Is there such a thing as a closet Wiccan?

@miamilady (4910)
United States
February 1, 2008 7:23am CST
I think there are. Just as some people try to hide their homosexuality because of the way some members react to it, I believe that some wiccans may hide their beliefs because of how some people would react to it. What do you think? I have a niece who does things that, in my opinion reflect a lot of Wiccan beliefs, but she does not say that she is Wiccan. Perhaps she isn't. She may be like me, who respects all religions. Perhaps, she just leans more toward the natural, but thinking of her has made me wonder if some Wiccans are hesitant to be open about their beliefs because of how some people (ie some Christians) react to it. Please share any thoughts that you may have about this topic.
8 people like this
13 responses
@Galena (9110)
1 Feb 08
there are. there's also a lot of people that would describe themselves as being Wiccan when really they've no idea what a Wiccan really is.
2 people like this
@Galena (9110)
1 Feb 08
I do. I also consider it a formal, initiatory mystery Tradition. a lot of people who call themselves Wiccan have not had the formal training and initiation required to earn the title. it's like they've applied the term to something loosely based on it. a bit like someone calling themselves a doctor without having trained or passed the exams.
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
1 Feb 08
I'm sure that's true. It's probably tru with many religions, or beliefs. Do you consider Wicca a "religion"?
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
1 Feb 08
I think there are a lot of people hiding their religious beliefs out of fear, if those beliefs are unpopular where they live. I have never chosen to hide my own, but I've been part of pagan groups with people who weren't willing to talk about anything religious in public out of fear of being "caught" being pagan. When I was growing up, I was always being teased, punished, and even physically harmed for my religious beliefs. Being pagan in small-town Kentucky is not an easy thing. Even my great-grandmother (who taught me) was somewhat subtle about her beliefs... but of course as a child I went to kindergarten and blurted out my beliefs the first day. It didn't go so well, but I've always been happy I chose to be honest about my beliefs, despite the harm that came to me because of it. :)
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
1 Feb 08
I bet you were a handful as a child! lol It's good to be brave, sometimes. I respect people who are brave. As long as being brave doesn't put you too much in harms way. Thanks for your response!
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
1 Feb 08
I was indeed a handful as a child. I could easily spend my whole day with my nose in a book, but then as soon as someone drew me out, they were guaranteed to get more than they bargained for. I've always been strong-willed, and I always stand up for what I believe in. I can see what you mean about putting yourself in harm's way being bad, but sometimes I think it's a matter of weighing the pros and cons. I personally might have been better off if I had kept my mouth shut, but my experiences of that time have also given me a point of reference from which to help others, as well as helped me understand the importance of tolerance. Also, there are people who knew me then that have said I was their inspiration for becoming more tolerant themselves, saying things like "If you're pagan, then it can't be a bad thing". I've also heard people say that I was their inspiration to become strong in their own lives, by seeing my strength in the face of intolerance. Eh, I don't mean to sound like I'm bragging, just giving my reasons for not mourning my indiscretion.
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
1 Feb 08
I think it's great that you are so aware of your gifts and how they can (and have) affected other people. It's good that you have taught some people tollerance and that you have helped others to stand up for themselves. I hope to do that in some small way myself.
1 person likes this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
3 Feb 08
hahahah what a lovely idea, a closet wiccan. I have friends who are so faR in the closet they might as well be in Narnia, lol. However, i do think there are closet pagans, not just wiccans. Yes I do think if you have to mix with chritians you are best served by avoiding discussions involving religion (it is not that long since Christians wanted to burn us). When talking to muslims, its a good idea to be very circumspect about it, they still would like to burn us. With this in mind, I hope you can see why we are somewhat cautious about opening up over our beliefs, religions of the book either react with condemnation or want to convert us blessed be
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
3 Feb 08
I think, because I've never been that close too Wicca, I sometimes forget about things of the past, such as witch burnings. Yeah, I can understand why it would be difficult to be open about it. I know some people still feel very strongly that Wicca is evil. I imagine it's difficult to deal with that type of thinking on a regular basis. I live in a big city, where for the most part, we've learned there are all kinds of people with all kinds of beliefs. Although there is still bigotry her, I think that we couldn't survive if we all didn't have a certain amount of tolerance of eachothers beliefs. I also want to add that "tolerance" is not my favorite word. Ideally we would all, not just tolerate eachother, but respect eachother.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Feb 08
could be and to some may not think about that they are wiccan for they havent studied it. I lean toward the natural but dont know anything much about the wiccan religion. Just what I learn here. and it is very close to native American beleifs
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
2 Feb 08
I've been thinking that Wicca and Native American beliefs probably have a lot in common. Their ties to the earth, at least. I wonder what the similarities are exactly and what the differences are. Thanks for your response.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
2 Feb 08
they are alot alike with earth and nature and all and I guess the best way to find out is to ask a Wiccan that also knows alot about Indians!
