Out of the broom closet?

[Storm]

My family are pretty cool, and I didn't really have to 'come out' as a witch to them, I was open with them when my interest in paganism first began. My friends are the same - some think it is interesting, others aren't really fussed but none of them judge me or worry that secretly I might be preparing to sacrifice their pet hamster to the Mighty God of Cthulu. <grin>

Work however is a different matter. I'm a teacher (well, I was, I resigned in July to focus on my degree). Most kids would not have been cool with it, they would have either taken the p*ss or been freaked out. Also, many colleagues have little knowledge of witchcraft or believe that it might be connected with satanism (yawn). Therefore I never openly explained that I was a witch. They all had me down as a 'new agey' type, but that was it.

I was just wondering, how many here are 100% out of the 'broom closet'? How did your friends and family respond? Are there some here that cannot be open about their path with their family?


<sigh> A real shame that so many of us have to hide it away.....

[Sobek]

generally my mum doesnt care.

as far as outside people go i dont make a point of bringing it up, but if someone asks questions i answer them.

[Sercee]

Tee Hee... Cthulu...

I'm generally all the way out. I am very open with my family and friends, and in public I'm proud of who I am but I don't walk around saying 'I'm Wiccan!' though I'm currently designing my next tattoo which (so far) has a pentacle and a dragonfly in it.

As with most things in life I try to live openly and honestly so that it's easier to educate the people I care about and it offers others a chance to learn or gain different opportunities or experiences that they might not otherwise have the chance to find. I've mentioned it in other threads, I did the same with my depression when I was diagnosed. I was open and therefore people came to me for advice and ended up getting the help they were missing out on because they thought it was a secret stigma thing to be ashamed of. With Wicca, the people I care about have a pretty good understanding of what I stand for and know that it isn't something to fear or hate. It also makes them think a little more about what they stand for and (I believe) it has helped some of them become better people.

[Exilus]

i am completly out of the broom closet, but i came out along time ago when people were not as accepting. Now everyone knows me and knows my beleif and they generally leave me alone about it. I didnt have to worry about my parents because I was raised pagen by mother and grandmother, so to them I was could talk.

[flinch]

I don't try to hide it from anyone... my older people I live with (who aren't my parents) tell me not to go around telling people and doing things in front of my little brothers and sisters (they're big on christianity and the older women told me I was going to hell a few times for my religion) but besides that I don't keep it from anyone, I just don't volenteer information... that's all...

[Rayne]

I am about half in and half out. I am out at work but very few of my family members knows. It is kinda hard because I get trapped sometime and cannot say anything. I am kinda scared because my b-i-l and s-i-l are out and I have seen the backlash that they have had to go through.

[Sercee]

Do you bil and sil know about your? Since they are not completely 'in' the family, maybe if the three of you formed a sort of support group it would make things much easier for all of you in family situations.

If you aren't already doing that

[Rayne]

They are actually my high priest and priestess. I do have a great suppot team through my coven so that helps a great deal. My husband is also very supportive.

[Ariawyn]

None of the adults in my family know about my interest in Wicca. We have a psychotic (literally, it's an actual condition) step-grandfather who preaches about the Bible constantly, a strong Catholic mother who went to a Catholic school, and a step-father who will never will or attempt to understand me.

The only ones who know are my boyfriend and a couple of my friends. I used to be more secretive about it, but there's more people in my school that are understanding, so usually if they ask I will answer.


But I don't mind, I think it's easier to not be lectured about going to Hell or some other stuff. My mom may be a little more understanding(as long as I dont tell everything and because she's a little interested in that sort of stuff too. )

besides that... maybe I'm 10%?

[Rellah]

My parents were Catholic while I was growing up, so I kept mum about everything until I'd gone off to college. They were then concerned I was in a cult when I brought it up. Luckily, they also knew that I've got a good head on my shoulders so the cult-life isn't really for me.

In California, I had no qualms about it. I lived in San Diego and it was a relatively Pagan friendly place. My first boss out of college instructed me to take a day to construct an altar in my office because the energy was all wrong in the office. (Yeah, I still miss him. Best boss EVER!)

In Podunk-Town, Ohio, I didn't generally call much attention to anything. I tried to slip through most of the cracks there just so that I'd have no ties to the place. Some people knew, but for the most part, I just didn't care enough about the people there to explain it.

