My mother is somewhat toleant of all religions except satanism and wicca. Unfortunately for her i have adopted the wiccan faith. I am told to the few i share this with that it may be a way to rebel. If that is your answer please no not even respond to this question. So that i could obtain atahmes and altar tools I went public as an ecclectic pagan. Anyway, I love wicca and i want to be proud of it. How do i come out of the broom closet?
2006-10-09 13:18:06 · 10 answers · asked by Winter Nightrain 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Information is your best tool to combatting intolerance towards your faith. Most people are against Wicca because they don't understand it.
1. Lead by example. Show them that being Wiccan doesnt make you a bad person by being a good, law abiding person. Make sure they know this is not an effort to rebel.
2. Correct their misinformation. This means being informed yourself. If you need outlets to become more informed I will post some links below that might help.
3. Don't start arguments. This does no good. If they hold their ground, you might have to grit your teeth and abide by your parents rules in their house.
4. Since you are probably a minor and you can't move out of the house yet, move your rituals out of the house. If at all possible, find a place in nature at a conservatory, nature preserve or park area to do ritual. As for ritual tools,.you don't have to find expensive athames and other altar tools to practice your craft. Many people use ordinary kitchen knives or hunting knives for athames. You can make your own wand easily and incense is burned by all sorts of people and purchasable at Walmart. The Walmart by me even has Dragon's Blood Insence. .Other items like jars and such can be household items that you have blessed for magickal use.
I feel for you, as my father still doesn't accept my religion. It may be that your loved ones will never see eye to eye with you about your religion. but the pain will lessen with time.
2006-10-10 13:32:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
When I came out with my beliefs - my mom flipped. She called all the family and told them I was a Satanist (which I'm not, though I am friends with many Satanists - they're cool). I kept practicing my religion. Of course I bought my books and tools and kept them in my room, out of sight. I went public with my pagan beliefs in school and at work. While my mom didn't accept it very well, I found that many other people did. My mom eventually came to accept my beliefs after she read a few books I lent her. So coming out of the closet did create some calamity in my life, but I found that those who couldn't handle it were better off being out of my life anyway, and that my mom accepts me for who I am. I guess I got lucky. I had friends back then who were kicked out of the house for practicing a pagan religion.
One thing you definitely want to do is make sure you have a support group of people who accept you as a Wiccan as well as a few friends of minority faith. That helps because I guarantee every one of them will know exactly what you're going through. Not only that - but if you do lose any friends or have family conflict, you don't want to feel all alone and like you have no one to turn to. Good luck!
2006-10-09 20:29:05 · answer #2 · answered by swordarkeereon 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If she is tolerant of everything besides Satanism and Wicca. first do some research and show hwe how Wicca is much different from Satanism.
then do some research on some of the religions that she is tolerant of and show her how it is similar.
assuming that you are not lumping all pagans into Wicca fond the things that she likes about the religions that she does like and focus on the similar things.
spend some time discussing your beliefs with her and show her that you really believe in what you are doing and that it is not just hollywood mumbo jumbo, show her the documented history of the religion and introduce her to a few of people of the faith.
this is just a tactic to open her mind to the faith. after that you should find yourself more free to talk to her about it.
i hope all goes well for you
2006-10-09 20:25:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, You probably have, but have you explained Wicca to your mother? and I'm assuming that you live with your mother. I know you like to have items and stuff, but you can practice without them if you have to and substitute everyday objects in there place. You can be out of the closet and be somewhat discreet to. I was out of the closet but when my kids were little i was discreet, because I didn't want my kids to suffer the prejudice from my neighbors, were we lived at the time. Now I don't care. My house isn't overly Witchy, but you could tell when you came in just the same. I would approach your mother and explain, pick your time wisely when you do this. Ease her into it. and take it from there, maybe you can't get her to totally accept it, but may she will respect it, if you keep it to yourself around her. You can also just buy some things and keep them to yourself in your room. I wear a pentacle and when Around iffy people I just Tuck it under my top.
Blessings
2006-10-09 20:41:22 · answer #4 · answered by Belladonna 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sit her down one day and "Mom, I have to talk to you about my life choices. You see, I (explain why you are Wicca), but I still want you to respect and love me."
For some reason, this make it sound more like coming out of the other closet. sorry, never had the problem of coming out of the broom closet with my fam.
Good luck.
2006-10-09 20:24:17 · answer #5 · answered by Voodoo Experience 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all how old are you? are you still in her home? But on all accounts you need to be honest with her, my guess is that she does not understand Wicca... Suggest that she read up on the wiccan faith... hope she will realize that it is not 'devil worship'...alot of people just chose to close their minds to something that they do not understand... blessed be....and if you think about it... christianity has pagan DNA
2006-10-09 20:23:49 · answer #6 · answered by oracle 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I never heard that terminology. . ."come out of the broom closet". Sorry to have a chuckle at your story, but I find your words quite funny!
Seriously though, good luck with your family!
2006-10-09 20:21:22 · answer #7 · answered by ThatGuy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, normally coming out of the broom closet means telling those close to you first.
2006-10-09 20:22:03 · answer #8 · answered by Kithy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not a way to rebel, it's a religion older than Christianity itself.
2006-10-09 20:22:54 · answer #9 · answered by Hellsdiner 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not such a huge issue.
Brad Blanton, PhD, discusses how to reveal such issues to your loved ones in his book, RADICAL HONESTY.
Try it.
2006-10-09 20:21:29 · answer #10 · answered by shlomogon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