Hey everyone on spellsofmagic.Grg here.I would just like to say to those who keep magick a secret from family,friends,etc.Just because your family,etc have a different religion,they need to accept you for who you are.Remember its your life and ways.Don't be afraid.Just tell them its your choice not theirs.You have your own religous freedom and they have theirs.Go out and show it.Wear your pentagram if you are a pagan,wiccian,satanist,etc.Wear a star a david if your a jew.Its ok to tell every and anyone.I will put a lot a stress off of you.Beleive me,bless be.I just wanted to say this,because I have been seeing a lot of people who keep magick a secret lately.I hope this do you all well.
I agree, I've been wearing my "triangle"(was a pentagram) for over 4 years now and I must say at first I would tuck it when around certain family, or people I feel have a view contrary to mine, but you may be suprised at how easily it can boost your resolve. Believe me, :D
A lot of the ones that hide there religion are teenagers and parents may ground them and take their phones and/or computers from them. I assume that they just don't want to get into trouble. Of course I was an unruly teenager and they would NOT take my cell or laptop! But now that I'm almost 28, I think I would have told them and showed them what it really is about. I wear my pentagram at all times and I'm very proud to be the better person I have become because of my religion.:)
Some of us keep our magic use a secret for other reason. I myself am no frightened teenager. I'm a 30 year old woman with a son of my own. I still keep magick a secret from my family and I am more comfortable that way. It has nothing to do with me being afraid.
My family is conservative. I am not afraid of what they think, I am my own person... but I do care about my family and I do not want to make them unhappy. Some kinds of people are happier not knowing everything. It does happen.
I understand the point you are trying to make, but can you please be more respectful toward other people's lives that you don't understand? I have no issue with people who don't want to hide their magick use, but there are reasons other than fear that some of us continue to do so.
While i appreciate the sentiment and i personally understand the freedom in being able to express your views, as others have stated, this is not a realistic possibility for all.
Having religious freedom is a privilege that others do not have. When making broad statements regarding all sorts of lifestyle and social choices, it is always wise to evalute whether or not one is being sensitive to others who might not share certain privileges such as class, race, sexual preference, gender orientation, religion, education, physical and mental abilities, etc.
Reemeber also that minors, by law, are under the control of their parents - and this includes religious practice. Your parents can force you to go to church, etc. They can't force you to think a certain way, but they can prevent you from owning books, wearing jewellry, setting up altars, and meeting with others to practice magic/religion.
For some teenagers it is very risky to go against their parents' wishes, and they may risk being thrown out of the house or otherwise making their lives much, much harder. In these instances, that are not as rare as one would wish, coming out of the broom closet may not be well advised until they are older, if ever.
Other people live in conservative areas where they risk social shunning, problems in their family, marriage, work and school environments, problems for their children, etc. by being open about their religious beliefs.
There are some people from other coutries that risk physical harm from being open about their beliefs.
I am glad you and others have found peace by practicing your craft openly. I share a vision for the future where all people have this privilege. But for now, it is a privilege, and one that is not shared by all. Therefore people must weigh their decision to be open very carefully, and us as a community MUST support them, regardless of their choice.
Everyone has reasons for keeping magick a secret or telling people and in the end it's a personal choice. I'm a strange guy. I can at times without meaning to upset someone and can have a temper, but I have for years done things that made me umcomfortable to keep other people happy from lying about my magick side of my life to getting hurt attempting to do something I didn't want to and doing it while hurt to keep a family member happy. I will admit I fear people's reactions, but I fear disappointment more than anything as my family worries for my soul as it is (Hate going to church and such). I know this post got a bit personal, but posts like yours can lead to personal replies. As the saying goes everything isn't black and white some of us live in a grey area.
I agree that we all have reasons.I use to keep magick a secret from my family for 5 years,but told my grandmother and I felt happy I told the truth.Also your right LdyGry;however,no one has the rights to control people's religion,etc because its our life and our ways.
I can understand why some adults do so now that I have been a member for a while. Some people don't want their families to take their children away or look down on them. It's their right and we all support that. Good Luck!:)
Grg that simply doesnt work. Until you move out, pay your own bills and are an adult your parents can control that. If they dont want you practicing you should respect their wishes.
