Witchvox Article

Author: Aislinn Elderflower
Posted: July 10th. 2011
Times Viewed: 4,159

By now I'm so used to those odd looks I get when people ask me my religion. I simply smile and say "I'm pagan" or if I'm in a witty mood I just grin and say, "I'm a witch".

Growing up I was introduced to Paganism by my mom. My favorite child hood memories are going to the store to buy white sage with her and smelling all the incense and looking around at all the herbs and crystals. The shop owner used to smile at me and tell me I had angels all around me.

My parents are both Pagan. I'm lucky that they are because I know several witches who have parents that did not take their beliefs well. I was never discriminated against until middle school. Kids were too young to have opinions on religion before.

My first experience with feeling like people disapproved of me being a witch was with my close friend. She was very Christian and felt strongly about her beliefs. I was in one of my classes with her and the topic of religion came up. When I was asked what religion I was I said Pagan. Her face turned ghostly white and she stuttered asking what it was.

I replied saying it was hard to explain in a few sentences but I gave her the gist of things. She still looked so troubled. Later on in the week I was told by another one of my very close friends that she had a discussion with the girl and she said that what I believed in was evil and I needed to be saved or I was going to Hell and several other statements that left me shocked. I had never felt so bewildered in my life. All I could think was "How was anything that I described evil?"

I would have never said anything like that about another person, no matter what their religion is. In the end her and me drifted apart because I couldn't get over the fact that every time she looked at me there was disgust in her eyes. After a few more similar situations I realized that I shouldn't worry so much about what other people thought of me being a witch. They had an opinion, and I had mine. I just didn't try to force feed my ideas to them like they did to me.

Most of my close friends now are supportive, and some even find it cool that I'm a witch and love asking questions about it. Some have even asked my mom to give them tarot card readings. There are still those times when I get the wide-eyed expression and the blurted out question "do you believe in the devil?" or the rude statements saying I'm wrong to believe what I do. I've learned to shrug off criticism and go along my merry way.

Another thing I have to deal with at school is the annoying taunting. I've been asked where my broomstick was and if I had a pointed hat at home. People have even asked me if I could light things on fire with my mind or turn people into toads. I understand the curiosity, but why are people so rude about it? I don't make fun of their religions or tease them about it, so why isn't mine taken seriously like theirs?

Now I normally just say a clever response and walk away. I've had people tell me to just not share about being a witch to avoid any criticism or conflict, but honestly, I'm too darn proud to hide it. I'm proud of what I believe in and I refuse to hide it just because people are immature and foolish about it.

I try not to get into arguments with ignorant people, so I just lightly debate and stop if it gets too heavy. Just the other day I was discussing the gay rights act being passed in New York with this boy that I go to school with. He kept saying how wrong it was for the same sex to be together, and that god made males and females so they could be together. I kept telling him that humans are souls and that we have bodies. We are not our bodies and we fall in love with the soul, not the body. He refused to actually take in the words that I was saying and was set on what he said, so of course I just gave up after awhile realizing it was pointless to argue with a stone wall.

It gets rather annoying dealing with so many close-minded people in the world. I don't understand why so many of them are just naturally mean to one another for reasons as simple as being a little different or unique. I see it in school all the time.

I'm so thankful I was raised the way I was and I'm not the way I see most kids are. It's great being different. I was never one for fitting in anyways. For all the teen witches that feel as though they're alone, you're not. There are thousands of us out there going through exactly what you are, even though it might seem like you're the only one.

Growing up, I really hope I meet more people like me, because sometimes it's hard considering I don't live near any teen Pagans and it can get lonely. But you know what? I love being a witch and I wouldn't change it for the world. I am so proud of my mindset and all that I've learned in this life. A few ignorant people will never stop me from believing and participating in something that I absolutely love.

I am fifteen, I am a witch, and I couldn't be happier with that.

ABOUT...

Aislinn Elderflower

Location: Rochester, New York

Author's Profile: To learn more about Aislinn Elderflower - Click HERE

Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE

Email Aislinn Elderflower... (Yes! I have opted to receive invites to Pagan events, groups, and commercial sales)

Home - TWV Logos - Email US - Privacy

News and Information

Chapters: Pagan/Heathen Basics - Pagan BOOKS - Traditions, Paths & Religions - Popular Pagan Holidays - TV & Movies - Cats of the Craft - Festival Reviews - Festival Tips - White Pages (Resources) - Issues/Concerns - West Memphis 3 - Witch Hunts - Pagan Protection Tips - Healing Planet Earth

Your Voices: Adult Essays - Young Pagan Essays - Pagan Perspectives (On Hold) - WitchWars: Fire in the Craft - Gay Pagan - Pagan Parenting - Military - Pagan Passages

Pagan Music: Pagan Musicians - Bardic Circle at WitchVox - Free Music from TWV

Vox Central: About TWV - Wren: Words, Wrants and Wramblings - Guest Rants - Past Surveys - A Quest for Unity

Weekly Updates: Click HERE for an index of our weekly updates for the past 6 years

W.O.T.W. - World-Wide Networking

Your Town: A Link to YOUR Area Page (The largest listing of Witches, Pagans, Heathens and Wiccans on the Planet)

VoxLinks: The Pagan Web: 8,000 Listings

Your Witchvox Account: Log in Now - Create New Account - Request New Password - Log in Problems

Personal Listings: Pagan Clergy in Your Town - Adult Pagans - Young Pagans - Military Pagans

Events: Circles, Gatherings, Workshops & Festivals

Covens/Groups/Orgs: Local Groups Main Page

Other LOCAL Resources: Local Shops - Regional Sites - Local Notices - Global/National Notices - Local Skills & Services - Local Egroups - Political Freedom Fighters

Pagan Shopping: Online Shops Index - Original Crafters Sites - Auction Sites - Pagan Wholesalers - Pagan Local Shops

Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2013 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.

Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.

Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.

Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.

Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.

Witches, Pagans
of The World

Current Topic
Editorial Guide

NOTE: The essay on this page contains the writings and opinions of the listed author(s) and is not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Witches' Voice inc.

The Witches' Voice does not verify or attest to the historical accuracy contained in the content of this essay.

All WitchVox essays contain a valid email address, feel free to send your comments, thoughts or concerns directly to the listed author(s).