I'm currently dealing with two aspects of me being dragged through the dirt of being in the closet and unbeknownst to others: My beliefs and aspects of identity(gender, sexuality,etc)
I wan to purchase online some books such as The Kybalion or the Magus but... my parent's bigotry and their tool of misused Christianity, I may end up homeless or further my feelings of being unwanted/alienated/and even thoughts of anger mixed with suicidal tendaces because what would be the point of me existing if I could not do so upon my own accord?
I hope you find the determination and strength and impossible acceptance you need.
Just browsing through the forums and thought I would add this here to some of the comments.
I have never and I mean never understood why people have a burning desire or need to tell people about their practice.
I mean there are plenty of books on the internet. Works like the Sepher Yetzirah or Kyballion or whatever Hermetic Text or whatever spiritual denomination one follows can almost always be found online.
I am also pretty sure if one needs or wants a physical copy, it can be purchased through Amazon or something. I am pretty sure amazon wraps up their books in a box for delievry so why does it really matter anyway?
Going to church or some gathering? Just treat it as a social gathering and a place to have fun or something. I am not christian or catholic but I occassionally tag along with my friends to church for fun. Or just say that you don't feel like going?
They ask for you to lead a prayer? Does it really harm you? It is just a bunch of words. Like the saying goes "Stick and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me". I think this can be applied here. If an athiest can happily be a pastor as a part-time job...and it has happened..does anything like this truly matter?
None of my family members are Christian or Catholic but when our neighbours invite us over to involve us in their worship of their Diety ...we just happily hop over there and just hang out.
Unless your practice has much Ritual Work , Vibrating of Words and Chanting.....and that may cause disruption to them...is it really neccassary to inform anyone?
Maybe it was the way I was raised or something but how often does people questioning you of your faith come up?
Can someone explain to me or maybe lists some situations why one would need to inform anyone? Why would one need to inform their friends or anyone anywayz?
Leading a prayer in many christian circles is akin to being made a temporary priest of a coven. It's direct contact with a god you likely don't worship or like. My family often has me do such functions and I hate it every time. That being said, I doubt telling them would make them stop. When I was even suspected of practicing witchcraft I was subjected to an even heavier than normal dosage of the family faith. It is your choice, but sometimes the truth only makes things worse. Make your own decision though.
I'm not the best example of what to do . But when I told my family I was well researched ( or so I thought at the time) on Druidism and far better researched on Christianity in its many forms ( due to being forced to attend a private Christian school.) So I researched about the " missing link" what was hidden and missing from Christianity's beliefs. And told them I was done having there faith shoved down my throat, and not so nicely explained to them all the lies and coverups they so blindly followed ( did I say not very nicely) and how unresearched in there own faith they were ,that they held no right to force such a false faith on someone else. And then explained everything I possibly could about my new path. They were mad upset called a pastor then I threw the same at him and he confirmed much of what I had said was indeed fact, so they got off there high horses and let me be. Now we occasionally have religious debates but they are now more informed on there own religion and on mine and the force factor is gone 15 years later. Hope this helps , but I do say be careful if try my method , you must be well researched to defend yourself.
Lmao okay, none of your family or anyone who seemingly has power over you in the elder type of respect is Christian? Well mine are fanatic and bigoted, and very filled with hate so I can't even be recognized as who I really am and be loved for that by them, but you just treat it like its no big deal? Step into my shoes please and tell me the anxiety you would feel and the persecution and the awful feelings of having to live a lie just because some idiots think you need to be someone else just because they like a certain ideal. Christians and people of different faiths are great and all don't get me wrong, but there are the bad ones who turn it into a hateful and condemning thing. I know what you're saying but why can't I just be free to do as I will and make my own decisions, regardless where I am? But anyway I hope tuckster2588 finds peace and acceptance.
Just dont do it. I told my very christian parents and they are convinced i am a 'satanist' and doing it as an act of rebellion. Though i agree with some points in the satanic bible i am not a satanist and i follow a path that feels right but due to the horrid job market where i live and schooling i am forced to live with them and i am forced to go to church as a condition for living with them even though my other option is under a bridge. So if you can get away with it dont tell them. and if they ask you to pray quote the bible verse about prayer being private and to not do it in public.
