Coming out of the broom closet
So you've decided you’re a Wiccan or a Witch and you feel ready to tell the world, or at least your trusted family and friends? My first question is why? Let’s think this through...
Spirituality and religion are deeply personal topics and often very volatile ones too. Most of the world’s wars have been fought over religion and the last thing you want to create is a family or friend war over your choice of religion. So my first suggestion is to seriously consider thinking through why you would want everyone to know about a personal and private choice anyway. If you just want to tell folks for shock value, then my next question is simple. Are you following the religion for the shock value too because if so, find a better way to express yourself!
Seriously though, does everyone need to know? We don’t normally introduce ourselves by saying “Hi my name’s John and I’m a Buddhist” so why would we say “Hi, my names Susan and I’m a Witch”.
If however, you are on the search for a community of likeminded people then you probably will need to come out of the broom closet and declare your choices. But before you do, make sure you’ve clearly figured out what those choices are. If you’re a Witch, what sort of Witch are you and why. If you’re a Wiccan, what tradition are you? How serious are you and what about that tradition do you want to share with or learn from others?
I guess what we’re really saying here is that your religious and spiritual choices are yours and yours alone. They don’t have to be shared with others unless there’s a specific reason. Others may have made their own choices and be very defensive or protective of those choices. Faced with someone who has made what they consider to be apposing choices may well result in a failed friendship or family feud. Be prepared for discussion if you declare your religious standpoint and make sure you have very definitely decided where you stand. Be prepared to patiently explain your choices and to defend them where required. Or alternatively, you could just keep those choices private and stay in the broom closet until you’re ready for the repercussions.
Smiles, Amethyst
Comments
Its not always as bad as it
Its not always as bad as it may seem:
I completely see where you are all coming from but from my experience its not all that bad, honnestly.
I discovered wicca about 10 years ago now (I was 9 years old) and although I wouldnt have called myself wiccan, till about 6 years ago, as I thought I was not knowledgeable or good enough to be classed as a solitary witch. I still found that I naturally drew people into my life who were interested rather then critial of me. Not to say I havent had my fair share or "your a what? your joking? so do you like worship the devil and stuff?" Which i always reply with no the devil is not a wiccan belief or would you ask a jew or a mussliam or catholic if they woriship the devil?
What people forget is that the rituals and prayers (or spells) are just reminders or the essence of religion including our own, as we learn and remember actions better then any thing else. Its to remind our self to love and be good completely and to show respect to nature, the elements, animals, human kind and soo much more lol
At the end of the day it doesn't matter what religion you are, if you blessed in love and ask the angels, unicorns, fairies ect... to protect you, it will happen. Saying that there have been times when i do feel its better to just say I believe in love and the goodness of nature and her elements rather then openly say im a Witch.
But back to my point, if you want to tell your family and friends ect then good on you and if you dont then good on you lol, your not deniying yourself at all as your on the path of light, your performing your rituals, you have faith in your spells and because it makes you happy. You can only deny yourself when you deny what makes you truly happy.
I hope Iv made myself clear :D
Come talk to a Real Witch!
hi folks i had a idea to promote my casting circles drum circle cause i just get get some to come out of the damn broom closet, i guess their hung pu on a nail or something! so this is my idea i came up with and i'll let you guys know how it went on november 1st2009 my idea is if the mountain won't come to me then i must goo to the mountain myself to seek out responses, hopefully that i want! I live near a fire station and there having a haunted house forthis whole month on the weekends till nov.1st. so i made up a flyer and titled it Come talk to a Witch a Real Witch. The fire chief loved the idea and put a sign out side to say i will be gurest of honor on Halloween eve. come to find out chief O'banna is a Pagan and he said he didn't know about being a witch or not! any way i thought i'd educate some of our neighbors and community about Witche's-Pagans and Wicca. by telling folks about what we aer and aour beliefs in nature and in the four elements. and to dress normaly like i do every day, unstead of dressing like they think i should look! you know with pointed shoes and hat and cape not me! nope! not on your broom sticks. any way i thought i'd hold a raffel for a free fruit basket and hand out something for the kiddies. and Let people see where not evil, or uguly! I consider myself not bad looking for an old fartLoL! . i thought i'd talk about the day of the dead and what it means to us and how some of us celebrate it Samhain is my very favorite holiday of all! and also to mention it is also the Witches new year! and what we do to celebrate it as well. i'm going to explain how the four elements work in our every day life and maybe they will see we are earth bound instead of being air-borned if you know what i mean! any who, then i thouight i'd tell alittle about how mother Nature and her friendly animals and how we respect them all and how importent it is for their servival and ours associated with nature equilizer in balance of nature. i' will also explain how our farmers use the four elements in their crops and growth and harvest out comes and where we'd be with out the four seasons, and mother earth and Nature's enrollment of the crops produceing food for us. and last i though i'd talk about how the moon phases as well as information in the Farmers almenac back us up on the moon phases and sun for planting crops at the right time of the year for a well to do harvest and bouties of plenty for the harsh winter months. i won't be talking about our histery and the burrning times i think the public is weare of this! i'm going to mention supperstations and how false some kind be and how others very well could be true. i don't want to frightene anyone just want to pull others out of the Broom closet and not be ashamed of what and how they are and to frrely espress their identeys and worship with out fear of judgement! if you have any suggestions you think i might use in my speech do feel free to let me know guys! i'm open to suggestions. blessed be Tempest Star
Coming out of the Broom Closet
I feel freely to be "out". Almost my entire family has been very interested and curious about Wicca for quite a while, but no one ever had the courage to actually look into it fjor fear of others' opinions. Now I am able to share the things I have learned so far, and some of my aunts are looking into Oak and Mistletoe. My family is thankful that I finally took a step toward a place where we have all felt we should be for a very long time.
As for my community, I live very close to Cassadega, Florida. If you've ever heard of it, saying the name should explain it all... otherwise there are many sites out there about it. People still sort of frown upon being Wiccan, try to change your mind or "SAVE" you, but not too much effort here. They are used to the idea pretty much... don't like it, but get used to it.
I feel it is important to share with those who are the most important to you, who you truely are. This is an excellent bonding experience or at least a topic of discussion that might bring some closeness. Not everyone needs to know, but some SHOULD.
out of the broom closet
There is actually a third reason, at least for me. It took me nearly 35 years to find this path in my life. I am not hardly perfect but following a path, any path with good roots, will make you a better person. You think before you do things, you look at ramifications before you act. You most certainly see the world in a different light. There are lots of people out there that think we are kooky, devil worshipping, baby eating, monsters. There are Christians who assume you to be evil just because you aren't doing as they do. If I come out of the broom closet in my community I risk my job, my wifes job, threats to my kids, harrasment, and shunning. BUT if I don't am I being true to myself, can I stay in the closet and miss opportunities to show people who I am, who we are without feeling like I let myself, the Gods, and our (wow our people, I've got people!) people down?? Can I forgive myself if someone could have found this path by coming to me for help, or had questions. I have a pentagram, carved it myself, it sits in a box. Waiting to be worn proudly. It comes out every full moon and I discuss with the Gods rather it is time for me to declare. .......Can I function as a solitare with out stepping out? Absolutely. Do I feel the best about myself or the world for hiding, no so much.