Are you out of the closet or in?

[Dark Raven]

For many people it depends on where you live - but generally speaking, have you come out of the broom closet for your friends and familty yet? And what about your community?

If you have come out - tell us how your experience has been - how people reacted etc. If you have not, tell us why not and what your fears are if you do.

I live in Charlotte, NC - smack in the middle of the bibble belt. I have never been "in the closet" so to speak - so pretty much since I have been ere, I never kept my beliefs a secret. My family is magickal and I am thankful that is one thing I did not have to worry about - and having their support has helped me a lot. The locals are not understanding and at times I do face prejudice because of my religion. Most of the time its sideways glances and comments like "you are going to hell" which really doesn't bother me all that much.

The culmination of the prejudice came when I tried to open a local store here with my mom. The minute that the local baptist community found out that we carried pagan products (I can't even say we were a pagan shop exclusively because my mom sells jewelry - not pagan products like me) the threats began. They harassed everyone around us until our landlord's partner (not a very nice man) stepped in and asked me to leave the shop.

Had I been there by myself, I probably would have stayed, but I did not want to put my mom's business at risk, so I left. It just amazed me how people didn't even take the time to find out more about Pagan is and Wicca before casting their stones.

[Lady Athena]

I guess I would have to say, that I am in the closet, but the door is open and my foot is sticking out...lol. Since my grandparents are still very much a part of my life and literally live one block away from me, I feel there are certain things I have to hide from them. They are fundamentally christian, and my grandfather is a retired pastor. He believes the Christian way is the only way, and those who follow other religions are going to hell. I stay hidden for the most part from them because I fear that they may do something like try to take my daughter away from me. They have their suspicions, but I want it to remain that way for now. At work, I am still in the closet as well because the organization I work for is suppose to be an undiscriminating non-profit, but everyone who works their appears to be fundamentally christian. I am not sure how accepting they will be of me, and I dont want to put my job at risk with the way the economy has been.

It has been harder, and harder for me to hide my religion here lately. It has come to the point where I feel like I cant be myself because there is a whole part of me that is missing, and that I cant share it with the world. There are days when I want to say, screw it, and scream from the top of my lungs... I AM WICCAN!!! So bit by bit, I have come out and shared that part of me with a certain few. Putting my picture up on Pagan sites has even been a big step for me, because I use to fear that someone would come across it and it would somehow get back to my family... but I just dont know how much longer I will be able to hide... I think it is only a matter of time before I am completely out of the Broom Closet, and when that time comes I know I will feel truly free.

[Witch Daughter of Aradia]

I sometimes feel that I'm standing right in the doorway of the closet. My fiance knows about my wanting to practice my path because of my collection of books and candles and oils and trinkets everywhere! He teases me in a lovingly way about it (Wickety, wickety, wickety, he calls it), but he has a basic conception of what witches are and how it is a nature-based spirituality and/or religon, and that I'm a good person and can get along with almost everyone. He is even more suportive of me since I told him the problems I had with my dad when he found a book of "Witchcraft" in my car, and found out all the hundreds of dollars in books I'd bought with my hard-earned money and threw them out.

So obviously, I am not speaking with my dad about my spiritual choice. Just as long as he knows that I am a caring and loving person, and do my best to help others when it is needed, that's all that matters to me. As for the rest of my family, everyone's so busy with their own lives, and I never hear from anybody anymore except a few of my cousins. But family had always been close as I grew up; it seems the only time anyone gets together is if there's a death.

I've mentioned to a few people of aquaintance that have asked what kind of business I want to start, and I told them a metaphysical one, and they don't comment, but haven't said anything negative about it either. So I feel as long as I experience things along my path and keep being who I am as a nice person, others will respect me for who I am no matter what.

[hipsage]

im in between. i love the ideas, phiociphy and lifestyle. i dont care what random strangers think. i wear my jewlrey out in the open and if someone asks me about it, i gladly explain. however there is the matter of my family. i live at home, gatta help with life at home, two bros make things tough, its not that their byast, but they dont "approve". ill probably get my own place, and have a job lined up at a mseum in Salem, so no worries there. but its my life, so its time for me to take charge

[Angelus]

Most of my friends, co-workers and a few family members are aware of my new beliefs and they had no problem with it. I thought they would be shocked because I used to be very strict Catholic. I know if some former fellow parishioners/nuns/priests found out they would be very unpleasant if they ran into me; but that's all they could do. Los Angeles is a vast and liberal area so I don't have neighbors etc. asking why I haven't been to Church lately. So many aspects of the Church are still with me and I'm sure always will; the prayers, sacramentals, reverence for the Virgin Mary, etc. But I'm very, very happy with my new path and I will not leave it.

[Dark Raven]

Actually Catholocism is the most colosely linked to Paganism of all the christian religions - the transition is a lot easier because the Virgin Mary has a very strong role. Plus , you can easily choose the Catholic Pantheon as your pantheon to observe - it fits in quite nicely - good luck in your new path!

