Out of the Broom Closet Thread

[*Elvira*]

Amen Hagred,being a witch in a small town sure made people leave me be.Of course I am a good witch but people just thought,boy I better not mess with her ,she'll make my hair fall out or something...lol

As far as coming out,my mom just acted like I was Satanic,I always have to reasure her ,like I said in a differant post ,I think my Great grand mother would just like to pop my mother one,for her treason against everything my Great grandmother taught her.

For you Red dog,well I'm sure it will go better than people having to tell parents their gay. And surely your mother has some idea already right.I know with the way I dressed and stuff my mother thought I was satanic,so I had no choice but to sit down and better explain wicca.She saw a pentegram and her eyes lit up like"satan"....NO MOM...
Maybe you should tell your mother,she might have the wrong idea ???you never know .Good luck

[pitmommy]

Hi Hagred , I would certainly call you a working witch, thank you for the repley. 

[ruby]

Hagred, I know I've told you before, but I have to say it again. It would be so wonderful to live where you do.

I wish we could all be so blessed like you have been. Surely, you must feel like the most fortunate person on Earth. I know you are gifted, because just reading your words of wisdom are inspiring, and they bring me a sense of peace. You are someone I can look up to and learn from. You are truly a wise one. I am still so glad you made it back to our lovely little home!

[Hagred]

Thanks for the comments folks. Life has its ups and downs over here, there are other bugging issues that you folk don´t seem have where you are.

A note on pentagrams (for the benefit of frightened christian mums):

A good book on Angels will have them.  Practically every angel has his/hers pentacle with the various Herbrew letters (name of the Angel) and Psalms according to the angel´s attributes.  A good library should have something on angels. Finding one of these books and showing it to Mum and proving that the pentagram is NOT satanic might ease the panick.

My best wishes and blessings for those of you who are venturing beyond the safe confines of the "Closet."

[RedDog]

That's a great idea Hagred.  Thanks for the idea. I think I'll try that.

[mollimizz]

 I read my books with the word Wicca in bold letters on the cover(s), I mentioned praying to the Goddess to hubby (like I said in another post),
he said he didn't need to hear that; he was raised Episcipol but not practicing
(maybe he prays ?). I almost told my sis-in-law today, I don't think she'd think
less of me ?
 I told my Mom's friend in an email. She said she's glad I found something that makes me happy. Hubby's daughter, hmmm(?) she's a "new" devout Mormon !
We are suppose to go to Disneyland with her and her kids in April, I'm going to wear my new Goddess pentagram tho it's only 1/3" (sis-in-law likes it !). I also just got a sterling pentagram 1" don't know if I'll wear that to Disneyland...
 When I get the SSI, I'm taking my Mom on a cruise; I'm gonna tell her then. I
kinda figure she'll say whatever makes me happy...  I got a cool Mom!
 Gentle Light
       &
Blessings
   Mollimizz

[OpalRainDragon]

Been out of it for a long time now. My mother simply said, "Well, as long as you're a good witch, I guess you're doing God's work in a different way." Although she occasionally jokes with me by saying, "God's already marked you as one of his, so no matter what you do, you can't escape." At least I hope she's joking. She still thinks I'm going to heaven though since I at least believe in a divine source. She says I've just found a different way of believing in God. I wish more people could be like her. When I tested the waters with my father, he simply thought of my beliefs as some sort of childish delusion. He knows, but through unspoken agreement, religion is a taboo subject. My brother simply rolled his eyes and went back to playing his video games and the rest of my family just kind of agreed that as long as I was happy and healthy it was all good. I love Methodists. My friends are of an interesting variety, so tolerance is just one of those important things. As of yet, I don't think I've ever had a bad experience. I've had people be concerned due to misconceptions, but those were cleared up rather quickly. Actually, because of my efforts, the Baptist Student Ministry and the Student Pagan Association are on pretty good terms. We have a couple of nutters in both organizations, but we just ignore them and let them have their crazy delusional beliefs. One day, they'll have some amazing epiphany and realize they've been wrong about things.

