joannadandy..I think you got that backwards lol. I told her I'm a lesbian but I definitely won't tell her I'm a Pagan. Which explains why mom thinks I still believe all the jw crap...
I agree with what mpatrick said, emphasize some of your beliefs and values without detailing exactly what they go along with. I know I've done that in the past with people and had it work nicely. They agree with your points and it's disarming. They don't necessarily have to know what, they will ask in time when they are more accepting. You may perhaps want to refer to yourself as a Wiccan rather than a witch, I think you will get a bit less of a stereotypical fear response, not much but a bit.
"Your mom will NEVER be cool with you being a pagan as long as she is a witness. That is the ULTIMATE bugaboo to the witnesses. The very word pagan is an expletive to them."
And used far to often to refer to far too much. I swear no one loves to use the word more than the dubs themselves. Greatest fears I suppose.
"I'm completely ignorant about it, and find myself dumbfounded at the thought that you, like so many others, change one form of slavery for another. Once I exit the JWs, that'll be it for me belonging to any other form of religious organizations."
That is one of the appealing aspects of Paganism to me, it is such a contrast from the "slavery" of some organized religions like the JWs. There is often no right or wrong way to do things, it's about what feels right to you on a deeper level. There is no "police" squad telling yout he right and the wrong way to be a Pagan, there is no right or wrong way. Many Pagans are solitary in fact, they do not belong to any form of religious organization but choose to express their believes individually. It's a very welcome contrast from the judging attitude and legalism prevalent in the witnesses.