broom closet

[brymble]

i just moved to a horrible hick town in the southern tier, and i'm the only one out here who isn't baptist. i'm living with 2 of my cousins and now have to endure daily cracks about "demon worship" and "animal sacrifice". in front of my kids even.

how far back into the broom closet should i go? i've taken a psychic beating this summer with all the homelessness/working 4 jobs struggle and don't know how much i can take. *seethes with resentment*

i want to order a catalog because there's no place to get incense around here, but of course it would come to my cousin's address so i'd have to deal with more bullschtuff. how am i going to celebrate the sabbats with my kids if i have to keep things under cover, even at home? arg!

[Moonlite Faery]

hmmmm....I know that Faery-Wings is in the broom closet as well. If you want to get a catalog do you think you could afford a box at the local post office? This way your cousins wouldnt be able to see the catalog. As far as celebrating with your kids...I dont know what advice to give :( but I will send energy for you

[ObsessedFae86]

Can you go out to a remote location like a field and celebrate with them? That way the negative energies don't mix in and ruin the fun :( And about the catalog..I agree with Moonlite Faery..try getting a p.o. box from the post office! :)

[Meadhbh]

That can be hard. The box thing is a good idea. as far as the sabbats go is there a wooded area around your house. Because after all there is no harm and taking the kids for a "hike" in the woods every now and then. Exercise is important after all.

[ObsessedFae86]

Yes..my family isn't wiccan but I would like to raise my son celebrating Sabbats and all the witchy stuff :) so thats what I do.."take a walk"=fun witchy stuff! lol

[brymble]

Yes..my family isn't wiccan but I would like to raise my son celebrating Sabbats and all the witchy stuff :) so thats what I do.."take a walk"=fun witchy stuff! lol

i'm still really new here, so i don't know about where to find secluded woods. i'd thought about having the catalogs sent to my other cousin's house, as he's more knowledgeable and open-minded about the paganism. he says he knows an organic farmer who's pagan, so if she's not too far away, maybe i can do sabbats on her land.

this is maddening. i've never been so far in the broom closet i had to worry about ordering catalogs for incense, not even when i was a teen living at home with my aggressively chiristian dad.

[WhiteLion]

I have the same problems so I go to my friends ranch I go a few miles into the woods on horseback so I can have peace and seclusion.

[LadyCelt]

If they are being this way, they are surely not following Christ and not being truly Christian. People who do this hurt me and I'm sure hurt Him. Jesus was aobut acceptance and embracing. They are the ones acting like the devil and not you.


I really don't know what to say with many things. Organic food stroes sell herbs. I hope the ones being mean to you aren't also claiming to follow in the ways of the Lord, because that isn't doing so.

[starlalala9]

Where are you (if I may ask)?

[jcldragon]

he says he knows an organic farmer who's pagan, so if she's not too far away, maybe i can do sabbats on her land.That's your Key. I bet she would love to have somebody to share her Sabats with.

[kaosxmage]

I'm inclined to believe it is not our job as pagans to make the world more comfy for fundamentalists. I wouldn't inch my way into any dark corner for anybody's feelings - family or not. You have to be who you are. Attempting to be something else, or hiding your true nature, will eventually cause too much stress and trauma in your life, and as a result could effect your health and your relationship with your children. You have to remember that you set an example for your kids with your actions more then your words. I don't believe for an instant that you want to teach your children how to hide who they are to avoid verbal abuse and such. The reverse is a much more noble goal; show them how to defend themselves and take pride (which is a pagan virtue).

I think you have a solid opportunity for sanity if you can contact this other pagan in the area. The company of like-minds is always a good thing. I don't know your situation as to why you're living with your cousins, but I would make it my goal to move as soon as possible. Set a plan in small easy to attain steps. Small success is always better then enourmous failure.

Good luck,
--Kaos

[Élistariel]

If you are so uncomfortable in the broom closet, why are you in it. So your cousins disagree with your religion. So? I am in Baptistland as well. Heck, my pop's great...grandfather helped form the church. I don't know if they know I'm pagan or not. I don't care. I'm not in the closet, but I'm not oozing witchness either. You can come out of the broom closet. You don't have to announce your religion to the world. Celebrate what you want to celebrate. Cousins be darned. Besides if they kick you out just because of your religion, that's descrimination, and that is a crime.
If they cannot accept you for who you are, then blood or not, they aren't family.

[SSanf]

A lot of y'all don't understand how bad it is in some areas. Let me tell you. It can be pretty darned bad. Hidding when times get tough is how we have survived and it is a very old tradition for witches of all flavors.

Keep your personal and private life to yourself when it benefits you to do so.

You can teach your kids more when they are older and understand the need for discretion. They will probably come to your when they start discovering their own powers, anyway. Meanwhile, teach them values.

And, yes, you can have little child centered rituals without talking a great deal about it. What you don't say won't be repeated by a child too young to curb their toung or know better. They will understand and it will be clear to them the first time they pick up a book on Wicca (assuming that you are Wiccan).

[StarCraftLia]

.

[SSanf]

Well if she does say, "screw the hicks!" you can be sure the children will suffer the most not having the grown up defenses that it takes years of coping to develop.

Other kids can be very cruel especially when their parents either encourage it or make no objection.

Just because people should not suffer does not mean that they do not suffer.

[Sun_and_Saturn]

That really sucks! I would suggest you take your kids for "hikes" in the woods. And ya know, it isn't often that I agree with SSanf, but this time I can really see her pov, coming from a hicktown myself.

We had a couple of Wiccan girls at school, and the other kids harrassed them so bad that they dropped out of high school. And this was about 4 years ago, so it isn't all that long ago. And no, they weren't flaunting their religion, they were/are pretty quiet individuals who kept to themselves.

You know, my family isn't exactly accepting of anything other than xianity either. I'm still not out of the broom closet with some of them. My grandmother called and left nasty messages about how I was living in sin and jesus didn't like it when I moved out of her house and moved in with my then boyfriend (now husband). She'd probably try to have my child taken from me if she knew I was pagan. (and yes, she really did threaten to do that when I did something she didn't like).

Hugs, sweetie. Sorry you have to live with ignorant people.