So, Have You Come Out Of The Broom Closet?

I come from a Mixed religous Background.
My Father was Italian Catholic then changed to Mormon.
My Mother was Baptist, Catholic and then she changed to Mormonism also.
My Father remained a Mormon til he passed. My Mother and Her Husband (my Dad)
are still Mormons.
Iwas Born and Raised Mormon, Changed to Born Again Christian but still felt as if something was missing. 3 years ago I Turned to Wicca. I am a Witch, I come from a long Line of witches both my GrandMothers were Witches and so were their Mothers and Fathers. Yes, I have come out of the Closet. I am not ashamed to Be who or what I am anylonger. It is difficult at times because I do get a lot of comments that are negative. My view on this I have already stated. Those who do not understand or do not wish to have a truely open mind say I am Evil for what I am. If I am then so be it. I follow my heart.

Telling my family was the most difficult. My mother and I just got off the phone with each other before I came here. She accepts the fact that I am a Witch. I just found out that Her mother who was Born October 31st was a Witch. She knows what Wicca is and felt that she didn't "fit if" so she went the Other direction.

You must pick and choose who you wish to tell. If it feels right then say something, if It doesn't then keep silent..

there are people out there who would try and do you harm due to your beliefs.

Make your own Judgement call on it. But Never be discouraged Hold you head up High and know that you are part of the Great Mother and she is a part of you.
It takes special people to do what we do. We use Positive energy to help other people. We are the healers of the world. Look around you what do you see? I see pain and suffering but I can invision a world just the opposite, If we don't do this who will? who will keep the ancient ways alive? Who will Give Mom (The Goddess) Praise? In every Family there is a Father and a Mother One can not have a Family or offspring with out the other. How does it make you feel when you have prepaired a big meal , you have worked hard all day and No One says "Thank You "?? How do you think The Gods & Goddesses would feel if we were not here to thank them?
My Best Friend and Soul Companion is Wiccan RWF. She helps me in my journey, I don't know what I would do with out her!!!

My Family accepts me for who I am for the most part. Mom still makes her comments but I choose to Ignore them. Her negative energy is worth Blocking. She is a good woman but she is stubborn. My Dad accepts me and says he loves me for WHO I am Not what path my feet have been set upon.
Blessed Be,
Angel

Hi Ravenwing

I don't exactly fit the model you asked for but my younger brother does in a big way. (if not an exact way)

Our family has a very diverse religeous/spiritual background Jehovah's Witness/Mormon/Agnostic/Catholic/Presbyterian/Eastern type religeons etc....I know it's a strange hodge podge but the explanation could take up a book

Anyway through the years almost everyone in my family became born again Christians and my brother also professed this faith having previously been a self styled satan worshiper (his description)

Bare in mind that the climate arround my family paricularly my dad was in the best circumstances volitile. So when my brother decided to come clean with my parents about the fact that he is not only a wiccan but also a homosexual you can imagine the anticipated fireworks

It never happened. After all the explosions over what were really minor issues or differences of opinion (and believe me if you knew my parents this was way big to them) they took the news in an attitude of love. They didn't pretend to understand but they accepted and even dialoged with my brother about his reasons/feelings for being who he is and accepted him as such. I'm sure at the same time they were praying for his salvation just as their beliefs would have demanded for a loved one of my brothers belief.

My parents were both in their 60's when this happened (my brother was in his 20's)and pretty firmly established in their ways so this was a huge suprise. My sisters and I fully expected a huge explosion. It never happened, their love for him was greater than their differences.

I would hope that your family would love you enough to accept you. Even if as I'm pretty sure their beliefs may not help them to understand you.

I'm sure it is a great burden to feel as if you can not come clean with those you love.

I hope that it all works out, however you decide to handle this.


