Staying in the "Broom Closet"?

There are literally thousands, and thousands of Wiccans, and Witches that have been, and continue to stay hidden from society, family and even their closest friends. It's pretty sad really! But they all have their reasons. You would think that in today's world, it wouldn't be so hard to just be you .. to be who you were born to be. There isn't any another "religion" or Spiritual Path anywhere in the world that is chastised as much as we are that I can find.

The world hasn't changed much from the days of the Witch hangings and tortures of Salem, Massachusetts, to the burnings in England in the 1600's. People today have been blindsided by the Christians of the past and just go with the flow, just to fit in instead of researching the facts for themselves. The view of us today, is the same as it was in the past. Even though we have a Legal Doctrine ( The Wiccan Rede ) just as the Christians do.

In 1985 the City of New York formally recognized Wiccan clergy to perform marriage ceremonies, and the following year the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Dettmer v. Landon (1986), that Wicca was a legal religion and should be protected by the First Amendment. ( Title VII of the Federal Law recognizes “religion” broadly to include all aspects of religious observance or practice)

Although recognized as a religion by academics, some evangelical Christians have attempted to deny Wiccan's legal recognition as such. While some Wiccan practitioners themselves turn away from the term "religion" ~ associating the term purely with organized religion ~ instead favoring "spirituality" or "way of life".

So you see, although we Witches, Wiccans have the legal right to be ourselves, those around us sometimes make that unbearable due to their ignorance.

O.K. .. Now what?

For me personally, coming out of my proverbial "Broom Closet" was the best decision of my life! I was in my early 20's. I felt immediately free of everything .. ( except my bills which I wish would go away too .. LOL ) and I felt like there wasn't anything I couldn't accomplish. I did lose 99.9% of my family, and a lot of my friends, but that was completely fine too. Some of my friends and, some family remained on my "friends" list on my personal Facebook page, but I think that was to make them feel good. I believe they don't feel like they completely abandoned me by staying on the page. It doesn't bother me though. Why? Because when I do post something on my page, I'm proving to myself and them that I am NOT hiding who I am, and also that I am NOT afraid.

Since losing those family members and friends, it freed me up, and opened me up to a brand new family and many new friends who support me for who and what I am. I am never really alone. My "coming out" happened many, many Moons ago. After quite a few years of practice and study, I became a High Priestess and led my own Coven. Since then, 40 years ago, I have also become legally Ordained.

But, coming out of the Broom Closet may not be right for you and that too is perfectly fine! Don't let anyone push or try to persuade you!

If you choose to stay in the Broom Closet, there are many things you can do to keep your practice private as well. Always remember this .. It is not the tools of the Craft that make you a Witch/Wiccan, it is you! You really don't need anything but your intuition, your energy, and those you keep close to your Craft .. Your Deities, Guides, etc..

Practice in Private

Let's go over some ideas to help you practice in private.

There are many ways that you can create an altar space in your home, or if your living with family .. in your room or other space.

Whether it's your home, your closet, a dresser draw, a room in your home, or other space, find your cardinal directions .. North, South, East and West. Find some things that will fit both physically, and Correspondently to the cardinal directions.

Example of an idea using a bookcase

Here are some ideas:

For East ( usually the direction we start with for most things, and go on clockwise) ~

Elemental Correspondence is Air, so a Feather or empty vessel ( bowl, cup, chalice). The East direction is yellow and represents protection, focus, clarity, sharp precision, the mind, new beginnings, the Dawn and the power of the Sun. Traditionally an athame or sword is the magick tool used at this element on an Altar, so you can use it for representation as well.

For South ( next on our directions ) ~ Element is Earth. You can add a plant, stone or piece of wood. The South direction is deep greens and browns of the Earth and represents knowledge, strength, wisdom of the Elders, Law and personal grounding. Traditionally salt is used and the pentacle as a tool for Altar placement.

For North ~ Element is Fire. This one sounds like it could be a bit more tricky, because most people relate it to something burning, like a candle. Although candles can be used, there are other things you can use to represent North and Fire.

The North direction is red and represents sexuality, passion, birth, transformation, change, intensity, faerie realm and the imagination. It is the raw aspect of ourselves, our creative force and our ability to shed our skins. Anything you can come up with that is red, like a red ribbon, or an object that represents fertility/ life. A wand is the magick tool mostly used for the Altar.

For West ~ Element is Water. The West direction color is blue and represents the heart at its core, emotions, intuition, spirituality, dreaming and the subconscious. Traditionally a chalice is the magick tool used with this element. Symbols can be water bowls, chalices, shells, or symbols of the heart and spirituality.

For Spirit ~ The point at the top of our symbol the Pentagram ~ If you are working with, or communicating with a specific Deity, do some research and find out what you can use to represent him/her. It can be something of a color they prefer, or an item that can be placed in that position, which would be in between North and East. If you don't have a specific Deity, you can always refer to the Wiccan God or Goddess. The divine couple in Wicca, with the Lady as Hecate, the witchcraft Goddess, and the Lord as Pan, the horned God of the wild Earth. There are many paths of Wicca, such as Dianic ~ in which case they believe in the existence of only the Goddess. Some wiccans believe that the God and the Goddess are equal.

Whatever you decide, as I've said many times before .. your path, your way.

There are many places you can create a space, even if the representations are not close to each other. You can try a garden space ( plant according to the colors in the cardinal spaces ), the porch or deck of your home, your vehicle, your desk at work, pick placements in your home ~ even if it's all in different rooms.

Get creative! It's your path, and you can create your inconspicuous space(s) to suit you.

If you choose to have a Grimoire or Book of Shadows, get creative with those as well. You can disguise them as something else, and/or find good hiding places for them.

Being a Witch/Wiccan isn't about the fact that you have to do something magickal every single day. It's a way of life for most of us, and being who we are and living as we should is enough. Stirring an intention into your morning beverage is doing something magickal, and no one will ever suspect it. Praying to the Gods/Goddess/Deity of your choice in the morning/evening/any time of day, is another way to stay connected to the Craft. Waring a particular color that corresponds to a Sabbat or day of the week is another way. Taking a walk somewhere, while flicking a lighter and drinking a glass or bottle of water while the breeze blows and you are stepping in tune with Mother Earth is a creative and "no one will notice anything" is another " it's my secret" way.

In Closing

Don't ever think you are alone, even though you physically may be. There are many online groups, like mine ( NME ), where you can connect with others that are just like you. Others may be able to offer encouragement or ideas. Our energies can travel worldwide carried by air, or over the internet through electronic waves. Do not ever feel like you can't reach out to someone.

The main thing is this .. If this is the path you want to walk, this is the life you want for yourself, STAY STRONG! Get Creative! You Got this! And always know that you are loved and worthy of all you desire.

I hope this helped some of you ~

Blessed Be Always <3