hiding in plain sight?

[novimarra]

I know the art (practice?) of hiding in plain sight is not specific to green/kitchen witches, but it seems that green/kitchen witches are more willing to use tools that can be found in the everyday, so to speak. I'm really interested in the various paths related to green/kitchen/hedge witchcraft, but I live way close to people who would not be too pleased about it. So here are some things I'm curious about:

What are the tools you use that can easily be disguised as mundane things?

Do you find it necessary to cleanse the tools because of their "double-agent" status? (OT: do you cleanse tools before magical use, in general?)

Do you use everyday items just to stay in the broom closet, or just don't want to draw too much attention to them? Does it bother you to hide in this way, if it is in fact hiding?

What are the benefits to hiding in plain sight? Drawbacks besides the previous?

Thanks guys, even if you answer only one of these questions, you're helping me lots!

[RoseKitten]

I know the art (practice?) of hiding in plain sight is not specific to green/kitchen witches, but it seems that green/kitchen witches are more willing to use tools that can be found in the everyday, so to speak. I'm really interested in the various paths related to green/kitchen/hedge witchcraft, but I live way close to people who would not be too pleased about it. So here are some things I'm curious about:

What are the tools you use that can easily be disguised as mundane things?



Anything can be a tool. Want to cast a circle? Use a knife. Want to protect your home? Use salt. You can even blend your magic into your cooking for healing, bringing joy, anything. You have to be open enough to realize that there is magic in *everything* that we touch, because we make it so. That, and you don't even need tools, even though they are helpful in some cases.



Do you find it necessary to cleanse the tools because of their "double-agent" status? (OT: do you cleanse tools before magical use, in general?)



I only cleanse things before I use them the first time, or if I know someone else has messed with them.



Do you use everyday items just to stay in the broom closet, or just don't want to draw too much attention to them? Does it bother you to hide in this way, if it is in fact hiding?


I use them because they work. Also, some of the most powerful tools are the ones we make ourselves. Tools don't have to be flashy, shiny, or obvious.



What are the benefits to hiding in plain sight? Drawbacks besides the previous?


I actually don't hide at all, I've never had to. However, it's beneficial because it means you won't have to worry about arousing suspicion of people who don't know how to mind their own business. Drawbacks, if I had to hide at all, would include the fact that I love my altars, and the items on them aren't even close to mundane (not tools, but statues, carvings, and symbols).

[TheWomanMonster]

I put my energy into the items while cleaning them, soap and water and intent! LOL.

I use a lot of mundane things as tools for kitchen magic, brooms, spoons, spices. It doesn't need to appear special to me.

[MercyWild]

What are the tools you use that can easily be disguised as mundane things? Incense burners are relatively mundane and common household items, as are knives that can be used for cutting herbs; home grown dried culinary herbs don’t raise suspicion and can be used for a multitude of things. Anything can be used as a tool really or you could opt not to use tools at all.

Do you find it necessary to cleanse the tools because of their "double-agent" status? (OT: do you cleanse tools before magical use, in general?) I cleanse things when I acquire or finish them then every so often after if I feel they need it. I do not cleanse them every time I use them.

Do you use everyday items just to stay in the broom closet, or just don't want to draw too much attention to them? Does it bother you to hide in this way, if it is in fact hiding? I use everyday items partly for monetary reasons and partly for space reasons. Everyday objects tend to be easier to locate and cost less than if I were to buy something made specifically for my purpose. It is also more space effective to have items that can be used for more than one task. I don’t really consider it hiding so much as just being low key and practical. I prefer my life to be simple anyway and this was just another way of simplifying it.

What are the benefits to hiding in plain sight? Drawbacks besides the previous? There is less hassle from busy bodies, there are fewer rumors. The odds of my beliefs and practices causing difficulty for my child are significantly reduced. The drawbacks are that you have to be careful not let things slip you have to be guarded in every action and spoken word, and for me it felt as though I was holding back a large part of who I am when I have deliberately tried to be in the broom closet.

[TheLittleWitchy]

The good thing about this path is that there is nothing that is required. You don't have to have a cauldron, broom, athame, wand etc. And if you do want these things you could easily use something which only you would realise what it was. It won't draw attention from others.

Some things I like which really won't draw attention is incense, candles, herbs, and stuff like salt, bowls, jars etc. This path is all about appreciating mundane things, and seeing them as magical. No fancy tools required. Most especially if you don't want anyone to know!

I only cleanse items when I get them, and then when I feel like they need cleansed again. Which isn't that often usually.

I use lots of everyday normal things, but thats basically because I can and there is no one telling me that I can't. lol :hahugh: Plus it's cheaper, and more practical. I find things are more special if I made it myself or bought something cheap and then altered it myself. :cutie:

[Bird]

This is on the wall in my kitchen:

Welcome to the Kitchen Witch's Realm!

