Welcome to Gaia! ::

I am publicly pagan. I tell people whenever I'm asked about my religion. Usually people are either interested or don't care--though my parents like to taunt me or try to convert me and my teachers don't recognize the fact that anyone who isn't from a country that has english as a second language can be anything but Christian.

I refuse to hide what I believe. I wear several things with a pentacle on them on a regular basis(a silver and black pentacle belt buckle and a black sweatshirt with an earthtone pentacle being the most worn), and speak openly on issues of philosophy, magic, energy work, and the afterlife. People either accept this or stay the ******** away from me. I don't care which, to be honest, and have generally recieved good response from friends. I have had a few friends that made jokes about it, but nothing malicious or a personal attack or anything, so I tolerate it. I get treated badly for it sometimes by strangers, mostly who simply fear it, and my mother has a problem with my beliefs as well, seeing as she's very christian, though also very much a hypocrite.

Can I ask where in Utah?

Are you openly Pagan? How open are you?

Yes, I don’t go out shacking hands saying “Hi I’m pagan, what are you?” but yes, I usually wear a medium sized pentacle necklace in plain view and if someone asks I tell them truthfully.

Have you had any positive or negative experiences?

Yes, both, it’s brought some friendships together, strengthened other friendships and has caused a great many family problems. My mother stopped seeing me as her daughter when I told her and the abuse got so bad with her my dad took me out of the house and I lived with a friends family for a 2nd time for a while until moving into my grandmothers and paying rent. Now my family lives in denial, they tell me they don’t want to hear about it and then pretend it’s not so, which is their choice, I don’t mind not bothering them with my beliefs and listening to them go on and on about theirs. rolleyes And I’ve been able to have some enjoyable debates with some Christians who also took enjoyment out of them. whee

How do you deal with questions or even bias that you encounter from people you do or do not know?

Patience, thankfully one of my best qualities when it comes to narrow-minded and/or hateful people. Patience and politeness makes them look bad if they over react and you don't. 3nodding For example:

When I politely declined receiving a mini bible from this teenage couple they commented on an onyx pendant I was wearing and asked what it was for, I replied with a smile “It’s an onyx and my boyfriend gave it to me. It’s for protection.” The guy replied “God is all the protection you need.” My response was “Don’t worry I know that God and the Goddess are there to protect me.” I said it very cheerfully and politely too ^_^ The girl looked surprised and the guy angry, he ordered her to leave with him and she looked at me and kindly said “I’ll prey for you.” and I said “Thank you. But I’m not in need of it.” And then I returned to what I was doing since I was working the cash register at work! Lol

But if I can, and they are open minded even in the slightest I try to make them understand and usually end up surprising people by diminishing the lies that they’ve been told. biggrin

I don't speak for all but I find it strange you would think it might be taboo for you to post. Some of your beliefs are similar and you experience the types of problems we do for our different beliefs so in conclusion to this I find your input most welcomed here and in all other threads just as anyone else’s Hun.

Well, I am an open pagan and really won't hide it. however, I don't just jump out and cream "hey eveeryone I'm Pagan, jump to conclustions!" I just do what I normally do and if people ask me I tell them honestly and calmly. I try to inform people when given the chance but many times (espespecialy at school, I get a lot of people who still give me the whole "you a satanic devil worshiper, go to hell" bit. these people I tend not to pay attention to or at least try not to draw anger from it. insted I normally turn it into satire or cynisism.

for example. one day, I had a girl whom her and I previously had a bit of a beef anyway(she reported me to the principal on certain "non ethical(more like non christian) beliefs of mine (which included a zippo in my shoe) and had me suspened. when I came back, I found out she did it to get revenge on me for turning her in(she told aother teacher to "******** OF" and I gave the teacher her name). she had a flamible item with her this day and saw another boy playing with a lighter(my lighter is never out) and she did nothing. well me and this boy are freinds so I begin talking to him about her contradicing and hypocritical ways. she over heard me and pushed me into my chiar screaming...

" well your not going to phase me, cuz you a little devil worshiping mother F**king little c**t A** b**H and your gonna go to heel and burn ing the eternal fires of you F**king sin, cuz that stuff dosn't phase me(all while trowing herself around the room and in my face)

I looked at her and begian to laugh.I told her "well aperently, I sure didn't "phase you", I didn't phase you just now to have a tantrum.(then I chukle) and if your right and I do go to hell I Guess I'lll have fun with my zippo down there won't I. see I turned a bad situation somewhat funny. rolleyes

Are you openly Pagan?
Yeah I am. I've been Pagan for nearly 2 years now.

How open are you?
I'll wear my pentangle all the time whether it's visible or not. On rare occassions I've deliberatly hidden in on my person, like if I'm going into a catholic church or when I first met my boyfriends Catholic grandmother.

Have you had any positive or negative experiences?
Yeah, I've had loads. My boyfriend loves that I'm Pagan, he'll ask me all sorts of questions. He thinks it's awesome that I've found a religion by simply looking with an open mind. It's made us closer I think.
I also went to Salem in the summer with my family, it was cool that they let me go there even if it was only for a few hours. They knew that the history of that town would maybe help them understand the myths and help them see the differences.
My Aunt who's very Christian bought me a Yule box for Christmas and made sure I got proper Yule cards from the Scottish section of my family. It was kinda touching. I've still got those cards.

How do you deal with questions or even bias that you encounter from people you do or do not know?
If it's in my favour I'm very happy about it, lol. But I guess you mean the negative stuff. My ex-boyfriend was a bit cautious of it, but I just explained the reality of it to him. That's what I do to people who ask, I just explain it as best as I can. People I associate with (being a drama student an' all) tend to be interested in my point of view and rarely judge people by that sort of stuff. So I guess I'm lucky I don't get more stick for being myself.