Photo courtesy of http://www.shoeboxblog.com/
I've finally managed to get some decorating done around the house, and waded my way through some piles of items I've been meaning to sort. It always amazes me how much stuff one person can amass.
The other project I'm working on is clearing my bookshelves of my Pagan/witchy books in time for my cousin's visit on Christmas day. While my parents, brother and friends have been aware of my beliefs for a while now, my extended family has not been informed. Primarily because my extened family consists of extremely enthusiastic Baptists. And because I don't want to be the next contestant on "Inquisition" - sitting in front of a panel of my uncles (one pastor and two deacons) and Jesus.
I love my family. Really. And I do enjoy their company. So making things awkward by loudly proclaiming that I don't celebrate the birth of Christ anymore while hoisting a pinecone above my head and giving a speech about how Christians claimed Yule as their own doesn't sit right with me. Plus - my mother would kill me if I ruined Christmas. So there's that.
The only issue is - what the hell do I put on my bookshelves once all the Pagan books are gone? Some artful arragements of the hundred-ish angel figurines my cousin has been gifting me for 15 or so Christmases perhaps.
Is there anything you hide when family comes to visit? (Aside from the naughty movies.)
24 comments:
~unfortunately i the same...except i do not come from quite the family background!!! majority of my books are in my bedroom except for things like garden and kitchen witchery and faeries and elves gyspy magic...you know...the books that alot of people would find "cute" and be oblivious to their true meanings...the ones in my bedroom have all spines facing the wall...so all one is to see is the pages...i used to hide them but now i figure if some one is that nosy that they feel comfortable being in my room and flipping my books over and around...well then they get what they shall find! hehehe...so sorry you have to spruce up the home for the holiday but a mere reality to much of what some of us has to do...decorate those shelves with holiday your decor...you could always tell them you are going "green" and wanted a "natural" theme...bring in those pinecones even if you are not holding them above...shouting and proclaiming your beliefs!!! rue...i wish you a wonderful holiday season ahead...much l♥ve and light upon you always~
oh Rue.. ugh.. having to lug those books and hide them.. I totally understand why.. I just hate that you have to do all that work.
You could do that with the angels.. it'd definitely fill up the shelves, right? lol
Sending positive thoughts your way. I don't have family visitors like that, so I don't hide things.. if I was in your shoes, however, I'd do the same as you.
Blessings and abundance!
Kallan
{gasp!} How did you know we hide our naughty movies????? LOL
No, I have never hidden anything from family members. Maybe that is why we don't have that many family members that speak to us... LOL
But I have hidden away the spell books when we put our house(s) up for sale. Just don't think that seeing the books would be seen as a 'plus' - especially since we now live in the heart of Baptist country!
Yes, the display of angels would work well in the empty space.
Enjoy the visit.
Good luck with the lugging of books and the hiding! We dont get many family visitors as we live way out of state from most. But I would have to put away all the Wiccan stuff, sadly, for several. Fortunately I do have a lot of what-not stuff I can find to fill empty spots. Have to do it though to preserve peace and avoid heart ache, like yourself. Good luck and sending you blessings. So many of us understand!
Oh, I've done the same, luckily I have so many books that I was able to just move art books and literature into the pagan spots.
An arrangement of angels (or as we call them here fairies) is a great idea of course unless it'll give your cousin ideas about gifting you with more...
I don't hide anything anymore, but then I also don't have the threat of inquisition like confrontations from any of my friends and family either. I have made it very clear to those in my life that I celebrate both Yule and a secular X-mas so I get the best of both worlds.
i stopped hiding things years ago. i decided that if they couldn't accept me for who i was then i didn't need them. of course, i can't stand them anyway, so it isn't any big loss to me really, but i understand why you don't want to cause any tension. maybe use some of your holiday decor to act as book ends in the empty spots? or put family pictures there?
good luck.
blessings
~*~
Ha I don't hide the naughty video, if you took the time to search and find it, you get to watch it. LOL
as for the books, most of mine are historical based books, learning about hieroglyphics, and such, so those stay out, my whole family knows my love of myths and legends so they won't think twice about those. Any book that says witch or witchcrafts, there's a box in basement just for you.
My herbal lore books, as long as it doesn't say witch stays right where it is because once again my family knows I'm into herbal lore and learning from nature no odd looks there(kinda helps that I'm getting ready to study for a Naturopathic degree, "what.... why yes those are school books").
