my family hates me

[Crestoe]

cause i'm pagan. should i stop being pagan?

[Yvonne Belisle]

You have to be true to who you are inside. One thing you can do is go back in the closet so to speak don't talk about what you beleive in frot of them or leave out anything that can give you away go to church with them. Look at it as a learning experience we all have to do things that are unpleasent to us in our lives show them once again who you are inside without showing what your faith is then when you are out on your own ( I am assuming you live at home I couldn't tell from your profile) Tell them once again that you are pagan and ask them if that has made you a bad person or if you have changed. Tell them that they raised you and that they did not raise an evil person. Show them books on it and ask them to respect you in the manner they would wish to be respected in. It may make life a little easier for a while

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Good Advise Yvonne!
I see no need to put anxiety into my parents life by telling them that I have a somewhat different slant on things these days.
I'm still the same person I was - actually I feel I'm a better person these days.
You know there are certain things you don't talk about with certain people....poltics, sex, relgion, movies(?). Some people are just harder to talk to than others....so to avoid conflict you just don't mention certain things....ya know?
For instance, just to avoid conflict I usually don't tell the Walking Horse folk what I really think about their industry. Does that make sense?

[Badgerval]

I just want to say that it is unlikely that your family hates *you*. They may hate what you are doing, be afraid for you, be thinking they are doing what is best for you. If they have loved you before, a family's love doesn't turn to hate so easily.

I do accept that is how it may feel to you just now, and I do believe that everyone should be free to seek their own spiritual path (whatever their age) *but* if they are feeding you, clothing you, caring for you - it is a way of showing your respect for their feelings to keep your paganism under wraps for now.

I am not suggesting deceit, you don't have to work spells or rituals to be a pagan. You can study nature and environmentalism, different paths, astronomy and many other things that could be seen as 'safe' subjects - all of which will make your paganism richer and more meaningful when you are able to practise in a more practical way

[Margie]

I agree with all the advice you've been given here. I also don't think your family hates you...more they are probably afraid because they don't really know what Pagan is-or they are afraid of what they think it is. {{HUGS}}

[Crestoe]

thanks everyone...i just got done explaining to fam what paganism really is and they seem to understand plus i kept the fact from them that i do practice witchcraft. only the safe protection stuff tho.

[Yvonne Belisle]

:D

[Nina]

I'm glad your family have listened to you - that's great!

Now, the only advice I can give is respect their views - you sound like you are an intelligent person, so listen to them, and be clear, calm and loving in your responses. It worked with my folks! My mother was worried at first, but now she and I have lovely long discussions on faith, the divine, prayer, etc.

I'm sure your parents love you dearly - if they didn't, they wouldn't worry about you!

Blessings to you on your path,

Nina

[Witchy Cowgirl]

That is Wonderful news.
Thanks for letting us know!:)

[mol]

Originally posted by Crestoe
cause i'm pagan. should i stop being pagan?

Yes. Absolutely. You should stop being Pagan.

But, wait...is that actually possible?

Think about it....

;)

[Crestoe]

if i had thought about it i wouldn't have said anything lol

[materra]

One thing to recall is that our families are looking for actions to support any reasurance we aren't eivl crazy pagans. So now you have a responsiblity to your faith and to your parents to act in ethical ways, follow house rules, be helpful and not hurtful. In other words, you are putting your money where your mouth is. :D If you need support we will all gladly help. Be well....:)

[Margie]

Don't feel silly for asking. I think alot of us at one time or another thought-what if I could just not be...whatever-Pagan, Black, Hispanic. Whatever the case may be. But you are what you are. That's what's important!

[Arzhela]

That's terrific that you've come to an understanding with them:)