Do you feel confined to the broom closet when it comes to your beliefs? As I began to write this article I started to wonder if this was actually such a bad thing. Yes, if we view the “broom closet” as a hiding place, it can make what we keep there feel wrong or bad, and this is NOT good. But if we think of it as a special place to store away the personal things that are sacred to us, it can be a beneficial thing. This is especially true when others do not understand the true meaning or value of what is kept there.
For those wanting to step out of the broom closet, we have the following suggestions:
For those who are under 18 and/or living with someone that forbids the practice of Wicca or other Pagan paths in their home, please respect their wishes. You can privately study other religions or paths until you turn 18, or until you move into your own place. At this point you will be free to openly follow the path you feel is best for you without causing so much stress to those around you.
Note: This article contains scripture quotes simply as reference for those who are trying to discuss beliefs with Christian friends or family.
If you walk a non Christian path, sooner or later someone will try to tell you that no matter how good a person you are, you can still be sent to hell. To most, this just sounds absurd! Even many Christians who teach this doctrine have trouble understanding or explaining it.
Do you think casting spells is hard or complicated? Have you avoided this aspect of Wicca because you were worried you’d make a mistake? Perhaps you tried casting a spell in the past that simply did not work and now you think spell casting is something that only happens in the movies.
In this modern age, we can communicate with most of our friends and family instantly. We relay messages by phone, text or Internet posts and in most cases, a response is immediate. Easy, fast and clear communication is what we expect today, no matter what part of the world we are trying to connect with. The Goddess is not a world away from us. Most agree that the Divine is WITHIN us and can be found in everything around us as well. So why then, do so many feel disconnected from a force that resides within them?
If your life was a garden, would it be full of weeds and unwanted pests or would it be overflowing with flowers and nourishing gifts from your Mother Earth? Negative thoughts and energies are like weeds in the garden of life. They pop-up everywhere and seem to grow much faster than the positive things we actually want to cultivate. Most of us feel like we are constantly battling weeds.
Note: Due to seasonal differences, these celebrations are reversed in the southern hemisphere and Beltane activities would be appropriate there. Visit our Sabbat Calendar page for more information on celebrating Beltane.
Sunset on Samhain (October 31) is the traditional beginning of the Celtic New Year. This is the time of year our ancestors gathered the last harvest and brought the animals in from the fields. Today, few of us need to worry about harvesting crops or tending to animals. However, we can still honor this special Pagan Holiday through a number of traditional activities.
Note: Due to seasonal differences, these celebrations are reversed in the southern hemisphere and Samhain activities would be appropriate there. Please visit our Sabbat Calendar page for more information on celebrating Samhain.
April 30th | May 1st The May pole was a focal point of the old English village rituals. People would rise at the first light of dawn to go outdoors and gather flowers and branches to decorate their homes. Women traditionally would braid flowers into their hair. Men and women alike would decorate their bodies. Beltane marks the return of vitality, of passion.
Like so many others, I grew up surrounded by Christian friends and family. Thus, when I was introduced to Wicca and Witchcraft in 1997. I had a lot of misinformation to deal with before I could truly embrace these paths.
As I connected with Wiccans and Witches around the world, I discovered a warm, open-minded and very tolerant group of people. Some shared their love of aromatherapy, herbs or gardening with me, while others enjoyed talking about their connection with animals. Virtually everyone enjoyed the outdoors and had a deep respect for our Mother Earth. Contrary to what I had been taught in church, I found no “evil” in their beliefs or practices.
