Oh you know, some folks would be horrified , some would probably not care one way or the other and some would support you :) And for the folks who will be horrified, what you can do is address their fears and do your best to lay them to rest, some will be contented and some will not. Some of the most Christian people I know are some of the most accepting! I can say, that if you are devoted to your faith and it is a big part of your life, keeping it quiet is very hard and will eventually wear on you. Keeping a secret about something so much a part of you can be damaging, though you have to evaluate what is most important to you - no one else can tell you that :) You have nothing to be ashamed of, if you are living a good life, are a kind and compassionate person and are growing spiritually. Sometimes you do have to face confrontation, but you can do it graciously and understand that someone else's irrational or nasty reaction is not your problem. I would offer the advice to find some pagan friends in your community for support - that will be a very valuable asset to you :) All the best...
Niamh

When I 'came out of the broom closet' I lost a number of Christian friends. One friend I'd had since we were 9! 37 years of friendship and all I get from her now is prayers... It is so sad, but truly... I want/need friends that are real, that don't hide behind that phalocratic belief system that oppresses its believers.
Best of luck to you.
Though painful in some ways, coming out was one of the most freeing and empowering things I've done!

You guys are right, thank you for your comments. I should just say "screw it" and be honest. Maybe then I'll feel more whole, whether I lose my friends or not. I only know how to hide it, though... it's been so long, I think I'd feel weird finally being open with everything! But then again, it could feel wonderful. It could feel right. I know there are other pagans in my area... all I have to do is hang out downtown - they tend to gather at the coffee shops and bars, I've noticed. :-)

Merry Meet
Before my mom accepted my religion, she burned it. My books, my journals, everything. Move ahead 2 years to the present and my mom and I have never been closer. It takes time for people to understand and look past what the media and the medieval church led people to believe about Paganism, but if they truly care for you, then chances are they will still be there even if it does take a little bit of time for them to come to terms with it. The thing that changed with my relationship with my mother was a conversation in the car. We had just had yet another fight about my choice of path and she asked me after 20 minutes of excruciating, deafening silence "how do you tell right from wrong? good from evil? where do your morals come from?" And I basically recited the Rede to her. Not only did that placate her for the time, after a few months she wanted to learn. My mother is the most devout Christian I know, but now she has an open mind.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not lest ye be judged.
By no means am I a Christian like my mom is, but I find some very useful wisdom in the book she lives by. I'm not advocating blackmail, but if it comes from their book, should they not abide by it? If and when you choose to come out of the broom closet it may be useful to remind them of what standards their god has told them to abide by.
I wish you the best of luck.
Blessed Be and Merry Part.

Thank you for sharing that with me! It's my family I'm concerned about telling. Although they are mormon, my parents are the most nonjudgmental people I know. I don't know why I am so worried. I just need to take a deep breath and do it.

*takes a deep breath...*

Maybe next week. :-)