[Merina]

...BUT the stone circle in the garden was somewhat difficult to put away!

  Mark just stood and stared at it, stepped in, and I thought OMG he will guess! - he just commented on how peaceful and serene the garden and house felt, and asked what the circle was for.  While I was um-ing and err-ing my daughter (very quick witted) answered (a blatant lie) that "our landscape architect who designed the garden is fond of curves and circles and gives the garden that organic neolithic look."  Boy did I feel posh - being able to afford a landscape architect!  Again Mark mentioned the peacefulness of the place and liked it very much.

If only these hard-core bible thumping Christians could approach us with an open mind!

Oh I got such a chuckle out of your posting Hagred.  I've had the same thoughts about mine when it's so obvious, and I live in a very urban townhouse complex.  Thankfully the neighbors we have are fairly discreet and don't really talk too much to each other.

As for the broom closet, I've never really said to anyone other than a few friends and my husband that I'm a witch.  My family, who in their best interest, raised me Christian, I believe might have trouble understanding the real truths.  It is just a private thing to me and I don't want to alienate myself from my family at this point in my life (as they would not understand it and would be stubborn in listening).  On the other hand, they accept that something is different and always has been with me.  I've always been a little witchy, even as a child and unknowingly was setting up nature altars and bewildering myself with the moon.

I'm also a novelist for young adult novels, and am due to be published.  The content of my books deals heavily with witchcraft in its true form and shows there is no relationship with that dude from the south   My parents have read my novels and find them entertaining "fiction."

I hope that one day I'm brave enough to open up to my family, but right now I'm hiding with the brooms.

[SwissCelt]

I didn't go in to the broom closet until a few years ago, when we moved to my wife's small hometown in Western Ohio.  Before that, I'd lived in cities where there really wasn't the need for closets.  Since then, I've decided I really don't like hiding, and figured the worst that could happen is I'd be run out of town on a rail.  (Oh, gee, please don't let that happen!  )  I don't flaunt my faith, but I don't hide it, either.  I learned that most people really don't care... no, not even among the Christians.  As for the few who do, they have the rest so intimidated as to Christianity that privately, others are a bit sick of hearing about religion anyway.

[Jaded_Journeys]

I don't really make a big deal out of my spirituality any longer.  I'm not "out" as I just don't want to deal with family members constantly trying to tell me to "get right with God."  Yet, most of them know I don't care for church (the Christian variety as that's all there is around here).  My mother simply thinks I'm agnostic, or that I'm just a very mild Christian who doesn't feel the need for the structure of church.  (*snickers*)  They're OK with that thought, but the moment I said was not a Christian, they'd probably freak out.  My fiancé's family knows about me and they don't really care, but they're much more open minded and far more liberal than my family.

If I were up in Maine (where my fiancé is from), I'd probably be more relaxed about it, but right now I'm living in my hometown in South Carolina, which is extremely religious.  So, while I don't actively hide it, I'm also not about to admit my beliefs to anyone.  In Maine, I didn't "advertise" it either, but I might be a bit more willing to answer questions if asked.  Besides, I view religion as a private matter between a person and his/her maker that is none of my business.  No one has the right to know what I believe, and I prefer not to know what anyone else believes either (in the context of just general conversation).

I'm also in the body mod closet as I have three tattoos with more planned, but all of them are easily concealed with just regular clothing and even my own parents don't know I'm inked.  I'd prefer to be more open about that honestly as it's a form of self expression and it ties heavily into my spirituality and tells a story about me, but I'm also a realist and know the sorts of connotations tattoos have.  (Which is why the locations of my current and future tattoos are easily covered so as not to prevent me from getting a job in the future and to give me more of a choice over who gets to see them.)  I also know the sorts of connotations non-Christian religions have around here, so I guess I just prefer to avoid the headaches.

