Pagans and Wiccans, is it strange that I can "sense" when a person is Wiccan or pagan?

Question

Even though I haven't been a practicing witch for about six years, and even though I renounced witchcraft about that long ago?

I'm just wondering if anyone else has this.

They don't have to be wearing a pentacle or anything like that, I just sense it. They also sometimes sense it about me, too. Is that weird?

No, they don't even have to say anything. Just as soon as I lay eyes on them, I KNOW.

Answer 1

Yup, I can do that, too. Just like Gay people have "Gaydar," we Pagans have "Pagandar!" It's fairly common among Pagans who have been Pagan for a while. Maybe it's something they said, or a certain look, but more often is something subtle. We Pagans carry ourselves a certain way. There tends to be a certain look in the eyes, like deep wisdom mixed with child-like wonder. I can't really describe it and do it any credit. Maybe it is something in the aura, an energy fingerprint that we recognize. Or, maybe it's not just one thing, but a combination of things that add up to the person being Pagan. Like, for example, I am talking to a woman wearing a triskelion -- OK, maybe she's Irish. Maybe she's Christian, and it represents the Trinity to her. Then, she mentions an interest in mythology. So I start to think, is she Pagan? And then, she asks me my birthday and tells me all about my Sun Sign. That clinches it.

Sometimes I know when I first meet someone that there's just something about them, and then I figure out that they're Pagan. Or, sometimes I'm working on a client (I am a massage therapist, and of course I CAN NOT discuss religion with clients), but they'll start talking, and they start telling me things (something in my aura, perhaps?) so I feed a little information here and there, and occasionally they will turn the conversation toward something only another Pagan would know. I had a client ask me if I scry the other day -- that was pretty cool.

But sometimes you can misread the signs, so you have to be careful least you offend someone. One time I saw this tattoo on a girl's back that was of a crescent moon between a set of antlers. I thought, this girl has to be some kind of Pagan, probably Wiccan from the symbolism of the tattoo. So I said something like, "that's cool, how did you come up with that design?" and she said, "oh, my brother was just doodling and he made it up." OK, so it was just a design. Maybe her brother was, I don't know.

So, sometimes I can tell, and sometimes I can't. But often, when I can't tell, the other person can. I'm fairly obvious about it if you know what to look for. So, I let them initiate the conversation. But I do believe that the Gods put people in our path who we may need, or who may need us. So, Pagans naturally tend to gravitate together.

Answer 2

I know exactly what your talking about, you are not alone :)! Yes, I know instantaneously if someone is pagan or not. There also is when I walk into a room I can feel the magickal residue- like the house is filled of magick even when there will be no signs of paganism.
For the longest time I was wondering if anyone else could do that too- identify fellow pagans!

What I think happened to you is when you denounced paganism, it still left a magickal aura around you thus allowing people sense you as pagan, even if you are not now.

My (made up) Hallmark Quote for today:
You don't need to wear a pentacle or any sort of jewelry to identify if your a pagan or not, the magic comes from the inside-not what your wearing.

Answer 3

1. Pagan refers to a group of religions - non-Abrahamic religions. My definition of Pagan is a religion that is not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam and wishes to identify as Pagan. There are several religions that are non-Abrahamic but do not generally identify as Pagan such as Buddhism. Wicca is a Pagan religion, but is only one of many. There are hundreds of Pagan religions and they each have very distinct beliefs and practices. They are not similar to Wicca, they are each unique. 2. Unless someone makes it clear what gender they are, it is difficult to determine such a thing online. Unless you look at my profile, you can't tell if I am male or female. If you read very many of *my* posts, you'll discover I'm female quite quickly because I tend to mention that I'm a mother and I talk about my husband frequently. So, it's hard to see what kind of balance there is here. As far as I can tell, there's a pretty decent gender balance among Pagans here and on other online forums I'm a member of. In real life, I might know more female Wiccans, but there are still a lot of males. Wicca is not a goddess oriented religion - that is a misunderstanding. Wicca honors both male and female gods and neither is honored above the other. Many women are drawn to a religion where honoring female deities is part of the belief system, but so are a lot of men. Outside of Dianics and Goddess worshipers, I feel there is a fairly decent gender balance within Wicca. I also don't know what you mean by "regular" man. The Pagan men I know are quite regular. They hold jobs, they have homes, families.... I just don't know what you mean.

Answer 4

Pagans, Wiccans and Witches that I've known and worked with spend a LOT of time analyzing and attuning to energies. And I do think there is a certain energetic "handprint" that I can sniff on most others of my kind. And not just any other Wiccan/Pagan, but the kind of Wiccan/Pagan that I resonate with. Absolutely. If I sense one at the grocery store or wherever, do I go up to them and start reading their aura? Hell no, not without permission and a little more conversation! I find that practice to be unethical.

Answer 5

Having been Pagan, has allowed you to open up all of your senses. Not just the 5 that we most often take for granted.

Our sixth sense, or psychic abilities are normal and we are born with them. If we stop using them then we start to lose the ability to use them. In your case, it seems as if you are not actively using them, but you are passively using them. This can be a good thing.

The fact that you still have these abilities is a good thing and yet, while these abilities may not be what many consider "normal", they are still a natural part of being human.

Answer 6

Of course, you only know you're correct when one of them eventually mentions that they are Pagan. You have no idea how many Pagans may have passed you by that you did not notice and they did not comment.

I'd have to agree with the others that its probably subconscious reading of gestures or language. I sometimes "know" too but while I can't specifically say "it's because they said X" I do have the sense that it came from their behavior.

Answer 7

Actually there is a psychological reason for it. You can pick up on subconscious clues that set off signals for you, and you wont even know it. Little things like body language and vernacular will be key indicators if you know what to look for. I haven't played the guitar in years, but I can still pick out a good player when I'm walking down the street.

I will ring your doorbell and run away!!!

Answer 8

It's called discerning of spirits, and It's mentioned in I Cor 12:7-11. I don't recall your situation exactly, but it seems to me that you had said that you at one time did trust in the Lord. This is where this ability would have come from.

It could also be what twoasonesfl said. It is spirits that we are talking about here.

Answer 9

Hehehe. You should see me in person. Nobody "senses" that I'm Pagan honey. :)

Answer 10

No its not weird. its your gift. its like a 6th sense, lots of pepole have 6th sense like me. i can sense pepole but i cant sense wiccan pepole, i sense ghosts and evil beings sometimes its really close and it scares me but im protected.
i learn witchcraft aswell.