Yeah I have the inquisition (maybe we're related) in my family excepts it's an Aunt who's the Deacon.
Good luck in hiding those, I agree with bringing in the greenery to aide in filling up the shelves.
Good luck and bright holiday wishes
Packing and lugging books is hard work.....and just as hard when the time comes to put them back. I've never had to worry about hiding my books even around hubby's Catholic relatives when they used to come, but each year I do so to clear the shelves for my Christmas village. And without fail, always, a day or so after everything is packed and put away, there is a book I decide I want to read.
Mary
Luckily I don't get the family at Yule or Christmas as I'm usually working, I tend to visit them. My parents would probably think I was mad, but I don't think mybrotherwould care. I tend to keep my Witchy books in my bedroom too.
When I was young and not yet out of the closet, I "de-gayed" my apartment once (as the expression used to be) before my parents came to visit. Too much friggin' work! I've made of point of never hiding or putting away anything since then.
Unless you want more angels, I wouldn't put out the display of angels. Once your cousin sees you've displayed them, you will get more. I'd display something you like. I agree with faerwillow, decorate with pinecones (they are wintery!)and other things you enjoy. I have a friend with a giant yarn stash that she actually has on display because it is so colorful and pretty. Put out things that will make you happy to see. It is YOUR home after all.
i never hide anything. i m right in your face kind of gal. take me or leave me!
LOL I had stuff too, especially when someone I don't know well is coming. I don't find anything wrong with it, what you believe or don't believe is your business and no one Else's. people who count, know who I am... and the others.... when they start counting, I'll let them know.
I LOVE the cartoon at the beginning. If we get enough snow, hmmmmmm..... LOL. I have never hid anything. I figure, if you look for it you will find it, if you ignore it all I won't point it out. My nieces and nephews call our apartment a hippy home and that suits us just fine. My mother's husband's family is a born-again kind of group and I don't hide what I am and I don't point it out. They can close their eyes if they like. Our home, our decorations - LOL, then again my DH is over 60 and I am over 50 so we are both so over hiding. - Hugs and sparkles - WG
I have so many books that no one would bother to take the time to see what's on the shelf anyway!
I wouldn't out out the angels to hopefully discourage being the recipient of 15 years more of them. Instead, maybe make a wintery scene with white fabric, pinecones and hand made trees. I've made a few from cotton balls and old paper back books and they look lovely! :)
I don't have to hide anything because I automatically put that type of stuff away in our room so and no one goes in there that would be offended. I am starting to collect and display more pagan themed artworks so maybe I'll have to rethink those, hmmm...
Sounds like the angels may be the best option.
I have to hide all my books and my altar when my mom comes to visit!
But luckily when my dad comes I dont really have to put my altar away anymore. I havent told him at all, but he just doesn't talk about religion with me
Nope, I don't hide anything. Sounds like you have loads of work to do. I don't think I would put those angels out, you are going to find yourself with more. Put out those candles and stones, maybe you will get tons of them.hehehe Wishing you a terrific week!
(((HUGS)))
That's a tough one to hide who you are with family and friends. Are there any nature books you have that you can put up relating to this season? I also have favorite childrens books that I've either bought recently or have had since I was a little girl that aren't all about the Saviours birth and actually there are a lot of "pagan" childrens books that don't scream "Hey, I'm a heathen." I'll be interested to hear what you put up. Or you can just fill beautiful vases and containers with things that represent magick to you like pinecones, or "sun" items, etc...
Lol - you guys are too funny! "Don't put out the angels!" Giggle - you have a really good point. I don't want anymore!
Love the pinecone & greenery ideas and the wintery fabric. Thanks!
Also nice to know I'm not alone in wanting to avoid family drama.
No. :)
And -- good luck, Rue! Come to think of that, do you remember the scene in THE BIRDCAGE when Robin Williams and Nathan Lane try to hide everything in their house which could be considered gay? Somehow your post made me think of that. ;) Hah!
Hugs,
Birgit
Bless your heart. Your intentions are charming, not to mention overflowing with self (and family) preservation. Best wishes filling the spaces in your bookshelf! As for me, I hide nothing. But most of my trappings are so subtle, so the unaware don't notice.
Yule blessings and merry christmas too!
I have to hide the alcohol, they would drink it all! And maybe the bong. Kidding girlfriend!
About the cartoon...... your sense of humor is as twisted as mine;^)X.
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