being pagan

Leanne - posted on 06/21/2011

being careful about what i say and how i say it....much of my family simply would not understand, and i don't need the stress and tension. so i'm careful about how i phrase things....and i really wish i didn't have to be!

Misty - posted on 03/01/2009

The challenge of getting as much information out about how I am NOT a Satanist before the other person shuts down and freaks out.

Cherie - posted on 02/10/2009

Concentrate on the beauty of being one with nature, it's yours, it belongs to you!.

Wendy - posted on 01/14/2009

I tend to bitemy tounge when i get people spouting rubbish. I have a lot of chirtian friends and there respectful of my beliefs as i am with theres. Also this is going to sound weird and i mean no offense but a lot of people think paganism is just wicca when its so much more. So they get confused when i explain to them that i am not a wiccan i'm a chaote. They then ask what that is and get een more confused LOL. Also when people make the comparisons between harry potter and charmed. I do laugh at it now and politely explain to them that its a tv show/film.

Tammy - posted on 01/13/2009

I'd like to be more open in my pagan beliefs than I am.  I have a fear of reprocussions on my children from teachers and other parents.  I fortunately have a great group of friends who accept me for who I am and for what I believe and I feel that is very important.  My parents have a hard time understanding.  I can't even tell my dad as he will have no patience for it and probably send me away.  That part is hard as I am still the same person I always was and will always be.  The only difference is that I feel my religion enhances my life and makes me more tolerant of other people.  It would be so nice to come up with a term that doesn't scare people.  So basically the hardest part for me is the fear and the feeling of having to hide who I am.

Lucy - posted on 12/03/2008

I agree with all of you on that ! People's misconceptions are what make it the hardest. that and keeping quiet LOL I have done some big ones let me tell you. When you tell people that paganism is the European equivalent to first nations spirituality (thanks Pete path finder Davis for that definition) they tend not to know what to say though. :) it strips away most arguments; of coarse you will always even get those who think that anything other than Christianity is wrong. Really those people tend to go away if you give them nothing to work with.

Carole - posted on 11/29/2008

I find it's being judged!if you mention your a pagan to an ignorant few they do honestly believe that you are a satanist! I had the local vicar phone up my new next door neighbour telling her i was going to possess her children!, luckily me and my neighbour are now good friends and i ignored the nonsense talking vicar! I also find that many don't take paganism seriously,i get called winnie the witch by my parents and had an arguement about xmas trees because i just happened to mention they were originally a pagan tradition! but apart from that they now accept it's part of my life after 8 years!Alot of my friends are interested in what i do even though they are not pagan themselves. There is always going to be misunderstandings because it's not as open as other religions and people seem to get scared of things when they don't understand them fully.

Elizabeth - posted on 11/25/2008

Finding good (moral and ethical) books and movies for my kids that aren't dripping with christian themes and or bias. I've never had trouble with people, beyond an occasional ignorant statement. I've been a public pagan since I was 18. It was even on my dog tags in the army.

Renee - posted on 11/22/2008

I find the most difficult part is being a minority and having to "feel people out" before letting them know I am Pagan. I live in a small farming community that is predominately Catholic so you can imagine the difficulties. I am jealous that Christians are able to openly discuss their religious beliefs with no fear of repercussions for themselves or their children, and I have to tread very carefully on how much I divulge.

Kateryn - posted on 11/20/2008

im the same its probably keeping my mouth shut especially when told im a satanist and evil :S thats probably something i find really hard as im generally a very outspoken person. im blessed to have so many understanding accepting friends though they are very understanding about it all and ive had no problems there once they get past the initial questions :)

Jesse - posted on 11/19/2008

And in the spirit of fairness and honesty I will go first

The hardest for me is... keeping my big mouth shut at the right moment. And saying what I have to say at the right moment. A very dear lady i have known for quite a long time recently discovered my paganess (though how she could have missed is beyond me because I do have a somewhat big mouth and all kinds of things are constantly falling out of it,especially my paganisms) She was very shocked. And dismayed!

" But dear" she says to me" I thought you beleived in GOD!" I really had bite down hard on the inside of my cheek to keep from sounding terribly offended when i responded. But respond I did , with out offense , when I explained to her that I beleive DEEPLY, just not in the same way she does. The temptation was there to respond to all the narrow minded ignorant bigots I have encountered in my life and not the dear sweet innocent lady stand before me