Pagan/Wiccan still in broom closet?

Question

I consider myself a Pagan, sort of Wiccan, a little ecclectic witch :)

Most of my friends just call me 'new age'.
My dad knows I am a witch and a few close friends do, too.

I am President of a local organization. A mom looking into being a troop leader, or on the PTA, I do a lot of volunteer work (seniors, abused children animal shelters).

I don't feel that it's necessary to shout from the rooftops what my beliefs are.
I do wear my goddess symbol a lot, but it's small and pretty.

Is there anything wrong with staying in the broom closet?

What are your experiences with sharing your religion with other people?

Oh yeah - thanks, but I'm happy with who I am. I only 'hide' my belief (and I don;t really call it hiding, I just don't say "I'm Pagan.") is because of people like you who say "Don't believe that- accept God!"

Padders - perhaps you are following the wrong path?
Also, I'm a mom. Of course I have transportation. A Goddess Symbol is not exactly a pagan symbol it can be seen as many things. Ever heard of an Onk? Lot's of Pagan's wear them and you wouldn't know the difference. No one has ever confronted me about my Goddess. Ever.
I have a number of friends who are pagan,wiccan, buddhist, christian, thanks.
And I will pray for you, too : )

Answer 1

I don't generally talk about my religion with my co-workers or my son's daycare or my husband's parents. I don't consider it hiding, I consider it none of their business.

On pagan holidays I wear very small pentacle earrings, admittedly with my hair down. So for no one seems to have noticed and I've had them for a year. I also have a charm bracelet with a pentacle and other symbols on it, but no one has looked closely at that either.

I've considered being troop leader someday myself, but I think the ignorance out there around paganism is so much that if anyone asks I'll probably tell them I'm a Taoist, which is also true and much more socially acceptable.

I do talk about my pagan ways to my friends, but of course the kind of people I keep as friends are okay with this.

I'd rather educate people about paganism and then declare myself one, rather than declare myself one and then defend it. I love it; there's nothing to defend.

I guess I'm sort of in the closet to the public eye, but it doesn't bother me. Like I said, it's really nobody's business and the people who count know.

Answer 2

You don't need to announce your religion to the world. There is no need to go around with 'Wiccan' written on your forehead anymore than a Christian would to feel proud of yourself. Wearing your goddess symbol is just like a Christian wearing a cross and most people won't notice or won't know what it is anyway.

I have told a few people about my religion of choice; mostly close friends and family. At work, I keep it behind scenes but I've also had people ask me about my religion with mixed results. Most are curious, which I'm fine with and I'm usually willing to answer questions. There was a time when I ended up having to log a complaint because one co-worker recognized the pentagram charm on my bracelet and began to hound me. Religious bigotry is a big hot spot for companies today. If you have problems, let your bosses know.

But, I think you need not worry. You are not hiding in shame but being respectful of others around you. You don't need to print off t-shirts to be proud of being Wiccan, just live your life as you see fit.

Answer 3

Nope, nothing at all wrong with it. Your religion is between you and the Gods. You don't need anyone's validation or permission to follow your path, and if you'd rather not share it, then that's your choice.

I'm open about being Pagan (which is one reason that I've picked up a cyberstalker troll on Yahoo who thinks it's funny or that it somehow "bothers me" to make fun of it), but that was a personal choice that I made. There is another Pagan in my office who is still in the broom closet, and that's a choice that she has made.

The only time that I hide my pentacle necklace is when I am meeting business contacts for the first time, because I know that there are preconceived notions that may accompany it, and I want to make sure that they don't affect the business relationship. Once the business relationship exists, I go back to not going out of my way to ensure my pentacle is covered - I figure by the time they know me as a person and a business associate, if they are going to suddenly change their mind about me because they find out I'm Pagan... well it's their personal problem.

