I am a free ear

No offense to anyone, but this is why teens and empaths aren't psychologists or counselors.

Birdlover, I find your...experience extremely childish and bordering on ignorant.

You hate an entire religion because your father took a line out of context? By that same token, your family is allowed to hate Wicca because I'm sure somewhere there is a wannabe who used the title of the religion in a way it was not meant to be expressed. Fair is fair after all. (That line, by the way, was meant to express the importance of discipline. NOT beating the snot out of your children.)

See how ignorance is a never ending cycle yet?

Your family is allowed to pray at their meals. It's how they choose to worship their chosen deity. You don't have to agree with it or even agree with the religion, but a little tolerance of others (even if they are intolerant of you) goes a long way.

Instead of going out of your way to attempt to ruin a moment they find important to them for no other reason than to be spiteful, take that time to thank the Goddess for all she has blessed you with. Your family wouldn't know the difference and instead of showing the Goddess how much unwarranted hate you have in your heart for a religion, you can show her how much love you have in your heart for her.

Well said, Rash!

I do take some affence to that last statement. though I am a teen, I still know what emotions are and can still tell them apart. Counslers and head shrinks only look for the signs of emotion they were taught to seek. I use me heart to tell what someone really feels. My empathy only makes my heart stronger.

And by last, I mean post #11.

im not a teen anymore but still slightly empathic. so i shouldnt go to college to become a psychologist? eh bardou

think on this? if you were performing a ritual or praying to your gods with a group of people would you stop because there was one christian in the room that didnt believe? people are free to beleive in whatever they wish, it doesnt mean you have to believe the same.

good point.