Mystical Wonders Discussion Group

Sibby · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Yorkshire, England

Do you admit to all to being a witch/wizard/occultist etc. ? ... or do you hide it from some ??

My friends are fully aware of where my beliefs lie. However, does this apply to the work place?...family members?...offspring??

Declaring ones beliefs can have drastic effects all round due to profound ignorance (and awful hollywood typecast horror B movies) of the occult! Wink

Just wondered what predujudes anyone had come up against - or not.

Blessed be Smile

Katherinanyc28 · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 273 Location: nyc

Hey sibby.......Well my family has always been spiritual and we are vodouist's. (spelling) My grandfather started very small studying rosicrucianism and became a mason. My grandma was the reader. My beliefs stem from the both of them therefore I tag myself Metaphysical Spiritualist. But growing up my father didn't approve of this nor had any belief in it. So my friends(close ones) know fully that I do spells(many kinds) and I'm a tarot reader. They have no problems with it, if anything they always let me speak more because they know sometimes its not me speaking its my spirits relaying them information. I enjoy telling people that I can read because I'm proud to have this gift. I love helping people and I believe thats why I'm the only other reader in my family aside from my grandma. Just to be clear, I don't run around telling everyone what I do. I only do it if a situation arises that I feel I can help them, otherwise I do not say. I can't always deal with ignorance, it drives me nuts lol. Be Blessed Kat

Zygos · Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 207

Hmmmm....I guess it depends.

If you were to ask me right now, I'd say anyone. Religious ppl, strangers on the street, family, friends. I guess it all comes down to how you do it though.

If your telling them to try to change them, or if your telling them just to share that you come from a different perspective, or a different belief, and that you may just not see the world the same way they do.

For me being a shaman, is just who I am. That simple.

When I started however, in those first few years, I was probably somewhat in the closet. I always wanted to be normal; to fit in with society. I often wondered where all the other ppl like myself were.

I remember being a teenager and cupping my hands below my desk, to just amuse myself with the energy flowing between them. Letting the energy stand there, and then pulling at it to feel the resistance (of it pulling my hands back together). I thought no one was noticing, until someone pointed it out, and asked what I was doing. Curiosity, or spite I probably still don't know.

So when coming out to ppl, its important to remember something: 1. Why are you telling them. If its to change them your going to be disapointed. The only person you can change in this world is yourself.

2. Their background. Depending on who they are, they will react in a certain way, be ready for redicule, or a stare like your just crazy. If they are religious, its often good to come with a persona of that your still working it out, or that its not all concrete; even if it is.

3. Be prepared for them to open up to you. As often such meetings are not just conincidence. And realize if they react violently, or seem really angry. That they may feel the exact same way, but have suppressed it, or are deeply afraid of it.

Words of caution only. May you find what you seek.

Zygos

Sibby · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Yorkshire, England

Hi

Surely Zygos your words of caution should read rather than..

"Words of caution only. May you find what you seek"

should read....

"Words of caution only. You MAY find what you seek!" Wink

No seriously, I ask only because here in the UK our Social Services have a good past track record of stigmatising pagan/occultists to the point of ,without question, removing children from their family home. (There has been a recent case on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, and more in the North of England in the past)

I myself am a teacher and know that if it was well known that I was a practicing witch I suspect maybe there would be questions from some in establishment and authority.

My parents are absolutely fine with me being me, as is my hubby - and as far as my 2 children go (aged seven & eight) we celebrate festivals and talk of reincarnation and spirits and the universe out of the norm in general (!) I am pretty much going to leave it to them how they choose their path though.

At this point informing them that I am a witch would beg the question of me having studied at Hogwarts... we'll have that discussion when they are able to more fully understand what being a witch is Shocked

With regard to playing with energy - over the past 3 years I have been doing Tai Chi and one of the aspects I have experienced is the ball of energy with the hands - I found it like repelling magnetic forces, very real. When I was in High Schooll I used to see the etheric around teachers when they stood against the blackboard (especially in Physics for some reason! maybe the darkened room (shrug))

I agree with you Kat, I don't run around telling people how I believe or pay respects to "god/goddess" (as one wouldn't if you were a Hindu or Christian I suppose) but being selective in who you tell and how much you tell them is prudent I think.

Blessed Be & peace Very Happy

Zygos · Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 207

[quote="Sibby"]Hi

Surely Zygos your words of caution should read rather than..

"Words of caution only. May you find what you seek"

should read....

"Words of caution only. You MAY find what you seek!" Wink

No my words are "may you find what you seek". The way you've phrased it is that there is only a chance of seeking, but in my perspective their is no coincidence, so thus you find what you seek; but perhaps not in the way you expected it.

As for taking my children away, or anything like that. Let them try. Free choice is indeed a choice, and there are consequences with every action. I'd prefer to die before they would take my children away, and they would have to do so before they made such an action.

Being protective is a major part of my inner nature. And the above statement was made by a much more primal side of myself. Just a note.

