REGION BEWITCHED NEIGHBORHOOD COVENS PEACEFUL, WICCANS SAY.

Byline: Holly Edwards Staff Writer

Rejecting the broom-riding, stringy-haired, craggy-faced crones of Halloween lore, real witches in the San Fernando Valley say practitioners of the Wiccan religion are, in fact, ordinary people who can be found virtually everywhere.

They are teachers, nurses, lawyers, college professors, computer scientists and doctors - and are often forced to hide their religious beliefs to protect their jobs and families, said Marsha Smith, a North Hollywood native and Wiccan high priestess.

``Most Wiccans are very spiritual, and they come to the craft from other religions,'' said Smith, 48, who is the assistant to the Dental Technology Department chair at Los Angeles City College. ``But for reasons they can't really identify, they just haven't been able to get enough feeling from their religions.''

Most of the year, Wiccans practice their religion in obscurity. But once a year, their beliefs clash with the orange-and-black decorations, trick- or-treating youngsters and other trademarks of the commercial Halloween.

``A lot of the old fear of witches is the fear of the haggard old woman who lives by herself on the edge of town,'' said Raven Monauni, owner of Raven's Flight, a North Hollywood store that sells Wiccan books, clothing, incense and a variety of witchcraft paraphernalia. ``The Halloween decorations perpetuate the misconception that that's who all witches are.''

Several Valley-based Wiccan covens have their own Web sites, and some organize such family-oriented events as a monthly Pagan Pizza Night at Shakey's and camping trips that feature group rituals, music and children's arts and crafts workshops.

While Wiccan rituals and practices are as varied as the membership, the religion is based on an ethic of honoring nature and animals, harming no one and using meditation, herbs and energy-channeling to keep oneself and the universe in balance, said Monauni. Her store is widely viewed as the fulcrum of Wiccan culture in the Valley.

Halloween is known as Samhain in the Wiccan religion and is one of the major holidays of the year, marking the time when spirits are closest to the physical world, Smith said.

``It's a time to celebrate our ancestors and to communicate with the other side through meditation (or) tarot cards or by inviting the spirits to possess us,'' she said. ``We believe souls are reincarnated and our loved ones come back to be with us again.''

Though Wicca is a federally recognized religion, witches continue to face threats to their religious freedom - ranging from subtle ridicule to open hostility, said Doug McFerran, a philosophy professor at Mission College in Sylmar who has written extensively on witchcraft and the occult.

And, he said, it is the popular image of witches - presented by Hollywood and in Halloween myth - that perpetuates public hostility.

``TV shows like 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and movies like 'The Blair Witch Project' really play on the myth and mix it up with the legendary stuff,'' McFerran said.

To combat the misconceptions about their faith, both Smith and Monauni have made numerous appearances on television and talked with writers and in public venues on what Wicca means to them.

``In Wicca, the main thrust is to be closer to the gods so we can attract good and healing into our lives,'' Smith said. ``We want to live peaceful lives - and for our families to be happy and healthy.''

Because witchcraft is viewed by many as sinister and deviant, Monauni, a 40-year-old mother of two, said she was criticized for raising her daughters in the Wiccan faith. ``What's wrong with respecting nature and being ethical and responsible for everything you do?'' she asked. ``But there were still some kids who weren't allowed to come over to our house when my daughters were growing up.''

Smith said witches believe they will get back from the universe what they give, so it would be foolish for Wiccans to use their religion to harm others.

``Our concept of punishment is immediate,'' she said. ``We don't have to wait for the afterlife.''

Though Wicca's roots predate Christianity, the modern form of the religion evolved in post-World War II England, McFerran said.

``For the individual who has psychic tendencies and who feels that the world is a more magical place than people give it credit for, Wicca feels like coming home,'' McFerran said. ``Other people are drawn by Wicca's reverence for nature, which is absent from many other institutions.''

Long viewed as a female-dominated religion, Wicca is now attracting increasing numbers of men who are turning to witchcraft for answers and spiritual awakening, said Griffin Ked, a Wiccan high priest in North Hollywood.

``Men are becoming a lot more accepting of their emotions and in touch with their spirituality, and they're looking for a way to reconnect with the Earth and nature,'' said Ked, a 43-year-old film-production designer. ``A lot of people think Wicca is only a path for women, but that is not the case.''

Caution can cast its spell on Halloween

State officials Sunday suggested a number of Halloween safety precautions while trying to ease concerns about possible terrorism-related problems.

``While it is natural that Californians feel some vulnerability ... , it is important to remember that there is no credible threat of terrorism against California residents at this time,'' Gov. Gray Davis said in a prepared statement.

Diana Bonta, director of the California Department of Health Services encouraged parents to consider limiting trick-or-treating to the homes of neighbors and other people they know.

Parties at schools and churches are preferable to going door to door, Bonta said, and all treats should be examined and thrown away if they raise suspicions.

Federal officials said some of the most frightful things awaiting trick- or-treaters on Halloween are accidents that could put children in emergency rooms.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued its annual tips for keeping children safe:

--Use costumes, masks, beards and wigs made of flame-resistant fabrics, such as nylon or polyester, or look for the label stating ``flame-resistant.'' Avoid costumes made with flimsy materials, big baggy sleeves or skirts that could fall upon open flames.

--Make sure costumes and bags are bright and easily visible to motorists. Add reflective tape that will glow in a car's headlights. Have children carry flashlights.

--Costumes should not drag on the ground and shoes should fit well - no oversize high heels. Accessories such as swords or knives should be made of soft, flexible material.

--Masks, hats and scarves should fit well and provide adequate ventilation without obstructing vision.

--Make sure Halloween party favors and toys, including all components of the toys, are not small enough to present a choking hazard for young trick-or-treaters.

--Keep candles and jack-o'-lanterns away from curtains, decorations and the path of trick-or-treaters.

--Make sure lights have been tested for safety. Discard damaged sets and don't overload extension cords.

- Associated Press 

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Raven Monauni, a Wiccan practitioner, mixes herbs in her North Hollywood shop.

(2 -- color) Potions, incense and other witchcraft paraphernalia are sold at the Raven's Flight shop in North Hollywood.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

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Caution can cast its spell on Halloween (see text)