BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Wicca Hoping to add you to my research!

I hope you don't mind my popping into this forum to do a little research for something (fiction) I'm writing. I'm trying to learn from as many sources as possible.

I was wondering three things. First, what, if any, aspects of your religion are represented in your home, things that an outside observer would see.

Two, how do you deal with mixed-religion marriages?

Three, if you lived in a nation where, in order to have full privileges of citizenship, you had to be a Christian -- voting, lower taxes, etc. -- would you a. openly keep your religion b. privately keep your religion while giving an outward appearance of Christianity or c. truly convert. (I suspect there would be people in all categories, but just want a feel from people. And I realize, unless you are in that situation, it is hard to truly know how you would react!)

Hello Ms A !! I can not speak for others. I also do not know about modern witchcraft as what I practice is ancient. In answer to your questions let me tell you that I have little icons, wood carvings of certain mystical beings and a collection of books about magik, celts, druids, spells, and divination over much of my home. Nothing is hid away from company or even the occasional religious person at the door trying to convert us. Mixed marriages are cool !!! When everyone truly lives their religion I believe that there is harmony and balance. If anyone has to live a certain religion or give the appearance of in order to be accepted by a community, family, or nation, there is little meaning in it. In this world being yourself is paramount. I pay my own rent, if I am not accepted on my job because of who I am I will find a new one, and I try to stay open to everyone and their expression as I would want them to do for me. Good luck with your research !!!!! Blessed Be

First of I find your book idea intriguing I am personally trying to write a book based off a D&D like game I ran. So i hope my answers help you. q1. Items in my home. Candles, a stick incense burners, green man art (in the form of a 2 shelves holding up my surround sound speakers) swords on the wall and a dagger collection, books (in the bed room for storage issues), 2 cats (white and orange) My Alter has a bowl of rocks and a cup of feathers (found on walks), sea shells, a stick (wand), Egyptian themed dagger, 2 small boxes with tarot & ruin cards, a wine glass, a dragon, puma and dog figurine, a purple alter cloth, but these are things that can easily be explained in non-pagan ways. (An idea if the person is not open about their faith) q2. My husband and I are the same faith so i can't really help here Q3 It depends on a lot of factors if i would lie/hide my faith or be open about it. #1 how are non citizens treated. #2 What is required of a Christian/citizen Can you just check Christian on a form or is church mandatory? Because if all you had to do is lie on paper for better benefits, every one would.

Sulverna, I love the things that you have around your house. The energy there must be fantastic!!! Will you adopt me????????? Seriously, I quit hiding or concealing who I was decades ago. Poeple of other faiths are free, within our system, to go out and make converts. I do not go out looking for them but if they come to the door at my house or studio I allow them to "witness" to me. When they are done I ask them to hear me out. Then we go on a journey!!!!! We have both had a chance to "witness". My elders always maintained that the greater wisdom has the greatest magnatism. I was just being myself and I now have new earth and spirit friendly friends. What many don't understand about pagans, god or goddess people,is that we are not seperated from anybody regardless of differing views,our faith or lack thereof. Whether or not they understand that is not our responsibility. Blessed Be

Thanks for the response, Sulverna! It's always interesting to peek into someone else's life, even if virtually.

I've been working on the story for months now, and some of the elements are coming into focus better as I move along. So, regarding Q3, non-citizens treatment is deteriorating, because the group (and of course, there are different sects vying for power, which means some people who formerly were considered Christians are no longer considered that -- not unrealistic, as where I live, I have some Catholic friends, who have been told by more fundamentalists that they are NOT Christians; kind of flies in the face of what I know of Christianity. But I'm agnostic, so what do I know? :-)) Anyway, church attendance is more or less required. The church has to be considered acceptable to the Powers That Be, and the church leaders say yea or nay as to whether or not you can vote.

At the time of my story, I think the non-cit.s not only don't have a vote, they are fined extra for their businesses, and aren't allowed to own land. (Didn't start with all that -- things have gotten tighter and tighter over time, rather like the frog in the pot of warm water that keeps getting warmer...) It is coming to a head, though (it would be boring to write about a time when things were even and hunky-dory!), and the climate is getting worse for non-citizens. Oh -- at the time of the story, travel restrictions also apply. So escape is harder.

Given that enviroment a lot of pagans would do as they did in the days of old - give the church lip servus and practice their true faith in private. Thus their is the matter of not getting caught.

First question, anyone coming into my home knows what my faith is as I have pagan items everywhere and an altar set up. I change my altar according to the Sabbats. Everyone is truely fascinated and always are full of questions. (except my son and his wife from AZ) oh well. My hubby are I are both pagan and I call myself a pagan witch. We practice the ancient witchcraft and paganism not the new age wicca. As for your third question that is a hard one I would like to say I would stick by my faith but if they were gonna burn me at the stake or stone me to death I just might hide like they did in the old days. Sarah Redhawk