Zygos

Lena · Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 4 Location: midwest

Hey! If you feel as though by telling certain people it will take away from your beliefs then don't say anything.. Everyone knows in my family accept for my husbands side. They are southern babtists! LOL Could you imagine there faces hahahahaha. BUT I will add they do not think we are Christian either. Gotta' be as honest as you can. It would be wonderful to get all pagans all over the world and do some sort of wiccan/pagan march. Let everyone know that we are a peaceful and respectable religion!

Blessings,
lena

neotechmatrix2002 · Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 372

I for the most part don't really tell anyone... until recently. I'm going on 2 years since my awakening and I know when I'm right and I know what i sense is real. I trust and believe in my abilities 100%. I'm just plainly sick and tired of hiding half of me from most ppl. I just think ppl need to grow up and respect what other ppl believe. I'm pretty much calling things exactly how i'm seeing them for anyone and everyone and then eventually they'll put 2 and 2 together if i don't just come out and say it myself. I felt like i had an invisible blanket over a part of me.. this side of me was always there but no one ever knew and i'm sick of it.

mooninmygarden · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 5

I don't tell some... but if asked outright I will not deny it... it's just that many people are so closed minded they assume bad things when they hear witch... If I sense a person would be uncomfortable with this title, I simply say I live a natural lifestyle

Sibby · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Yorkshire, England

It is 'difficult' to pronounce yourself pagan or witchy or celtic or alternative. Other religions do have their demons, that they put on old belief's and this upheld by stioc institutions, organised thought!

Your term being natural is lovely - and that is how we (in an ideal world) should be

I don't deny it or display my beliefs. But pushed I will voice my thoughts.

BB
Pippa

OdinsAcolyte · Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Texas

I proclaim!!!

Zareidriel · Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 41

I keep it secret...but I'm under cover...don't want to tell some disgruntled parents I've stolen the physical being of their offspring...lol...

jemmi · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 6:08 am Post subject: Anonymity is power...

If anyone asks, I will tell them what I am (if I think they can handle it). Otherwise, anonymity is power. If they can't find you (or your sigil), define you, or predict your reactions (by what you are), they can't annoy you - or otherwise (and I am in none of the above categories you mentioned. I am essentially in a category all of my own, self-defined and developed).

And being a shadow warrior, for me I have found the element of surprise is a formidable weapon all in itself...

There's nothing like a good surprise attack or counter - or comeback - when someone (or something) undeerestimates what you actually are (as I well found out in my first encounter with Zareidriel...! lol. I was the one who had underestimated in that tangle - and got a serious butt-kicking as a result of it - which actually was a great learning experience...!).

Anyway, with what I am and what I do anonymity is power - and for me it's all about stealth...

LnL jemmi (Gridworkers : OH200)

ladyamericaneagle · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 148 Location: charlotte nc usa

Sibby seeing that you are on the other side of the pond there ask others if they have seen the telly show Charmed. They portray witches positively. If pyschic ask if they have seen the show Medium. Ask if they have read any of the Harry Potter books. All thoes things portray us in a positive light. Then say that is what I am like to a degree.

propellerseller · Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 92 Location: USA

"Once you label me, you negate me."

Sibby · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Yorkshire, England

Hi Ladyamericaneagle and others that have been good enough to reply Smile

Sorry - have been absent for a while Smile

(long rant post - sos!)

We have 'Charmed' and 'Medium' over here (very good programmes), but still there is inherent distrus with witches/pagans in the UK.

Even thought those programmes are aired - do you think that is what witches are about?

Personally I find the programmes brilliant because they are introducing witchcraft and alternate belief's into the mainstream but as a witch, the programmes barely touch on witch craft as I practice (not to say that is it how others practice Smile

and that is okay ).

I don't seem or claim to be anything but myself and am happy in what I do - BUT - where in these programmes are the elements - air, fire, water, earth, tools, basic circle casting, salt, water, pentagram for earth, use of incenses etc.... that we in the UK work with (as I find) I have to say that albeit the pragrammes are good but (for me only) do not touch on the craft as I know it.

The Harry Potter Books don't either - now I'm grinning....... one very Christian parent at school has banned her children from reading the HP books!!! ... I was dying to tell her that there was hardly any craft in there, as far as I was concerned! ... but didn't ... chicken sh*t I am (being a teacher) in the school her child was in!

I don't profess to be an expert and each persons form of the craft is absolutely valid to them as mine is to me - as it is a personal exerience/relationship to each and all which is the great thing about the craft is that there is no doctrine or rule book as such.

I personally work with the elements and my relationship with Gaia, Moon and anything etheral... plus a bit of QBL.

But unfortunately, acknowledging the diverse nature of the craft does not distract from the fact that, as pagans/ witches there is discrimination which is born from ignorance I think.

There have been instanses in the UK where discrimination has happened Could you declare yourself a witch and work in a Texan Christian School?...

Anyway - live in peace Rolling Eyes

BB
Sib

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