Witchcraft and college.

[Iris]

This may be a bit vague, let me apologize in advance.

I'm going off to college in the fall, and as if that's not a big enough change, I'm wondering how it will affect my study of witchcraft. I can't have candles or incence in my dorm and I'm in the middle of a large city (minus 30 nature points). And then of course there is the great roommate conundrum--I haven't spoken to the girl yet, but let's face it, the odds are sort of against me being paired with someone that open-mided.

I am fine with being secretive (well, that sounds sneakier than I mean it); as it is I only have one friend who has any sort of clue about my interest in the Craft and even she doesn't know how serious I am about it. I'm just worried about being able to find SOME sort of outlet--there doesn't even appear to be a pagan group on campus (although there may be an unlisted one).

So. In case you skipped all the whiny teen stuff above (I probably would have) it boils down to this:
Does anyone have any good freshman year advice, or maybe some stories from your own experiences?

P.S. On the bright side, there's a nice shop only a half mile or so from my dorm. ^^

[WolfWitch]

I'd give you advice from my days as a college but it'd scare you from ever going.

In all seriousness, their probably is a pagan underground group there. A lot goes on at college that you never know about beyond it's walls (real or otherwise) I was suprised when I found out exactly HOW big the gay/lesbian community was at WKU (Yeah, I'm a hilltopper...) until I made a friend who was gay and I was introduced to it as one of the "token" straight guys. You'd also be suprised how open a lot of people at college are. Don't judge the roommate until you actually meet the gal. She could be Raven Silverwolf's Niece for all anyone knows. That's the joy of college. You meet the unknown every morning and tackle at least three new things before lunch. It's beautiful. Don't be afraid to enjoy the hell out of it.

As to how to worship with the stricked "No flames" policy. Most campuses are like that for insurance reasons. Would you realy want a quantity of drunken frat boys to have a flame bigger than a zippo? Treat one, you have to treat all, it's fair, sad but fair.
My suggestion is research alternates to candles. Staple they may be but absolutes they are not. Plants and ceartain stones (don't remember exactly which) are good for starters but look into it and find what makes you comfortable. That's the real key.
If your roomate turns out to be a real "faith Nazi", then simplify your "in dorm" ritual to something not easily identified by the uninitiated. They're are a few pagans in my command (yes, I'm Mil.) we speak occasionally but not when ceartain others are around. My morning ritual is simply to place my right hand to the background of my computer (very wiccan and not subtle at all.) and allow my energy to travel into the pentacle. Then I switch and place my left hand there and take in whatever energy the God and Goddesses wish to impart to me. I close with a simple "Goddess Bless" or "Blessed be ." or something else depending on the situation. Feel free to improvise.

I hope this helps you. I know not which college you are going to but if it is near the VirginiaBeach/Norfolk area, let me know and maybe we can get together on the weekends and hold study or ritual if desired. Lord and Lady knows I could always use a knew friend in the craft.

Blessed be.

WW.

[Leo*Moon]

I'll definatley be watching this thread. I'm dorming in the fall to at Rowan, I find out who my roommate is in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited I got the dorm I requested. Same goes for me to though, no candles, incense, christmas lights, extension cords, etc. But hey, there's no law against plants and if my roommate isn't one of those allergy freaks (allergic to everything under the sun) then you can count on me having bamboo at the least. I heard around christmas time they sell rosemary plants that are groomed(?) to look like christmas trees lol. I don't live far from my college at all so I have it a little easier. I can go home on weekends and such.
One of the main things I've been hearing is that your dorm isn't your home, the campus is your home. The dorm is just a place to sleep. I'm an art major so I'm gonna spend more time in the art building more than anywhere else and since artists are more often than not, open-minded people, I could much more easily keep an altar (i.e. a plant or something that wouldn't be noticed as "witchy")in the studio.

[Skylights]

I didn't start studying until my second year at school (witchcraft or for school!), and the whole first year, I had no idea there was such an extensive Pagan community there. Then, when I joined the Student Pagan Association, I realized how many people there were who would be totally cool and congruous with what I believe.

