TLC premiered a new reality series this week, “My Unique Family: The Witches Next Door,” presumably because the very premise must sound weird (or even blasphemous!) to most viewers. “What?” you’re meant to wonder with confusion. “Witches? A family of them?”
Meet the Rev. Kendra Vaughan Hovey, High Priestess of the First Wiccan Church of Duxbury, Mass., and her husband Tim, her daughter Alana (8 years old), and her son Alec (11), also witches. For the last year, Kendra has been working full time establishing her church and building a congregation. She wears a collar every day, like any other clergy might, whether she’s doing official business or she’s off to meet her kids at the bus. She does this to make a point: that a Wiccan priestess should act no differently than any other minister, and that it is important for the public to recognize her role and status in the community.
Perhaps the weirdest part of show is how normal this “witch family” is–kind, well-mannered, happy, devout, and trying to reconcile their lives with their faith–in comparison to some of their neighbors, in particular the Christian ones, who live in the same town.
At one point in the episode, Kendra’s family and several others from their church take an afternoon hay ride on a beautiful sunny day, sing “church hymns” happily together as they bounce along, pick pumpkins, and endeavor to teach their kids to appreciate the earth and creation with some brief lessons from the Wiccan tradition. Pretty harmless, right? Well, as everyone is off frolicking among the pumpkins, the TLC people interview the tractor driver for the ride–who happens to be Christian–about what he thinks of Witch Kendra and company. His basic answer (I’m paraphrasing here) was that while he had to do his job for any paying customers–i.e., drive them around–he felt that “these people” were a blot on society, and that anyone who didn’t accept God’s son was damned to hell.
Zoom to the end of the hay ride when, like any other well-meaning, polite parents, the kids are encouraged to say “Thank you” to the hay-ride driver–which they do with great kid-like gusto. What’s funny/sad about this moment is that as the witch kids are shouting their thanks, Mr. Christian hay-ride driver is wincing, as if it’s not thanks they are giving to him, but evil, satanic spells that are pouring out of their mouths in his direction.
It’s hard not to like Kendra and her family–they are about as happy and well-adjusted as any family can be. The kids have lots of friends, they say please and thank you, they play nicely, and they seem pretty happy to be witches (especially the little girl, Alana, who you just want to hug every time you see her), eagerly participating in services, giving thanks at the table, among other devotions. Kendra is incredibly articulate, likable, and has a healthy relationship with her husband. The biggest problem this family faces is that the First Wiccan Church of Duxbury is growing so quickly that the kids miss mom, since she’s always on the phone doing “pastoral counseling” or writing at the computer.
Viewers who will not be offended by a family of Wiccans will certainly find learning about the tradition–its rituals, practices, and members–pretty fascinating. I’d say that so far, “The Witches Next Door” is a nice testament to a faith that many people have unjustified prejudices against. Once you get beyond the fact that its practices are unfamiliar–at least at first–Wicca doesn’t seem all that strange after all. They sing, pray, give thanks, gather for worship, and certain members wear robe and cape-like garments during praise. Hmmmm. I wonder what other traditions do that, too?
posted February 23, 2007 at 5:20 am
Thank you so much for this article and thank you TLC for the show! I am a 3rd degree High Priestess in the Gardenarian Tradition. If I had a dollar for every time I had a Christian show disdain for myself or my family, for no other reason than religion, I would be a very rich witch! I have raised my children to help anyone who needs help and I have had people say “Thank you, you are a true christian!” And when I smile and respond “Your welcome but I’m not a christian.” Their faces change a bit and I cringe when they ask “Well if your not christian than what are you?” Being Jewish is usally the second thought, as if there is no other choice. And when I tell them that I am Wiccan, the scoul forms, often followed by “You know your going to hell!” I just smile again, let them know that I don’t believe in hell only Karma and good works, and wish them a good day as I walk off. My daughter asked me once how I can just turn away. I told her “Well, Jesus said to always turn the other cheek.” “But you don’t believe in Jesus and your not a Christian!” she excalimed. I just smiled and said “I believe Jesus was a real smart Rabbi, and Jesus wasn’t Christian either.” What else can you do but grin and bear it, anything else would cause negative Karma and negative Karma would displease the Lord and the Lady. For me, my life is theirs as they will it to be. All that I am, I am because of the Triple Goddess and the Great Horned God and for that I am eternally thankful! Blessed Be!