[Daven]

Out but not obnoxious about it.  All my coworkers know I'm not Christian, some know what flavor Pagan I am, but the three Christian ministers I work with have no problem with me.  Only one person has tried to save me from the hell I'm going to, and she left the company pretty fast.

[pitmommy]

I really stand out in this MOrmon communtiy especially at funcitons like Baby Showers, I attended one the girl had elephants all over and and I couldnt keep my mouth shut my observation but it reveals that I am WEIRD. 

[archaeonerd]

I guess I have always been out. I never tried to hide my beliefs because I've always been a strong believer in never forsaking myself for others. That said, I've also never been in a potentially violent situation so I'm lucky to be able to say that.

My parents have known for ages and all my friends find out pretty quickly as I wear a pentagram and Thor's Hammer around my neck at all times. Whenever the topic comes up amongst new friends I flat out state that I'm a witch. I usually get curious questions and have a fun Q and A session.

At school, the pagan organization, of which I am a member, recently had a meet and greet with one of the 40 or so Christian clubs on campus. It was a great time because we got to discuss our respective beliefs openly. So I'll even tell strangers what I believe, if they are interested.

However, I'd never flaunt it. If the situation doesn't call for it, I will not discuss my religious beliefs. I don't like it when others do that, no matter their religion, so I'd never do it myself.

I thankfully never had to 'break the news' to my SO because he is pagan too (and learning a lot from me as he is very new to any pagan path).

[RabidBunny]

However, I'd never flaunt it. If the situation doesn't call for it, I will not discuss my religious beliefs. I don't like it when others do that, no matter their religion, so I'd never do it myself.

That's about where I am and have always been.

I'm out, but polite about it. I think there is a time and a place for all things, and sometimes it isn't wise to stand up and proclaim a person's religious beliefs. For one, it might not be safe, but mostly because doing so isn't always polite. I know how much I hate hearing people prattle on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on about their religious beliefs.... and truth be told, unless I ask specifically about someone's pathway, I even get annoyed when I hear Pagans and Witches prattle on about theirs.

I find that many Pagans think that the only way they can be 'out' is to be loud. I'm not sure why they feel that standing on a corner and yelling "HEYLOOKITME!!!!I'MAPAGAN!!!!" is necessary, but many do. I find the loud, ummm tiring.

And on a related note about closets: I'm not going to go into the broom closet any time soon (never been there and am afraid of closet spiders <EKKKK>) but I AM backing away from doing organizing of events and functions for my local Pagan community. I'm just getting too old for the dramallama.

[slate1198]

I don't feel that I'm either in or out of the "broom closet" (which really doesn't apply as I'm Asatru).  

I do not hide who I am but it also not obvious that I'm Asatru (unless they notice my very small Thor's hammers I wear daily).  I actually find that I don't fit in at pagan events precisely because I am so ordinary and have a sturdy concrete head that makes me question the supernatural a lot (and I don't practice magic at all).  Hence, when out in the real world, no one really knows right off the bat and I feel that that helps them to accept my religion better when they do find out because in their head, I've already been defined by my actions and personality, rather than a label.  

I know this from experience because my current boyfriend is a Lutheran.  He is very devout in his beliefs as is the rest of his family.  He was concerned that his parents would be less than pleased with the revelation that I was heathen.  But over time, without discussing beliefs, they grew to like me and when they finally asked about it, he was able to say that I was Asatru (avoiding the buzzword pagan) and they still think I'm a wondeful person.  My Lutheran boss also accepts my religion (though sometimes teases me about going a-Viking and such) because he got to know me before he got to know my religion.  

In the "broom closet" issue, I feel the most important thing is to never define yourself by your religion.  It is not a label, it's a means to understanding the world we live in and finding the right way to live in it.  Then you can truly reside beyond "in" or "out" of the "broom closet".  Unless your Harry Potter, than you're firmly shut in until an owl comes for you.