Fluffy Bunny Syndrome- Post #10

The term “Fluffy Bunny” is used as a derogatory term within the contemporary Pagan religion to refer to practitioners whose adherence to the faith is perceived as being superficial and dominated by consumerist values. As the lines between authentic pagan adherence and commercialism blur, it is hard to identify who genuinely appreciates the religion and who falls under the category of the fluffy bunny. This may not seem very troubling, but what Woodward’s article, “Fluffy Bunny Syndrome,” says is the contrary. Modern media representations of the craft is a complete misrepresentation of it; it fosters surface meanings by trivializing and fetishizing the craft into entertainment which devalues the actual spiritual practice. Many of the representations of the Pagan religion are wrong and overly induced in the magical aspect of it, but this turns people to believe falsities. Craft tools sold as commodities— wands, for example, popularized by the Harry Potter series— promotes a “dabbling” in the craft and not a serious engagement with its principles and philosophies. These practices and tools need to be conducted in an appropriate context and with right intent, but the commodification and consumerism imbued in these religious symbols eliminates the deeper meanings of craft symbolism. However, there are Pagans who say turning their practice into commodity may attract people to the craft, so it is seen as a way to advertise the religion. Pagans themselves who are serious in their practice can also fall for secretly liking the fluffy bunny stuff, like television shows that may not accurately represent the religion, but that still bring representation of such a group in the media.

One thought on “Fluffy Bunny Syndrome- Post #10

  1. I really appreciated this breakdown of your article. The article I read was about wicca/witchcraft specifically and I was curious as to why a tradition that emphasizes female empowerment so much would be so small scale. This stemmed from the commodification and consumerism of pagan traditions that I have been exposed to. Like you mentioned, tv shows and other pop culture references. I assumed that based on the representations I have seen on TV plus the very female centric beliefs, the tradition would be much bigger than it is. Therefore, it makes me wonder if there is something else I’m missing.

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