Its good to hear about different areas of the world and the tolerance of witchcraft and magick. It really all depends on where you live, no matter what country.
In many areas of the world witchcraft and magick in general has a lot of hate and can get you into trouble if not found dead somewhere. People have killed over religious differences and hate crimes can occur anywhere. Even in some very Christian areas of America it is not safe to be open about being pagan or worse yet a witch. We may be past the times of witch trials but we are not past being judged or having violent crimes done against us. Sure the legal system in America is against hate crimes, be it over religion or race, but that won't help you if you're hospitalized or dead.
I'm from Chicago, and even though I am proud of my ways, I do not broadcast them, especially when traveling alone. If I'm stopped by a group of people and they ask me if I'm Christian, I would rather lie and say I believe in nothing (athiest), especially if there are men (women I'm more honest with because I can handle myself if they were to attack me). It is best to be cautious because ironically, even the worst gangs are very religious. Religions choices do not make a person non-violent.
My husband is more open about it, but he is 6'4" and was in the military. So he could handle himself well if faced with such a situation. I'm short and thin and would be seen as an easy target.
here also in the Philippines, religious practice is very strict (as this country was dominated by Christianity-especially catholicicm) and all the native witches here have bad reputations but hey, my whole family (except for my grand father of-course because he is a head deacon in our religion.. lol) and some of my friends knows that i do practice magick (well, especially my best friend because he is a practicing witch also).. but then again not all of them because most of the people really are judgmental and its really bad being judged by someone-especially that my family have good reputations in our religion here..
I am not ashamed of my beliefs or my practice. I do not tell every one I meet about it though. My friends know about it, The people I work with do not. It is a personal choice as to who you tell your business to. There is no need for undue problems, especially when it is none of anyone's business what religion a person is or what they practice. I live in America, however I live in the Bible Belt. I am Christian but most Christians would not even try to understand what I believe and Know to be true. I am an adult and I see nothing wrong with keeping certain parts of my life private.
The truth will set you free they say, but in some parts of the world it can get you into a whole lot of trouble. I'm too old to worry about parental consent. But I work in secret. The society I live in doesnt look at magic kindly.
Keepinf magic secret is the whole reason we do this if everybody knew we where ... They would want to become 1 then what happens when we say no they will either give up or try to get revenge . Parents probaly wont care a out ar beliefs if they are extremly christian holy. Keep it a secret
Not to be mean but this is stupid because some family's like my has some crazy religion nut which would be my aunt from the time her kids were born she took them to church made them go to Catholic school and is a freak about it and is always trying to get everyone to church and everyone always tells me "Why don't you just go what can it hurt" and even my mother the only who knows i hate being Christian and Christian people in general i hate still doesn't see the big deal in me going
As said by many others, not everyone has the option of that. There is [sadly] a very harsh stigma that comes with paganism and witchcraft to many individuals. This can make comming out of the broom closet near impossible for many because of fears of being evicted from the house or even injured to to other's fears.
i agree and yet don't. in some places it could be dangerous. to those closest to you, yes, tell them, be open about it, but don't shout it if the place you live is full of people who won't understand and harm you. i wear my pentagram, i've worn my dragon pentagram since i was 11, no one's really said anything about it, unless they too are a witch, then they show me theirs.
i've had plenty of friends who have run into bad things as a result of proclaiming their faith, recently [because my friends and i hang out at this geek store and the owners a gypsy witch, and rather egotistical, but i won't get into him, my point is, new like minded people come by all the time, we're not really friends, but we know them well] well one of the new regulars was late, and we found out she was given detention because the teacher found her BoS and gave her detention for 'devil worship'. two things though, one this is a public high school, not catholic or any other religious school, second, while the girl practiced dark magic, her aunt who she's lived with since she was a baby is a wiccan, and that's who she's learned from.
in highschool the only pagans i knew were myself, the girl who taught me [i forget her name, megan i think] a power hungry girl who forced me into friendship [which no one likes accept the egotist mentioned above] and my friend fasterwolf [the only guy in our coven] in my senior year, my two friends converted, and recently i've got two friends who're doing their year and a day [one had to stop because her parents found out and their religion gave them full rights to disown her forever] my point being as you get older it gets easier, and you don't have to hide as much, but you still need to think before you do things. if someone asks, i'll say i'm wiccan, but i'm not telling everyone who walks up to me. [very long, i know, sorry]
What kind of bitch disowns their child over that its total bull shit for anyone to hate their children over that i mean really look at everyone else my cousin who goes to Catholic school all his friends do drugs and other things and my whole family is like "Oh its just some teenage thing its not going to hurt anything their just doing something stupid because their young" they don't judge him but they'd hate me well the crazy Catholic/Christian part of my family would only people who wouldn't hate me would be my mother and my other cousin
if you refer to me, my friends family's Jehovah Witness. it's shocking how well adjusted my friend is coming from such a closed off and controlling home.