Here you will find:
Saucepans, not cauldrons
Wooden spoons, not magic wands
Kitchen knives, not athames
Rubber gloves, not ritual robes
All manner of condiments not just salt
Wine and bread (well, some things are the same!)
A broom - feel free to sweep my sacred kitchen floor
And if you see smoke -
It's not incense; it's something burning in the oven.

Mind you, no-one would accuse me of hiding in plain sight, I have a besom hung over the door and a sign by it saying "Witch Parking Only - all others will be TOAD"...

Being a Kitchen/Hearth witch fits in perfectly with caring for my family. High ritual and paraphenalia are great, but I simply do not have time or money to spare. And none of my tools get a chance to get dusty - they're used pretty much every day.

[Isabel]

While I am still fairly new to this path, I do have a small altar set in the corner of my kitchen. (But, most people wouldn't think twice about it, as it fits in with the rest of my decorations!)

Otherwise? I just use regular kitchen utensils for all that I do. I guess I'm also lucky in that most people have no interest in helping me in the kitchen, as they know I love to do it all myself anyway.

[~*Sacred*~]

Everyone has said great things.

I'm thankful that I don't "have" to hide anything. My husband is Pagan, my sister and her family know we're pagan, the only other family we really associate with is Pagan and all others... well, it's my house, you don't like what you see you know where the door is *shrug*

[Bird]

... well, it's my house, you don't like what you see you know where the door is *shrug*

My attitude exactly! :hi5:

[MamaWytch]

Hidden in plain sight, to me, means that the items that are significant to your practice are part of your everyday life; they're not hidden away and only pulled out when you need to use them.

I'm pretty open about my witchiness. It's not something I bring up for no reason, but it's something you'd probably pick up on fairly easily if you cared to look. My SO isn't pagan, but he's very supportive and accepting of the fact that I am; I try to be subtle in what I have laying around in plain sight---not because I feel the need to hide, but out of respect. His family (who are pretty traditional, religion-wise) visit pretty often, and I don't want him to be put in a position where he feels that he has to defend me or my beliefs to his family, because he would, in a heartbeat.

Hope all that makes sense---I'm still drinking my morning coffee, so it might not be as coherent as I mean for it to be!

[Windsmith]

I use everyday items not to "hide in plain sight" but because they're immensely practical and convenient. If billowing robes and ceremonial knives were practical and convenient, I'd use them instead. But as it is, my oven mitts and kitchen knives work much better, so I see no reason not to use them just because they're not someone else's idea of what's "witchy." Anyone who would look at my wife and me practicing our kitchen magic and say that we're "hiding" anything about our religion obviously has a very narrow definition of Pagan practice.

[fay]

The items that I use aren't generally disguised as something everyday, they are something everyday. My wooden spoon is magical because I believe that it is the medium through which my energy flows into the food that I am stirring. My saucepan is magical because it transforms my ingredients into a meal. For me cooking is a magical act and so everything I use to complete that act is a magical tool. These items are everyday items because I use them every day.

[hunter*]

I'm a minimalist in all I do, not just my spiritual practices. So I'm not hiding, but just like using ordinary items.

I'm finding it hard, though, to get people to stop touching items I think of as magical. I feel so violated when certain items are touched as I have such a close relationship with them, but others just see a knife or pot, and since I own so little the temptation to use it is great, even though I told them NOT to use it.

I think it would be easier to set boundaries with high magic items, than with ordinary ones.

[gracesong]

Great thread! I was previously Christian and live with a Christian roommate who would absolutely flip if she knew I was pagan.
My only real tools are my deck of cards that I use for reading and playing card games. They look like normal playing cards, so there's no need to hide there.
I've also gradually weaned myself off of tools, too. I use mainly energy to accomplish my goals and cast spells, but I do have some stones which look like very big beads.

I would say that the only drawback to all this is that I can't openly speak of my affiliation with the pagan community around her. I can't talk about Heru-sa-Aset or any of the other gods and goddesses in my life.

[Cielamara]

I don't hide anything.

But I don't advertise, either.

I would likely have more things that indicate my path isn't that of the good little Presbyterian girl I was raised as if I lived on my own. I had an altar when I was in the dorms.

[Lilac Moon]

I don't hide anything.

But I don't advertise, either.

Yep, that's me in a nutshell. No one really asks, most of the people I have in my home either know automatically or just think I'm a "tree hugging, backwoods wierdo.. but she's an awesome cook, so we'll hang out till after dessert."

My mother and step father are staunch Baptists, but they never try to force it down my throat.. and if we talk about higher things, I always refer to the Creator. They understand that I feel closer to the Creator when I am outside in nature, I prefer to communicate with the Creator on my own terms and don't like someone shouting and dictating my beliefs, they are both mountain people so, the other stuff is just old ways and they are good with it...

I am 39+++ and I love and respect my parents, so I make accommodations, allowances and hold my tongue when necessary...