But that's me. =)

Answer 4

There is absolutely nothing wrong with staying "in the broom closet." Many Pagans/Wiccans have suffered greatly for their coming out. My husband and I were both fired from a job because the owners found out we weren't Christian. All the time there are stories about parents losing their children due to their belief system. It's not about hiding it because it's bad, it's about hiding it because we fear for our lives. Sure the Burning Times may be "over" but it still happens - there is still a great deal of discrimination over our beliefs. The same thing happens to homosexuals and most Muslims - you get branded as something "evil" and others want to judge you for it.

When the time is right, you'll know. In the meantime, continue to be the loving, caring, generous person you are. Continue to raise your children with respect and tolerance. Continue with your volunteer work. If, and when, the time comes that your spirituality comes into question, remember - these are people who have witnessed your actions for a long time - if they have a problem with your spirituality, it's their problem, not yours. Remind them that all this time, they assumed your were Christian - your spirituality should have no play.

Blessings.

Answer 5

I don't see anything wrong with staying in the broom closet. There's no reason for us to get all dressed up and scream our religion at everyone (I do NOT wanna look like those Fanatics). My whole family knows I'm Pagan, as well as all of my friends and co-workers, but it's not something that's brought up often. When the people I work with found out, it was because of holidays *wink* I do not celebrate Christmas or Easter in my own home, though we visit family who do. People are quick to pick up on "I didn't put a Christmas tree - but I have my Yule log." =)

The only bad experiences I have with this type of thing are with people who do not know me personally (my neighbors) and have this preconceived idea about what Paganism is, which is usually based on their own propaganda.

Answer 6

I wouldn't say you're in the "broom closet" then, if your family knows, etc.

There's much wisdom in showing altruism without associating it to any one particular philosophy or religion. So tell when asked or when you feel like the time is right to drag it into a conversation, like a time when someone else it feeling ambivalent about being Wiccan, Pagan or a Witch, then you can share. Any other time you might be met with bad attitudes, be forced to answer a ton of questions the asker might not even understand, etc.

An that it harm none... *w*.

_()_

Answer 7

i find it necessary to tell only those whom i think can handle it. I were a pentacle but the majority of people don't seem to know what it is. if i know someone won't judge just because they don't understand i will tell them, but do not go out and preach to all those who listen, that wouldn't be such a goo idea because the majority of people do not understand the religion or even understand it as a religion. And as long as you know who you are, there isn't anything wrong with the view from the broom closet.

Blessings!

Answer 8

Nope, not a thing wrong with you wanting to stay in the broom closet.
I don't think most pagans feel it necessary to shout from the rooftops about our beliefs. If asked, most of us will happily share information, but being that we aren't a proselytizing bunch, we don't have to go door to door pawning tracts, worship services, solicit in any way for anything, and we don't get some kind of eternal door prize for the most souls won over.
It's been my experience that when people get to know me and then find out I'm a witch, they ask questions, rather than condemn or try to convert me. They know that I'm a generally nice person and that makes them realize that my religion isn't an evil, satan-worshipping, baby-sacrificing thing that they've been led to believe all these years.

But, that's my experience.. yours is completely an individual path.. do what is right for you, and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.. it doesn't make you less of a pagan or a witch if you keep it to yourself.

Answer 9

I don't share my religion with people except where appropriate...not everything is for public consumption.

Wicca isn't about being showy. You sound more like the Wiccans I hang with than many I see here.

Answer 10

I understand where you're coming from. People close to me know that I'm atheist, but I don't announce it, especially because I coach youth hockey and little league. Some of the parents that know don't care, but there are others that would yank their kid out so fast just because I don't believe what they do...and that's wrong...and really unfair for the kid. I don't ever talk about what I (don't) believe to any of the kids.

I don't care if people judge me for being atheist...but I don't like how they automatically judge those close to me, so I keep it quiet unless someone asks and really wants to know what I am. But I don't announce it because I know that some people would judge me, and that would make things that I do much harder. You know, all my volunteer time and such.