet.com/barb/humor/flaming.html

This is a very good inspirational site which describes the Hardest Lessons of the Old Religion, and basically sets down some guidelines to promote peace and harmony within a coven specifically, but they can be applied to groups in general as well: http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amethystbt/hardestlessons.html

The Cosmic Cauldron is a global online newspaper for Pagans and Heathens of all paths, based in Australia. In May 2008 they featured my site, but I'm not recommending them because of that - it's a good newsletter and deserves to have a large readership: http://mystic-grove.com.au/tcc/

"If you are ready to help reawaken a truly united community for the good of all of us, please add your signature to the Inter-Tradition Peace Promise" at http://www.sitheach.org/intertrad/