My altar may be an issue,..

[Joshua]

Hi all! Very briefly, I'm in the Army and am away at Fort Gordon Georgia for school. I have set up an altar in my barracks room using night lights instead of candles, a blue pen for an athame (no weapons in the barracks), paintings my wife and I made to represent God and Goddess, etc. I described it in detail in another thread. It's a field-expedient altar. It's not disguised or hidden, and to the layman it's obviously some sort of religious, something. I'm not exactly in the broom closet, but if religion doesn't come up, I don't tell people I'm a witch.

Tomorrow the academy First Sergeant (equivalent to the dean) will be inspecting the rooms. I know they will see it and will ask the usual mocking/ignorant questions. Equal Opportunity is huge in the Army so I don't fear being discriminated against. I'm not even sure what the big deal is. I just wanted to discuss it. Thanks for the ear.

[DanuMoonrunner]

Good for you for not being afraid to take your religion with you! If they do start anything, calmly tell them " if you don't mess with my religion, I won't mess with yours."

[Joshua]

Thanks! I talked to my wife after I posted here, she asked me what I would say if asked about it. I told her I'd say "It's a pagan altar, for pagans, like me." I fully expect the issue to drop right then and there.

[Ahautenites]

Well, are you allowed to have any sort of religious symbolism in your barracks? If you are, stand your ground (if you feel up to it). Otherwise, go with the flow for the inspection and reassemble the altar after said inspection. :) Good luck to you with whatever you ultimately decide to do.

[WtchyChick13]

Wow. Good for you for being so open about it. :thumbsup:


May it all go well for you! :smooch:

[Joshua]

Thanks everyone for the support! I'm leaving the altar in place. My wife and I joked about how I could threaten to turn them all into frogs if they didn't leave me alone. ;) So unless they call my bluff,...

[WtchyChick13]

Ohhhh, Froggie Karma coming your way! :rotfl:

[Autumn Sidhe]

Yay for you!! It's great to hear that you are not hiding your beliefs regardless of where you are. I applaud you!! :D

[Joshua]

well I appreciate that, but I'm not exactly flamboyantly pagan. :elf:
I say and do things that other pagans might pick up on (like how I talk to animals, and how they talk back, or how the holistic aisle is my favorite part of the store), but your average gentile wouldn't guess it. I'm just a guy who happens to be a witch. :shift:

[Pesha]

The US Army recognised Wicca as an established religion. Your Sargent can say nothing against it and if he does go to your commanding officer. I wish when I was in the WAC that they had this in place. It was all I could do to hide my beliefs. Best of luck and be at peace.

BB
DS...also known as...

[Joshua]

Update. Well the inspection turned out to be the non-event of the day. Nobody said a word to me. One of my fellow students looked at it kind of funny, but only becasue he was trying to figure it out. He was cool though. So yeah, no big deal.

Anyway, thanks for everyone's support. I knew I could count on you guys!

[WtchyChick13]

:boing:

[Lunacie]

Whew. I like good news. :)

[Hope]

how did the inspection go

and an extra ((hug))

love
hope

[Joshua]

how did the inspection go

and an extra ((hug))

love
hope

Thanks for asking. I got absolutely no feedback. I'm not even sure the inspectiuon took place. It turned out to be the non-event of the day. Thanks again everyone for your support and encouragement!

[Jenne]

Glad it turned out well...and now you are prepared (after the worry and prep for this inspection) for another time you may have to explain your beliefs/altar. Good luck, and hugs for being so brave!