[Witch Daughter of Aradia]

Do you know anything about Lilith; is she connected to Catholicism or no? I always wondered...

[Dark Raven]

Lilith - in the Christian mythology she is Adam's first wife. I honestly do not remember a lot about her from my Catholic school days - ither than she was "evil" so to speak and tempted Adam out of paradise (about as evil as anything that doesn't fit in their views) - I remember some references to her being the snake that gave him the apple - but I am not 100% sure - that was a long time ago for me!

However, I am pretty sure she is well discussed in the Herbrew Mythology and tradition. I haven't done a lot of research on her to be honest.

[Adarian Hamingja]

I am out -so to speak. I came out when my mother decided to come out and visit when I got in an accident at work. I just new I had to tell her. My house had all kinds of stuff out and I was not gonna hide any of it just because of her! My mother has her own her church she and her husband runs ( a Rocky Mountain Baptist Church in Colorado) I live in the Bible Belt....Missouri!!!! I prepared myself when she told me. I had 2 months to get ready. I did all kinds of meditations and cleanings of myself. I knew she was going to say I was evil and what not. I waited about 3 days. Both she and my step dad was extremely uncomfortable while they were here. I had a spell on my house if anyone was to do any harm to anyone who lived here that would feel uncomfortable. Well....I knew what they were feeling. And it showed. So, my hubby and I preceded to tell them and the freaked out. Then came the preaching. After they saw that I just wouldn't convert they packed up and went and stayed at motel for rest of their stay. They next day though we all had tickets to go the Branson Landoning and they tried to have my convinced that his mommy and daddy were evil! He was so scared! He had nightmares for 2 weeks and was crying every times they were around. My cat hissed every time she them too! She did not like them at all. My son is not allowed to be alone with my parents. My son told us that they were telling him that we were bad and evil and it was scaring him. My parents looked mean and were grabbing him. That is mean and cruel. We had to tell him that what we believe is not evil at all. I showed him pictures from my books so he could understand I took him outside and showed him things so he could understand what mommy and daddy believe in. I then told him he can believe in anything he wants too. NO ONE MAKE YOU BELIEVE IN ANYTHING YOU DO NOT WANT TOO!!!!!!! If you believe in God then great ! If you believe in the Goddess then Great! If you believe in Faeries then great! If there is anything you believe in then great! I will not judge you, but stand beside you. He knows mommy is Heathen and follows Freyja and Odin. He sees their statues on her altar in her room. He knows that I let him follow Jesus, Thor, dragons, and the faeries.

* My parents. We don't talk. This has been almost 4 1/2 years now. They call every once in awhile to wish my son a Merry Christmas and a Happy Birthday; I do listen in on the other line though. We just do not much to talk about anymore. They can't seem to bypass religion. My sister has disown me as well. She actually asked me if I would melt!

Brightest Blessings!

[Nikki]

So after reading everyone's replies, I feel very fortunate. I am very out of the closet. I wear my jewelry on the outside and gladly explain to whoever cares to ask. I think that I can be this confident, however, because my entire family has converted over to the Wiccan religion. My immediate family as well as my mother's side of the family. So, there is really nothing to hide or anyone to hide it from at my house. It's a blessing really. I can't wrap my brain around families who are torn apart by religion. I do feel awful for people who has had that experience. But at the same time GOOD FOR U!!!!!

[Lalita]

Yes and no about coming out of the broom closet. My middle sister knows I'm wiccan, not sure about my oldest sister and if she realizes what I believe. I was raised in a traditional strict christian household where it was shoved down your throat. I stopped going to church at age 16 by choice, my parents thought grounding me over it was the answer which in turn wasn't ;) I always knew I was "different" than the rest of my family.

So yesterday my dad had come over to drop a late birthday gift off for my youngest daughter, and while he was there he asked me if I was ever going to return to church. So I decided it was my "moment" and it'd be best if I told him I don't believe like them anymore and wasn't planning on returning to the church. I have no problems with people who want to believe in christianity, even a couple of great friends of mine are southern baptist, and one of them is even married to a pastor.

So after I drove my father home, and got back I asked my husband why he turned and looked at me goofy when he heard us discussing church/religion. He was just surprised to hear the discussion of religion because he knew how I felt about the church. My hubby thought I should have lied to my dad and said "Maybe one of these days dad". And I'm left thinking.... but wouldn't it be worse to have lied to him by saying I would go back? So I've come out to my father, and not sure what the future backlash might be.

[Lady Athena]

I have been gradually stepping out more and more. My myspace profile now says I am Wiccan, and I have joined pagan facebook groups too. My pages have astrology, tarot, and pagan symbols on them, and pagan quotes as well. I honestly dont think people take time to notice, or if they do, they havent said anything. As for my immediate family, I still dont speak openly about it, though I dont take my pentragram ring off before seeing them anymore.

[Ms whitestang]

For my close friends and family, I am open and out. For my business sake I still hide it in my community. The Baptist Churches in my community are the judge jury and proscitution. Even one of their signs out side say, if your not baptist your going to hell and we're gonna take you there... How quaint..