"Leading a prayer in many christian circles is akin to being made a temporary priest of a coven. It's direct contact with a god you likely don't worship or like. My family often has me do such functions and I hate it every time. That being said, I doubt telling them would make them stop."
As to this part of your response , here's my thoughts on it. On some level, this can be true I agree but if it was treated as merely words with no energy,feeling and faith behind it,nothing is likely to happen and contact is unlikely to be made.
Here is a more real life example. Go up to someone and swear at him or her in a language that they do not understand while saying it gently and calmly with a smile on your face. While the words have some meaning to you and some underlying "energy" that is poured into it through millions that speak the language,the individual that you swore to would likely be unaffected.
My point being is that while words itself can have it's own underlying power and significance , it usually has little effect on it's own.
If it really bothers you that much , you can try shielding maybe so that the energy raised during it does not go anywhere?
I am personally what one can dub a "Liberal Polytheist" , in which that I acknowledge and believe that dieties exists throughout the various pantheons. While the christian diety has performed some disagreeable actions in the written documents that people have supposedly compiled , isn't that diety very big on Love and Acceptance? What is wrong with just being respectful? This question is not meant as an attack but just rather an open question. I know many other Polytheists that acknowledge dieties regardless of Pantheons but when it comes to the Christian one , balk at it.
Generally , main dieties in various pantheons have done many many disagreeable actions. The Olympians tend to sleep around and leave humans heartbroken. Zeus did not wish to give humans fire. In some accounts, Isis poisened Ra and hence found out his secret name etc. The list goes on and on and on.
@SeaGhost
It seems I have upset you with my previous posting. For that , I apologize. It was not meant to criticize anyone of their decision on coming out but rather an attempt to understand why would one even want to do so. It was also not an attempt to tell you what to do.
When I described the situation in my previous posting , it was regarding the situation where they have no inkling of your practice. If they have no inkling of your practice , why would they condemn you? Have they condemned you yet? Do they have an inkling of your practice yet? Well, you said that you were in "The Closet" in your previous posting so I assumed not.
And if you forsee a negative reaction , you can always not say anything. One of the powers of the Magus is "To be Silent". I think it can apply.
If they already have some idea and inkling of your practice and are already expressing their disapproval in a obvious faishon , then I sincerely wish you the best of luck in clearing up your situation.
I use loads of protection during the daily family devotions. And I cleanse myself and pray to my Gods afterwards. I used to be a devout Christian rather than an Omnitheist so the Christian God really likes using family devotions to pressure me back into the fold, so to speak. If my parents were made to read, recite, and pray to other, and much nicer, Gods they would whine the whole time. They say that other faiths being more welcomed is a threat to their religious freedom. In and of themselves words don't always have power, but the Christian God is very jealous and possessive, especially of those that do not belong to him. As a benefit of recovering from a surgery I at least am not dragged to church. This is the effect it has on me. I am glad it is not a problem for you because it is annoying at best. Not everyone gets affected the same way by everything. I posted mainly to offer solidarity to others who are caused problems by it. I am glad you have a good friendship with some Christians, and I do too. I think a lot of it also has to o with how staunch the Christians involved are.
Sometimes just not telling your family is not an option. Some families are very possisive and protective (will look through your history, open your mail, see who you've been talking to on your phone). And let me tell you, not being able to tell people about who you really are is soul crushing. Not being able to tell the people who you love about what you believe absolutely sucks.
I am personally in the broom closet to my family, and it is weighing on me so much. On top of all the stressors in my life, I also have to worry about being someone I'm not around my family. And that sucks because at the same time, I'm terrified to tell them.
You may not feel like you need to tell anyone, and that's understandable. I didn't feel like I would ever need to tell my family about this, but that is rapidly changing. I hate being two-faced around people I love; it makes me feel sick.
So, as advice to anyone wanting to come out about being a witch to their family: Know who you are. Know what you're talking about. Stand your ground. And be respectful. It's going to be scary, it's going to be hard, but you can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
