Discussing my Paganism with my friends and family is understandably difficult. For the VAST majority of us, the term "Pagan" stirs up negative images in our friends and families thanks to the negative stigma that has been perpetuated for centuries.
I personally came out to my best friend, years ago. I told her I was Pagan, interested in the religion Wicca. She was happy for me, but being my best friend, naturally anything that made me happy, made her happy (I'm very lucky in that aspect). I told another friend (who is actually Wiccan) and he was rather blase about it. I don't know if he thought maybe it was a passing interest in me or what, but I've had very little discussion about Paganism with him since.
My mother and father found out once when they found one of my books. One morning, I entered my kitchen to find my Scott Cunningham book on the kitchen table, and my mother at the stove cooking breakfast. My father had little to say...except that he had family members who were participants of Druidry (hmm, interesting). My mother was a little afraid. She dabbled a number of years ago and was afraid I too was "dabbling". At the time they had found my book, was a number of years after I had come out to my best friend. I had learned this was not something to dabble in, understood what both Wicca and Witchcraft were and how to practice them with respect. So for my mother to assume I didn't know what I was doing or getting into just reiterated my family's idea that I am naive, even when I am not. I listened to my mother's concerns, and we've never discussed it since.
She HAS mentioned her own interest in Wicca, but I've found myself hesitant to discuss the religion with her. My family has a way of belittling my beliefs (either spiritually or practically), even if we're on the same page. For some reason, they believe I'm a naive numpty who doesn't know what I'm getting into.
My husband...he wishes to remain oblivious. He knows, he doesn't understand, doesn't really want to, so stays out of it. And that's ok for me, I suppose. While I wish I had a bit more freedom to practice as I want and when I want, I do what I can, when I can. My husband is Catholic, but as the years go on, he seems to be drifting away from the church. He believes but is often questioning. Sometimes we have debates and it surprises me when I actually win (because he has his fathers debating skills and sometimes will continue until he wins, only because you've become exhausted and don't want to debate anymore). He's of the mind of "Keep Christ in Christmas", yet I noted to him, that the "War on Christmas" was started by Christians who are threatened by the idea that Christmas does not hold monopoly on December, and that "Happy Holidays" is not trying to exclude or outright remove Christmas entirely, but is trying to include the OTHER 5 or so holidays that exist in December WITH Christmas. I made this point with him and I actually won the argument! :)
I dare not discuss my Paganism with my in-laws...at least my mother- and father-in-law. My mother-in-law's father used to be a Catholic Deacon. So Catholicism runs deep in that family (I STILL receive weekly e-mail bombs from my husband's grandmother from the Catholic site "Holy Love"). As I said above, my father-in-law loves debate and will debate until you just get tired and let him win because he's exhausted you. My sisters-in-law on the other hand...well it depends on who you are talking to. The oldest and the youngest have zero education on the matter and think it's all "Hocus Pocus" bullshite like you see on tv. The middle sister is set in her beliefs, but IS open. You won't dissuade her from her beliefs but is open enough to let others believe as they like peacefully.
As you can see, my being Pagan is hardly welcome, but is hardly shunned in regards to my family and friends. Most want to live in oblivion, others don't care...one is happy lol. But in the end, it doesn't matter what ANY of them think of my spirituality because it's really none of their business. My spirituality is mine.
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