to those of you younger pagans...how did you tell your family? were they supportive or were you outcasted. see i come from a pretty religious family and i just want to know all the possible outcomes when i tell them
I never said out right per say, they just noticed I was getting into it. Dragging them round the museum of witchcraft was a bit of a give away It's never been an issue really. My mother is a holistic theraphist so she embraces new age things like that. Doesn't exactly understand everything, but is pretty cool with it. My Dad is very rational and conservative, he probably thinks it's all bollocks. Though is gracious enough to keep quiet. I just work on a need to know basis. They know I've got an altar and not to put things on it, but otherwise I just get on with it. We aren't a religious family. Well my brother and I were baptised but basically left to our own devices. (He's agnostic BTW) I think really we're humanists and the Christianity is for social convention. Good luck
It was obviously easier for me, being older. My mother passed on a few years ago and the eldest sister is pretty much the matriarch now(mostly sisters left so we're both in a matriarchal system! Yay!). Anyhoo. she's an episcopal minister (American for CofE) and of course the first thing she asked us is if we had celebrated Beltaine, to which we answered yes. Now, I'm not quite sure what she thinks goes on at a Beltaine gathering, but she's been rather standoffish ever since. And when CeltGrrl and I asked her to perform a Xtian ceremony at our handfasting this summer, for the benefit of our Xtian relatives, she bowed out. So I'm guessing she thinks there is unfettered sexual deviancy amongst all in our clan until all are exhausted. And that, of course, would mean that everyone in my family thinks that by now. Come to think of it, it's not a bad thing, perhaps I'll have a little breathing room for a time...
Most of my family doesn't know and I wish that they did, my sister is a witch also so it helps to have someone in my family that understands, but my dad is very closed-minded when it comes to religion, christianity is the only way that's right with him, my mom is very opened-minded and has known from the very beginning (when I was 12) that I've had a very strong intrest in wicca, she has no problem with it at all, my brother knows and could care less, but if my dad ever found out he'd kill my sister and I, It really sucks that I can't talk to him about it. My fiance's parents will also never find out, they are super religious and would probably have a heart attack if they knew, they'll probably fiqure it out eventually but I'm not telling them, lol. My fiance knows and although he wasn't too thrilled at first (because he had bad experiances dealing with withcraft) he has supported me all the way. I just wish I could be open with everyone about my spiritual journey.... oh well maybe later in life things will change.....
I'm kind of in the same boat, wooden_bead.... my parents aren't too keen on it, but especially my dad.
It was pretty easy with my parents, or my mother actually, cause my dad didn't know I was alive, him sleeping on that couch all day... My parents came from Poland where Catholicism is definately tinged with folkways and such, so I just outwardly built on that... The healing qualities of amber is a huge part of Polish culture, so I started wearing lots more of it, and started talking to my aunt about the chamomile she grew in her garden. She then started talking to me about Dozynki, the Harvest Festival (right around Lammas, hmmm....!) It just kind of snowballed, but they were a little upset when I stopped attending Mass. They totally understood the Goddess part though, since at least in my family, we usually dealt with the Virgin Mary rather than god or Jesus ever...
My parents don't care....they are pretty open minded but my husbands parents think I am a freak and worship the devil! Its soooo irritating! They are hardcore Xians and so their way is the "only" way. She even sent me a baby jesus figurine this year for Xmas.... I called her up and totally let her have it.... So disrespectful! Baby Jesus went back to the store and I traded it in for an insence holder with some insence lol~
My parents were supportive, they did ask alot of question (some which I thought, "wow what the heck?") But mostly since I do it in private and never really bring it up 2 my friends or family it's cool. They understand my link 2 paganism(that's wrong isn't it) and my different beliefs. (fyi-I'm not offically anything just a mix ) Hope that helps.
My dad was brought up in a christian family (although he never believed), my mum an agnostic family. They always told me they would be happy with whatever religious choice I made. As you might guess, when I did make a choice, they were less than happy, mainly due to having brought into all the media bullshit. Dad said he'd let me get on with it but he'd kill me if I ever got any tarot cards Cause he didnt want me pulling the Death card 'cause it means your gonna die!' Anyways, this was when I was 17, their more accepting now, but dad still likes to make 'funny' jokes about my path. for example, I have a teddy that I still sleep with that my girlfriend gave me (yes I'm 21 and sleep with a teddy, so what? ), and somehow his head managed to come off. Dad kept asking if I'd bitten it off as a sacrifice :$ My grandparents dont care, but my aunty and uncle are convinced I'm going to hell and ty to convert me every time I'm round there (hence they very rarely see me)