posted February 24, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Thank you so much for a lovely review of the show! I belong to the First Church of Wicca, I was the one in the new member recognition ceremony in the show. We were all VERY pleased with the final result, and we’ve heard so much positive feedback. It’s all very heartening! Thank you for your kind words and Blessed Be!
posted April 25, 2007 at 8:43 pm
I did enjoy seeing a show that did not depict Wiccans as persons with first-class tickets to Hell but I have mixed feelings about how the church is run. Not sure it is my ideal Wiccan environment. I am more a of a free spirit, practice where and how I will type. On the other hand I must give big kudos to Kendra on forming the church and keeping it alive in her community. May the God and Goddess bless us all.
posted June 11, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Hello Beautiful Family,
My name is Casey and i live in the province of Ontario, in the country of Canada.
I have to say that although i am of no particular religion, i have respect for them all.
I didn’t know much about Wicca, however i am so glad you had the courage and such love of your faith to have a documentary made about it. Learning about Wicca was so powerful to me. I found your religion very spiritual, and inspirational and i found that very comforting. If you are ever in Ontario, your entire family is welcome to stay with us, and educate us more about Wicca.
With Love and Kindness,
Casey
posted June 11, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Kendra I enjoyed the show. I must insist that you take one day/week off. However important you you are to your ministerial charges, you need time for yourself and your children and your husband. Take the time to smell the flowers. You are also a soul in need and deserve the time. As the commercial says, just DO IT!
posted June 12, 2007 at 7:37 am
hey / i have Q/? @your party / it was a crestnet moon / / that was not right / also / demons like to p[arty @ 12 – 3;00/ the dead do not get up before midnight/ / i do like the worship / sa tan was a praise leader in heaven / one sign of jesus comming is that witches wiill have more power / / as jesus pours out his spirit on all flesh / so is the deceiver/ that ol; serpent / hey come to berea ky. and meet a real demonbuster/ i wear a costume too/ thaks //the demonbuster/
posted June 13, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Just watched the rerun of this episode and was very impressed by the courage and strength of the family to let everyone know about their religion and not hide in the broom closet.
The episode impressed and inspired me very much.
posted June 22, 2007 at 4:21 pm
I definitely did not like this show or the way that Kendra Hovey depicted Wiccans. At first I was excited that a show would follow the life of a Wiccan family but after watching it I was very disappointed and do not care to ever see another episode. Does Kendra not own any clothing except for her religious attire? She seems to be an “In your face” type of person. She seems to be too religious with a lack of spirituality. I saw no difference between her and many Catholic Priests and Baptist Preachers, etc. and zealots that I have encountered. They at least wear street clothes on occasion (i.e. when going for ice cream with their families).
I have been a Wiccan for 22 years and am accepted completely by those who know me well (but then I don’t throw my religion in their faces). I have found that by letting others know me for the good person that I am before they know my religion they accept that Wicca can’t be a bad thing or I wouldn’t be involved with it. It also makes them curious enough to find out about it and accept it as a true religion.
Plus the Hovey children at times seems to be so unhappy with their religion because of the way their mother is perceived. Maybe if Kendra was to put on a pair of Jeans and blouse and become a “real person”, except on holy days, we could identify with her more.
posted October 19, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Omg I am sooo interested in the Wiccan religion. I myself am Christian but I’ve been reading about Wicca since I was 13, now I’m 15. I was so looking forward to watching y0ur show but I didn’t kn0w what time it was on =( I watched it once though but it was at night and I had school the next day. It was when y0u went to a field with many pumpkins lmao so awesome. I wish I could be Wiccan. I think you guys are awesome!!!
posted February 15, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Somebody should get Dr. Kendra back on television and ask her about her relationship with a woman who she was marriage counseling, who has since come to live with her and her “normal” family. She used her influence to ultimately seduce this woman and break up the marriage. This isn’t speculation – the woman I speak of is my sister in law.
posted September 10, 2010 at 5:34 am
SHE HAS NOW BEGUN A CATHOLIC CHURCH. NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN TRAINING WICCANS ??