• United States
5 Feb 08
Of course there are. Wiccans find it hard to be open about their beliefs because of how the public perceive them. I mean, if you were thought to be a devil worshipping, baby eating person, would you want to go around telling everyone about your set beliefs?
@littleowl (7157)
4 Feb 08
i am a practicing wiccan (witch) we keep our beleifs to ourselves mainly because the word witch is thought of as evil when it isn't-the true meaning if witch is wise woman or wise man our beleifs are with nature and the the turning of the seasons of which we celebrate just as christians celebrate easter,harvest festival and other festivals these celebrations and other celebrations were and taken from us-we are not evil we just practice a different religion and respect others who pratice theirs,we dont go around preaching to others about our beliefslike christians and we dont condemn anyone either-but way back hundreds of years ago witches were the first mid-wives and nurses they lived close to nature and knew what herbs cured different ills-but then when christianity came along that was when the 'burning times ' started so who are the evil ones?-littleowl
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Feb 08
That could be possible. If one has a belief that does not acknowledge the true God, one may go to church and yet when one gets home, one may get out the symbols, and paraphanalia of that religion. That us Christians calls hypocracy. Now I do not believe all relgions lead to heaven, and I do pray for those who practice the pagan arts because it would be confusing if all got to heaven and that would make God weak which HE is not. From what I heard of the Wiccans on myLot, though, none of them are ashamed, in fact they are proud and they turn many Christians into fraidy cat Christians who compromise their stands. So I think that she is just curious.
• United States
3 Feb 08
I guess there could be a few Wiccans who are " in the closet", especially in the " Bible belt". I think they should come out and practice their religion openly.We have freedom of religion so they are allowed to worship anything or anyone they want.
@RobinJ (2501)
• Canada
4 Feb 08
Good morning, it is possible that I am a closet Wiccan because i have tried to find out more about the Wiccan culture and have received no answers, I even had a discussion oh here and while I got answers it was that the poster was not familiar with what I was asking, and yet I know there are several Wiccans on this site, but got no help from them, I have to admit with the little I have learned from my exploring and trying to get information that I have a lot of personal belief that are the same as Wiccan, I just never had a name for them before.
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
4 Feb 08
My older daughter says she is one but I think she just does it for the attention and the fact that she likes to do things that others dont.
• United States
1 Feb 08
I believe there are 'closet' everythingers - based on the apathy of people who are for whatever reason, ashamed of what they beleive in. No matter what people live by or believe in, I think it's time people stood up for what they believed. Many people say they believe in one thing or another, but their actions speak much louder than their words. If you're gonna talk the talk then you should walk the walk - otherwise - what's the point.
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
3 Feb 08
Hi miamilady! Probably there might be some closet Wiccan, who really knows? If that is the case I could not blame them if they decide to hide because there are a lot of people who gets so judgmental. I have nothing against them. I respect their beliefs and I respect the individualities of each and everyone that I come across with. I am a Christian but I respect other people's beliefs. There are a lot of things that I can learn from different people who have other beliefs and this makes me a better person. If I will be more understanding, wiser and kinder because of other people's sharing of their beliefs then I think it is good, is it not? Just my thoughts. Take care and have a nice day! :)
@katkah (235)
• United States
5 Feb 08
I wouldn't say I'm in the closet- but I don't go sporting a neon banner above my head anouncing it to the world. I'm the only Wiccan in my family. I still attend the family holidays & events because my mother is a very intimidating woman when she wants to be & insists that I go. I do not talk openly about my beliefs to my family, and when I tried there were a few things spoken that I would rather avoid in the future. My sister tried to buy a Bible for my first child, saying that I didn't care about my baby and she needed to save her from going to Hell, since I wasn't going to. My Aunt told me I should convert back to Christianity because I was killing my grandmother by being a sinner. My mother still tried to get me to let her take my kids to Sunday School- she says it's for the socialization... yeah right. Over the past 12 years most of them have come to accept that Wicca is part of who I am, it isn't a phase, it isn't for attention, or shock value.... We've come to an understanding that it just won't be mentioned. Co-workers have tried to get me fired over it because they were afraid I was going to do some evil "witch" curses on them... Since I am alone, I tend to keep it to myself, it saves me from a lot of headaches.