Tips & Tricks to Survive the Broom Closet: Those who hide their true magickal identities from friends & family are known as dwellers in "the broom closet". Many who work with magick and witchcraft feel the need to constantly hide their practices, of...
EDIT 12/5/2020: I've converted this part into a wiki on reddit so you can read it all here (plus more!): www.reddit.com/r/BroomClosetWitch/wiki/faqsI've added that link as the external link for this part).
Life in the broom closet is pretty difficult. You want to practise magick, you want to work with deities & spirits, you want to cast spells. How do you practise witchcraft and paganism AND keep it a secret?
Here's a break down of some of the ways you can practise the Craft and follow associated religions (Wicca, Neo-Paganism, etc) whilst in the broom closet!
If you have additional questions, I will answer them in the comments, or direct you to my other work 'Witchy Q&As' that can be found on my Wattpad profile.
1. How do I practise witchcraft in the broom closet?
My video on this topic:
This isn't a straight-forward question to answer. The short answer is, be creative! Broom closet magic requires intuition and an active imagination to find what you can use to substitute for things you need. Don't have a pink candle? Substitute a white one. Don't have parchment? Substitute regular paper. Etcetera, etcetera!
The long answer is: Start with following the Rules for the Broom Closet I listed in the previous part. Use temporary shoebox altars, opt for digital versions of books instead of physical ones, make sure you have good hiding places, etc.
Another thing is to not worry if you don't have all the tools. While they're good for beginners as reminders that they're in another realm, there's nothing wrong with using your finger as a wand or athame. If you do have tools, find ways to hide them in plain sight (again, be creative).
Don't worry if you don't have certain ingredients for a spell; your will and intention always counts for more than tools and ingredients. Visualisation is the most powerful skill involved in spells and it's completely free and you don't have to hide it!
Consider working with Sigils. All you need is a pen and paper. Sigils are magical symbols with a specific purpose that you can make yourself. They can be used to communicate with your higher self to better yourself, or they can be used in place of a spell. Read this article to find out more: https://runesoup.com/2012/03/ultimate-sigil-magic-guide/
Think about joining an online coven. You can find some on reddit at r/CovenFinder. People in your coven can help you with your practices.
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Remember, you're a witch! So? Use magic to stay in the broom closet! As the priestess of my coven once said to me:
"You are a witch. You cannot be victimised unless you allow it. So maybe you should take control of the situation by being who you are. You don't have to be obvious or in-your-face about it, but you can effectively gain success through subtle means. Write and cast a spell that will help your activities stay hidden from your family's sight. Create a sigil that helps your family understand and accept the fact that you are a practising witch, and it is a good thing. If your family really give you a hard time, do a honey jar spell to sweeten their attitude towards you or magic or tarot or a combination of them. See where I am headed with this? You need to start using the tools at your disposal in order to benefit yourself and improve your life, and at the same time, they will also ease you family's worry and concern. Be a witch."
