Something that comes up quite frequently when I\’m talking with practitioners, new and experienced alike, is the struggle of appearances. Like many other aspects of one\’s self, the practice of witchcraft can be a private and sometimes taboo subject. Many people aren\’t in an environment where their beliefs will be readily accepted. In many cases, I\’ve heard from people who have been shunned, harassed, discriminated against, and even flat out cast out for their beliefs. Even those witches that are in a safe and accepting environment can still feel the pressure and anxiety associated with letting your secret be known. After all, once the moonlit, black cat is out of the bag, there\’s no going back.
On the other side, paganism is not like many other religions, in that, we aren\’t evangelical. We don\’t have a need to go out and convert everyone to our way of life, so it doesn\’t need to be a very vocal thing. The only real outreach we typically do is to show outsiders that we\’re not the monsters they think we are and to show undercover insiders that we are here and that they are not alone.
Still, even without a need to be exhibitionists, it still feels good to be your true self, publicly. It can still be harmful to your mental well being to conceal a part of yourself. So what do we do? How, in this modern society do we tell the world that we believe in spirits, and energy, and crystals… How do we be who we choose to be without torpedoing our place in the world? It\’s a big question, and there are many different answers to this. I will tell you the answer that works best for me and maybe it will be the one that works for you.
I don\’t wear guyliner, though I think I look pretty badass in it. I don\’t wear black nail polish, though I would prefer to. I have tattoos and piercings because they are becoming more widely accepted and don\’t really scream witch. I DO wear a pentacle necklace or at times a crystal, because these are tools that I will not deny myself, even to keep the peace. I don\’t practice witchcraft publicly unless I am around like minded or curious people, or those in dire need. I don\’t flaunt my craft to those who don\’t ask unless I detect they may be one of us. Even then, I approach with caution and subtlety. The short version is I am a witch but I do as the Romans so much as it does not interfere with my craft.
The world has come along way since the witch-hunts. No one will execute me for being a witch. My family is not in danger. But, being open about your craft may cause you to be passed over for promotions. It may cause others to gather against you. I don\’t care what people think of me, but I know if a group of people are sitting around bad mouthing me for my craft, it is creating negative energy that will linger on them. Even though I didn\’t put that energy on them, I had the chance to prevent it. I want to make sure that I don\’t ever have to look back and see myself as the cause of unwarranted negativity.
Now I will always respect my true self. I do not hide who I am, even if I don\’t flaunt it. I will never lie about being a witch. I will never put my craft at jeopardy for the sake of blending in. I simply, will not put my place in the world at risk just to be able to wear my paganism on my sleeve. My friends all know I am a witch. My family knows. Several of my coworkers know. But anyone meeting me in passing would likely have no idea unless they noticed my pentacle.
This has kept me in a peaceful and happy equilibrium. It would be nice to become the goth vampire warlock I see inside, but that\’s not the right call. Just like it would be nice to eat that whole Chili Tater Casserole, but that too would be unwise. All things in moderation. All things with discipline. All things with balance.
Also, just a side note, remember we have an undue bad reputation amongst normies. When you\’re in public, especially if you\’re wearing your pentacle, baphomet, maid mother and crone, or what have you, try to be extra polite. Hold doors open, say sir and ma\’am, please and thank you. Don\’t leave messes for others to clean up. This is really just saying to be a decent human being, but we have a bad rep working against us. Let\’s disprove the stereotypes through radical kindness