Peace, Love and Happiness

Mikel

I have to start off by saying I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! Ok, now that I have gotten that out of the way..... I have found that it is important to know what you believe in. That has been the journey for me. There are so many people out there just waiting to tell you that you must believe this and this only. Even people who consider themselves to be "Spiritually Awakened". What ever that means. Your faith is a personal expression of your journey with God through this life. No one can define it for you. It doesnt have to be this way or that it can be both. I knew I was different by the time I could walk. My grandmother knew as well and was very loving and supportive even though she didnt understand. She loved me. See ,that love is what makes the difference for each of us. Unconditional love. I am clairaudient, clairvoyant, I see auras and lots of other interesting things. I am an empath and medical intuitive. I hold no certificates nor have I taken any classes in these things. I did take a Quantum Touch class and did a SuperCharging Workshop. It was great to talk to people who could do and see the same things I could. We are not the sum total of these bodies and we should not limit our experiences by our beliefs. Just remember the Prime Directive...."First practice to do no harm". and intent is everything. We each have about 60 strands of DNA and in most people only about 20 strands are activated, less in some and more in others. I have a few more active than most.
People tend to cling to outmoded religious beliefs that no longer serve their higher good. Faith is evolution and revolution. What you believe today you will question tomarrow. God is not written in stone. No matter what Moses said. Expect miracles and they will become a part of every day life. I am sorry I dont mean to hand you platitudes but sometimes there is something to them. So in answer to your question have I come out of the "Closet"? I dont think I was ever in it. I have always been different. They put me on ridilyn when I was 9 because I made the mistake of telling my mother about the voices and the people in the attic. My grandmother was way more tolerant than my mom. My faith is a way of life. It is being in possession of a certain way of being. It is who I am. Does it have a name? No and it defies explanation. My children understand and they are like me. I may have spawned a new generation of people who can think for themselves. Wouldnt that be cool. We are Sara's children.

AMEN

totally agree.

"Broom Closet," eh? That's a good one, I hadn't heard that one before. Makes perfect sense, though.

RON

Been pagan for a number of years now, my wife is an ordained minister and High Priestess of her own coven


Glad to see so many others of us here !


Draconis

I think I'm a lamp. Have not told anyone yet for fear of what they may think. Think my wife has an idea something is up. Shaving my head and tatooing GE 100 WATTS on top was not to "bright."

As a child I was always different, having strange body sensations, not quite out of body, more inner body. [does that make sense?]
As a child I could see a past life, it was always the same one.
As an adult if I drink too much alcohol my guard drops and I am able to tell people their future. most times it is bleak so I don't like that part.
Looking back at my family, I see all the signs. My mother is a devoted Christian and belives her gifts to be mental illness so takes huge amounts of prescription drugs to stop her visions and abilities.
my aunt can see the dead and talk to ghosts. various other members of my family have gone quite mad trying to cope with their gifts in an effot to appear to be normal to others.
Now I think I must explore my true nature and gifts, but don't know how to start.
In effect I have never been in the closet. but I think I am in a darkened room and finding it hard to find the light switch.
Jax

I thought that I had Posted here before, but it appears as though I haven't. I have not been a Christian for at least 35 years now. And I have been able to go back and talk to and see people of the past and I know certain people and can tell them something about them, even their physical features without ever seeing them before, as a reference just ask Annabelle. I use to do this very commonly until one night when it scared my Wife so bad that I put up a block.

Only recently have I been able to open up again. And I am well aware when spirits are around me.

I had said something to my Mother about this one day and she told me that this is not uncommon for members of my family to do this, even though most of them are Christians.

Hello,
I am still in the broom closet for the most part. A few people know, and they have been really cool about it. One keeps asking me to put a spell on someone we work with jokingly. My family doesn't know yet, I'm not sure how it would go over. Thought about it but still haven't told them.
Nikki

I am starting to notice an ever growing Pagan (not just Wiccan) presence among people I associate with. I'm glad to be seeing it too, knowing that people can be open about it and not be 'burned' for it.

note: it doesn't quite escape me that the black cloak might help non-christians open up to me, but then some leave reading materials and such out in plain sight, and I've seen some wearing a pentacle. My cloak wouldn't effect them letting *that* be known =)

Aaediwen,
I'm not convinced it's the cloak that's helping people (Pagans) to open up to you, but rather, more likely, it's your own Presence that helps them to relax and feel comfortable with you. My husband and I both own cloaks, and have worn them instead of winter coats sometimes. We've gotten some strange looks, but mostly people are curious and/or appreciative. The cloaks have never been the avenue for a discussion/questions/revelations/insight into Religious Beliefs.

My husband and I are both Christian, but for the past year or so I've been trying to read as many books as possible about Pagan religious beliefs, early Christian beliefs (before the Catholic Church decided which books would be included in the Bible), Gnostic Gospels, Celtic Mythology, Archeological discoveries, etc. etc. etc. There have been many surprises, and shocks, and reassessments. I'm still learning, but am expanding the boundaries that were previously "Set". I believe that there are many people now who are doing exactly the same thing--quietly studying and learning and questioning. You said that you've seen material left out in the open, and people have been wearing pentacles more freely too. People are becoming more comfortable around others of different Faiths, and more open about expressing their own. That's wonderful! It helps us all!

Dreamer1

I was never in the broom closet; I've always been open with people about my beliefs, if ever I am questioned, which is rare.