I live in Houston now. Texas. Pretty Christian area, the south. It's a large town and full of transplants so I'm surrounded by people of all faiths: Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. Houston is a pretty melting-pot town because of the oil business. I'm less inclined here to try to hide my pentagram. I don't ever really hide it, but I won't discuss my beliefs in certain forums either. (I never ever talk faith at work.)

I suppose at this point, I consider myself mainly out of the broom closet. I'm not actively hiding anything but I'm not trying to draw attention to anything either. If someone asks a question and I feel that they're geniunely interested and not wanting to spark up a debate, I'll talk with them. Otherwise, I just shut them down pretty quickly. It's a comfort level one has to get used to

Oh, and my parents--they've left the Catholic church and are completely fine with me and my pentagrams.

[Storm]

I think it is easier to tell your family when you're an adult. Teens may have the problem that their parents might think it is 'just a phase'.

[Addalaide]

Never telling my family. My aunt is the only one who will ever know. Last week i showed my sister this cute little picture i made of tree's in the forest decorated with the words Merry Yule on it, she wanted to know what Yule was, so i just told her another word for X-Mas when she told my mom she looked over at me as fast as she could and said and what did you tell her it ment, i said just another word for x-mes isnt it? I know thay have to have there suspitions because as a younge teen i always asked about "new-agy" things when i saw it in a book store and i admited to my father i read about all the religions and culturs i can. But i wont just walk up and say Hey Mom and Dad i am pagan...fyi...

My father-in-law dosnt know i dont think, and my fionce we are on a dont ask dont tell kinda basist with it, he knows if he wants to know something about a religion to ask me, but he hasnt asked my religion sence 3 weeks after we meet.

And if someone randomly walks up to me i wont lie to them about it i will tell them i guess...unless i am ganna get hit with a bible...

[Sercee]

I think it is easier to tell your family when you're an adult. Teens may have the problem that their parents might think it is 'just a phase'.

That happens all too often. I hate how so many parents write off their children's interests as 'just a phase' instead of helping them learn and explore. It may be just because I have a naturally inquisitive mind, but if my kids get into something I don't understand I know for sure that I would learn as much as I could about it before I wrote it off or tried to get them out of it.

And if someone randomly walks up to me i wont lie to them about it i will tell them i guess...unless i am ganna get hit with a bible...

Funny story... A friend got married recently. His half was full of normal (I guess!) people and included us, his friends. Her half was... I think 7th Day Adventist, I can't remember for sure. Anyway, that half wouldn't even dance. They considered it evil for some reason. Well, we were doing our best to celebrate and therefore danced and drank. Iain (brother in law, on one of his more open days!) got accused of being satanic by one of the non-dancing cousins, Shawn. Shawn began preaching that he was the perfect Christian (blah blah) and started to get extremely frustrated as Iain started spouting bible stuff and common sense stuff about loving life and how dancing is the opposite of evil. Well, eventually Shawn said 'You're wrong and if you don't shut up I'm gonna pull out my knife and gut you!" Iain replied "Well, THAT isn't very Christian of you, now, is it?" Shawn got pretty mad but was left without his wits to respond.

Ummm point is if they throw anything at you they are disproving their faith

[Addalaide]

Yes i have been told "Its just a Phase" a fue 100 times. Yeah i am not as extream as i use to be with my clothing but yeah 7 years latter still whereing black...long phase ay? I whould put my foot down on certin things, but i whould like to lern as much as i can so i whould try and help my kids with there "Phases" even if its a phase i will have still lerned something myself.



Oh and thats just halarios! Yeah SDA are kinda out there, Presbatereans are out there too but i can see how its benaficial. What i acculy like ( but whould never inforse) are the people who where solid colors wemon where skirts...cause it whould be so much easyer to get dressed to go somewhere if i could pick from the red shirt or the green shirt...not the red one with the squigaly lines or the red one with the writing...lol. Also not a huge fan of the way alot of people dress now. My father in law tells me i need to show more skin...yeah sorry i will stop with the clothing rant befor i go way to far....cause i kinda whent far already.

[Sercee]

Uh your father in law says to show more skin? Creepy...

I don't like any rule in any religion that says you have to act or look a certain way aside from ceremonial purposed. But the single outfit thing works for school uniforms. I haven't been in that kind of school, but I'd think that it would really help with the self image problem, not having to wear the most popular jeans etc.

Oh yeah... stopping clothing rant...