As far as the candle rules, well... My method of handling that was to just break the rules, but I don't advocate doing so unless you're comfortable with that, and also are certain of the likelihood of getting caught. But like WolfWitch said, they're not necessary.

A fun alternative to incense is one of those misty mini-fountains you can get at the Discovery Channel store, or something similar. My best friend had one and she would add liquid scents to it, so that her whole room filled up with the smell, but she wasn't breaking any rules.

My best advice for you would be to RELAX until you get there and get into the swing of things. No use in getting all worked up over roommates and communities and everything else, when in all possibility you could get to school and find that it's not a problem.

Good luck!

[juliaki]

My roommate broke the "no candles" rule when I was in college. I went away for the weekend, she got sloppy and set the room on fire. I've never been in a situation where I've needed to do something magickal where I couldn't do it just as easily without candles...just get creative.

[LaFiamma]

This may be a bit vague, let me apologize in advance.

I'm going off to college in the fall, and as if that's not a big enough change, I'm wondering how it will affect my study of witchcraft. I can't have candles or incence in my dorm and I'm in the middle of a large city (minus 30 nature points). And then of course there is the great roommate conundrum--I haven't spoken to the girl yet, but let's face it, the odds are sort of against me being paired with someone that open-mided.

I am fine with being secretive (well, that sounds sneakier than I mean it); as it is I only have one friend who has any sort of clue about my interest in the Craft and even she doesn't know how serious I am about it. I'm just worried about being able to find SOME sort of outlet--there doesn't even appear to be a pagan group on campus (although there may be an unlisted one).

So. In case you skipped all the whiny teen stuff above (I probably would have) it boils down to this:
Does anyone have any good freshman year advice, or maybe some stories from your own experiences?

P.S. On the bright side, there's a nice shop only a half mile or so from my dorm. ^^

Well, one thing I would strongly suggest is to think about getting over the idea that living in the city is some big, eveil, bad thing and is going to take you away from nature.

Cities are just as natural as forests. Even if somehting is man-made, it ultimately breaks down to something that came from nature.

I live in Baltimore, on a fairly run-down block where half the houses are being renovated, and a bunch of others sit empty and dilapitated. But the street is lined with ginko trees and there is a small park at the end of my block with grass, lots of shade trees and a beautiful mural of sea life panted on the side of the building that it is set against. Every day I see squirrels, pigeons, orioles, goldfinches, butterflies, dragongflies and less pleasant insects, but they are still part of nature. Grass pokes up in the cracks of the abandoned playground behind my house, and all over the city as do wildflowers- chicory, asters, clover, sorrels, buttercups...trees grow everywhere- maple, oak, pine, elder, holly, willow....you get the idea.

I apologize of my first lines sounded a bit harsh, it's a paersonal frustration of mine. Personally, i feel more comfortable in an urban environment, I don't expect that of everyone, but I wish that a lot of pagans would see past the idea that cities are these nature-devoid, spiritless vacuums when they're anyhitng but.

[Skylights]

Well said, LaFiamma.

My house is just outside of town and surrounded by farmland and cows, but I actually feel a lot more comfortable in a more urban setting. I guess I feel like part of being reverent to nature is being around people. Funny, that.

Another thought occurs to me, and it's strange I didn't think of it before. I'm attending a different school now, and there's no Pagan group, so I'm thinking of starting one. If you get to school and find there seems to be no one around like you, you might consider doing the same (although if it's your first year... hmm... maybe not such a hot idea). But I guarantee, if you put up fliers for a Pagan gathering, a lot more people than you would expect will show up.

[Raven451]

Well you said there is a store very near the Dorm..I don't know if it is anything like the stores here but the store I frequent offers classes and has a group that meets regularly as well as every other Friday night open Mic nights . I would try the store and see what kind of activities they have going on there..It could be a way to meet fellow Pagans .. You could also look for Online Groups that may be nearby where you are located..I hope it works out for you ..

Bright Blessings

Lori