Out of the Broom Closet Thread

[Malikite]

After reading some of the stories and posts I have to say, I'm lucky, growing up with a Mother whom always practiced at least lightly practiced openly, and even though they tried to raise me Catholic, when I started practicing at the age of 9 and openly turned away from "the one god" and organized religions the most I ever got was "you still have to go to church with us, you're too young to stay home alone". It wasn't until I was about 15 that one of my aunts decided to be a "born again" Christian That anyone from the family started saying I would go to hell, That I worship Satan and stuff of that nature. But by then, well lets just say after 6 years of hard study and practice and having already cast some insane spells not even Jesus Christ could turn me from my paths. School was maybe the only place I took heat, some of the kids and faculty and staff would have snide remarks behind my back, few where bold enough to say anything to my face. Those who did I gave props to, faculty and staff however I made sure they wished they never said a word. ( I have always had great lawyers I or family could call in certain cases) Even went as far as to get a deputy sheriff assigned to the school suspended for two weeks for harassment, slander and defimation of character. Still, I never had to fear getting kicked out of my home, or being sent away. And this was back in the mid 80s- mid 90s in a heavy Catholic 90% hispanic Border City in South Texas. I guess Its a good thing Its a Catholic town and not a Christian one.

[Kaleesie]

Well, I told my kids. My daughter was devastated. My son seemed ok. Soooo, my step mom and her family and bf's family are the only ones who don't know.
My daughter cried..and cried.. Now I feel {|} that tall. I hate it when they cry. She thinks I'm going to hell.

Well, that harm none stung me in the rear with coming out to my kids.

[Malikite]

Sorry to hear that, My Christian Aunt, would try to convert my daughter lol, she would take her to her church for youth groups and stuff like that, I didn't mind, my daughter enjoyed the play time with the other kids (she was ages 5-7) but I always told her not to fall for the lies they would tell her, reminded her that their god, and their devil, and their heaven and hell where just made up stories. Made up many many years ago by old men who wanted a way to control the people and get rich off of them but not be responsible for them like a normal government. and for her to think of them more like a strange gang that says if you don't do what they tell you to, and live how they want you to live, you will burn in hell and suffer forever. So she would go, have fun, socialize, spend time with friends from school that went to that church, but she never bit into any of it. Now, at the learning age of 9, I have her learning the histories and mythos of the Greek Gods and Goddesses, and began her training and meditation. Magic is something she has always been aware of and wanted to learn. She even likes going crystal hunting. She learned how to feel their energies when she was 7 and she will always tell me when a crystal, or a stone, or mineral calls to her. I do however tell her not to share anything I show her with anyone, and tell her that it is "our" secret, but that is just so I don't have to deal with any crud that may trickle down through kids or teachers at her school. As far as Family goes, they try to influence her, but she is a Daddy's girl, always has been and hopefully always will be. (dreading the teen years and the amounts of graves I will have to dig)

[Kaleesie]

I thought mine was a mama's girl too, and would understand, but, she will be 17 in 4 months.... Time sure does do things to children, sometimes... And not the way you'd like.

My son, however, has this magnificent understanding that few can compete with.
My daughter has a beautiful spirit, her mind can be somewhat closed at times, and completely open other times. ( she condemns on religion, but is completely open to things like the rainbow coalition..but she's mine, and I wouldn't trade her (or him) for a thing!

Love them both, even if they judge me, I won't judge them. They are my lifes' love, beyond my Dieties.

Blessings
Kaleesie

[Bronwyn_Marie]

I had a really similar experience, only mine was with my parents. My mom was a little OK with it and only asked if I was sure I had thought it through. but when my dad found out (I didn't have the courage to tell him myself) he cried all night. I've never seen him cry before and it was awful. He seemed to think that he was a terrible Christian and father because his daughter was wiccan. Now he's convinced himself that it's just a phase so that he can sleep at night. I love him a lot, but our relationship has never been the same. Oh well. At least he didn't yell or try to convert me.

[cherryblossom68]

I actually came out via Facebook to my friends, I basically said that if they couldn't handle it then just dont talk to me. fortunately i still have all of my friends  both of my parents and my stepmom know but because i live with my grandma we can't tell the rest of the family until either we find a place of our own or Im 18 and move out, unfortunately she's a devout Catholic and would probly throw out my mom and brother and try to burn me at a stake in the backyard if she knew. my aunt is also a born again Christian so she will absolutely flip. 

