I did it ! I told my JW mother that I am pagan ! (page 2)

outnfree

Good for you, Sirona!

I know it's SUCH a relief to you to be able to be yourself with your Mom.

Love,

out

Sirona

Smurfette,

I think she was more about casting spells and quick results than the actual self introspection, meditation, and discipline involved with the real thing.

Unfortunately there are quite a few people out there who go around saying that their religion is Wicca or "Witchcraft" when in actuality they simply try out a few spells and buy all the fancy pentacles and wands. After that they get bored of it, or go too far and scare themselves sh*tless. It wouldn't be that bad if it didn't end up giving the wrong impression of Wicca as a whole. These are the folk who become fundamentalist christian afterwards and tell all the stories of how they were always being visited and controlled by DEMINZ when they were Wiccan, when in actuality the deminz were created by themselves or were lower entities attracted to them because of their fear. I'm assuming your mum was never part of a coven - I'd expect that the right coven would have grounded her and helped her realise what it is and what it is not.

Also she was/is totally into yelling "Jehovah" whenever she was/is experiencing a "demon" attack.

I actually feel sad that she feels she has to do this. I understand because when I first left JWs I would be pretty scared because I didn't know if I had any protection anymore now that I'd "left Jehovah". Its taken me years to truly believe that Wicca isn't demonic, because even when I first got involved with the religion there would be those nagging doubts.

I think it is interesting to discuss the whole JW-to-Wicca or Wicca-to-JW thing. I used to think that my interest in Wicca wholly stemmed from it being so diametrically opposed to JWism LOL! Nowadays I know that Wicca is in my heart and it is more "me" than JWism ever was.

That is why it is nice to at least tell my mum about it - I can only see it being more a part of my life in future (I mean, more a part of the activities I do which my mum could easily find out about....I wanted to tell her before she saw me in this years halloween special in the local rag....LOL just kidding but you get the idea).

Outnfree: thanks, I take it you've gone through a similar dilemma.

Sirona

stillajwexelder

Well done --good for you

acsot

Congratulations Sirona, you handled that really well! Someone else also suggested Scott Cunningham's book to me; I took one of those quizes about which religion "fits" you (someone here posted it) and Paganism came out on top for me!

Way to go!

gumby

Hi Sirona,

This was an intresting read about you and mom.Count your blessings your mom reacted the way she did. Most dub moms would have had red flags popping up throughout that conversation.

Now then..........as a side point.........will you explain this,

Then I mentioned animal totems and that we can get messages from animals - again she agreed.

Could you explain this part or PM me?

I've always thought my dogs knew something I didn't

Gumby

arrowstar

Sirona -

Congratulations.

Lisa

Sentinel

Sirona, I'm so happy that you finally got some of your feelings out in the open. Keeping something bottled up like that is so frustrating. The way you expressed yourself was wonderful, and her reactions very encouraging.

Your mom loves you. She sees all the good in you and wonders how you manage, since you are no longer a practicing JW. (She has been taught that anyone on the outside is just worthless and doomed to destruction.) She wants to believe you are making good choices, despite her training as a JW. So she no doubt has conflicting feelings about what to say to you and how to react.

I believe she is very open minded, and with a little more talk, she may see so much more than just the fact that you are "different". It is sometimes amazing how and when that lightbulb goes off....when one suddenly has this thought that "the JW's could be wrong".

My mom got to this place, where she was really taking a look at me and my life and saying things like "well, I really admire you, and I'm so proud of you"....and then, "It's too late for me to change"..."I'm not strong enough at my age". This made my heart leap and gave me hope that she was perhaps really thinking past all that dogma. But, instead on moving ahead on her own, she went to an Elder with her conflictions, and he told her that she just needed to be stronger. Shortly thereafter, she began her strict shunning again. She was way too afraid to think for herself.

I hope your mom can get past this fear. Wouldn't that be wonderful!?

/<

Lady Lee

Good going

Sirona

Gumby

The animals comment relates to how we may have a particular animal we feel close to and this may reflect something about our personality and our lives. For instance, my totems are Spider, Raven and Panther. They each mean something special to me, and when I need reminding of certain things they appear to remind me (usually this is in dreams, or it may be that the actual animal comes up in my normal life....I can't tell you how many times I've had spiders appearing all over the place, even sitting on my knee!) Sometimes, another animal may appear in our life at a certain time and it has a message for us. I'm not talking about direct psychic communication with your animal although I know that some claim to do this.

Sirona

Sentinel,

Thanks, yes, I do know she loves me, and I'm guessing this is why she is choosing to at least listen and talk about alternative beliefs rather than dismissing it before she even knows what it is.

But, instead on moving ahead on her own, she went to an Elder with her conflictions, and he told her that she just needed to be stronger. Shortly thereafter, she began her strict shunning again. She was way too afraid to think for herself.

Sorry this happened to you, Sentinel. It is such a shame. Maybe she will come around and stop the shunning - lets hope eh. My mum had her Reiki session last night - it was great but I'm aware that she may get counselled at the hall about it. She has already told her JW friend. I'm thinking of having a quiet word with her about it. You see, she was going to Yoga and told someone at the hall - then as expected she was counselled by the elders on that and stopped going. I wouldn't want them to get to her about the Reiki aswell....

Sirona

I did it ! I told my JW mother that I am pagan !

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