Witchvox Article

Author: White Queen
Posted: January 6th. 2008
Times Viewed: 2,143

Isn't experience a funny thing?

I don't think I've ever yet (touch wood) encountered a wholly negative response to my beliefs. I was still married when I started practicing, but as by that point our relationship was deteriorating and my husband had lost interest in me, he wasn't particularly fussed over my developing belief system. He wasn't a religious or philosophical man either, so it was a never an issue.

My parents would have to be blind to not notice, I'm not obvious about being a Witch, but I do wear a pentacle, and my books on the subject and related subjects are on my bookcase in my room, and my mother especially goes in there a lot. Maybe they think it's a phase.

I deliberately haven't told them, like anyone else in my life, because I want everyone in my life to love me for who I am, not what misconceptions they may or may not have about something that is personal to me. I don't expect anyone I care about to agree with my opinions, so although there may be discussion areas where my beliefs come into play, I can discuss my views openly without getting into the whole "well, you're a Witch" situation.

All that may sound as though I'm a little ashamed of being a Witch, but in all honesty, I've rarely come across a situation where I've had to explain myself.

I work in retail, and can honestly (and thankfully) say I've never had an interview that's been influenced by my religious preference. On a couple of occasions I have served fellow Pagans as customers - I've spotted them a mile off because they're there in beautiful velvet flowing robes and have gigantic pentacles or crystals hanging from their necks - which is fine, they're on their personal time and can dress how they like.

But there I am in my suit and the only obvious giveaway of my faith is my pentacle (about the size of an English penny) on a chain around my neck with a gemstone pendant that I made myself and an angelic talisman. It isn't always obvious, and some of the sisters I've served have always looked straight in my eyes, and noticed the pentacle later.

I'm not saying that guys always look straight at women's breasts, but usually the brothers I have served comment on my array of pendants first - the most recent was "That's an interesting collection of crystals; the large one is a citrine isn't it?"

It frustrates me a little when I get asked things like that when I'm at work because it's such a fast-paced environment I haven't got time to talk. For example, the guy who asked about the citrine - I'd have loved to have a chat with him, about crystals and/or anything else, but sadly at work I can't. I often feel like I'm being rude because I have to move on to the next customer or job. Time is money, after all.

So if anyone I have served is reading this, I apologize sincerely if I seemed abrupt or hasty.

However, the guy at work isn't the only guy who's shown interest in my pendant.

The man I'm attached to now once asked me what everything on my chain was - what the pentacle means, what the crystals are and why do I wear them, and what's the angelic talisman. I was honest, but cautious in my explanation; this was the first time I was being asked by a non-Pagan who didn't know me.

I was terrified of influencing his opinion of me in a way I didn't want it go - I didn't want this to be the first negative reaction ever and lose a guy I really, really liked because of my faith, or rather any possible misconceptions of it. And the cautious honesty seemed the best way to go.

I explained that I'm a Witch and told him the basics of what that means, taking great care not to launch into preaching-mode (that's something I've never done and hopefully never will, but when you have so much passion inside about something so huge, it's easy to forget the boundaries and not realize you've gone into overdrive).

I explained simply that the pentacle is a universal symbol of the Universe, and is really no different to a Christian showing reverence by wearing a cross, or a Jew wearing the Star of David etc. I explained that the crystals are to help with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and that the angelic talisman is for good luck.

By the time I'd said all that I was a lovely shade of crimson (I have fair skin, so I blush easily), and his reaction?

"OK, cool."

I thought I'd blown it, but no, he still wanted to know me. I still to this day give thanks to the Lord and Lady on that one.

Since then, we've not really discussed either of our beliefs because it's not something that comes up very often. And when anything does, I usually get all coy and shy, going back to that first time, but he gently encourages me to say what I'm thinking and I'm slowly growing in confidence.

I don't expect him to become a Pagan or anything, but hopefully the more we do discuss the more he'll learn and the less cautious I'll feel. The one thing that meant the world to me recently though, was when he said to me "they're your beliefs and I respect them."

My heart soared when I read those words (we were talking by text as he was away at the time). Having a Pagan partner might be helpful, but isn't essential. I have personal proof!

All that remains to mention are my friends - some know, some don't.

It's actually quite fitting that I'm a Witch because in my circle of close friends, there is: a Protestant Christian, an atheist, a Jehovah's Witness, two Catholic Christians, a Taoist and three who are spiritual but have no defined path.

Again, it's not something we talk about often. We all get on, know how to have a good time together, and our various religious backgrounds actually bring variety to any debates, rather than cause conflict.

If any of my friends were to ask me about my faith, I would tell them what they wished to know, but because of the closeness, trust and innate understanding that comes with true friendship, it's never yet come up and probably never will.

So, I'm getting there, one step at a time, as we all do.

I think my biggest problem is that I know deep down that those who truly love me will respect my beliefs and opinions regardless of whether they agree or not, as I do theirs; but I have an innate fear of opening up about it because I'm always so eager to please (a trait that shows up quite clearly in both my Western and Chinese horoscopes).

Hopefully, with the help of the Lord and Lady, and my fella and friends, I'll learn to accept that those who love me do so unconditionally, and that ultimately we all believe in the same thing.

We just have our own perception of what that is and how to relate to it, which is as unique as ourselves.

ABOUT...

White Queen

Location: Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England

Website: http://thecraftofthewise.mywap.o2.co.uk

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