In a way im sort of looking forward to 18 and getting out of the broom closet with the family. It'll be nice not to have to hide it anymore. Plus, seeing them flip might be a bit funny. not that I like hurting my family but sometimes when they get mad it just gets downright hilarious. If they cant find it in them to accept it though, then i guess thats their loss, as with anybody else who can't accept it.

[Bakasana]

I don't feel the desire to tell much of anyone about my religion, honestly. Religion is very personal to me and I believe it should be kept to oneself.

[Calaverita]

I don't feel the desire to tell much of anyone about my religion, honestly. Religion is very personal to me and I believe it should be kept to oneself.

Well said.

Although a few people know of my religion, I mostly keep it to myself. It's between The God and The Goddess and me.

[earthtone]

I'm very new to here and am very in the closet.  I'm afraid if my spouse found out I would end up single. ( not ready to say anything yet).  I enjoy reading all of the posts though.   I'm just a little slow tto write any responses just yet. 
Merry Meet everyone

[cherryblossom68]

I'm very new to here and am very in the closet.  I'm afraid if my spouse found out I would end up single. ( not ready to say anything yet).  I enjoy reading all of the posts though.   I'm just a little slow tto write any responses just yet. 
Merry Meet everyone

sorry to hear about that :/ a way to sort of "test the waters" so to speak, tell him that a friend of yours is Wiccan or witch (or whatever your religion may be), and see how he reacts. if its somewhat positive...maybe consider telling him. if not...well, keep quiet and hope he doesnt find out 

[Firefly Dancer]

Well... I am not even close to get out of the broom closet, which is kinda what I expected.

So far the only persons who know about my spiritual affinity with Wicca is my husband and recently, my Mom. My husband, he just loves new age stuff even if raised as Catholic and with an extremely close-minded family ( his parents never misses Sunday mass, his sisters are extremely devoted too, but funny enough, they pray to all kinds of Saints, according to their needs, so it kinda looks to me as a polytheist cult surrounded by Catholicism ).  However, even if my husband has joined me to some rituals, I do not see him too interested in the spiritual part. Frankly, he just wants to see the benefits of the rituals and spells more than learn about Wicca as a way of life. But, he also has not been too keen in deepening his knowledge on Catholicism, so I feel that I am kinda dragging him on this path, he likes it but stays on the "light" side still.

My Mom is the closest person to me. I tell her things not even I tell to my husband. I took a shot and since she is pretty much new age, anti church as organization, but very spiritual still, has read about buddhism, etc I considered she "might" be a little more open minded on Wicca. I sent her a copy of Cunnigham´s book and told he I was reading THAT. And waited.

Today I saw her and she told me : "I checked what you sent me by e-mail. We have to talk about that seriously".  I was like... aaand she did not like it !!      She said :"there are several things I really don´t like about that. For example that pentacle." I told her that she was mistaking the pentacle with the sign of the devil and she said : "I know, I know that the devil one is inverted but this is similar" Then she told me she did not like the rituals and stuff, making things to ask for something in return, the spells. I told her that prayer is a form of spell and people light candles too to the saints of their devotion, that in church they use incense too, music, a bell, etc so those are rituals too !  She said she did not like anything that involves rituals, not even in church.

I asked her if she read all the book, she said no. I told her to finish the book, and then we could talk more. I asked her to read without all the preconceived ideas that have surrounded Wicca and Paganism ( witches = devil = do bad stuff = go to hell ).

I admit I was a bit dissapointed and while putting my little girl to sleep I was thinking that it is going to be hard to get out of the broom closet because specially in my country, in our family, etc  the narrow minded ideas are still well in place in people´s minds. My daughter is going to a Catholic school so I am sure I will face challenges with that. When your Mom tells you what you are doing is wrong, it makes your mind confused because at least for me, she was a huge influence on who I am. My Mom is 80, raised extrictly Catholic but then started reading and learning and she has many times shown a deep spirituality. I guess she just has still very fix prejudices on many things that are related to Wicca.  I am also worried she will think I will be a bad influence on my daughter. Overall, I am willing to explore, I just worry to be made feel as if this is all wrong and that my girl suffers because of that. But I also do not want a narrow minded girl who cannot think outside the box... specially with the gifts she has...

Anyhow.... I want to continue exploring. I sincerely do not see myself going backwards. I just think, that this will be more solitary than expected.