Are you open or in the broom closet?

[Light]

I'm open with my spirituality. My parents know of my decision yet my mother is the only one who really supports me in my decision. My father on the other hand really doesn't like it. Till this day, he has never looked at me the same way he did before I turned eight. Along with the rest of my family, some of them are okay with it. Others I haven't spoken to in almost five years.

[Lexi]

I wouldn't say I'm out... My parents and most of my family have no idea. Well, my mother has probably understood some stuff, but just like I do, she's avoiding the conversation. First it was the Sweep book series, which in Europe is called Wicca. Then, finding the books as an excuse, I bought 2 more books on Wicca with a bit misleading titles and told her they were novels. But she knows I'm into "New Age stuff" like tarot cards, incense, dream journals. And a few days ago, she probably realised what Wicca's all about (which is actually good), because a magazine she was reading had a full-page ad of the brand new Greek version of Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Cunningham. We were sitting next to each other, she opened the magazine, and "dunnnn!", there on the first page, WICCA and a pentagram, plus a big description. My mother was like: "Hey, see, Wicca, like the books you read. Hmmm... "Discover the natural religion...." Have you read anything by this man?". I tried to keep my cool, "Nope, all the Wicca FANTASY novels were written by someone else. I haven't heard of him..." End of conversation. But it freaked me out. I definately have to talk with my mother...

My three cousins know, since I share most things with them, and since when I'm at my village we spend most of the day together, I wouldn't be able to just disappear and do my outdoor rituals. One of my cousins is interested in learning more too.

As of my friends, my best friend Nick and two of our other friends know. Nick is cool about it, the one of the other guys is like "????" and the other one was pretty interested. Only two of my female friends know, the one never talks about it after I told her, but accepted it. And the other made fun of it, saying "And you believe all this stupidity?". Ok...

I'm not planning on sharing my beliefs with anyone else just yet, because that girl with the stupidity thing was my female best friend at the time, and it hurt me that she saw me as a silly, weak person that believes in stupid things. I'm far more scared of that reaction than the "You're a Satanist!" one.

[Shadow_Kitten]

Well, I'm in the broom closet for now, but only because I'm afraid of my parents finding out. They're Catholic and them knowing about me being Wiccan could really make things hard for me and I really don't need that right now, year 12 is stressful enough as it is. Next year, when I've moved out and gone to uni I'll come out of the broom closet. I dunno if I'll tell my parents but I'll definitly tell other people. My parents will be living 4 hours away so it's not like they'll no, lol.

I feel like a fraud, not being able to tell other people now. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed, I'm just trying to save myself some angst.

[Pixini]

A couple of years ago I declared to my close family that I was leaving Christianity and seriously studying Paganism with a deep interest in Wicca. Most of them have not spoken to me since.

The others however, have chosen to "punish" me in a more creative way. You see, I have a psychiatric history due to childhood trauma/abuse as well as some other events that happened in my younger life. I was dx'd with severe anxiety disorder and have some componets of OCD as well as panic attacks.

I was in therapy for a very long time, and am much better today, on an appropriate medication. Since I found Wicca, I began to feel much better about myself, and less fearful of the world around me.

Anyway, these family members have decided that my new spiritual path is nothing more than a symptom of my psychiatric issues; and have gone as far as to approach my husband saying that "Stacy is hallucinating". LOL.

I find it amazing that now that I'm getting WELL, am leading a productive life, am panic-free, happy, healthy and hopeful---that my family seems to WANT me to stay sick.

I could get very psychoanalytic here; but I think many of us already know that sometimes dysfunctional families want to see our loved ones remain unwell.

"Misery loves company".

So, now that I'm fairly open about my new path (plus very excited!), my family dosen't speak to me anymore. This is okay, because I have learned that maybe they weren't such a great family to begin with, if my health issues aren't bothersome enough for them to want what makes me feel better ya know?

Who needs enemies when you've got a FAMILY like that?

[Heka]

I think family should really support you. They're your family after all.

[athena]

I am open about my beliefs - I don't "preach" or anything of the type, I just live a very open life and when the subject comes up, I'm more than happy to share my ways with others.

My Mother is a Catholic and until very recently had very "black and white" beliefs about life in general. We lost a close family friend (my second child was named after her) and my mother became more open to other ideas. Her own beliefs did not satisfy her needs at the time, nor answer the questions that she had.

That's not to say that "we're right, they're wrong" or that she will not just clam up if I were to bring it up again, just that when someone is open to knowing about you and your beliefs - they're likely to let you know in some way... No need to push things even if you are "out", but you can certainly be there to offer another perspective when it's needed.

Bright Blessings,

Athena

[Makbawehuh]

Awwww..... *huggles teh Pixini*

You're not hallucinating, they're out of touch with reality. And that's not your problem.

Seriously, though, I kind of know how it feels. Anything I do that is "odd" (read, "everything") gets blamed on somehting someone has done to me in the past, by my mother. It's like I've told her, though- the past was hard, I had major issues... But now I"m working these things out in my own way, and getting better... And you think I"m crazier than ever, because I chose not to do things -your- way.

That, and I honestly fail to see how some of the things she labels as "strange" could possibly be related to the things that happened. I mean... HOW?

Funny how some people think you should never heal, and others think you should heal the way -they- want you to... No matter how bad it could be for you.